1. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM Preparing producers for land use and conservation decisions

2. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CRP?

5. THE PROGRAM:  CURRENTLY 1,907,143 ACRES IN ACTIVE CONTRACTS IN IOWA.  63% (OR OVER 1.2 MILLION ACRES) ARE SET TO EXPIRE BY 9/30/2009.  28 MILLION ACRES ARE SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE BETWEEN 2007 AND 2010 IN THE UNITED STATES.

10. THINK ABOUT THE LAND  MANY ACRES ARE VERY EROSIVE  WATER QUALITY IMPACTS CAN BE HIGH  CURRENTLY PROVIDING MANY ACRES OF WILDLIFE HABITAT  MANY SOIL TYPES DO NOT PRODUCE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE YIELDS  IF ROW CROPPED, MANY OF THESE FIELDS WILL RQUIRE INTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE CONSERVATION MEASURES

11. WHO OWNS THESE ACRES?  ELDERLY  ABSENTEE  RETIRED

12. WHAT ARE THE FORCES AFFECTING LAND USE DECISIONS?  LAND PRICES  CROPLAND RENTAL RATES  SEVERAL YEARS OF HIGH YIELDS  FARM BILL PROGRAM OPTIONS  PRODUCER GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

13. HOW NRCS IS PREPARING?

14. HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!  WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO SURVEY CONTRACT HOLDERS  Land use objectives  DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR PREPARING STAFF  DEVELOPING PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

15.  MAINTAIN EVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF CRP, EVEN IF THE LAND IS CROPPED AGAIN  PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR PRODUCERS TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS NRCS OBJECTIVES