As part of an ongoing effort to prevent a global food crisis, USDA announced it will allow Conservation Reserve Program participants in the final year of their contract to request voluntary termination following the end of the nesting season for 2022.
Participants approved for this one-time, voluntary termination will not have to repay rental payments.
FSA Administrator Zach Duecheneux says the flexibility implemented this year will help mitigate the global food supply challenges caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other factors.
“We think that producers are going to welcome the opportunity. We typically get some folks that exercise the voluntary termination clause even with a reduction in rental rate. So, we think this will really help producers to start to plan early,” Ducheneaux says.
USDA will also provide flexibility on Environmental Quality Incentive Program and Conservation Stewardship Program Acres.
So how many producers will participate? Pro Farmer’s Jim Wiesemeyer expects less than 2 million acres. In colder climates it might allow the planting of winter wheat or better prepare land for spring planting.
Wiesemeyer says this change by USDA is a major flip and shows the push by White House officials to curb food inflation.
