Commodity Credit Corporation July 28, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) regulations to implement provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The 2008 Farm Bill generally extends the existing CRP through 2012 with some changes in eligibility requirements. The changes in this rule include adding alfalfa to the definition of agricultural commodity for the purposes of determining cropping history, adding incentives for limited resource farmers and Indian tribes, adding pollinator habitat incentives, adding a provision allowing preference for local residents in accepting competitive offers, adding an additional waiver provision to exclude certain acreage for CRP county acreage maximums, and clarifying the limited harvesting and grazing activities that may be allowed on CRP land. The purpose of CRP is to cost-effectively assist producers in conserving and improving soil, water, wildlife, and other natural resources by converting environmentally-sensitive acreage from the production of agricultural commodities to a long-term vegetative