U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded landowners, farmers and ranchers that the opportunity to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up 43 is approaching. Producers who want to offer eligible land for CRP’s competitive general sign-up can enroll March 12 through April 6, 2012, at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center.

CRP is a voluntary program that assists farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers to protect their environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolling in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers in exchange for rental payments, cost-share and technical assistance.

Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA service center or visit FSA’s website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp for additional information regarding CRP.