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Terry Vollmer has been involved in the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program since the early 1990s, when he and his wife bought a farm in Cooper County.
The site had land already under contract in the federal program, and the Vollmers decided to continue participating when the contract came up for renewal.
“It was just better for the land to leave it in the program,” said Vollmer, a district technician with the Cooper County Soil and Water Conservation District.
A general sign-up for the program — which enables people to set aside a portion of their land so that it can be seeded with grasses and other plants in an effort to reduce soil erosion, improve water and air quality and create space for wildlife — is underway for the first time since 2006. It is expected to continue through Aug. 27.
How to apply:
Conservation Reserve Program
Randon Leathers, executive director for the Farm Service Agency in Cooper County, explained the process by which landowners can apply for consideration in the Conservation Reserve Program:
1. Interested landowners are advised to call Leathers’ office to schedule an appointment. His phone number is 882-5647, extension 2.
2. The landowner meets with staff at the office to work out details and paperwork.
3. All applications are sent to Washington, D.C. for review. In Washington, a rating threshold is determined. All applications that score above a specific number of points win approval.
4. Those approved for the program have one year starting Oct. 1 to get their land set up with the appropriate plants.
General information is available at fsa.usda.gov.
Want to read more? Grab a copy of the Boonville Daily News e-edition after 3 p.m. today.
Terry Vollmer has been involved in the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program since the early 1990s, when he and his wife bought a farm in Cooper County.
The site had land already under contract in the federal program, and the Vollmers decided to continue participating when the contract came up for renewal.
“It was just better for the land to leave it in the program,” said Vollmer, a district technician with the Cooper County Soil and Water Conservation District.
A general sign-up for the program — which enables people to set aside a portion of their land so that it can be seeded with grasses and other plants in an effort to reduce soil erosion, improve water and air quality and create space for wildlife — is underway for the first time since 2006. It is expected to continue through Aug. 27.
How to apply:
Conservation Reserve Program
Randon Leathers, executive director for the Farm Service Agency in Cooper County, explained the process by which landowners can apply for consideration in the Conservation Reserve Program:
1. Interested landowners are advised to call Leathers’ office to schedule an appointment. His phone number is 882-5647, extension 2.
2. The landowner meets with staff at the office to work out details and paperwork.
3. All applications are sent to Washington, D.C. for review. In Washington, a rating threshold is determined. All applications that score above a specific number of points win approval.
4. Those approved for the program have one year starting Oct. 1 to get their land set up with the appropriate plants.
General information is available at fsa.usda.gov.
Want to read more? Grab a copy of the Boonville Daily News e-edition after 3 p.m. today.
