Pierre, SD -(AmmoLand.com)- Pheasants Forever and partners in South Dakota are hosting five Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up informational meetings for landowners in the coming week of the sign-up period.
The CRP general sign-up began December 1, 2015, and ends February 26, 2016. CRP remains the gold standard program for creating upland habitat for pheasants, grouse, and other wildlife in South Dakota. In addition to wildlife habitat, CRP provides landowners with many benefits.
“CRP continues to evolve. With competitive rental rates, the ability to enroll partial fields, and a beneficial change in haying and grazing limitations for producers, landowners will want to attend a local meeting and learn how voluntary conservation programs can work to increase farm and ranch income,” stated Matt Morlock, Pheasants Forever’sassistant director in South Dakota.
Landowners are encouraged to RSVP for an event by contacting their local Pheasants Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologist.
CRP general sign-up information meetings will focus on eligibility and the CRP sign-up process, as well as updates to CRP mid-contract management. Presentations will also cover various CRP practices, updated rental rates, and public access / additional incentive opportunities.
CRP Informational Meetings by County
| County | Date | Time | Location | RSVP |
| Bennett County | Feb. 8 | 6:00 PM | Susan’s H&H – Martin, SD | Email / (605) 730-3474 |
| Lyman County | Feb. 9 | 6:00 PM | Hutch’s Café – Presho, SD | Email / (605) 730-3474 |
| Perkins County | Feb. 11 | 2:00 PM | Dakota Lodge Conference Room – Lemmon, SD | Email / (605) 730-3474 |
| Pennington County | Feb. 13 | 3:00 PM | Rushmore Civic Center Alpine Room – Rapid City, SD | Email / (605) 730-3474 |
| Davison County | Feb. 14 | 3:30 PM | Mitchell Moose Lodge – Mitchell, SD | Email / (605) 730-3474 |
Conservation Reserve Program:
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10-15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.
About Pheasants Forever:
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 140,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $577 million on 489,000 habitat projects benefiting over 12 million acres nationwide.
For more information, visit: www.PheasantsForever.org.