Disconnected Center Pivot Corners Now Qualify for CRP

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has been informed that Tennessee farm center pivot corners can now qualify for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This program helps make quality habitat for bobwhite quail, rabbits, songbirds, wild turkeys and other wildlife that use grass and shrub areas.

In January 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini announced that the CRP will encourage more habitat creation on irrigated farms by recognizing the potential wildlife value of areas known as pivot corners.  To do this, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) simply modified rules defining what land can qualify as a conservation area for early successional habitat. 

 In the past, pivot corners had not been allowed to be enrolled in the CP33-Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds practice unless they were connected by a buffer along the edge of the field.  In addition to CP33, pivot corners can also be enrolled in the CP38E SAFE Bobwhite Habitat Restoration practice eligible for enrollment in 28 counties, with the majority of the counties being in West Tennessee.  

In recent years CRP acreage has decreased as the national acreage cap has been reduced by Congress and CRP income and enrollment by farmers was minimized by record crop prices.  However, there is an estimated 45,000 acres of CRP native grassland practices still enrolled in Tennessee.  

“This policy change demonstrates how innovative, outside-the-box thinking can help bring agriculture and conservation more in-line with one another,” said TWRA Wildlife Habitat Biologist Chris Hunter of the West Tennessee office. 

The CRP is a voluntary program administered by the Farm Service Agency with assistance from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.  FSA contracts with agricultural landowners so that environmentally sensitive land is converted from farmland to conservation cover. Participants establish long-term plant species that improve water quality, control soil erosion and strengthen declining wildlife populations. 

In return, participants receive annual rental payments each year of the 10 to 15 year contract along with cost-share for cover establishment. In addition, a Signing Incentive Payment (SIP) and a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) is provided for both practices. CP33 will include a SIP of $150/acre and an additional PIP of 40 percent.  CP38E will include a SIP of $100/acre and a PIP of 40 percent.  There is an included 50 percent cost share for establishment for both practices bringing the total establishment cost share to 90 percent.   

Beginning in January 2015, with continuous CRP signup, 47 producers were allowed to enroll pivot corners under the CP33 (shrubs optional), and CP38E (minimal shrub requirement) practices. Participants and land must meet certain eligibility requirements. Other restrictions may apply.  

Visit www.twraprivatelands.org , www.fsa.usda.gov , www.nrcs.usda.gov or call the local USDA Service Center for more information. 

There are four TWRA administrative regions across the state and each region has their own TWRA wildlife habitat biologist.  Tennessee also has four USDA NRCS Wildlife Biologists and three Quail Forever biologists that are available for assistance to landowners.  

---TWRA---