Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Workshop for Women in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Women who own or manage farmland in Mahaska and surrounding counties are invited to participate in a free discussion focused on CRP Tuesday, April 11th, at the Extension and Outreach Center in Oskaloosa.
The morning will start with registration, coffee and resource sharing at 8:30 am. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 am. Lunch will be provided, and during an afternoon field trip in the Muchakinock Creek Watershed, participants will tour the surrounding countryside. Additionally, there they will view CRP plantings and other stewardship practices. Furthermore, the meeting will end with dessert and wrap-up at the Extension office by 3:00 pm.
This event is because maintaining healthy soil is the key to productivity and environmental health for our farmland. As a result, women landowners who attend will learn to improve and protect their soils and water through the use of targeted CRP practices. Special maps will be used namely to show how protecting soil can be profitable and also there will be an introduction to how variable rate technology can play a role. Local agency staff will help explain the CRP program and the application process.
What is the 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. This helps improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. If you would like to watch an informational video on CRP, please click here.
To be sure of numbers, please RSVP by 4:00 pm, Friday, April 7th to Wendi at (641) 673-3476, wendi.denham@ia.usda.gov. For more information about this program, visit www.womencaringfortheland.org or call Carol at 641-430-2540.
Lastly, FSA, Mahaska SWCD, NRCS, and Women, Food and Agriculture Network are sponsoring this event.