The Department of Agriculture will start offering landowners and farmers a chance to enroll in 30-year Conservation Reserve Program contracts starting in July.

The Agriculture Department is accepting 3.4 million acres into the land-idling Conservation Reserve Program following the first general signup in four years.

After a busy two years dominated by farm bill and trade action, commodity groups are now turning their attention to tweaking policies that will enable them to take part in looming sustainability conversations.

President Donald Trump this week goes to India, where he is expected to press Prime Minister Narendra Modi on protectionist moves that apparently scuttled plans for a bilateral trade agreement.

Producers have just under two weeks to apply under the general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program.

Landowners can start applying Monday to enroll acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program under what will be the first general signup in four years.

A bipartisan farm bill that would protect crop insurance and commodity programs as well as nutrition assistance from cuts passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin, 86-11, clearing the way for negotiations to begin next month with the House. 

Whether we get a farm bill this year or after the mid-term elections, I think it’s important to look at some of the ideas under consideration, especially regarding the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).