[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44005-44006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21075]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation

RIN 0560-AD-95


Conservation Reserve Program Signup and Related Provisions

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) will be holding the 
13th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup to accept bids for 10- 
through 15-year contracts to replace acreage that was released from 
enrollment in the CRP under provisions announced in the Federal 
Register on May 8. Consistent with announcements by the Secretary of 
Agriculture in December 1994 and in April 1995, this signup will target 
acreage of higher environmental quality. The goal of the 13th signup is 
to replace approximately 651,342 acres which was released under the 
aforenoted provisions. The signup will be conducted in accordance with 
existing regulations at 7 CFR Part 1410. Variations from the 12th CRP 
signup period, though consistent with the regulations, are discussed in 
this notice.

DATES: The signup is scheduled for September 11, 1995, through 
September 22, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeslieDee Deavers, Consolidated Farm 
Service Agency (CFSA), USDA, P.O. Box 2415, room 4714, South Building, 
Washington, DC, 20013-2415, telephone 202-720-9563.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 13th CRP signup will be held from 
September 11, 1995, to September 22, 1995, in county CFSA offices. The 
regulations at 7 CFR Part 1410 apply to this signup.

    The 13th CRP signup will be conducted in generally the manner as 
the 12th CRP signup was conducted but there will be different acreage 
goals, types of bids, and ranking requirements. The goal of the 13th 
signup is to replace the approximately 651,342 acres previously 
released under the ``early out'' provisions announced in May 1995 by 
CCC. CCC's goal is to accept acreage that will meet higher 
environmental and conservation criteria which will provide significant 
soil erosion, water quality, tree planting, and wildlife benefits. CCC 
is also encouraging the enrollment of filter strips and riparian 
buffers. Only the most environmentally beneficial acres as determined 
on the basis of per dollar of government expense will be selected.

    State CFSA committees have been authorized to develop State-
specific environmental criteria to supplement the selection process. 
During the signup process, each applicant will be informed of the 
maximum rental rate CCC is willing to pay to enroll participants in 
specific areas and will be informed that the actual rates accepted by 
CCC may be less than that maximum amount. By bidding below that maximum 
amount, the likelihood that an offer will be accepted may be increased 
because it is anticipated that more acreage than that allowed for 
enrollment will be offered for enrollment by perspective participants.

    There are two types of bids: (1) Environmental Priority (EP) bids 
for field windbreak establishment, grass waterways, shallow water areas 
for wildlife, filter strips and riparian buffers, and shelterbelt 
establishment and (2) Standard bids for all other contracts.
    All bids will be evaluated based on the anticipated environmental 
benefits relative to cost. EP bids will receive the highest possible 
environmental benefits ranking. To encourage enrollments of 
filterstrips and riparian buffers, CCC will accept bids with rates for 
land to be 

[[Page 44006]]
enrolled for those purposes that are up to 10 percent higher than for 
other comparable land.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on August 14, 1995.
Bruce R. Weber,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation
[FR Doc. 95-21075 Filed 8-21-95; 3:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P