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Farmers Have Two Years To Meet Conservation Guidelines
Farmers with highly-
erodible cropland have just
two years to meet the conser-
vation requirements of the
1985 Farm Bill and remain
eligible for USDA benefits.
Wilson Scaling, Chief of
USDA’s Soil Conservation
Service, said those provisions
require farmers who have
highly erodible land to have a
conservation plan approved
by their local conservation
district by December 31, 1989,
and have it implemented by
December 31, 1994, to remain
eligible for USDA farm pro-
gram benefits, loans, or
guarantees on all their land.
About 800,000 conservation
plans need to be developed in
the next two years, Scaling
said. “The sooner farmers
ask for a plan, the greater the
chance that we will get to
everyone by the deadline.”
Scaling said only 20 percent
of the highly erodible
cropland was placed under a
conservation plan as of Oc-
tober 1, 1987. “Our goal is to
have 65 percent of this land
under a conservation plan by
the end of 1988 and the rest by
the end of 1989,” he said.
Another option is to enroll
highly erodible cropland in
the Conservation Reserve
Program. Under CRP, lan-
downers receive annual ren-
tal payments for putting
highly erodible cropland in
permanent cover - such as
grass or trees. The next CRP
signup will be February 1-19,
1988.
_ Since highly erodible land
is not always obvious to the
eye, farmers should check
with their local SCS office to
see if they have land that
meets the criteria.
“Contacting the local SCS
office for a conservation plan
soon is probably one of the
smartest New Year’s resolu-
tions a farmer can make,”
Scaling said. ‘Most farmers
who participate in USDA pro-
grams can’t afford to lose
those benefits. And, the
economy of most rural com-
munities is dependent on the
financial health of its
farmers.”
Farmers May Deduct Conservation
Farmers wanting to deduct
soil conservation expen-
ditures on their federal tax
forms need to be aware of
changes included in the Tax
Reform Act of 1986 according
to Bobbye J. Jones, SCS State
Conservationist. The new tax
laws require all deducted soil
conservation expenditures to
be included in county-wide or
individual conservation plans
approved by SCS.
“Farmers can obtain ap-
proval through one of two
ways,’’ explains Jones.
“Either the practice is ap-
Signup For
Signup for the Conserva-
tion Reserve Program (CRP)
begins February 1 and ends
February 19. Farmers and
landowners may enter highly
erodible cropland into the
program at the county
Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation Service of-
fice.
Under CRP a farmer or
landowner converts highly
erodible cropland to grass or
trees. In return, the receive
annual rental payments for
10 years. The rental
payments are determined by
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lied under an individual
arm conservation plan
developed with SCS
assistance or it is among
those practices listed on the
county conservation plan.”
Each county has developed
a county conservation plan
that lists about 15 different
practices. Farmers can app-
ly these practices on their
own and still qualify for the
tax deduction. This list is
available from the local SCS
office.
When filing their tax
‘a bid process at the time of
signup. ‘‘Acceptable bids
have been around $45 per
acre in the Piedmont and
Mountains and $50 per acre in
the Coastal Plain,”’ said
Mitch Clary, assistant state
conservationist with the
USDA Soil Conservation Ser-
vice.
The eligibility for this
signup has been expanded,
commented Clary.
“Previously, two thirds of a
field had to be considered
highly erodible in order to
returns, farmers must certify
which type of conservation
plan their deduction is based
on. Only the county conserva-
tion plan, as SCS assisted in-
dividual conservation plan or
a plan approved by a com-
parable state agency will be
accepted by the IRS. The tax-
payer must support expenses
incurred and show that the
practice was applicable to
the specific situation..
Practices listed under the
county conservation plan
might include cover crops,
critical area planting, field
qualify for the program, and
to be considered highly erodi-
ble the soil erosion rate must
be 3T or higher. Now, if the
farmer or landowner will
agree to plant trees, a field
with only one-third highly
erodible soil and an erosion
rate of 2T will qualify,” ex-
plained Clary.
CRP is seen as one of the
best ways for farmers to
meet the compliance provi-
sion of the 1985 Farm Bill, ac-
cording to Clary. A farmer
must have a conservation
plan on all highly erodible
borders, grassed waterways,
field windbreaks, firebreaks,
livestock exclusion, stream-
bank protection, water con-
trol structures, wildlife
habitat development, spring
development, surface field
drainage, and troughs and
tanks for livestock water.
Practices not included in
county plans are eligible for
tax deduction only if included
in an individual conservation
phon prepared or approved by
Conservation Program
croplands by January 1, 1990,
or loose eligibility for most
USDA benefits. CRP acreage
meets the compliance aspect
while paying the farmer or
land-owner an annual rental
payment, commented Clary.
Anyone interested in sign-
-ing up for CRP should contact
their county ASCS office. All
USDA programs and services
are available without regard
to race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, age, marital
status, or handicap.
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