IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• NAP APPLICATION FOR COVERAGE DEADLINE - Spring crop deadline, March 15, 2024 
• 2024 ARCPLC ELECTION and ENROLLMENT - Deadline March 15, 2024.
• CONTINUOUS CRP SIGNUP - Deadline July 31, 2024
• GENERAL CRP SIGNUP - Deadline March 29, 2024
• CRP PRIMARY NESTING SEASON - March 15^th through July 15^th

Disclaimer: Information in this UPDATE is pertinent to Kiowa County FSA only. Producers reading this and that do not have FSA interest in Kiowa County are advised to contact their local FSA Office. 

THE USDA SERVICE CENTER HAS A DROP BOX AVAILABLE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

US DROUGHT MONITOR

It’s not often the eastern plains of Colorado have no signs of drought conditions on the Drought Monitor. This time last year, SE Colorado had areas of D2 and D3 drought conditions. Hoping this trend continues throughout the spring and summer months. 

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Implementing Fire Management on CRP Acres

FSA encourages you to be proactive in preventing the spread of wildfire. If you participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), you are responsible for fire management on your CRP acreage. The goal is to suppress the amount of fuel in the event of a wildfire while still promoting the diversity of the conservation cover. 

One fire management practice includes installing firebreaks, which should be included in the contract support document and installed according to NRCS firebreak standards. Barren firebreaks will only be allowed in high-risk areas, such as transportation corridors, rural communities, and adjacent farmsteads. A conservationist must certify that there will not be an erosion hazard from the barren firebreak. If erosion becomes a problem, remedial action will be taken.

You must complete the necessary management activities outside of the Primary Nesting Season. In Colorado, the Primary Nesting Season is March 15^th through July 15^th. Remember that fireguard technical practices should be outlined in your Conservation Plan of Operations (CPO). Contact your local NRCS office for more information. 

CRP GENERAL SIGNUP #62

USDA announced the signup dated for General Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve program (General CRP), which opened March 4, 2024, and ends on March 29, 2024. Producers interested in offering land into General CRP need to contact their local administrative FSA Office to determine land and producer eligibility. 

General CRP, offered through FSA, helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses. 

CONTINUOUS CRP SIGNUP #61

FSA is also currently conducting a Continuous CRP Signup for eligible practices. In Kiowa County, eligible practices are. 

• State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), the land needs to be located within the Lessor Prairie Chicken Area.
• Highly Erodible Land Initiative (HELI), the land needs to have an erodible index number of 20 or greater. 

FSA has computer software which determines land eligibility. The Continuous signup ends on July 31 and is completed in ranking phases. The first phase deadline to submit an signed offer is March 15, 2024.