The enrollment period for the Federal Conservation Reserve Program began on Tuesday. As of September, 24.2 million acres were enrolled in the program nationally. South Dakota Farm Service Agency CRP Manager Owen Fagerhaug says, however, the number of acres available to be enrolled in the CRP program this sign-up period and going forward continues to decline due to budget cuts.

South Dakota currently has 929,000 acres enrolled in CRP. He says this sign-up which runs until February 26 of 2016 will be highly competitive.

CRP is also popular in Nebraska. FSA C-R-P Coordinator Greg Reisdorff says he’s expecting a robust enrollment.

Those interested in enrolling in C-R-P should stop at their local Farm Service Agency office.