The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency says it’s accepted more than 1.2 million acres nationally into the Conservation Reserve Grasslands Program during the recent signup. South Dakota FSA Conservation Program Manager Owen Fagerhaug says that’s the best signup they’ve ever had in that program both nationally and in South Dakota. He says they’re still compiling numbers of how many enrolled in the state.

He says those who enrolled chose either a ten year or fifteen year contract and that it is a working lands program giving producers not only the payment benefit but also the opportunity to continue working on those lands.

Fagerhaug says there are multiple benefits from the CRP Grasslands program both environmentally and economically.

Fagerhaug says with the current downswing in the ag economy, having CRP Grassland available helps producers maximize dollars on their operations.