The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says CRP is one of the most critically important programs that helps protect the environment and provides funding to those implementing those conservation practices that benefit everyone.

He says incentivizing producers to help protect the soil and water is a win win for all citizens.

Lehman says efforts need to continue to be made to inform policy makers of how important CRP is and to keep supporting it in any way they can.

CRP provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation. That assists farmers and ranchers to establish long term resource conserving plant species, approved grasses or trees to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland.