USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will hold a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up from August 2nd through 27th, 2010. CRP is a voluntary program that helps agricultural producers use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. By reducing water runoff and sedimentation, CRP also protects groundwater and helps improve the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. Acreage enrolled in CRP is planted to resource-conserving vegetative covers, making the program a major contributor to wildlife population increases in many parts of the country. FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 to 15 years. In order to be eligible for placement in CRP, land must be environmentally sensitive cropland that was planted to an agricultural commodity four of the six years from 2002 to 2007. FSA ranks each eligible offer in comparison to all other offers and selects from that national ranking. For more information or to submit an offer please call the Ontario County FSA office at (585)394-0525 ext. 2. If you are not an Ontario County resident they will give you the number of your local FSA office.