Washington, D.C.--Sixth District Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) reacted with mixed emotions to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Dan Glickman's announcement of a 16th Sign Up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The sign up will begin October 14 and close five weeks later on November 14.

"We had more than enough Oklahoma landowners turned down for new CRP contracts during the last CRP sign up and have plenty of land continuing to come out of old contracts," Lucas said. "And while I am pleased by the Secretary's decision to open up a general CRP sign up this fall, I am discouraged to see other extremely important issues left unaddressed.

"I was very disappointed to learn that the USDA chose not to acknowledge repeated requests to reformulate the criteria for grass cover on CRP land," Lucas continued. "I, the Oklahoma State Conservation Commission, and the Oklahoma State Technical Committee called upon the USDA to change the criteria to better support landowners who planted Old World Bluestem on their land under the direction of the USDA in the '80s.

"Changes that did take place since the last sign up include a modified air quality factor to reflect more accurately wind speed among other conditions," Lucas continued. "This could serve as a helpful addition to Oklahoma landowners."

The CRP is designed to improve the nation's natural resource base. Landowners enter into contracts with the USDA to enroll erodible and other environmentally sensitive land in long-term contracts for 10 to 15 years. In exchange, landowners receive annual rental payments and a payment for up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices.

Detailed CRP program information is scheduled to be available in local Farm Service Agency offices by mid-September.