KIRKSVILLE, MO -- The USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Adair County is offering a new program to retiring and beginning farmers. The Transition Incentives Program (TIP) encourages retiring or retired owners or operators to transition their expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranches for sustainable grading or crop production. Executive Director of Adair County FSA Philip Ayers said it’s a win, win for both sides.
“Well number one, it’s for farmers who have land that’s in CRP that’s going to expire this year or is expired in the last two years. So it’s got to meet those CRP criteria first” said Ayers. “After that, they just got to get together and it’s either a situation where they’re going to sell the land to the beginning farmer or they’re going to give a long time lease to that beginning farmer.”
If all requirements are met, TIP provides annual rental payments to the retiring farmer for up to years after the CRP contract expires. Ayers said access to land is one of the greatest challenges faced by new farmers.
Supporting local economies and providing opportunities for beginning or socially disadvantaged Americans with a desire to farm is one of many ways the Obama Administration and USDA are working to rebuild and revitalize rural America.
To learn more about the program, producers interested in applying and participating in TIP should visit their local USDA Service Center of FSA county office at www.fsa.usda.gov
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