Friday is the application deadline for farmers wanting to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up 43 sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

CRP is a voluntary program through which farmers receive rental payments for planting long-term conservation covers on qualifying land to improve water quality, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. Farmers may also qualify for cost-share assistance.

Producers wanting to offer eligible lands or CRP producers with expiring fall contracts can contact the USDA Service Center, 301 Eisenhower Drive, Marion, (620) 382-3714. Additional information about CRP is available online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp.