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The latest sign up in the US Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program is benefiting Iowa.  The general signup that was completed last April brought in almost 2000 offers totaling just under 52,000 acres with 88% of those acres being accepted amounting to over 45,400 acres.  County Executive Director Bill Bartenhagen of the FSA office in Washington says here in Washington County 82% of the offers were accepted which was approximately 475 acres.

He says the CRP is used to prevent soil erosion, but has since grown into water quality and wildlife enhancement.  Bartenhagen says this was a general CRP signup period and does not anticipate one being held again next year.