6 Broadcaster Press January 14, 2020 www.broadcasteronline.com CRP Enrollment Options The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently taking applications to enroll environmentally sensitive agricultural land into perennial cover for 10 to 15 years through the federally funded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Participants receive annual rental payments and 50 percent costshare to establish the perennial cover, which can be grasses, forbs, and/or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat. The 2018 Farm Bill created more haying and grazing management opportunities for land enrolled in CRP as well. A cropping history of 4 out of 6 years from 2012 to 2017 is required to enroll cropland. It also must be physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity. Land that was previously enrolled in CRP and expired on Sept. 30 of 2017, 2018 or 2019 that was not allowed to be re-enrolled in those years, has one chance to be reenrolled this year. Land currently enrolled that will be expiring on Sept. 30, 2020 is also currently eligible to be re-enrolled in CRP. Through February 28th, 2020, applications can be submitted through the general CRP enrollment period. Each offer is ranked according its Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) score. The EBI assesses the value of each offer for wildlife habitat, air quality, water quality, reduced erosion, and benefits that will likely endure beyond the contract period. After the enrollment period ends, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will decide what the EBI score will need to be at or above to be accepted. Offers that are accepted will have contract start dates of October 1st, 2020. Here are a few tips to help increase your general CRP offer’s EBI score and your chances of it being accepted. Offer a high diversity mix of native species. Establish pollinator friendly habitat or add a food plot. Consider offering only the portions of your fields with the highest erodibility index value. Your local FSA office can help you determine what your erodibility index values are. As a last resort, consider accepting less than the maximum rental rate. Another option to enroll environmentally sensitive land into CRP is through the noncompetitive continuous CRP enrollment. Cropland must meet the same basic eligibility requirements as for a general CRP enrollment, but must also meet additional targeted environmental requirements. Practices like buffer strips, wetland restoration, duck nesting habitat, pollinator habitat, prairie strips, windbreaks, shelterbelts, or living snow fences are eligible to be enrolled through continuous CRP. Marginal pasture land may also be eligible. Continuous CRP enrolled land also receives an annual rental rate and 50% cost-share. New land enrolled through continuous CRP also receives a Signup Incentive Payment equal to 32.5 percent of the first full year annual rental payment and an additional Practice Incentive Payment of 5 percent for installing the practice. These incentive payments are not available for land enrolled through general CRP. New land can be enrolled in continuous CRP year-round. Land that was previously enrolled in CRP and expired on Sept. 30 of 2017, 2018 or 2019, and was unable to re-enroll in those years, has one chance to be re-enrolled through Continuous CRP through August 21st, 2020. Land currently enrolled that will be expiring on Sept. 30, 2020 can be re-enrolled in continuous CRP starting April 1st through August 21st, 2020. CRP plays an important role in South Dakota’s wildlife populations. “The undisturbed grassland habitat that CRP provides is vitally important for grassland nesting songbirds, pheasants, waterfowl, as well as big game species like whitetailed deer,” said Chad Switzer, GFP wildlife program administrator. “There is a proven record of the benefits of CRP in South Dakota in both influencing wildlife populations and by providing producers with another option in their land management decisions.” For more information or to submit an offer, agricultural producers should set up an appointment with their local USDA Farm Service Agency Office or attend one of these upcoming CRP workshops. •1/14 Herreid Community Center, 1-3 P.M. •1/14 Crooks Community Center, 7-8:30 P.M. •1/16 Chamberlain Community Center, 7-8 P.M. •1/16 Aberdeen, Barnett Center Room 50 at NSU, 7-8:30 P.M. •1/17 Clear Lake 4-H Building, 2-4:40 P.M. •1/22 Britton, Marshall Co. Community Center, 3 -5 P.M. •1/23 Florence Community Center, 6-8 P.M. •1/28 Pierre Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, 6-8 P.M. •1/29 Wessington Springs, Springs Inn Café, 1:30 P.M. •1/29 Lake Norden Community Center, 6-8 P.M. •1/30 Webster,Day County Courthouse, 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists are also available to answer any questions you may have about how CRP could work for you. See the map below for the nearest biologist. Statewide Homeless Count To Be Conducted In January PIERRE – On Jan. 28, 2020, South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium (SDHHC), an affiliate of South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA), will conduct its annual statewide Point-In-Time (PIT) homeless count. The Point-In-Time homeless count is a critical source of annual data, providing characteristics of people who are experiencing homelessness. Data from the annual PIT homeless count is used to measure homelessness on local, state, and national levels. PIT count data helps policy makers and communities measure progress, identify strengths and gaps in services, increases public awareness of homelessness, and enhances system planning and responses. With the help of volunteers across the state, SDHHC will conduct a count of homeless persons within the geographic area of South Dakota. To be effective, SDHHC divides the state into six count areas. There are coordinators in each area who will be working with agencies and volunteers to conduct the 2020 PIT count. Coordinators and their areas are listed below. If you have been involved with the count in the past, or would like to be involved, please contact the individuals in your area for more information on training and organization plans for communities. •Sioux Falls Contact: Suzanne Smith, Augustana Research Institute, 605274-5010 or suzanne. smith@augie.edu •Rapid City Contact: Sara Hornick, Volunteers of America- Northern Rockies, 605-341-8336 or shornick@voanr.org •Minnehaha, Grant, Deuel, Codington, Hamlin, Clark, Kingsbury, Brookings, Miner, Lake, Lincoln, Moody, McCook, Turner Contacts: InterLakes Community Action Partnership, Arleen Weerheim, (605) 2566518 or aweerheim@ interlakescap.com and Tammie Denning 605334-2808 or tdenning@ interlakescap.com •Beadle, Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Marshall, McPherson, Potter, Roberts, Spink, Stanley, Sully, Walworth Contact: Patrick Gallagher, GROW South Dakota, (605) 626-2565 or patrick@ growsd.org •Bennet, Butte, Corson, Custer, Dewey, Fall River, Jackson, Haakon, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, Ziebach, Oglala Lakota Contact: Laurie Theilmann, Western South Dakota Community Action Agency, (504) 348-1460 or Laurie@ wsdca.org •Aurora, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Lyman, Mellette, Sanborn, Todd, Trip, Union, Yankton, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jerauld Jones Contact: Darcie Bultje, Rural Office of Community Services, (605) 487-7634 or dbultje@Rocsinc.org South Dakota Department Of Agriculture Seeking Summer Interns PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) is seeking to fill several paid internships for the summer of 2020. “An internship with the Department of Ag is a great opportunity for students to receive practical experience to add to their resume,” said SDDA Secretary Kim Vanneman. “Consider applying today!” The Department is offering internships with the following programs and locations: • Forestry Health, two positions, located in Rapid City • State Fair, Marketing/Events, located in Huron • Plant Pest Survey Specialist, three positions, statewide • Office of the Secretary, Communications and Special Projects, located in Pierre Applicants must be enrolled in secondary education and have completed a minimum of two years, or one year for Vocational Technical Institutes. An agricultural science background is preferred for some positions. All positions require good oral and written communication skills, and the ability to work cooperatively with private land and business owners, and the general public. For more information, contact the South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources at: https://bhr.sd.gov/, or call 605.773.3148. Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $32.5 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 132,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Williams And Ree To Perform At The South Dakota State Fairgrounds In March HURON, S.D. – The South Dakota State Fair is excited to host Williams and Ree at the Nordby Exhibit Hall on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds on Friday, March 13. Comedian Mark Gramm will open for Williams and Ree. Williams and Ree is a music and comedy phenomenon. This long running duo eschews political correctness and conformity and spins comedy gold from the union of a Plains Indian (Terry Ree) and a Western Angloid (Bruce Williams). The framework surrounding the comedic pair is music, which has earned them a Country Music Award (CMA) vocal duo nomination. Their television credits include Country Kitchen, HeeHaw, Laff TV, and Comedy Central. They currently host Country Thunder Music Festivals around North America and are featured on Sirius Radio. Advanced general admission tickets are $20. A limited amount of reserved tables are being sold. Table costs are $30 per seat, with a minimum of eight seats and a maximum of 11 seats. Tickets are available at www. sdstatefair.com or at the SD State Fair Office. Attendees must be 18 years or older. Tickets will also be available at the door for $25. Members of the media can download images here. For more information on State Fair events, contact the fair office at 800.529.0900, visit sdstatefair.com, or find it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $32.5 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 132,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Find the right job for you! Check Out The Broadcaster Help Wanted Section! 201 W Cherry Vermillion 624-4429 RAISE YOUR Expectations 48th Annual Black Angus Production Sale Saturday ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? NAMED 2019 BEST BANK IN SOUTH DAKOTA by Forbes Magazine ® 101 W Main St | Vermillion 605.624.4461 CorTrustBank.com ID 405612 Featured Sires: Mill Brae Conf Plus 7059 S Powerpoint WS 5503 N A F Ten X 509 PA Fortitude B1062 Bartels Asset 3050 624 PA Destination 6023 PA Scale House 517 S A W Payweight 676 PA New Day 635 Carter Longevity 6347 February 15, 2020 1:00 p.m. Selling 105 Head Registered Angus Cattle 70-2-year old bulls 25-yearling bulls 10-bred heifers Leader Angus Farm Gordon Leader (402)388-4949 OR Mark Leader (605)660-1933 55368 Hwy 12 Crofton, NE Sale Will Be Held At The Ranch… 2 Miles East of Crofton, NE on Highway 12 2 Miles West of the Highway 81 and 12 Junction