Iowa farmers sign up nearly 100,000 acres into CRP

Iowa farmers have agreed to put nearly 100,000 acres of land into the government's Conservation Reserve Program.

The Iowa Farm Service agency says 99,684 acres were accepted into the program during the general signup period.

The CRP preserves land prone to erosion and reduces runoff of fertilizers and other chemicals into streams and rivers. The program also helps establish habitat for wildlife.

Farmers are paid to set aside the land and not use it for crops.

At the end of last year 1.7 million acres of Iowa farmland was enrolled resulting in payments to farmers of nearly $213 million.

The USDA says farmers enrolled 3.9 million acres into CRP this year nationally during general signup. A total of 29.6 million acres of farmland is enrolled.