Transition Incentives Program (TIP)

The Transition Incentives Program (TIP) offers assistance for land owners and operators, as well as opportunities for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. It provides land owners or operators with two additional annual rental payments on land enrolled in expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, on the condition they sell or rent this land to a beginning farmer or rancher or to a socially disadvantaged group. Up to two additional annual CRP payments can be obtained through TIP. New land owners or renters must return the land to production using sustainable grazing or farming methods.

Accepts applications on an ongoing basis!

Eligibility

Land owners/operators must have an expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract.

The owner/operator must agree to sell, or have a contract to sell, or agree to lease long-term (at least five years) the land enrolled in an expiring CRP contract to a beginning, veteran or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who is not a family member. The owner or operator must agree to permit the beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher to make conservation and land improvements according to an approved conservation plan during the last two years of the CRP contract.

A beginning farmer/rancher is defined as a person, or for entities has at least 50% interest in that entity, who has not been a farm or ranch operator for more than 10 years.

A veteran farmer/rancher is defined as a person, or for entities has at least 50% interest in that entity, who served in the Armed Forces and who has obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period, or operated a farm or ranch for no more than 10 years.

A socially disadvantaged farmer/rancher is defined as a farmer or rancher, or for entities has at least 50% interest in that entity, who is a member of a group whose members have historically been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as a member of that group without regard to their individual qualities. For this program, gender is not included.

Beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers participating in TIP may re-enroll otherwise eligible land under CRP’s continuous signup provisions including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. They must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch involved in CRP contract modification. Also, the beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher may be eligible for enrollment in USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, provided all eligibility requirements are met.

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