[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 10]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1410.31]

[Page 345-346]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
  CHAPTER XIV--COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 1410--CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1410.31  Acceptability of offers.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, producers 
may submit offers for the amounts they are willing to accept as rental 
payments to enroll their acreage in the CRP. The offers may, to the 
extent practicable, be evaluated on a competitive basis in which the 
offers selected will be those where the greatest environmental benefits 
relative to cost are generated, and provided that the offer is not in 
excess of the maximum acceptable payment rate established by the Deputy 
Administrator for the for the area offered. Acceptance or rejection of 
any offer, however, shall be in the sole discretion of the CCC and 
offers may be rejected for any reason as determined needed to accomplish 
the goals of the program.
    (b) In evaluating contract offers, different factors, as determined 
by CCC, may be considered from time to time for priority purposes to 
accomplish the goals of the program. Such factors may include, but are 
not limited to:
    (1) Soil erosion;
    (2) Water quality (both surface and ground water);
    (3) Wildlife benefits;
    (4) Soil productivity;
    (5) Likelihood that enrolled land will remain in non-agriculture use 
beyond the contract period, considering, for example, tree planting, 
permanent wildlife habitat, or commitments by a participant to a State 
or other entity to extend the conservation plan;
    (6) Air quality; and
    (7) Cost of enrolling acreage in the program.
    (c) Acreage determined eligible for continuous signup, as provided 
in Sec.  1410.30, may be automatically accepted in the program if the:
    (1) Land is eligible under Sec.  1410.6, as determined by the Deputy 
Administrator;
    (2) A producer is eligible under Sec.  1410.5; and
    (3) A producer accepts either the maximum payment rate CCC is 
willing

[[Page 346]]

to offer to enroll the acreage in the program or a lesser rate.