The Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up will be the topic of a meeting set for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center Auditorium.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service will discuss eligibility, the sign-up process and environmental benefits index point system.

The CRP enrollment period is Monday through Aug. 27. Land currently not enrolled in CRP may be offered in this signup, provided all eligibility requirements are met.

Additionally, current CRP participants with contracts expiring Sept. 30, covering about 4.5 million acres nationwide may make new contract offers.

Kansas has about 2.8 million acres of land enrolled in CRP, and 610,311 acres are set to expire Sept. 30.

CRP is a voluntary program that assists farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers to use their environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits.