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 CRP.

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 CRP. Such factors may include, but are not limited to:

Soil erosion;

Water quality (both surface and ground water);

Wildlife benefits;

Soil productivity;

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;

Air quality; and

Cost of enrolling acreage in CRP.

Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, when all other appropriate factors are equivalent, CCC may give preference to offers from residents of the county or contiguous county where the offered land is located.

Acreage determined eligible for continuous signup, as provided in § 1410.30, may be automatically accepted in CRP if the:

Land is eligible under § 1410.6, as determined by the Deputy Administrator;

A producer is eligible under § 1410.5; and

A producer accepts either the maximum payment rate CCC is willing to offer to enroll the acreage in CRP or a lesser rate.

Grassland signup offers will be periodically batched, evaluated, and ranked on a competitive basis in which the offers selected will be those where the greatest environmental benefits relative to cost are generated, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, and further provided that:

The offered land is eligible under §§ 1410.4 and 1410.6, as determined by the Deputy Administrator;

The producer is eligible under § 1410.5;

The producer accepts either the maximum payment rate the Deputy Administrator is willing to offer to enroll the acreage in CRP, or a lesser rate; and

The offer ranks above the minimum ranking level applicable to each ranking period needed for offer acceptance, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.

Notwithstanding the preceding, acceptance or rejection of any grassland signup offers will be in the sole discretion of the Deputy Administrator and offers may be rejected for any reason as determined necessary and appropriate to accomplish the goals of CRP.

In ranking and evaluating grassland signup offers, different factors, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, may be considered from time to time for priority purposes to accomplish the goals of CRP. Such factors may include, but are not limited to:

Existence of expiring CRP or Grassland Reserve Program land;

Existing grassland;

Multi-species cover existence and predominance of native species;

Livestock grazing operation;

State priority enrollment criteria (non-land based) and State Focus Area (land-based) determined in consultation with State Technical Committee;

Whether the applicant is an eligible beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher; and

Other factors as determined by the Deputy Administrator.