The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provides incentive for landowners to protect water quality and improve wildlife habitat on cropland and forestland. It is part of the Conservation Reserve Program, but each state provides more incentive for the installation of specific practices. The Farm Service Agency will share in the cost of restoring wetlands and establishing vegetative cover. This program takes land out of production in return for annual rental payments to the landowner for this expense. This program is a component of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Land Use
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Cropland, Forestland
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Focus
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Cost-Share payments, Rental payments
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Resource Concern
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Soil erosion, Water quality, Wildlife habitat
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Purpose
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The environmental purpose is to protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat and safeguard ground and surface water.
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Landowner Benefits
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Landowners can receive annual rental payments, cost-share payments and technical assistance. In addition, a sign-up incentive is given to participants to install specific conservation practices.
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Description
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The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) addresses high-priority conservation issues of both local and national significance, such as impacts to water supplies, loss of critical habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife species, soil erosion and reduced habitat for fish populations such as salmon. Each state identifies an environmental issue that is agriculture related and then works with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to develop a project that addresses this issue.
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Practices
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Filter strips and forested buffers to protect streams, lakes, and rivers from sedimentation and agricultural runoff. The development and restoration of wetlands through planting of appropriate groundcover are other practices.
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Costs to Landowner
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Landowners must pay at least 50% of the costs of establishing the conservation practice. Needed and required maintenance practices may also be eligible for 50% cost-share.
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Eligibility
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Landowners are eligible if they have owned or leased the land for at least one year prior to enrollment. The land must be physically and legally capable of being cropped in a normal manner and meet cropping history and other requirements. Enrollment is on a continuous basis rather than waiting for a specific sign-up period.
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Contract
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The contract is a 10 to 15 year commitment of keeping lands out of agricultural production.
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Other Notes
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Landowner Initiation
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- Contact the local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) or Farm Service Agency (FSA) where you own land.
- Ask about enrolling land into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
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