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NEWS Farm Service Agency Public Affairs Staff 1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0506, Room 3624-South Washington, D.C. 20250-0506
Release No. 1410.07
Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178
Jan. 29, 2007
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a federal-state cooperative conservation program that addresses targeted agricultural-related environmental concerns. CREP participants voluntarily enroll in 10- to 15-year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Under CREP, participants often receive financial incentives, cost-share assistance and rental payments in exchange for removing cropland and marginal pastureland from agricultural production. Converting enrolled land to native grasses, trees and other vegetation reduces soil erosion, improves water quality and enhances wildlife habitat quality. CRP and CREP are authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended.
The Arkansas Cache River/Bayou Deview Watershed CREP targets the enrollment of up to 6,250 acres of eligible cropland or marginal pastureland to restore wetlands and trees, enhance wildlife habitat and reduce sediments and nutrients entering streams. The CREP agreement is a partnership between USDA and the State of Arkansas. In addition to CREP payments, the State of Arkansas will require a state permanent easement on lands enrolled under a federal contract and provide a one-time incentive payment as well as a state tax credit to participants.
Enrolling up to 6,250 acres into the CREP will significantly restore bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands that wildlife use for breeding, foraging and survival. Establishing hardwood trees, wetlands and riparian forest buffers will preserve terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species, including threatened and endangered species. The CREP will also improve water quality in the Cache River/Bayou DeView watershed by reducing sediments and nutrients entering streams from agricultural sources.
The permanent easement will ensure that conservation enhancements and forest cover will remain on the land to provide extended environmental and wildlife benefits. The easement allows forest management practices, such as thinning, to be conducted. Hunting and fishing are also approved practices under the easement. The permanent easement provision will continue to apply for perpetuity to enrolled acres after the end of the federal portion of the CREP contract.
The goals of the Arkansas Cache River/Bayou Deview Watershed CREP when fully enrolled include: - Restore and improve up to 6,250 acres of wetlands, hardwood trees and riparian buffer practices next to streams, rivers, creeks, wetlands and other water courses;
- Protect and restore wildlife habitat for endangered species, migratory birds and other resident wildlife. When fully implemented, the CREP will increase forest block size to connect fragmented bird habitat used for travel and foraging;
- Increase wildlife populations by 25 percent;
- Improve water quality in the Cache River/Bayou DeView watershed by reducing sediment loading by 7,500 tons annually; and
- Sequester up to 2.5-12.5 tons of carbon per acre annually.
The Arkansas Cache River/Bayou Deview Watershed CREP project area includes all or parts of the following counties: Monroe, Prairie and Woodruff.
Cropland and marginal pastureland are eligible for the CREP if otherwise eligible under normal CRP rules.
The CREP sign-up date will be announced at a later date in 2007. Sign up will continue until the 6,250-acre enrollment goal is attained, or through Dec. 31, 2007, whichever comes first. Enrolled land remains under contract for a minimum of 14 years and a maximum of 15 years, as specified in the contract.
To achieve the program goals, USDA and the State of Arkansas have agreed to the following CRP conservation practices for the Arkansas Cache River/Bayou Deview Watershed CREP: - CP3A (Hardwood Tree Planting);
- CP22 (Riparian Buffer) (Cropland and Marginal Pastureland);
- CP23 (Wetland Restoration);
- CP23A (Wetland Restoration, Non-floodplain); and
- CP31 (Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands).
Subject to contract terms and certain limitations, CREP participants will be eligible for the following types of USDA payments: - Signing Incentive Payment: A one-time additional payment of $100 per acre for land enrolled in CP22. This payment is made after the contract has been signed and approved.
- Practice Incentive Payment: A one-time additional rental payment equal to 40 percent of the eligible reimbursable cost to establish practice CP22.
- Wetland Restoration Incentive Payment: A one-time payment equal to 25 percent of the cost to restore the site's hydrology for practices CP23 and/or CP23A.
- Cost-share Assistance: 50 percent cost-share of reimbursable costs to install approved conservation practices.
- Cost-share assistance up to 50 percent for approved vegetative management activities according to normal CRP rules.
- Annual Rental Payment: An annual payment based on posted CRP rental rates and additional adjustments.
- For enrolled cropland, the base rental payment per acre will be determined using the weighted average soil rental rates using the three predominant soils; or
- For marginal pastureland enrolled in CP22, the base rental payment per acre will be determined using the County Marginal Pastureland rental rate; plus
- A 75 percent incentive payment added to the base soil rental rate or marginal pastureland rate; plus
- A per-acre maintenance incentive payment as provided under normal CRP rules.
Subject to contract terms and certain limitations, the State of Arkansas will provide the following: - A State Incentive Program payment, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, as follows:
- CREP enrollees must agree to enroll federal contract acres in a state permanent conservation easement and, upon securing the easement, will receive a one-time payment of $160 per acre. A one-time payment will be issued to the participant when:
- A riparian and wetland restoration state tax credit to eligible participants for out-of-pocket costs incurred as part of the CREP practice installation.
- Pay all costs associated with the state's annual environmental monitoring programs.
- Provide technical assistance to implement the CREP.
The total cost over a 15-year period is estimated at $9.4 million with USDA contributing $7.1 million, or 75 percent, and the State of Arkansas funding $2.3 million, or approximately 25 percent. The $2.3 million does not include any costs that may be assumed by producers.
Yes. CREP is another option under CRP that farmers and ranchers may select to enhance their land. Eligible producers may still enroll otherwise eligible land in the general CRP or continuous sign-up CRP. However, CREP generally provides additional benefits not available through general and/or continuous sign-up. For instance, CREP payments are at a higher effective per acre payment rate because additional federal and/or state incentives are usually offered.
Haying and grazing are not permitted during the CREP contract period unless USDA allows them for emergency or managed haying and grazing purposes, if applicable, under normal CRP rules.
More information on the Arkansas Cache River/Bayou Deview Watershed CREP is available at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and on FSA's Web site at:
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