NEWS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of Communications News Room 460-A
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Internet: News@usda.gov   Phone: 202-720-9035
World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.usda.gov
     
Release No. 0368.03
                                                
                               Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
                              Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178

 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - THE NEW YORK STATE CREP
                  Oct. 29, 2003

1. What is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program?

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a
federal-state natural resource conservation program targeted
to address state and nationally significant agricultural
related environmental problems.  Under CREP, program
participants receive financial incentives from USDA to
voluntarily enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
in contracts of 10- to 15-years.  Participants remove
marginal pastureland or cropland from agricultural
production and convert the land to native grasses, trees and
other vegetation.  CRP is authorized by the Food Security
Act of 1985, as amended.

2. What is the New York CREP?

The New York CREP will help farmers address erosion and
nutrient runoff on 30 million acres of land within New
York's 12 major watersheds.  Retiring highly erodible
cropland and planting it to protective vegetation will
enhance water quality and provide shelter, nesting areas and
food for many species of wildlife.  Buffers planted along
stream banks and rivers will filter phosphorus, nitrogen and
sedimentation from the waterways.

3. What areas in New York are included in the program?

Producers can offer eligible cropland and marginal
pastureland in New York's 12 major watersheds, which serve
approximately 55 percent of New York's population.  The 12
watersheds are:

* Allegany River Basin
* Black River/St. Lawrence Watersheds
* Chesapeake Bay/Susquehana River Watershed
* Delaware River Watershed
* Genesee - Oswego - Seneca - Oneida River Watershed
* Lake Champlain Watershed
* Lake Erie - Niagara River Watersheds
* Lake Ontario Direct Drainage Watershed
* Long Island Sound - Peconic Bay Watershed
* Lower Hudson River Basin
* Mohawk River Watershed
* Upper Hudson River Watershed.

Public wellhead protection areas, as designated by the New
York State Department of Health in accordance with the
state's approved wellhead protection program, are eligible
for enrollment within these 12 watersheds.  Interested
producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency
(FSA) county office for specific information regarding their
eligibility for CREP.

4. What are the goals of the New York CREP?

The goals of the New York CREP are to:

* Reduce annual nutrient loads of phosphorus by 73,000
pounds, nitrogen by 29,000 pounds per year and sediments
from 109,000 tons per year;  
* Reduce the potential for animal waste to enter streams and
rivers;
* Establish tree buffers adjacent to 4,598 stream miles and
473,457 acres of surface waters; and
* Establish grass and trees on areas that recharge drinking
water supplies for cities and towns.

5. What conservation measures are applicable?

To better serve program goals, specific CRP conservation
practices have been identified for inclusion in the program.

For land qualifying on the basis of erosion, where at least
50 percent of the land is within 1,000 feet of a surface
water source and has an erodibility index of 15 or greater
(relatively steep-sloping land), the applicable practices
are:

* CP 1 - Establishment of Permanent Introduced Grasses and
Legumes
* CP 2 - Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses
* CP 3 - Tree Planting
* CP 3A - Hardwood Tree Planting
* CP 4B - Permanent Wildlife Habitat Corridor, Non-Easement
* CP 4D - Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Non-Easement
* CP 9 - Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife
* CP 10 - Vegetative Cover - Grass - Already Established
* CP 11 - Vegetative Cover - Trees - Already Established
* CP23 - Wetland Restoration

(A map of the eligible areas is available in USDA Service
Centers.)

For wellhead protection areas designated by the New York
State Department of Health, the applicable practices are:

* CP 1 - Establishment of Permanent Introduced Grasses and
Legumes
* CP 2 - Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses
* CP 3 - Tree Planting
* CP 3A - Hardwood Tree Planting
* CP 4B - Permanent Wildlife Habitat Corridor, Non-Easement
* CP 4D - Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Non-Easement
* CP 10 - Vegetative Cover - Grass - Already Established
* CP 11 - Vegetative Cover - Trees - Already Established

For lands qualifying as riparian buffers, the applicable
practices are:

* CP8A - Grass Waterways
* CP15A - Establishment of Permanent Vegetative Cover -
Contour Grassed Strips
* CP21 - Filter Strips (Grass Strips)
* CP22 - Riparian Buffers (Trees Planted Next to Streams)
* CP29 - Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer
* CP30 - Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer

6. Who and what are eligible for the New York CREP and for
how long?

Enrollment will be on a continuous basis beginning Dec. 1,
2003 through Dec. 31, 2007.  Cropland must meet cropping
history criteria and be physically and legally capable of
being cropped in a normal manner.  Marginal pastureland is
also eligible for enrollment provided it is suitable for use
as a buffer practice.  Persons who have acreage under an
existing CRP contract or an approved offer with a contract
pending are not eligible for CREP on that acreage until that
contract expires.  Other requirements will also apply. 
Contract terms will be set out in the CRP contract and
regulations.

7. What are the payments under CREP?

Subject to contract terms and certain limitations, New York
CREP participants will be eligible for the following types
of USDA payments:

* Signing Incentive Payment: A one-time payment of $100 to
$150 per acre for land enrolled in a grass waterway,
riparian buffer or filter strip practice.  This payment is
made after the contract has been signed and approved.

* Practice Incentive Payment:  A one-time payment equal to
about 40 percent of the eligible cost for certain practices. 
This payment is in addition to up to 50 percent cost-share
assistance that USDA will provide for installing eligible
practices.

* Infeasible to Farm Acreage:  In cropland where more than
50 percent of a field is enrolled as a buffer, if the
remainder of the field (not part of the original offer) is
determined as infeasible to farm, then the remainder may be
enrolled as part of the practice at regular rental rates. 
Incentives do not apply for land determined and enrolled as
infeasible to farm.

* Annual Incentive Payments:  Annual incentive payments of
145 percent of the established weighted average county soil
rental rate, as determined and established by CCC will be
used in connection with normal CRP sign-ups for all
practices under this agreement.

* Annual Rental Payment for the life of the contract:
Producers are eligible for a base Soil Rental Rate (SRR)
equal to the weighted SRR of the three predominant soils.

* Cost-Share Assistance:  Cost-share assistance of up to 50
percent for the installation of the eligible conservation
practices on enrolled land apply.  

* Annual Maintenance Payment:  In accordance with Handbook
2-CRP procedure, annual maintenance payments apply.  

In addition, New York will offer the following:

* An annual tax credit to producers whose lands are enrolled
in CREP amounting to 100 percent of the school property tax.

8. What is the cost of the New York CREP?

USDA will contribute an estimated $52 million and New York
State will fund an additional $10 million.  The $62 million
does not include any costs that may be assumed by producers.

9. Can I still enroll in general CRP and continuous sign-up
CRP?

Yes.  CREP is another option under CRP that farmers may
select to enhance their land; applicants may still enroll
eligible land in the regular general CRP or continuous
sign-up CRP.  However, CREP provides additional benefits not
available through the general and/or continuous sign-up. 
The CREP enrollment process is on a continuous basis and
payments are at a higher effective rate.

10. Can I hay or graze my CREP land?

Haying and grazing currently are not permitted during the
CRP contract period unless USDA allows them for emergency
purposes or managed haying and grazing purposes, if
applicable, under normal CRP rules.

11. Where can I get more information about the program?

More information on the New York CREP is available from
local FSA offices and on FSA's Web site at:
www.fsa.usda.gov.

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