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. Q&As 0464.02

Florida CREP - Questions and Answers

1.   What is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program?

In October 1997, USDA implemented a program under the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) called CREP. 

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program or CREP
(pronounced "krep") is a federal-state land retirement
conservation program targeted to address state and
nationally significant agriculture-related environmental
problems.  This voluntary program uses financial incentives
to encourage farmers and ranchers to enroll in the
Conservation Reserve Program in contracts of 14 to 15 years
to remove land from agricultural production.  CRP is
authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended
since the authorization.

2.   What is the Florida CREP?

The Florida CREP is a federal and state partnership
agreement to protect up to 30,000 acres of environmentally
sensitive land through the CRP.  Reducing sediment and
nutrients by retiring agricultural land will help safeguard
the Florida Everglades through cleaner water and increased
wildlife habitat.  The program will help improve ecosystems
from the northeast corner to the southern tip of the State. 

3.   What areas in Florida are included in the program?

Producers can offer to submit land in the Everglades and St.
Johns Ocklawaha-Indian River Lagoon System.  Florida CREP
will cover eligible acreage located within the South Florida
Water Management District and the St. Johns Water Management
District.

4.   What are the goals of the Florida CREP?

Florida CREP aims to:
*    Combine with other federal and state-funded projects
     to reduce annual phosphorus loading in the Lake
     Okeechobee and Indian River Lagoon by 100 metric tons
     through the establishment of conservation practices;
*    Increase the water storage area in the Lake Okeechobee
     watershed through wetland restoration;
*    Reduce agricultural pollutant loading in the lower St.
     Johns River and the Ocklawaha and Indian River Basin
     by at least 25 percent;
*    Provide substantial wildlife habitat.

5.   What conservation measures are applicable to Florida
CREP?

To better serve CREP program goals, specific CRP
conservation practices are included in the program.  These
are:

_    CP3A, Hardwood tree planting;
_    CP4D, Permanent wildlife habitat;
_    CP21, Filter strips;
_    CP22, Riparian buffer;
_    CP23, Wetland restoration.

You can find out more on these conservation practices in
USDA=s booklet The Conservation Reserve Program and on the
following web site:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crep.htm.

6.   Who can sign up for the Florida CREP and for how long?

Eligible producers can enroll in 14- to 15-year CRP
contracts with USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). 
Producers may also extend the benefits of the program
through separate contracts with Florida.  Applicants must be
able to offer eligible acreage and satisfy the basic
eligibility criteria for CRP.  Currently, land must be
cropland that has been cropped 2 out of the past 5 years and
is physically and legally capable of being cropped. 
Marginal pastureland is also eligible for enrollment
provided it is suitable for use as a riparian buffer planted

to trees.  In addition, applicants must generally have owned
or operated the land for at least 1 year prior to
enrollment.  Persons who have an existing CRP contract or an
approved offer with a contract pending are not eligible for
CREP until the CRP contract expires.

7.   What are the payments under CREP?

There are four types of USDA payments for which Florida CREP
participants will be eligible:

a.   Signing Incentive Payment (SIP) is a one-time up-front
payment of $140 to $150 per acre for land enrolled in
riparian buffer or filter strip practices.  This payment is
made soon after the contract has been signed and approved.

b.   Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) is an amount equal to
about 40 percent of the total eligible cost for establishing
filter strips or riparian buffers.  This incentive payment
is in addition to up to 50-percent cost-share assistance
that USDA will provide.

c.   Annual rental payment that is generally 180 percent of
the dryland cash rental rate for the county in which the
land is located.

d.   Cost-share assistance up to 50 percent for the
installation of the eligible conservation practices.

Florida will offer a one-time lump sum incentive payment,
pay a portion of the cost-share assistance, and provide
technical assistance.

8.   What is the cost of the Florida CREP?

When fully implemented with an enrollment of 30,000 acres,
the federal and state financial obligation will be
approximately $153 million over 15 years, with $96 million
coming from the Federal Government and $57 million from the
State.  Florida's share is approximately 37 percent of the
total program cost and the federal government's share is
approximately 63 percent.  This program cost does not
include costs that participants  may bear.

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

Yes.  CREP is another option that farmers may select to
safeguard their land.  Applicants may still enroll eligible
acreage into the regular CRP or continuous sign-up CRP as
long as the land is not enrolled in CREP.  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 is not currently permitted during the CRP
contract period unless USDA allows it for emergency
purposes.

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

Contact your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service
Center, Farm Service Agency office, Soil and Water
Conservation District, or the Florida Department of
Conservation and Recreation.  You can also visit the FSA web
site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crep.htm.

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