Agriculture

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water. CREP is an offshoot of the country’s largest private-lands environmental improvement program—the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Eligible Recipients:
A specific CREP project begins when a state, Indian Tribe, local government, or local non-governmental entity identifies an agriculture related environmental issue of state or national significance. The parties and FSA then develop a project proposal to address particular environmental issues and goals.

Eligible Projects:
Like CRP, CREP contracts require a 10 to 15-year commitment to keep lands out of agricultural production. CREP provides payments to participants who offer eligible land.

Funding Source:
USDA Farm Service Agency

Funding Amount:
Varies

Matching Requirements:
50/50

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
New York State FSA Office
441 South Salina St.
Suite 536
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-477-6300
Fax: 315-477-6323
www.fsa.usda.gov

More Information:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=prod&topic=cep

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. Through CRP, you can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.

Eligible Producers:
To be eligible for CRP enrollment, a producer must have owned or operated the land for at least 12 months prior to close of the CRP sign-up period.

Eligible Land:
To be eligible for placement in CRP, land must be either:

1. Cropland (including field margins) that is planted to an agricultural commodity 4 of the previous 6 crop years from 2008 to 2013, and which is physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity; or
2. Certain marginal pastureland that is suitable for use as a riparian buffer or for similar water quality purposes.

Also, the land must be eligible and suitable for any of the following conservation practices: riparian buffers; wildlife habitat buffers; wetland buffers; filter strips; wetland restoration; grass waterways; shelterbelts; living snow fences; contour grass strips; salt tolerant vegetation; and shallow water areas for wildlife.

Funding Source:
USDA Farm Service Agency

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
New York State FSA Office
441 South Salina St.
Suite 536
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-477-6300
Fax: 315-477-6323
www.fsa.usda.gov

More Information:
www.fsa.usda.gov/crp