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WHAT IS THE CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CREP)?
CREP is an opportunity for Wisconsin landowners to voluntarily enroll agricultural
lands into conservation practices, such as riparian buffers, filter strips, wetland
restorations, waterways and establishment of native grasslands in the grassland
project area. There is no waiting period; enrollment and eligibility determinations
are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
It is a Federal-State-Local partnership between the United States Department Of
Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Department of Agriculture Trade
and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and participating county Land
Conservation Departments (LCD) throughout much of the state. USDA is providing $200
million in federal funds to landowners for the implementation of the federal portion
of the program. The State of Wisconsin is contributing $40 million in bond funds
to landowners while participating counties are utilizing LCD staff to implement
the state portion of the program.
HOW DOES CREP BENEFIT ME?
Annual Payments - On the federal side, USDA makes payments annually for up to 15
years, based on the specific soil types on the lands to be enrolled. There are different
rates for cropland and marginal pasture lands in each county. The annual rental
rates for cropland range from $35-$120 per acre, depending on the soil type. USDA
also provides an additional annual federal incentive payment from 35%-60%, of the
annual rental rate, depending on the practices to be installed, and an annual maintenance
payment of between $5 and $10 per acre per year depending again on the practices
installed.
Up-front Payments - In addition to these annual payments, the federal government
also pays $140-$150 per acre as an up-front, one-time signing incentive payment
(SIP) for filter strips, riparian buffers and grassed waterways.
The State of Wisconsin offers an additional incentive as an up-front, one-time payment
of 1.5 times the annual rental rate for 15-year agreements, and 12 times the annual
rental rate for perpetual conservation easements. The state payments are made up-front
after the agreement or easement is signed by the landowner.
Practice Payments - The federal government also pays 50% of the cost of installing
the eligible practices. In addition, practices eligible for a SIP are also eligible
for an additional 40% federal incentive called a practice incentive payment (PIP).
Wetland restorations will receive an additional incentive of 25% of the cost to
restore the land's hydrology. In addition, the state pays 20% of the cost of installing
eligible practices.
Note: You should check with your tax advisor to determine whether or not these payments
have any tax consequences for you.
IS MY LAND ELIGIBLE?
If your land falls within the designated towns on the county CREP map, you have
a crop history (you must have planted a commodity crop in 2 out of the last 5 years),
or the land meets the qualifications as marginal pastureland, you may be eligible
and should fill out an application.
In the riparian project areas, eligible lands are within 150 feet of an eligible
stream or water body. In the grassland project area, additional lands are eligible
that meet the crop history and are within 1000 feet of an eligible water body. In
the southern grassland project area the land must also be highly erodible. In the
northern grassland project area the land does not have to be highly erodible. Only
5,000 acres can be enrolled in this northern grassland area.
Lands currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are not eligible
for CREP unless the CRP contract expires during the CREP sign up period.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Contact your county FSA, NRCS or LCD office and ask them for both the federal and
state CREP applications. The federal application may not be directly available in
the LCD office. Someone will make a site visit and USDA will notify you if your
land is eligible for CREP. Make sure you indicate which lands you wish to enroll
and what type of practices or project you would like to undertake.
WHAT DOES A 15-YEAR AGREEMENT DO TO MY LAND?
The 15-Year agreement is a contract with the LCD to install and maintain practices
for 15 years in exchange for a state incentive payment, and cost-sharing. The landowner
enjoys recreational use of the land during the contract period. The restrictions
on land use are specified in the agreement and generally state that the land must
be maintained in the vegetation type indicated in the conservation plan. If you
sell the property, the state may require a transfer of the agreement to a new owner.
Repayment of state program funds may be required if the agreement is violated.
WHAT DOES A PERPETUAL EASEMENT DO TO MY LAND?
The perpetual conservation easement is a permanent land use restriction which will
be held by the county or the state, with an underlying 15-year federal contract.
The landowner enjoys recreational use of the land in perpetuity. The restrictions
on land use are specified in the easement and generally state that the land must
be maintained in the vegetation type indicated in the conservation plan. No structures
may be built on the lands enrolled.
Through a conservation plan the landowner may indicate what types of uses they desire
to have after the federal 15-year contract expires. Some of these uses may include:
timber harvest, limited pasturing or haying, prescribed burns or other management
techniques.
Repayment of state program funds may be required if the easement is violated.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED FOR A PERPETUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT?
If you are planning on enrolling lands into a perpetual conservation easement you
must provide some important information. Be prepared to have ALL owners of the property
sign the easement. This means if you jointly hold ownership to the land with a relative
and their name(s) are listed on the deed, they must sign the easement. Perpetual
easements also require a title search and the landowner must contract for this service.
The State of Wisconsin will fully reimburse the landowner for the cost of a title
search on all perpetual easements after they have been recorded. Landowners seeking
perpetual easements must obtain signatures of mortgage holders or lenders; therefore
make certain you can obtain these signatures so your application is not delayed.
All applicants must supply a copy of the last tax bill. If these records and signatures
are not provided it will delay the process.
WHAT ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS?
Public access is not required for CREP.
ELIGIBLE PRACTICES:
- Filter Strips (CP21)
- Riparian Buffers (CP22)
- Grassed Waterways (CP8a), up to 1000 feet into cropland from the enrolled riparian
buffer or filter strips may be eligible.
- Wetland Restorations (CP23), in conjunction with an enrolled riparian buffer, filter
strip, or established upland grassland habitat.
- Permanent Introduced Grasses (CP1)*
- Permanent Native Grasses (CP2)*
- Established Legumes and Grasses (CP10)*
- Oak Savanna Ecosystem Restoration and Tall Grass Prairie Ecosystem Restoration (CP25)*
*Practices only eligible within the grassland project areas.
Maps
If interested in applying for the CREP program in Wood County, contact Jerry Storke
at (715) 421-8475.
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