Basic CREP Rules and Benefits
CREP pays an annual rental payment to the landowner for riparian land taken out of active production for the duration of the contract. Rental payment amounts are pre-determined, and are based on dominant soil types, the average cost to rent similar ground in the area, and the number of acres actually enrolled. The payment is made because you will not be grazing that property for the duration of the contract.
Only crop land and/or marginal pasture land, immediately adjacent to an eligible waterway, may be enrolled.
The offered land must be a minimum of 35 feet in width, measured from the normal high water line. It may be up to a maximum of 180 feet in width, measured from the normal high water line.
You must have owned the land offered for enrollment for not less than 12 months prior to enrolling that land.
Owner must be determined eligible by Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Land must be determined eligible by FSA.
Waterway must be determined eligible by FSA.
There must be a natural resource "need" which will be addressed by enrolling in the program.
You must submit a completed application (Form CRP-2C) to FSA. The application must then be officially accepted by the County Committee.
Your offered land must be reviewed for the presence of cultural resources and endangered species. (The presence of either does not mean you cannot proceed; it merely means there are some mitigating considerations that must be addressed in the planning stage.)
You must be closely involved in the development of a Conservation Plan. The plan will be written by a technical service provider, but it is YOUR plan, so you WANT to be involved.
If your Conservation Plan involves a tree-planting component, you will need to meet with a Forester on the site to discuss your options and wishes.
If you include an off-site stockwater component, you will need to have an engineer discuss the project with you so the engineer can properly design that stockwater facility. (The engineer is part of the technical service provided to you by USDA.)
Absolutely NO GRAZING is allowed! CREP is a program that pays you to REST your pasture for the duration of the contract. All land enrolled in CREP must be excluded from access by any grazing domesticated animal. Under the present rules there is no provision to accommodate grazing, even as a management tool. You must be in a position to assure that no animals will enter the CREP area, including animals that do not belong to you. If this presents a difficulty, you need to discuss this with the FSA County Committee and/or FSA staff before you commit to a contract. Penalties for non-compliance can be severe.
You must maintain regular and open communication with the local FSA staff and the County Committee for the duration of the contract. This is entirely in your best interest, and will help ensure your satisfaction with the contract. In fact, before you ever sign your contract, FSA will ask you to come into the office so that we (all the partner agencies) can thoroughly go over with you every aspect of the contract. At this time the contractual terms and conditions will be fully explained, and we will answer any questions you may still have. WE just want to make sure YOU do not have any lingering doubts when you "sign on the dotted line."