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. 0262.01
Dann Stuart (202) 690-0474
dan_stuart@wdc.usda.gov
ARKANSAS CREP - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program?
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. Through CREP, program participants receive
financial incentives to voluntarily enroll in the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in contracts of 10 to 15
years. Participants remove 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 Arkansas CREP?
The Arkansas CREP will improve water quality and wildlife
habitat by helping farmers reduce sediment loading and
create riparian buffers.
3. What areas in Arkansas are included in the program?
Producers within portions of Lonoke, Praire, Arkansas,
Jefferson and Pulaski Counties that meet the eligibility
requirements identified for the Arkansas CREP may be
eligible. Contact the local USDA Service Center to find out
if you operation is located within the project area.
4. What are the goals of the Arkansas CREP?
The goals of the Arkansas CREP are to:
* Reduce sediment loading in the targeted area by as much
as 10,000 tons per year.
* Increase wildlife populations through the creation of
riparian buffers.
* Establish 200 miles of riparian forest buffers to protect
and restore water quality and wildlife habitat.
5. What conservation measures are applicable?
Only riparian buffers are eligible for enrollment into the
Arkansas CREP.
6. Who can sign up for the Arkansas CREP and for how long?
Eligible producers will be able to enroll in 10- to 15-year
CRP contracts. The applicant must offer eligible acreage
and satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for CRP. 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, producers enrolling
the land 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 that contract
expires.
7. What are the payments under CREP?
Arkansas CREP participants will be eligible for the
following four types of USDA payments:
* Signing Incentive Payment - a one-time payment of $100 to
$150 per acre for land enrolled in a riparian buffer. This
payment is made soon after the contract has been signed and
approved.
* Practice Incentive Payment - a payment equal to about 40
percent of the eligible cost for establishing the riparian
buffer practice. This payment is in addition to the 50
percent cost-share assistance that USDA will provide.
* Annual rental payment that is about 200 percent of the
dryland cash rental rate for the county in which the land is
located.
* Cost-share assistance for the installation of the
conservation practices on land that is retired.
In addition, Arkansas will offer one-time lump sum incentive
payments.
8. What is the cost of the Arkansas CREP?
Based on the full implementation of the Arkansas CREP, which
projects an enrollment of 4,700 acres, the expected combined
financial federal and state obligation will be approximately
$10.2 million over 15 years, with $8.5 million coming from
USDA and $1.7 million coming from the state. This does not
include any costs that may be borne by producers.
9. Can I still enroll in general CRP and continuous sign-up
CRP?
Yes. CREP is another option that farmers may select to
enhance their land; applicants may still enroll eligible
land in the regular general CRP or continuous signup CRP.
However, CREP provides additional benefits not available
through the general and/or continuous signup. 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 permitted during the CRP contract
period unless USDA permits it for emergency purposes under
normal CRP rules.
11. Where can I get more information about the program?
Contact your county USDA Service Center, Farm Service Agency
office, Soil and Water Conservation District office, or
State of Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Additional
information is also available on FSA's web site:
www.fsa.usda.gov and on the State of Arkansas' web site:
http://www.gov.state.ar.us
# |
