Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program USDA Farm Service Agency

Marginal Pasture Land Marginal Pasture Land = Stream Buffer Any land within 180 feet of stream or water body that is not already forestland or woodland Largest incentives to enroll

Eligible Cropland Physically and legally capable of being cropped Meets 4 of 6 year history requirement –1996 to 2001 –Crop history documentation required –Managed hay qualifies with documentation Meets the erodibility index (EI) requirement –EI based on soil type and slope Largest incentives for largest EIs

CREP Decision? Larger payment incentives for steeper slope Smaller payment incentive CREP CROP

2. FSA determines cropping history and eligibility 4. FSA determines rental rate 5. Applicant signs agreeing to acres and rental rate 6. NRCS develops conservation plans 7. FSA determines cost share estimate 8. Sign Contract! 3. NRCS decides if land is eligible 1. Applicant signs register at FSA Office

Payments

Annual Rental Payments –Base Soil Rental Rate (SRR) –Annual Maintenance Payment –Incentive Payment Cropland –EI 8 to x SRR –EI > 12 to x SRR –EI > 20 to x SRR –EI > 25 to x SRR –EI > x SRR Marginal Pasture1.5 x SRR

Annual Rental Payments Paid in October after contract year ends Paid on acres enrolled

Cost-Share Assistance –50% from Farm Service Agency –Up to 50% from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Not available on all practices. Cannot be assigned. Processing takes 4 to 6 months. –Eligible costs limited by flat rates and not to exceed maximums

Incentive Payments Signing Incentive Bonus –$10 per acre per year –Paid at contract approval –Available on the water quality practices only Practice Incentive Payments –40% of eligible cost –Paid after practice completion –Available on the water quality practices only

Pennsylvania Game Commission Incentive For establishment of warm season grass on highly erodible cropland Paid at the soil rental rate Limited to $2999 Must be enrolled in Farm Game or Safety Zone program Additional planting assistance available from the Game Commission or other CREP partners

Description of how to establish/mange your Conservation Practice Specifications on materials to be used Fields and acreage for specific practice

Once enrolled you should expect… * annual rental payments * inspections of your CREP acreage Remember you are required to properly maintain the conservation practices throughout the life of the CREP contract!

CREP Practices USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

PA CREP NATIONAL PRIORITES Improve Water Quality Improve Wildlife Habitat * Primary Objective of PA CREP is Grassland Dependent Wildlife Reduce Soil Erosion

APPROVED CONSERVATION PRACTICES (CPs) -CP 1 Establishment of Introduced Grass -CP 2 Establishment of Native Grass -CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat -CP8A Grass Waterways -CP9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife -CP10 Grass Already Established -CP12 Wildlife Foodplot -CP15A Contour Grass Strips -CP21 Filter Strips -CP22 Riparian Buffer -CP23 Wetland Restoration -CP 29 Marginal Pasture Wildlife Habitat Buffer -CP 30 Marginal Pasture Wetland Buffer