Continuous CRP ‘too good to pass up’

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN GARY SCHULER
The most popular conservation program ever developed has just been made better.



Financial incentives now being offered make the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) too good to pass up.



Landowners are finding out that the cost of installing eligible conservation practices, like waterways or filter strips, is more than paid for in the short term. Plus a 10- to 15-year contract provides additional financial returns.



The Continuous CRP allows landowners to enroll small acreages at any time of the year without going through the competitive bidding process of the general CRP signup. These small acreages can be thought of as vegetative buffers that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat.



Practices that are eligible include: new grass waterways, grass filter strips or tree plantings along streams, contour buffer strips in fields, new windbreaks, and shallow water areas for wildlife.



The federal government is providing $350 million in financial incentives over the next year or so to enroll environmentally sensitive land along streams, rivers and public water supplies.



The first incentive is a signup bonus of $10 per acre for every year the contract covers. This amounts to $100 to $150 per acre at the start of the contract before the buffer practice is even begun.



Then the landowner receives 50 percent cost-sharing from USDA when the practice is completed, plus another incentive payment equal to 40 percent of the practice installation cost.



In essence, the government pays for 90 percent of the cost of the practice. Most Continuous CRP practices also pay higher contract rental rates because of 10 to 20 percent incentives on top of the usual soil rental rate.



So, how does this pencil out economically?



If a landowner wishes to construct a waterway in a field of Irwin soil, he or she can expect to have the full cost of the waterway paid for, plus net more than $500 at the end of the 10-year contract for every acre enrolled in the program.



Never before has the government offered such a good deal for conservation. In these difficult economic times, this means more cash in farmers’ pockets. And it does something very positive for water quality.



This program will be a boost for the Marion Reservoir Protection Program. Any person who owns or farms land in the drainage area above the lake is encouraged to stop by the USDA Service Center and enroll in the program.







Gary Schuler is the district conservationist for Marion County.

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