Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Sign-Up to Begin May 13

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Farmers will again be able to enroll environmentally sensitive cropland in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) beginning May 13. This popular program provides annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years, cost share for the installation of best management practices (BMPs) and up to $200 per acre as a one-time signing incentive bonus payment. Farmers interested in installing 35 to 100 foot grass or forest buffers adjacent to waterways, protecting highly erodible land, or establishing or restoring wetlands, should go to their local soil conservation district to get additional information.

“The CREP offers a win-win-win opportunity,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “Farmers get fairly compensated for protecting environmentally sensitive lands, BMP installation moves us closer to achieving our Bay clean up goals and stream buffers can serve to meet the new nutrient management requirements for establishing setbacks when applying fertilizers.”

Maryland was the first state in the nation to take advantage of the unique State/Federal partnership, establishing a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in 1997. As the program matures, many of the early participants’ contracts are expiring. These participants may re-enroll program acres beginning May 13. The agreement with USDA is to support enrollment of up to 100,000 acres.

“We have been hovering at 70,000 for several years,” said MDA Assistant Secretary for Resource Conservation Royden N. Powel III. “New acres continue to be enrolled, but program contracts are now expiring. In 2013, participants will have to decide whether to re-enroll close to 10,000 acres. Re-enrollment requires a significant amount of staff field work, so we encourage participants to contact the Farm Service Agency and their local soil conservation district office quickly.”

Enrollment in the CREP has been closed since October 1, 2012 due to federal budgetary concerns.

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