Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

1. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program USDA Farm Service Agency

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 1. Applicant signs register at FSA Office 2. FSA determines cropping history and eligibility 3. NRCS decides if land is eligible 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!

7. Payments

8. Payments • Annual Rental Payments • Base Soil Rental Rate (SRR) • Annual Maintenance Payment • Incentive Payment • Cropland • EI 8 to 12 .75 x SRR • EI > 12 to 20 1.5 x SRR • EI > 20 to 25 1.75 x SRR • EI > 25 to 30 2.0 x SRR • EI > 30 2.25 x SRR • Marginal Pasture 1.5 x SRR

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

16. 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!

17. CREP Practices USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

18. PA CREPNATIONAL PRIORITES • Improve Water Quality • Improve Wildlife Habitat * Primary Objective of PA CREP is Grassland Dependent Wildlife • Reduce Soil Erosion

19. 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