Wisconsin Ag Connection - First Renewals of CREP Contracts Due in September

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First Renewals of CREP Contracts Due in September
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 08/22/2016

The Wisconsin Farm Service Agency says the earliest-signed contracts for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program expire at the end of September. CREP Coordinator Brian Loeffelholz with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture says landowners holding those contracts signed in 2001-02 must renew them by September 30 if they want to remain in the program.

"You can't begin the re-enrollment process with FSA on September 30; you need to have it completed," Loeffelholz said. "This is a hard deadline set by federal CRP guidelines."

CREP is a component of the federal Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, that offers incentives and support from the state and participating counties. Landowners sign either 15-year contracts or perpetual easements to install conservation practices that protect water quality and create wildlife habitat, such as filter and buffer strips, along lakes and streams. They receive initial incentive payments, annual payments, and cost share payments. It is available in areas of the state that are particularly prone to erosion or flooding.

Loeffelholz says the first step is to call or visit the local FSA office. A representative will visit the enrolled land to check for compliance, and landowners may want to add or remove lands for the next 15-year contract.

The re-enrollment applies only to 15-year contracts signed in 2001-02, the years CREP first became available. It does not apply to perpetual easement contracts. Contracts signed after 2001 will face the Sept. 30 deadline in future years as they near their expiration dates.

To date, about 4,000 contracts covering 48,000 acres have been enrolled in CREP in Wisconsin.

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