Continuous CRP Signup: The Simple, Easy Way to Establish Buffers

Contact: Jasper Parker, 405-742-1243

Stillwater, Oklahoma Dec. 5, 2005—Establishing buffers through the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a simple, fairly lucrative, and cost-efficient ways to protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat. Continuous CRP is simple because the signup is always open and the rules are streamlined compared to traditional CRP. Currently, there are more than 13,521 Oklahoma acres enrolled in the program through 434 contracts.

To be eligible, you must own the land. Cropland is eligible if it was planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity in two of the last five crop years. It also must be physically and legally capable of being cropped. The land does not have to be highly erodible.

Marginal pasture suitable for use as a riparian buffer is also eligible. This includes any land along streams or rivers that is grazed, whether previously seeded to grass or not. Most land covered by an expiring CRP contract determined suitable for a CRP buffer practice is likewise eligible. However, the acreage offered under the marginal pasture provision must be planted to adapted trees. "As long as your offer meets these requirements and includes eligible buffer practices, it will be approved. It’s that simple," said State Conservationist M. Darrel Dominick, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

There are also extra financial incentives to enrolling land into Continuous CRP practices. Continuous CRP rental rates include a 20 percent incentive or bonus added to the annual rental rate for key practices. These practices include field windbreaks, grassed waterways, filter strips, and riparian buffers. These rental payments are made annually for the term of the contract after October 1. Continuous CRP contracts last 10 to 15 years, depending on the approved practice. Participants also receive a one-time up-front signing incentive bonus equal to $10 per acre for each year under contract. A practice incentive payment of 40 percent, in addition to the regular 50 percent cost-share for applying eligible practices, is also part of the package. Cost share payments are made when the approved practices are completed.

Landowners with questions and/or an interest in applying buffer practices under the continuous CRP should contact their local NRCS Field Service Center or Farm Service Agency (FSA) office at their local USDA Service Center.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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