February 2011

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and the state of Oregon have agreed to implement a voluntary Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to improve the water quality of streams providing habitat for nine salmon and two trout species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act

The project area includes all streams in Oregon providing habitat for the endangered salmon and trout species that cross agricultural lands.

Goals of the Oregon CREP include:

The Oregon CREP is authorized to enroll up to 95,000 acres of riparian buffers and filter strips, plus 5,000 acres of wetlands, for a total maximum acreage of 100,000.

The total program cost is estimated at $250 million. Of this, CCC will provide 80 percent and the state of Oregon or other non-federal sources will provide 20 percent of the total cost.

CCC will pay applicable land rental costs, 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices, an annual maintenance incentive, and a portion of the costs of providing technical assistance.

The state of Oregon will pay 25 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices, all the costs of the annual monitoring program, and a portion of the technical assistance costs.

Annual rental payments will be based on the soil rental rate, as calculated by FSA. Rates for irrigated cropland may be paid on the condition that the participant also signs an agreement with the State to lease irrigation water for in-stream use.

In addition to annual rental rates and maintenance incentive payments under the CRP contract, CCC will make an annual incentive payment at the following rates:

Producers may also offer eligible acreage for general or continuous CRP signup.

In addition to offering acreage along salmon and trout streams, the applicant must satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for CRP.

Land must be cropland that has been cropped four out of the past six years (2002-2007) that is physically and legally capable of being cropped. Marginal pastureland is also eligible to be enrolled provided that it is suitable for use as a riparian buffer planted to trees.

Producers are eligible if the land has been owned or operated for at least one year prior to enrollment. Land with an existing CRP contract or an approved offer with a contract pending are not eligible for CREP until that contract expires.

CREP enrollment will be on a continuous basis. Producers can sign up at the local USDA Service Center.

Note: Haying and grazing are not permitted during the CRP contract period unless FSA allows them for emergency or managed haying and grazing purposes, if applicable, under normal CRP rules.

More information on the Oregon CREP is available at local FSA county offices, on FSA's Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov and on ODNR's Web site at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/NRD/water_crep.shtml

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