05-31-2004
Heavy Rains Point to Need for Buffers; CREP Available to Protect Cropland

(Editor: State map and photos available - please call.) MADISON--Following the recent heavy rains and runoff that have significantly damaged farmland throughout Wisconsin, do you have a recently planted field that has scour damage from the runoff and flooding? Do you have fields where crops will remain flooded, possibly for weeks? Did your investment in seed and fertilizer go "down the river"? Will local governments spend your tax dollars to clean sediment out of road ditches and plugged culverts? One way to prevent this damage is through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) which is available in all or portions of 47 counties to reduce runoff damage and improve water quality.

Since October 2001, CREP has been available to landowners to establish buffers that are either planted to trees or to grasses to protect water resources from runoff. The buffers enrolled in CREP generally range in width from 30 feet to the maximum eligible width, if needed, of 150 feet.

"Buffers reduce the scouring impact of water and enrolling cropland located next to streams into buffers will remove these sensitive lands that are often subject to flooding," explained Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. "Buffers also remove 50 to 90 percent of the sediment and nutrients from runoff and keep these pollutants from entering the stream. In addition to a stream buffer, landowners can also construct grassed waterways to protect areas of the field where water concentrates and erodes the topsoil," Nilsestuen said.

There are significant incentives for landowners to enroll these lands into CREP and install these conservation practices. The state and federal government offer cost-sharing and incentives that cover much of the cost of the conservation practice. The USDA Farm Service Agency provides an annual incentive payment that averages about $115 per acre, per year, over 15 years. The amount of the incentive payment generally ranges from about $40 to $150 per acre, per year for the 15 years, depending on the type of soil. The state agriculture department provides, through county land conservation departments, an additional one time, up front payment for the 15-year agreements, and has higher payments available to landowners willing to sign a perpetual conservation easement. The state CREP payments average about $120 per acre for a 15-year agreement and about $960 per acre for land enrolled in a CREP perpetual conservation easement. Total incentives from both the state and federal government average about $1,700 per acre for the 15-year agreement and about $2,700 per acre for the perpetual conservation easement.

The next time heavy rains and flooding occur, landowners that enroll their lands in CREP can recall the incentive payments and not have the damage that results from the rains and flooding. Instead of significantly reduced crop yields or dollars spent for seed and fertilizer that washed away, the lands can be protected from flooding and erosion through permanently established vegetation.

About one-third of the 100,000 acre goal has already been enrolled in CREP buffers, grassed waterways and other practices. The funds are available until the 100,000-acre goal is achieved and signups can be taken through December 31, 2007.

Now is the time to count up the storm losses and turn them into benefits. Personal benefits result from the incentive payments, and the public benefits from reduced costs needed to deal with the flooding and erosion, and the improved quality of the public's water resources.

"Through CREP, we are removing phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment from our lakes and streams which will reduce algae blooms, improve fish spawning areas and habitat, and improve overall water quality," Nilsestuen said. "This is a unique opportunity to leverage limited state tax dollars with federal money. For every dollar that Wisconsin spends to achieve these successes, we also gain $4 to $5 in federal money to help us achieve the goals."

Program sign-up is first-come, first-served through December 31, 2007. For more information, or to determine if your land is eligible, contact your local office of the Farm Service Agency or your county Land Conservation Department. You can find both organizations in the government pages of your telephone book.
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