Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

1
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Platte River Recovery Implementation Program
Bob Bettger September 2008
2
Platte River Components
Land Plan Water Plan Adaptive Management Plan
- Water Action Plan - State New Depletion Plans
3
Proposed PRRIP
- Implement in increments the first one to be
for 13 years - Use adaptive management to improve
understanding of species, their habitat needs and
our ability to improve habitat
4
Proposed Program Components
- Land Plan, 10,000 acres of suitable habitat
(29,000 acres long-term) - Water Plan

• Reduce shortages to U.S. fish Wildlife service
  target flows by 130,000 to 150,000 acre-feet per
  year on average (417 KAF long-term?)
• Prevent or offset for new depletions to target
  flows caused by uses begun or expanded since
  7-1-1997

5
The Platte-Republican CREP will reduce irrigation
water use, improve water quality, and enhance
wildlife habitat through establishment of
vegetative cover. Saving water will also
replenish streams, rivers and reservoirs, and
enhance wildlife.
6
CREP Goals
- reduce the application of water for cropland
irrigation - increase surface and ground-water
retention in streams, reservoirs, and
groundwater tables - provide up to 15,000
additional acres of conservation buffers and
restored wetlands - reduce the application of
agricultural products and chemicals - reduce
leaching of nitrates and phosphates into streams
and groundwater - provide up to 85,000 additional
acres of native grassland habitat for wildlife -
reduce the total consumption of fossil fuels for
irrigation
7
CREP Area Map
8
Eligibility Requirements
- Cropland that has been cropped 4 out of the 6
years, in 1996-2001. - Cropland that is
physically and legally capable of being planted
to an agricultural commodity and capable of being
irrigated when offered for enrollment. - A
Nebraska State Water Use Contract is entered into
between the producer and the State of Nebraska
covering the irrigated cropland acres. - For
dryland cropland to be eligible for enrollment,
the land must meet the above requirements and be
a center-pivot corner enrolled with the adjacent
irrigated center-pivot cropland area.
9
Approved Conservation Practices
Eligible practices for land enrolled into CREP
CP2 - Establishment of Permanent Native
Grasses CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat CP21
Filter Strips CP22 Riparian Buffer CP23
Wetland Restoration CP23A Wetland Restoration,
non-floodplain CP25 Rare and declining habitat
10
Acreage Limitations by Practice
- CP2, CP4D, and CP 25 up to 85,000 acres -
CP21, CP22 up to 10,000 acres - CP23, CP23A
up to 5,000 acres
11
Acreage Limitations by Area
For the Platte River area, above Lake McConaughy,
only 5,000 acres served by surface water may be
enrolled.
12
Sign Up and Contract Duration
- Land enrolled in the program remains under
contract for a period of 10 to 15 years. -
Applicants must generally have owned or operated
the land for at least 12 months prior to
enrollment. - Persons with an existing CRP
contract or an approved offer with an contract
pending are ineligible for CREP until that
contract expires.
13
CREP Payments
- Annual rental payments based on irrigated
rental rates for eligible acres in which a State
Water Use Contract has already been secured. -
Annual rental payments based on dryland rental
rates for eligible acres enrolled. Cost-share for
50 of eligible reimbursable costs for
establishment of approved conservation
practices. - A one-time signing incentive payment
of 100 for each eligible acre enrolled for each
year of the contract for practices CP21 and CP22.
14
CREP Payments continued
- A one-time practice incentive payment equal to
40 of total eligible cost of practice
installation for practices CP21 and CP22. - A
one-time incentive payment equal to 25 of cost
of restoring the hydrology of the site for
practices CP23 and CP23A.
15
CREP Rental Rate Chart by 8 digit HUC
16
(No Transcript)
17
New Changes for 2008
- Alfalfa is now included as a program crop for
enrollment eligibility after a required
Environmental Impact Statement has been
completed. - A new tax provision means retired
farmers with land in CRP will NOT need to pay
self-employment tax on the CRP income.
18
Thank You
19
(No Transcript)