What is the Conservation Reserve Program?



                                            Release No. 0373.97
Questions & Answers                          
 
 October 1997

1.   What is the Conservation Reserve Program?

     The Conservation Reserve Program, known as the CRP, is the Federal
     Government's single largest environmental improvement program and one
     of its most productive and cost-efficient.  The CRP encourages land
     owners and operators to plant permanent areas of grass and trees on
     land that needs protection from erosion, to act as windbreaks, or in
     places where vegetation can improve water quality or provide food and
     habitat for wildlife.  Landowners and operators enter into contracts
     with the USDA lasting between 10 and 15 years.  In return, they
     receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain
     activities, and cost-share assistance to establish the protective
     vegetation.

2.   What is the Continuous Sign Up Program?

     Highly valued environmental practices are eligible such as filter
     strips, riparian buffers, shelter belts, field windbreaks, and living
     snow fences, grass waterways, shallow water areas for wildlife, salt-tolerant vegetation, and wellhead protection areas. Since September
     1996, land owners and operators can sign up for these high-priority
     conservation practices at anytime.  Prior to that time, land owners
     had to apply to participate in CRP only during announced sign-up
     periods. 

3.   What is the Maryland State Enhancement Program?

     The Maryland Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)builds
     upon the CRP program of devoting sensitive land to environmental uses
     and the highly-valued environmental practices of the continuous signup
     by further targeting the program to 100,000 acres of eligible land. 
     Only the land contributing to the degradation to the Chesapeake Bay is
     eligible through enrollment of riparian buffers, wetland restoration,
     and highly erodible land with an erodibility index greater than 15
     within 1000 feet of a stream or other water body.  Additionally, USDA
     and Maryland will provide financial and other incentives to encourage
     enrollment of these vital lands.


4.   How are these three programs different?

     The CRP encourages enrollment of highly erodible and other
     environmentally sensitive cropland and, in certain case, marginal
     pasture land.  The CRP is highly competitive in nature and all offers
     to enroll in the program are ranked using an environmental benefits
     index which measures soil erosion, water quality, wildlife habitat,
     enduring benefits beyond the contract period, air quality,
     conservation priority areas, and cost.  Opportunities to enroll are
     announced periodically.

     The continuous sign up permits enrollment at anytime because the
     acceptable conservation practices are highly valued.  These practices
     cover relatively small acreages and are a subset of the broader range
     of practices available under the CRP.  Financial incentives are also
     provided to encourage enrollment. 

     The CRP and the continuous sign up is national in scope. 

     The Maryland Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) differs
     from the other CRP initiatives in that it coordinates CRP with the
     goals and funding of the Maryland state government.  Second, it is
     limited to the land within  Maryland.  Third, compared to the
     continuous signup practices, only riparian buffers and certain highly
     erodible land are eligible.  Although not available under the
     continuous signup, wetland restoration is also eligible.  Fourth, a
     higher incentive rate is authorized to encourage the enrollment of
     land to protect the Chesapeake Bay.  Fifth, Maryland will provide
     resources to supplement the financial incentives for the establishment
     of conservation practices and the purchase of permanent easements. 

5.   What is the estimated cost associated with the Maryland State
     Enhancement Program?

     USDA's share will amount to approximately $150 million for annual
     rental payments and about $20 million for cost-share payments during
     the next 15 years for a total of $170 million.  Maryland will spend
     approximately $15 million in cost share payments and another $10
     million in easement purchase payments for a total of $25 million
     during the same 15 year period.  Total projected outlays over 15 years
     from both Federal and State sources could total $195 million.

6.   Why was Maryland accepted for this program?

     After a rule published in the Federal Register permitted Conservation
     Reserve Enhancement Program agreements, the Maryland proposal was the
     first of a number of proposals in which agreement was reached on all
     issues.  

7.   Are any other states being selected for this program?

     Any state may submit a propsal for the Conservation Reserve
     Enhancement Program.  Only the most environmentally valuable
     agreements will be selected. USDA intends to issue a Federal Register
     providing additional information to states.

8.   How many acres does Maryland currently have under CRP contracts?

     Maryland has 19,057 acres enrolled in CRP as of October 1997.

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