USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

The Conservation Reserve Program is voluntary program where producers can enroll environmentally sensitive land near a stream, lake, pond, wetland, or other waterbodies into vegetative cover for a period of 10 to 15 years. Individuals who enroll land into the "buffer program" will be compensated on a per acre basis with an annual rental payment.
The goal is to install riparian buffer strips along marginal agricultural land to filter out nitrogen, sediment, pesticides and other pollutants that would normally enter an environmentally sensitive area directly. Pictured below is a grassed buffer strip adjacent to a pasture.
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Along with the rental payment, farmers are eligable for cost sharing on certain practices that support the establishment of buffers. Traditionally, in Chenango County, these practices include alternative watering systems and associated pipelines, laneway improvements, stream crossings, troughs, and the establishment of vegetative cover (grass, shrub and tree species).

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is the agency that provides landowners with the conservation plan to develop riparian buffer strips. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) handles the contractual and financial aspect of the program.

In Chenango County the Conservation Reserve Program is by far the most sucessful and easiest for producers to get involved in. The financial advantages to the program, the continuous sign-up period, and the practices available for cost sharing

If you're interested in learning more about the Conservation Reserve Program, contact Lauren Johnson at lauren.johnson@ny.usda.gov or the Chenango County Soil and Water Conservation District at (607) 334-8634 ext. 3.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/FEATURE/buffers/index.html