Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

MN CREP is a voluntary, federal-state funded natural resource conservation program that uses a science based approach to target environmentally sensitive land in 54 Counties in southern and western Minnesota. This is accomplished through permanent protection by establishing conservation practices via payments to farmers and agricultural land owners.

Here’s how it works:

Landowners enroll in the federally-funded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 14-15 years.
CRP is administered by the USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA). It uses agricultural land for conservation benefits, rather than farming or ranching.
The same land is also enrolled into a state-funded perpetual conservation easement through the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve program, administered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).
Private ownership continues and the land is permanently restored and enhanced for conservation benefits.

MN CREP Objectives

MN CREP will protect up to 60,000 acres of the highest priority areas across 54 counties. It will:

Target riparian areas and marginal agricultural land
Restore hydrology, increase infiltration and provide flood mitigation
Provide habitat for wildlife, non-game species and pollinators
Reduce nitrate loading in drinking supplies

How will the land be restored and protected?

MN CREP will focus on four main Conservation Practices (CPs) that have been identified through the federal CRP:

Grass Filter Strips (CRP CP 21)
Wetland Restoration – Non Floodplain (CRP CP 23a)
Wetland Restoration – Floodplain (CRP CP 23)
Wellhead Protection Areas (CRP CP 2)

Why Enroll Now?

There are many reasons to consider MN CREP now, based on the long-term goals of the landowner. Some of these include:

Fair compensation – Payments for the land retirement portion of MN CREP are based on current CRP rental rates and RIM rates.
Rights retained – Landowners maintain ownership, including the right to control access to the land covered by the MN CREP CRP contract/RIM easement.
Returns on marginal cropland – MN CREP prioritizes and targets marginal cropland that is often associated with buffer areas and drained or altered wetlands. These lands often produce less than average crop yields, and are less profitable even when crop prices are high.
Impact on water quality and habitat – MN CREP focuses on both water quality and wildlife habitat. Enrolled land will deliver multiple benefits to ground and surface water, as well as provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
MN CREP versus CCRP – Land enrolled in MN CREP will receive additional CREP Incentives beyond what the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) provides. Based on current analysis, MN CREP total payment rates are at least 50 percent higher than CCRP payment amounts.
Option for re-enrolled CRP – Lands that are currently enrolled in CRP and eligible for re-enrollment during a MN CREP sign-up period may be eligible. This can result in seamless coverage of CRP annual payments and may allow for the existing vegetation to stay in place.
Volatile land prices – According to the University of Minnesota and other sources, farm land prices have declined over the past two years and appear to still be on a declining trend.
Quality native restoration – Restoration of the enrolled land will follow state and federal standards, and focus on native plant species. One hundred percent of these restoration costs will be covered by the CRP and RIM programs, leaving no out-of-pocket expenses to the landowner.

Contact Aaren Mathison at 507-887-0240 or email aaren.mathison@fillmoreswcd.org to find out how to sign up for Minnesota CREP.

State and Federal Programs

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

CRP is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA)

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Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

Fillmore SWCD in partnership with the local USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service annually conducts an Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Local Work Group Meeting.

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Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

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Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)

Opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water.

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State Cost Share

The Fillmore SWCD annually receives cost-share funds from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to assist landowners with implementation of erosion control practices.

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Root River One Watershed, One Plan (RR 1W1P)

A 10-year planning document aimed at better managing water within a larger watershed planning area

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Root River Field to Stream Partnership

Collects data using edge-of-field and in-stream monitoring on a small watershed scale to characterize water quality in three small watersheds within the Root River watershed.

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Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring (VNMN)

The Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring Network (VNMN) has been an active program in Southeast Minnesota since 2006.

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Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM)

The Reinvest in Minnesota Resources Act was enacted to restore certain marginal and environmental sensitive agricultural land to protect soil and water quality and support fish and wildlife habitat.

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Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)

The wetland Conservation Act is implemented at the local level by the local government unit or “LGU”

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Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network

A network of state and federal agencies, the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, state colleges and universities, and local partners that collect data on water quality and flow throughout the state.

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