FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

March 2011

 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - Colorado High Plains

Overview

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a 

federal-state cooperative conservation program that addresses 

specific agricultural-related 

environmental concerns. CREP 

participants voluntarily enroll in 

14- to 15-year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts 

with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Farm Service Agency (FSA). 

Participants receive financial 

incentives to remove cropland 

and marginal pastureland from 

agricultural production. By 

converting enrolled land into 

native grasses, trees and other 

vegetation, CREP improves soil 

retention as well as water, air 

and wildlife habitat quality. CRP 

and CREP are authorized by the 

Food Security Act of 1985, as 

amended.

The Colorado High Plains CREP 

targets the enrollment of 30,000 

eastern Colorado acres that will 

increase upland wildlife populations and public recreational 

opportunities. The CREP agreement is a partnership between 

farmers, ranchers, FSA and the 

State of Colorado. In addition 

to CREP payments, the State of 

Colorado is offering an incentive payment geared to enhance 

upland habitat and recreational 

access.

Benefits

Enrolling up to 30,000 acres of 

eligible cropland will increase 

upland habitat for wildlife, including ring-necked pheasants 

and other ground nesting birds. 

The CREP will increase public 

access and recreation opportunities, such as hunting. The program will reduce 160,000 tons 

of soil erosion each year which 

will improve water quality by 

decreasing agricultural chemicals and sediments that enter 

waterways.

Goals

The goals of the Colorado High 

Plains CREP agreement include:

• Enrolling 30,000 acres into 

CREP to create habitat for 

upland wildlife; 

• Providing public access and 

recreational opportunities on 

that 30,000 acres; 

• Reducing 160,000 tons of 

soil erosion annually; 

• Reducing fertilizer and 

pesticide application from 

2004 levels by 750 tons over 

a 15-year period; and 

• Helping farmers and ranchers address wildlife issues in 

areas where agriculture may 

have a negative impact on 

targeted wildlife species. 

Eligibility Requirements 

Landowners can offer eligible 

cropland in eastern Colorado’s 

High Plains region in all or 

portions of Kit Carson, Logan, 

Phillips, Sedgwick and Yuma 

Counties.

To enroll in the CREP, landowners must secure:

• An approved CRP contract; 

• An approved Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) 

Pheasant Habitat Improvement Program contract; and 

• An approved CDOW Walkin Access Contract, allowing 

public access under certain 

criteria on CREP contract 

acres and applicable adjacent 

acreage.

Sign-up and Contract Duration 

The CREP sign-up began June 

12, 2006, and is expected to 

continue until enrollment goals 

are attained, or there is no longer 

statutory authority for CRP, 

whichever comes first. Enrolled 

land must be in the program for a 

14- to 15-year period.

Approved Conservation Mea- sures

To better serve program goals, 

FSA has approved the following 

CRP conservation practices (CP) 

for the Colorado High Plains 

CREP:

• CP4D - Permanent Wildlife 

Habitat, Non-easement; • CP12 - Wildlife Food Plot; 

and • CP24 - Establishment of 

Permanent Vegetative Cover 

as Cross Wind Trap Strips. 

Cropland practice enrollment 

goals are:

• CP4D: up to 27,000 acres; 

and • CP24: up to 3,000 acres. 
FACT SHEET

CREP - Colorado High Plains March 2011

FSA Payments

Subject to contract terms and 

certain limitations, CREP participants will be eligible for the following types of FSA payments:

• Practice Incentive Payment: 

One-time payment equal to 

40 percent of the eligible 

reimbursable cost to establish CP24. 

• Cost-share Assistance: 50 

percent of eligible reimbursable cost-share to install 

approved conservation 

practices.

• Annual Rental Payment: 

Annual payment based on 

dryland cropland rental rates 

for each enrolled cropland 

acre. The per-acre maximum 

cropland rental rate is The 

posted per-acre dryland 

cropland soil rental rate 

based on the weighted average of the three predominant 

soils on the eligible dryland 

acreage offered.

State of Colorado Payments

Subject to contract terms and 

certain limitations, the state of 

Colorado will provide the following payments and assistance:

• Signing Incentive Payment: 

One-time payment issued 

after contract approval at the 

following rates; 

1. $700 per block for each 

enrolled Habitat Resource 

Block (defined as one 

contiguous block of approximately 40 acres); and 

2. $100 per corner for each enrolled Corner Resource Area 

(defined as irrigated pivot 

corners of approximately 7 

to 9 acres in size); or 

3. $500 if all four Corner Resource Areas are enrolled. 

• Cost-share Payment: 100 

percent of the eligible 

reimbursable costs to install 

CP12. 

• Annual Incentive Payment: 

Annual payment from the 

CDOW’s Pheasant Habitat 

Improvement Program for 

all CREP-enrolled acres. 

Payments are at the following rates: 

1. $5 per acre for Habitat Resource Blocks or CP24; and 

2. $10 per acre for Corner Resource Areas. 

• Annual Incentive Payment: 

Annual payment from the 

CDOW’s Walk-In Access 

Program for all CREP-enrolled acres. 

• Pay all costs associated with 

the annual CREP water quality monitoring program. 

• Provide technical assistance 

to help participants develop 

conservation plans.

Cost

The total cost over a 15-year 

period is estimated at $25.3 

million. FSA will contribute approximately $19.9 million, or 80 

percent, and the state of Colorado will fund approximately $5.4 

million. The $25.3 million does 

not include any costs that may be 

assumed by producers.

CRP Enrollment

CREP is another option under 

CRP that farmers may select 

in order to enhance their land. 

Farmers and ranchers may still 

enroll eligible land in the general CRP or continuous sign-up 

CRP. However, CREP provides 

additional benefits not available 

through general and/or continuous sign-up. For instance, CREP 

payments are at a higher effective rate.

Haying and Grazing

 Haying and grazing are not permitted during the CREP contract 

period unless FSA allows it for 

emergency or managed haying 

and grazing purposes, if applicable, under normal CRP rules.

For More Information

 For more information on CRP 

continuous sign-up, contact your 

local FSA office or visit www.

fsa.usda.gov/crp.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, 

disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, 

familial status, parental status, religion, sexual 

orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, 

reprisal, or because all of part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program information 

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to 

USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office 

of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, 

DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 

(English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-

8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 

(Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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