FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

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March 2011

 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - North Dakota

Overview

USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the state of North 

Dakota have agreed to a plan to 

implement a Conservation Reserve 

Enhancement Program (CREP).

This voluntary program encourages 

farmers to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in contracts of 14- to 15- years duration 

to remove lands from agricultural 

production. CRP is a CCC program 

implemented through the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA).

This CREP provides for the creation of critical winter habitat that 

is essential for maintaining viable 

wildlife population. It also improves 

water quality, reduces soil erosion, 

provides public access to wildlife, 

and improves rural economies.

Goals

The goals of the project are to create 

1,000 20-acre cover locks that will 

provide essential wildlife habitat 

and also to provide public access 

to 160,000 acres. This CREP will 

improve water quality, reduce soil 

erosion, and assist the state in meeting water quality objectives.

What Area Does It Cover?

The project is targeted to the following areas:

•	 Beaver Creek Watershed in 

Emmons, Logan, and McIntosh 

Counties; 

•	 Heart River Watershed in portions of Dunn, Grant, Hettinger, 

Morton, Oliver, and Stark 

Counties; 

•	 Western Wild Rice Cover Watershed in portions of Dickey 

and Sargent Counties; 

•	 Upper James River in portions 

of Dickey, LaMoure, Logan, 

and Sargent Counties; 

•	 Knife River in portions of 

Dunn, Mercer, Morton, and 

Stark Counties; and

•	 Grand River in portions of 

Adams County.

Benefits of the Program

This program is expected to have 

significant water quality, wildlife

habitat, and recreational benefits in

North Dakota.

What Kind of Conservation Practices Are Eligible?

Eligible CRP practices are:

•	 CP4D (Permanent Wildlife 

Habitat); 

•	 CP12 (Food Plots);

•	 CP16A (Shelterbelts).

What are the Eligibility Requirements?

CREP applications must satisfy the 

basic eligibility criteria for the CRP.

Participants must agree to establish and maintain eligible practices 

under a 14- to 15-year contract. 

Land must have been cropped 4 of 

the previous 6years and be physically and legally capable of being 

cropped.

Payments Under CREP

The annual rental payment is based 

on the soil rental rate as calculated 

by FSA. It includes a 20 percent 

incentive payment above the annual 

per acre rental rate.

In addition, USDA will provide a 

signing incentive payment consistent with Handbook 2-CRP and 

a practice incentive payment that 

equals about 40 percent of the establishment cost for land enrolled in 

shelterbelts.

The state of North Dakota will also 

pay the remaining portion of the 

eligible out-of-pocket cost to install 

the practices and the cost to secure 

an easement.

The federal government will pay up 

to 50 percent of the cost of installing the shelterbelt and permanent 

wildlife habitat. For producers who 

enroll in a 14- to 15-year CREP 

contract, the state will pay up to 50 

percent of the remaining cost for 

these practices and 100 percent of 

food plot costs. 

Easement Requirements

The state of North Dakota will 

obtain a 30-year land use easement 

on the 20-acre cover lock. This will 

require the participant to maintain 

the vegetative cover on the 20-acre 

plot for the easement period. The 

state will also obtain a public access 

easement on the 20-acre plot and at 

least 140 adjacent acres.

How Much Will It Cost?

For an enrollment of 20,000 acres, 

the expected financial federal and

state obligation will be approximately $43 million over 15 years, 

with $20 million coming from the 

federal government and $23 million 

coming from the state.

Can I Still Enroll in General CRP 

and Continuous Signup CRP?

Yes, CREP is just another option 

that farmers may select to enhance their land; an applicant may 

still enroll in the general CRP or 

continuous signup CRP. However, 
FACT SHEET

CREP - North Dakota March 2011

CREP provides additional benefits

not available through the general or 

continuous signup. Under CREP, 

applicants have flexibility to extend

the duration of their conservation 

contract and thus increase the sum 

total of rental payments. Also, the 

enrollment process is on a continu-

ous basis, and payments are at a 

higher rate.

Haying and Grazing

Haying and grazing is not permit-

ted during the CRP contract period 

unless the Secretary of Agriculture 

permits it for emergency purposes.

Where and When Do I Apply to 

Participate?

CREP operates on a continuous 

basis. Interested parties are encour-

aged to contact their local U.S. 

Department of Agriculture Service 

Center or Soil and Water Conserva-

tion District.

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 Assis-

tant 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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