FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

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February 2011

 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - Wisconsin State

Overview

USDA and the state of Wisconsin have launched a $243 million 

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to protect 

the state’s water quality and wildlife 

habitat.

CREP uses federal and state 

resources to safeguard environmentally sensitive land through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). 

Producers enrolled in CRP remove 

land from agricultural production 

and plant native grasses, trees, and 

other vegetation to improve water 

quality, soil, and wildlife habitat. 

CRP is authorized by the Food 

Security Act of 1985, as amended. 

CREP provides rental payments and 

other financial incentives to encourage producers to voluntarily enroll 

in 10- to 15-year CRP contracts.

Benefits

The Wisconsin CREP will protect 

environmentally sensitive land next 

to rivers and streams by improving impaired water resources and 

enhance wildlife habitat in two designated geographic areas known as 

“grassland areas.” The program will 

reduce water pollution by installing 

85,000 acres of riparian buffers and 

filter strips, 15,000 acres of native 

grasses, and wetlands. Restoring 

native grasses will increase the 

population of many species, primarily grassland birds (including the 

greater prairie chicken).

Goals

The goals of the Wisconsin CREP 

are to: 

• Reduce sediment loading in the 

targeted area by 335,000 tons 

per year. 

• Reduce phosphorus loading to 

streams and rivers by 610,000 

pounds. 

• Reduce nitrogen loading by 

305,000 pounds. 

• Establish 3,700 miles of riparian buffers. 

• Establish 15,000 acres of 

grassland habitat to increase the 

population of endangered grassland birds and other wildlife 

species.

Program Cost

Based on the full implementation of 

the Wisconsin CREP, which projects 

an enrollment of 100,000 acres, the 

expected combined financial federal 

and state obligation will be approximately $243 million over 15 years, 

with $198 million coming from the 

federal government and $45 million 

coming from the state. This does not 

include costs that may be borne by 

producers.

Eligible Areas

Producers in specified areas 

throughout Wisconsin that meet the 

CREP and CRP eligibility requirements may be eligible for enrollment. Contact your local USDA 

Service Center for specific information concerning your eligibility for 

CREP.

Approved Conservation Practices

The following conservation practices may be eligible for enrollment in 

the Wisconsin CREP. Consult with 

your local USDA Service Center 

representative to find out what practices are eligible for your CREP area 

and specific acreage. The potential 

practices are:

• CP1 - Establishment of Permanent Introduced Grasses

• CP2 - Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses 

• CP8A - Grassed Waterways 

• CP10 – Vegetative Cover – 

Grass – Already Established 

• CP21- Filter Strips 

• CP22 - Riparian Buffer

• CP23 - Wetland Restoration

• CP23A – Wetland Restoration – 

Non-flood plain 

• CP25 - Rare and Declining 

Habitat

• CP29 – Marginal Pastureland 

Wildlife Habitat Buffer

• CP30 – Marginal Pastureland 

Wetland Buffer

Signup and Eligibility Requirements

Eligible producers can enroll in 14- 

to 15-year CRP contracts. Applicants must be able to offer eligible 

acreage and satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for CRP. Land must be 

cropland that has been cropped 4 out 

of the past 6 years (2002-2007) and 

is physically and legally capable of 

being cropped. Marginal pastureland 

is also eligible provided it is suitable 

for use as a riparian buffer planted 

to trees.

CREP Payments

Wisconsin CREP participants are 

eligible for four types of USDA 

payments:

• Signing Incentive Payment - a 

one-time payment consistent 

with Handbook 2-CRP for land 

enrolled in a riparian buffer 

practice, filter strip, or grassed 

waterway. USDA makes this 

payment soon after the contract 

has been signed. 

• Practice Incentive Payment 

- payment equal to about 40 

percent of the total cost for 

establishing the practice. This 
FACT SHEET

CREP - Wisconsin February 2011

payment is in addition to the 

50 percent cost share assistance 

that USDA provides. 

• Annual rental payment of 

about 135 to 185 percent of 

the dryland cash rental rate for 

the county in which the land is 

located. 

• Cost share assistance for install-

ing the conservation practices 

on retired land.

Wisconsin will also offer one time 

lump sum incentive payments.

Enrollment in Other Programs

Applicants may still enroll in 

general or continuous signup CRP. 

However, CREP provides additional 

benefits not available through the 

general and/or continuous signup. 

For instance, the CREP enrollment 

process is on a continuous basis and 

payments are at a higher effective 

rate.

Haying and Grazing

Haying and grazing is not allowed 

during the CRP contract period un-

less USDA permits it for emergency 

purposes under normal CRP rules.

For More Information

For more information on the Wis-

consin CREP, contact your local 

USDA Service Center, Farm Service 

Agency office, Soil and Water Con-

servation District, or the State of 

Wisconsin Department of Agricul-

ture. Additional information is also 

available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov 

and at http://datcp.state.wi.us/

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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