FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

February 2011

 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Iowa State

Overview

USDA and the State of Iowa 

have partnered on a $38 million 

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to address 

water quality issues related to 

excess nitrogen impacting water 

quality in 37 counties in north 

central Iowa.

CREP uses federal and state 

resources to safeguard environmentally sensitive land through 

the Conservation Reserve 

Program (CRP). Producers 

enrolled in CRP remove lands 

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 long-term 

CRP contracts.

Benefits

The Iowa CREP will restore 

wetlands and install riparian 

buffer practices on 9,000 acres in 

north central Iowa. The wetlands 

will reduce nitrogen loading in 

streams and rivers by 40 to 90 

percent. This will reduce water 

treatment costs for the city of 

Des Moines, improve wildlife 

habitat, and reduce nitrogen 

loading to the Mississippi River 

and the Gulf of Mexico. The program will also help participants 

reduce sediment by installing 

riparian buffers in the Lake Panorama watershed.

Goals

The goals of the Iowa CREP are 

to:

• Reduce the nitrogen loading to streams by 300 to 600 

tons per year.

• Reduce sediment entering 

surface waters in the Lake 

Panorama Watershed by 

80,000 tons per year. 

• Reduce or maintain soil 

erosion rates at or below 2-5 

tons per acre.

• Demonstrate a variety of 

available wetland technologies and their value for 

improving water quality.

• Enhance wildlife habit.

• Increase recreational opportunities.

Program Cost

The expected combined federal and state obligation is $38 

million over 15 years, with $31 

million coming from USDA and 

$7 million from Iowa. This does 

not include any costs that may be 

borne by producers. Iowa’s share 

is approximately 20 percent 

of the total program costs and 

USDA’s share is approximately 

80 percent.

Eligible Areas and Eligibility 

Requirements

Producers can offer land in 37 

counties in the north central tile 

drained areas of the state. To find 

out if your operation is located 

within the project area, contact 

your local USDA service center.

Approved Conservation Practices

The following conservation practices may be eligible for enrollment into the Iowa CREP:

• CP7 Erosion Control Structure

• CP21 Filter Strips

• CP22 Riparian Buffer

• CP23 Wetland Restoration

Signup and Eligibility Requirements

Eligible producers can enroll in 

14- to 15 year CRP contracts. 

Producers may extend the 

benefits of the program through 

separate contracts with the state. 

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 and is physically and 

legally capable of being cropped. 

Marginal pastureland is also eligible under wetland restoration 

or for use as a riparian buffer 

planted to trees.

CREP Payments

 Iowa CREP participants are 

eligible for four types of USDA 

payments:

• Signing Incentive Payment - 

a one-time payment consistent with Handbook 2-CP for 

land enrolled in a riparian 

buffer practice or filter strip. 

USDA makes this payment 
FACT SHEET

CREP - Iowa State February 2011

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 payment is in addition to the 50 percent cost 

share assistance that USDA 

provides.

• Annual rental payment that 

is generally 120 or 150 

percent of the dryland cash 

rental rate for the county in 

which the land is located. 

The 150 percent rate applies 

to wetland restoration or erosion control structures.

• Cost share assistance for 

installing the conservation 

practices on retired land.

• Iowa will offer one time 

lump sum incentive payments based on a formula 

that considers land values, 

landowner time investment, 

and the discounted value 

of the annual base rental 

payment of the CRP contract. Iowa will also pay the 

producer 10 percent of the 

eligible reimbursable costs 

of the practice.

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 unless USDA permits it 

for emergency purposes under 

normal CRP rules.

For More Information

For more information on the 

Iowa CREP, contact your local 

USDA service center, Farm Service Agency (FSA) office, Soil 

and Water Conservation District 

office, or Iowa Department of 

Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Additional information is 

also available at http://www.

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

agriculture.state.ia.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 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 FederalPage 2