FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

March 2011

 USDA and North Carolina Expand CREP Program

Overview

USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation 

(CCC) and the state of North Carolina 

have agreed on a plan to modify and 

expand their Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreement. 

The North Carolina CREP agreement 

improves water quality by reducing 

sediment and nutrients, which protects 

drinking water supplies and further enhances fisheries and wildlife habitats.

North Carolina’s original CREP agreement was signed in March 1999, and 

was developed to help protect the 

Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System 

(APES), including the Neuse, TarPamlico, Chowan and Jordan Lake river 

basins. Prior to 1999, the APES experienced excessive nutrient and sediment 

loading. This revision to the original 

agreement will expand the CREP agreement to also include the White Oak, 

Cape Fear, Lumber, Yadkin-Pee Dee, 

Roanoke and Pasquotank river basins.

This voluntary program encourages 

producers to convert sensitive cropland 

and marginal pastureland to conservation practices through enrollment into 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

contracts under the CREP for 10 to 15 

years. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) 

implements and manages the CRP on 

behalf of CCC.

Program Targets

The program targets nine of North Carolina’s 17 river basins: the Neuse, TarPamlico, Chowan, Lumber, White Oak, 

Yadkin-PeeDee, Cape Fear (including 

Jordan Lake), Roanoke and Pasquotank. 

The CREP seeks to enroll up to 85,000 

acres of riparian and 15,000 acres of 

non-riparian wetlands within the project 

basins.

Program Responsibilities

For a total enrollment of 100,000 acres, 

the combined federal and state financial 

obligation will be approximately $275 

million over 15 years, with $220 million 

coming from the federal government 

and $55 million coming from the state.

The state financial commitment amount 

will be not less than 20 percent of the 

total program costs and the federal 

financial commitment amount will not 

exceed 80 percent.

Payments and Incentives

The annual rental payment is based on 

the soil rental rate as calculated by FSA. 

It includes an incentive payment based 

on the conservation practice installed. 

Incentive rates will be 70 percent for 

filter strips and 100 percent for riparian buffers, tree planting and wetland 

restoration.

The CREP partners will pay up to 

50 percent of the cost of establishing 

conservation practices. The total of all 

cost-share payments will not exceed 100 

percent of a participant’s out-of-pocket 

expenses.

In addition, a one-time payment equal 

to 25 percent of the cost of restoring hydrology for practices CP23 and 

CP23A will be paid to eligible producers. For producers who enroll solely in 

a 10-year CREP contract, the state will 

pay 25 percent of the costs of establishing approved conservation practices. For 

producers who enroll solely in a contract 

greater than 10 or up to 15 years, the 

state will pay 30 percent of the costs 

of establishing approved conservation 

practices. For producers who enroll in 

an optional state 30-year conservation 

agreement for a CP3, CP3A, CP21, 

CP22 or CP31 practice, the state will 

pay 40 percent of the costs of establishing approved conservation practices 

and a one-time incentive payment of 

$250 per acre for enrolled cropland and 

marginal pastureland. For producers 

who enroll in an optional state permanent agreement for a CP3, CP3A, CP22, 

CP23, CP23A or CP31 practice, the 

state will pay 50 percent of the costs 

of establishing approved conservation practices and a one-time incentive 

payment of $1000 per acre for enrolled 

cropland or marginal pastureland, and 

any additional eligible existing non-CRP 

forested buffer land voluntarily enrolled.

Eligible Practices

Eligible CRP practices are:

• CP3, Tree Planting (shortleaf pines 

only) 

• CP3A, Hardwood Tree Planting, 

• CP21, Filter Strip

• CP22, Riparian Buffer 

• CP23, Wetland Restoration 

• CP23A, Wetland Restoration, NonFloodplain

• CP31, Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands

If land does not meet CREP criteria, 

producers may also offer eligible acreage for continuous CRP signup.

For More Information

For more information, visit the FSA 

website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp 

or your local USDA Service Center.

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 Federalrelay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federalrelay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.