|
NCND | Here
Farmable Wetlands Program
Overview
The Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) is a voluntary program to restore up to one million
acres of farmable wetlands and associated buffers by improving the land’s hydrology and
vegetation. Eligible producers in all states can enroll eligible land in the FWP
through the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Producers plant long
-
term, resource
-
conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control
soil erosion and enhance wildlife habitat on land enrolled in CRP. In return, FSA provides
participants with r
ental payments and cost
-
share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and
15 years. FWP is designed to prevent degradation of wetland areas, increase sediment trapping
efficiencies, improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and provide habitat for wa
terfowl and
other wildlife.
Eligible Land
To be eligible, land must meet one of the following:
•
Includes farmed and prior converted wetlands that have been impacted by farming
activities. Must be cropland planted to an agricultural commodity three
of the 10 most
recent crop years and be physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal
manner to an agricultural commodity;
•
Include a constructed wetland developed to receive flow for a row
-
crop agriculture
drainage system for the purpose of
providing nitrogen removal and other wetland
functions;
•
Devoted to commercial pond
-
raised aquaculture in any year during 2002
-
2007; and
•
Cropland that, after Jan. 1, 1990, and before Dec. 31, 2002, was cropped during at least
three of 10 crop years, and
was subject to the natural overflow of a prairie wetland.
Acreage must also meet the following FWP eligibility requirements:
•
Enrolled land cannot exceed:
•
40 acres for wetlands or constructed wetlands
•
20 acres for intermittently flooded prairie wetlands
•
40 acres per tract for eligible wetlands and buffers; and
•
Participants must agree to restore the hydrology of the wetlands to establish vegetative
cover, which may include emerging vegetation in water,
bottomland hardwoods, cypress
and other appropriate tree species; and to the general prohibition of using the enrolled
land for commercial purposes.
Conservation Practices
The conservation practices authorized under FWP are:
CP27
-
Farmable Wetland
s Wetland;
CP28
-
Farmable Wetlands Buffer;
CP39
-
Farmable Wetlands Constructed Wetland
CP40
-
Farmable Wetlands Aquaculture Wetland Restoration
CP41
-
Farmable Wetlands Flooded Prairie Wetland
Contract Duration and Effective Date
FWP contracts are in effect for 10 to 15 years, in exchange for annual rental payments, incentive
payments, and cost
-
share for installing necessary practices. The effective date of the contract is
the first day of the month following the month of approval
.
Payments
Eligible producers may receive the following types of payments:
•
Annual rental payments for a 10
-
to 15
-
year period. The rental rate is based on the
weighted average dryland cash rent.
•
For aquaculture, if there is no soil survey data, ann
ual rental payments are based on the
country average CRP rental rate.
•
Upfront CRP signing incentive payment of $100 per acre. (This one
-
time payment is
made after the contract is approved and all payment eligibility criteria are met.)
•
Practice incentive p
ayment equal to 40 percent of the eligible costs of installing the
practice. This one
-
time payment is made after the practice is installed, eligible costs are
verified, and other payment eligibility criteria are met.
•
Incentive amount equal to 20 percent o
f the weighted average dryland cash rent.
•
Up to 50 percent cost
-
share for establishing permanent cover.
Cooperating Agencies
The FWP is administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) with assistance from the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); the Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; Forest Service; State Foresters; other state agencies; and
local soil and
water conservation districts.
More Information
For more information on FWP, other conservation programs, and to sign up, please visit your
local FSA county office or http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
| |
|
They are going to tie conservation compliance to crop insurance.
