By Andi Anderson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the State of Ohio have joined forces to introduce a new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) designed specifically for the Great Miami and Little Miami watersheds in southwest Ohio.
This initiative aims to encourage local farmers and landowners to participate in conservation efforts that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and protect wildlife habitats.
CREP is part of the broader Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and offers a voluntary contract to agricultural producers.
By enrolling in CREP, landowners commit to re-establishing valuable land cover, which in turn supports environmental sustainability.
Participants receive annual rental payments throughout the contract period and may also qualify for additional incentives to assist with the costs of implementing conservation practices.
One of the key features of this CREP initiative is the collaboration between the FSA and Ohio's H2Ohio Program. This partnership provides property owners who enroll their eligible lands with financial incentives to establish and maintain conservation practices over a 15-year period.
The goal is to create site-specific solutions that address local priorities, such as water quality, conservation, and wildlife habitat preservation.
Dr. John Patterson, the state executive director for FSA in Ohio, emphasized the importance of this program.
"CREP enables our partners to shape CRP to be site-specific and to address local priorities, from water quality and conservation to wildlife habitat and climate outcomes," he said. Dr. Patterson encourages landowners in the Great Miami and Little Miami watersheds to explore this valuable conservation opportunity.
To provide more details about the program, the Miami Conservancy District will host a series of open house informational sessions across various locations in Ohio. These meetings are designed to be flexible, allowing attendees to drop in at any time during the scheduled hours.
No formal presentations will be made, giving participants the chance to gather information and ask questions at their convenience.
The first session will be held on August 20, 2024, at the Champaign County USDA Service Center in Urbana, followed by additional meetings in Sidney, Hamilton, Xenia, Greenville, and Batavia through September 12, 2024.
Those with questions or requiring accommodations to participate can contact Sarah Hippensteel Hall with the Miami Conservation District at shippensteel@mcdwater.org or 937-223-1271.
These informational sessions provide a valuable opportunity for landowners to learn more about how they can contribute to conservation efforts in their communities while benefiting from the incentives offered by the CREP program.
Photo Credit: pexels-ron-lach
Categories: Ohio, General