CRP and Land Use change in North Dakota

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in North DakotaAbilio SoaresWhat is Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)A Conservation program under United States Department of Agriculture(USDA)Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA)Technical assistance is from USDA Forest Service and the USDANatural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS)Farmer remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production in exchange for annual rental payment The objective is to improve environmental health and qualityUp to 10 15 years

History of CRPOriginally started in1950s as the conservation branch of the Soil Bank Program.The focus was on marginal lands. CRP became law in 1980s due to farming practice in 1970sFence row to fence row Removing native habitat and vegetative stands from the fields1985 Farm Bill that officially established the CRP as we know todaySigned into law by President Ronald Reagan in Dec 23rd, 1985

Eligible LandHighly erodible landLocated in national or state CRP conservation priority areasIncluded in an expiring CRP contractConsidered cropped wetland, or associated with surrounding non-cropped wetlandsDevoted to highly beneficial environmental practice (e.g., wetland restoration, streamside buffers, or conservation buffers)CRP land selectionEnvironmental Benefits Index (EBI) scoreEBI indicates the perceived conservation value of an applicants land. The EBI system did not exist until 1991 The EBI is always reformulated based on current conservation prioritiesAfter 2008 Farm Bill, EBI based on the projected benefits to wildlife, water quality, erosion control, and air qualityEBI also considers the predicted longevity of environmental benefits beyond the contract period

EBI ScoringWildlife Factor Benefit: 0 to 100 pointsWater Quality Benefits: 0 to 100 pointsErosion Factor: 0 to 100 pointsEnduring Benefits Factor: 0 to 50 pointsAir Quality Benefits: 0 to 45 pointsCost: 0 to 35 points

CRP Funding and PaymentEntirely Federally fundedThrough the Commodity Credit Corporation of the USDAPayment to farmers is greater than the technical assistanceCRP rental rates are determined at the county level based on the relative productivity of the soilRental rates are fixed and may not be renegotiated

eofdreams.comBenefit of CRPFoster Wildlife (for example)Prairie Pothole Ducks: 2 million / year increase in duck population in North Dakota, South Dakota and Northeastern Montana (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Study)Ringed-necked Pheasants 22% increase in pheasant count associated with 4% increase in CRP herbaceous vegetation (Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., study)Northern Bobwhite Quail increase northern bobwhite quail (Mississippi State University Study

http://www.ducks.org/http://en.wikipedia.org http://www.allaboutbirds.orgAmong wildlife, probably the greatest beneficiaries from CRP are waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region. This area of the United States has a unique topography: when the glaciers that covered this region retreated 10,000 years ago, millions of shallow depressions were left behind that became modern-day wetlands. Waterfowl use these wetlands for breeding and for cover, and due to its importance to waterfowl this region is sometimes referred to as the duck factory. In 1985 the North American waterfowl population was at its lowest level in over 30 years; however, with the initiation of CRP in 1985, this trend began to reverse. The Farm Service Agency estimates that the establishment of CRP directly resulted in an increase in the duck population by nearly 30 percent (FSA 2007). In addition to CRP, several other federal programs, including the North American Wetland Conservation Act, have contributed to the growth of waterfowl populations.8Benefit of CRPImproves Water QualityLess nitrogen and phosphorus left in the fieldMillion pounds of nitrogen phosphorus were intercepted by CRP buffers. Amount of sediment released into the environment is reduced.Reduce salinity of water better habitat for fish

For example Salmon in Cottonwood Flats

http://www.alaska-in-pictures.comBenefit of CRPImproves Soil QualityCRP reduces sheet, rill and wind erosionIn 2007, CRP managed to reduce soil erosion by an estimated 470 million tons from pre-CRP levels.

http://intechweb.wordpress.comLand removed from agricultural production may provide a natural filter, removingpollutants from water runoff, reducing soil erosion, and even providing for the sequestration ofcarbon dioxide. Furthermore, through technical assistance and cost-sharing programs, theenvironmental productivity of CRP land can be enhanced by educating farmers in conservationpractices and helping to install environmentally friendly conservation interventions (e.g., riparianbuffers and filter strips10Benefit of CRPCRP Sequesters CarbonCRP sequesters more carbon on private lands than any other federally administered program. In 2007, grass cover planted under CRP helped stop more than 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the environment. Carbon sequestration helps offset the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere.

dapa.ciat.cgiar.orgBenefit of CRPEconomic Benefit to Farmers and CommunityEnables Families to Remain on the Farm(esp. during the drought years)Income from tourism on CRP land. CRP lands bring in hunters who spend $470,000 annually on local lodging, rental cars, food, and gun supplies.CRP is "Care Reaps Products" for young farmers Mississippi

Highlights of CRP so farPrevents the erosion of 450 million tons of soil each yearRestored more than two million acres of wetlands and two million acres of riparian buffers;Protected 2 million acres of stream bank along rivers and streamsEnhance wildlife populations

www.ownerfinancedland.comhttps://gfp.sd.gov/wildlifeen.wikipedia.orgHighlights of CRP so farKeeps more than 600 million pounds of nitrogen and more than 100 million pounds of phosphorous each year from flowing into our nations streams, rivers, and lakes;Provides $1.8 billion annually to landowners; Carbon sequestration in 2010 is equal to taking almost 10 million cars off the roadReduces both fuel and fertilizer usage.450 million tons of soil erosion reduced annually

2008 Farm BillTotal CRP acreage cap was lowered from 39.2 million acres to 32 million acresFor North Dakota alone, CRP acreage dropped from 3.4 million to 1.7 million acresLand eligibility requirement was modifiedInclude a new local preference criterion in the ranking criteriaAllow certain commercial uses of CRP land

U.S CRP Enrollmenthttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/CRP Acres Expiring in 2014http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Top 4 Corn Producing StatesWhat about North Dakota?More than 1.5 million acres have expired since 2007 in the Prairie Pothole RegionSince 2007, ND has lost about 1.9 million CRP acresIn the 2013 CRP sign-up, only 69 % of the acres offered in ND were acceptedAbout 141 thousands of acres will expire this fall.

www.griggsdakota.com19North Dakota CRP Enrollment http://www.fsa.usda.gov/North Dakota Enrollment vs Expiration

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/North Dakota CRP Acres Losshttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/What about North Dakota? continuedUncertainty regarding the level of acres will be offered or accepted for re-enrollment into the CRPWithout new and re-enrollment in the next 5 years, more than 1 million acres of land for wildlife habitat will be lostThe loss of wildlife habitat translates into fewer places to hunt

www.ducks.orgNext StepMany of the Put back those goods one on productionNo-till technique

2014 Farm BillReferenceshttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crphttps://www.ducks.org/farmbill/page2http://www.bigpictureagriculture.com/2013/03/weve-lost-9-7-million-acres-of-crp-land-in-five-years-334.htmlhttp://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/20823/