By Scout Nelson
A bipartisan bill has been introduced to enhance the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), a component of the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The proposed CREP Improvement Act is designed to give producers more flexibility in managing water resources while receiving fair compensation.
“This bipartisan bill would provide farmers and ranchers with the flexibility needed to conserve water on working lands, while fairly compensating them for retiring their water rights or limiting water use.”
CREP combines federal and non-federal funds to address critical conservation concerns at the state and regional levels. In drought-prone areas like Kansas and throughout the West and Great Plains, the program often focuses on reducing water consumption on farmland. However, producers have raised concerns about the program's limitations and rigid structure.
The CREP Improvement Act proposes the following updates:
- Add dryland crop production and grazing as eligible conservation practices.
- Include continuous cropping systems, such as alfalfa, in water conservation agreements.
- Ensure fairer payments by adjusting compensation to reflect the difference between irrigated and dryland acre rates.
- Guarantee full irrigated acre payment for the permanent retirement of water rights.
- Make payment updates retroactive for existing agreements.
- Allow producers to choose payment allocations over the contract period instead of fixed annual payments.
- Waive the $50,000 annual payment cap under CRP for CREP agreements.
These improvements are expected to make CREP more accessible and efficient, especially for producers facing water shortages. By offering more practical options and fair compensation, the bill supports both sustainable agriculture and long-term water conservation.
Photo Credit:kansas-livestock-foundation
Categories: Kansas, General