Welcome!
4490 M-61, Standish, MI 48658, US
(989) 846-4565 ext. 5
About the Program
What is CREP?
Michigan’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was created to protect our agricultural productivity, environment, and wildlife.
In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and non-federal incentives as specified in each CREP agreement. Participation is voluntary, and the contract period is typically 10-15 years.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement conservation practices of great significance to the state, and value to the nation, in matters of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat
DO I Qualify?
CREP priority watersheds include the Lake Macatawa, Western Lake Erie Basin, and Saginaw Bay watersheds. Eligible land must be planted with an agricultural commodity (any crop planted and produced by annual soil tilling) four of the six years from 2012 to 2017 and is physically and legally capable of being planted to an agricultural commodity in a normal manner.
Selected land within Michigan’s CREP priority watersheds is eligible for the program. Property owners in these priority watersheds are strongly encouraged to take part. The local USDA Farm Service Agency can help landowners identify suitable parcels of land.
In Michigan’s CREP, farmers and other landowners in priority watershed areas agree to enroll eligible parcels of land in the program for 14 to 15 years and establish prescribed conservation practices.
In return, landowners receive cost-share assistance in establishing conservation practices. Eligible practices include:
- Introduced grass planting.
- Native grass planting.
- Field windbreak.
- Filter strips.
- Riparian forest buffer.
- Wetland restoration.
- Sediment retention-controlled structure.
Financial Benefits
Your first step is to call, text or email our CREP Technician, look below for details.
Interested in learning more?
Enrollment info
Land Management and Land Health
Land Management and Land Health
Find out more about enrollment
Michigan CREP Eligibility Requirements
AND
Here you can find fact sheets and webpages about eligibility requirements for CRP/CREP programs.
Not eligible? Here are more program opportunities
Land Management and Land Health
Land Management and Land Health
Land Management and Land Health
Land-use choices are reflected in the quality of our land. Here you can find more information about the consequences of certain practices so you can be prepared to avoid or manage them.
[Coming Soon]