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Conservation Buffer Programs
The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and other state and local
organizations offers landowners financial, technical and educational assistance
to implement conservation practices on privately owned land. Using this help,
farmers and landowners apply practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water
quality and enhance crop land, forest land, wetlands, grazing lands and wildlife
habitat. The following are brief overviews of natural resource programs that
provide cost share assistance. For more details on any of these programs,
contact your local NRCS/SWCD office.
There are many existing governmental programs that offer technical, financial
and information assistance to landowners who install buffers. The following
programs are based on the voluntary participation of the landowner.
- Purpose: To improve water quality, erosion control and wildlife habitat in
specific geographic areas which have been adversely impacted by agricultural
activities, with emphasis on addressing non-point source water pollution and
habitat restoration in a cost-effective manner.
- Description: In the western part of the Ohio Lake Erie watershed, the
state offers an enhancement of the CRP program which provides increased
incentives to install conservation buffer practices in this region.
- Practices: Filter strips, riparian forest buffers, wetland restorations
and windbreaks.
- Eligibility: Private landowner
- Contract: A 15 to 30-year commitment is required.
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- Purpose: To reduce erosion, increase wildlife habitat, improve water
quality and increase forestland.
- Description: The largest and most popular of the USDA's incentive
programs, CRP provides land rental payments to farmers and landowners who are
willing to sign long-term contracts converting cropland into conservation
practices.
- Practices: Filter strips, riparian forest buffers, wetland restorations
and windbreaks.
- Eligibility: Varies by soil type and crop history. Land is accepted into
program if bid qualifies. Continuous signup open for buffers, waterways and
environmental practices. Periodic signups announced throughout the year for
other practices.
- Contract: A 10 to 15-year contract, depending on the situation.
Transferable with change in ownership.
- View USDA NRCS CRP Information
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- Purpose: To provide technical, educational and financial help to eligible
farmers and landowners for conservation practices that address soil, water and
related natural resource concerns on their farmland in an environmentally
beneficial and cost-effective manner.
- Practices: Grassed waterways, stream fencing, critical area planting,
terraces, manure management systems including storage structures and barnyard
runoff protection, and many other conservation practices.
- Eligibility: Agricultural producers on agricultural land are eligible.
Projects are selected based on environmental value.
- Contract: 5-10 year contracts. Ag producers may be eligible for up to 75%
cost-share, up to $10,000 per year and $50,000 life of contract.
- View NRCS EQIP Information
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- Description: The Northwest Ohio Field Windbreak Program is an inter-agency
effort to assist landowners in establishing field windbreaks in Northwest
Ohio. It provides both the trees and planting services.
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- Purpose: To restore wetlands previously altered for agricultural use.
- Description: The WRP is a voluntary program to restore wetlands.
Landowners can establish conservation easements or enter into restoration
cost-share agreements where no easement is involved. In exchange for
establishing a permanent easement, the landowners receives payment up to the
agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration costs for
restoring the wetlands.
- Practices: Wetland restoration and wildlife habitat establishment.
- Eligibility: Land that has been owned for one year and can be restored to
wetland conditions.
- Contract: Landowners may restore wetlands with permanent or 30-year
easements or 10-year contracts. Permanent easements pay 100% of the
agricultural value of the land and 100% cost-sharing; 30-year easements pay
75% of the agricultural value and 75% cost-sharing; 10-year contract pays 75%
cost-share only. Permanent or 30-year easements are recorded with property
deed while a 10-year contract is not recorded.
- View USDA NRCS WRP Information
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- Purpose: To develop or improve fish and wildlife habitat on privately
owned land.
- Description: The WHIP program provides financial incentives to develop
habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to
implement a wildlife habitat development plan and the USDA agrees to provide
cost-share assistance for the implementation of wildlife habitat development
practices.
- Practices: Seeding, fencing, in-stream structures, etc.
- Eligibility: Almost any type of land is eligible, including ag and non-ag
land, woodlots, pastures and stream banks.
- Contract: Normally a 10-year contract to maintain habitat. Up to 75% of
restoration costs, to a maximum of $10,000. Other organizations may provide
the remaining 25% cost-share.
- View USDA NRCS WHIP Information
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