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Wetlands Program Now Available
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Tom Kostel, Acting State Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in South Dakota stated that producers can sign up for the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) at their local Farm Service Agency office.
The Farmable Wetlands Program is a component of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. Authorized incentives include a payment of $100 per acre, an incentive payment of 40 percent of the cost to establish the practice and a 120 percent rental rate.
"The Farmable Wetlands Program is a tool to help producers protect clean water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitats to preserve these resources for future generations," said Kostel.
FWP is a voluntary program to restore up to 100,000 acres of South Dakota farmable wetlands and associated buffers by improving the land's hydrology and vegetation. Eligible producers can enroll eligible land in FWP through the Conservation Reserve Program. Through FWP, the USDA Farm Service Agency establishes 10-15 year contracts with agricultural producers. There are approximately 47,000 acres currently enrolled in the program.
The 2008 Farm Bill modified land eligibility requirements that will allow more South Dakota acres to qualify to be placed under a CRP contract. A few of the changes that will specifically affect participation in South Dakota include:
. Flooded wetlands and adjacent land that was subject to the natural overflow of the wetland may be eligible, if the acreage was cropped at least three years out of the 10 year cropping period of Jan. 1, 1990 through Dec. 31, 2002;
. The number of acres per tract allowed for buffers around the wetland acres has been increased; and
. The maximum acreage of wetlands and acres per tract has been increased.
FWP enrollment limitations include 40 acres for wetlands or constructed wetlands, 20 acres for intermittently flooded prairie wetlands, and 40 acres per tract for eligible wetlands and buffers. FWP participants must agree to restore the hydrology of the wetlands to establish vegetative cover which may include emerging vegetation in water, bottomland hardwoods, cypress and other appropriate tree species; and to the general prohibition of using of the enrolled land for commercial purposes.
Additional information about the Farmable Wetland Program is available at your local FSA office or on the web at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
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©Marshall County Journal 2010
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