Greene County SWCD

Conservation Programs

There are many programs available through the state and federal government that can assist private landowners with natural resource conservation on their land. The following are brief descriptions of these programs managed by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),
For more information on Conservation Programs available to you, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District or NRCS office. If you are in Greene County, you can contact Dan Luczynski, NRCS District Conservationist, at (812) 384-4781 ext. 3 or by email at: dan.luczynski@in.usda.gov

Suzie Strietelmeier, FSA County Executive Director.
(812) 384-4634 and her email is: Suzie.Strietelmeier@in.usda.gov.

HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM (HFRP)
OVERVIEW
The Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is a voluntary program established for the purpose of restoring and enhancing forest ecosystems to: 1) promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species, 2) improve biodiversity; and 3) enhance carbon sequestration.

The HFRP was signed into law as part of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. The program is authorized to be carried out from 2004 through 2008.
BENEFITS
Restoring and protecting forests contributes positively to the economy of our nation, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality.

Safe Harbor will be made available to landowners enrolled in the HFRP who agree, for a specified period, to restore or improve their land for threatened or endangered species habitat. In exchange, they avoid future regulatory restrictions on the use of that land protected under the Endangered Species Act.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
The Program offers three enrollment options:

1) A 10-year cost-share agreement; for which the landowner may receive 50 percent of the cost of the approved conservation practices,
2) A 30-year easement, for which the landowner may receive 75 percent of the market value of the enrolled land plus 75 percent of the cost of the approved conservation practices, or
3) An easement of not more than 99-years, for which landowners may receive 75 percent of the market value of the enrolled land plus the cost of the approved conservation practices.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for enrollment, land must be private land which will restore, enhance, or measurably increase the likelihood of recovery of a threatened or endangered species, must improve biological diversity, or increase carbon sequestration.
Interested? Contact Dan Luczynski, Greene Co. NRCS District Conservationist at 384-4781 X 3

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The Conservation Reserve Program offers long term rental payments and cost share assistance to establish permanent vegetative cover on cropland that is highly erodible or contributing serious water quality problem. Through approved contract bids to convert eligible land to permanent cover, farm owners or operators receive annual rental payments at a rate not to exceed prevailing local rental rate per acre of comparable land. Acreage offered for enrollment is evaluated for environmental benefits and contract costs to determine which offers are accepted into the program. The acreage most likely to be accepted is generally land that provides the highest environmental benefits for the lowest cost. Rental payments may be provided up to 15 years for hardwood trees, wildlife corridors, windbreaks, or shelterbelts; however most payments are limited to 10 years.
The "continuous" sign-up CRP offers a noncompetitive enrollment of the most environmentally sensitive areas, and provides for annual rental payments and cost share for establishing practices such as filter strips along streams, grassed waterways, riparian buffers, field windbreaks, etc. Contact the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for more information on this program.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was established in the 1996 Farm Bill, to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers who face serious threats to soil, water, and related natural resources. EQIP offers financial, educational and technical help to install or implement structural, vegetative, and management practices called for in 5- to 10-year contracts. Cost sharing may be up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Eligibility is limited to persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, forestland, and other farm or ranch lands where the program is delivered. For more information on this program, contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), IDNR Division of Soil Conservation or SWCD office.

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Landowners who choose to participate in WRP may sell a conservation easement or enter into a cost-share restoration agreement with USDA to restore and protect wetlands. The landowner voluntarily limits future use of land, yet retains private ownership. The program offers landowners three options: permanent easements, 30 year easements, and restoration cost-share agreements of a minimum 10-year duration. To be eligible, the landowner must have owned the land for one year, and the land must be restorable and be suitable for wildlife benefits. Contact the local SWCD or USDA-NRCS about this program.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands. It provides technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share payments to help establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat through implementation of practices such as establishment of conservation cover; tree/shrub plantings; riparian forest buffer establishment; livestock exclusion and others. Contact the IDNR Wildlife Biologist, SWCD or the USDA-NRCS for more information.