What Do Illinois Farmers Need to Know About CREP?
Reinstated in 2022, CREP is a voluntary Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program that falls under CRP. Learn all about CREP in Illinois and what you as a farmer or landowner need to know.
Environmental Conservation
What is the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program?
Developed by the USDA as a part of CRP, the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program is a federally funded initiative designed to preserve grasslands across the country. Specifically, the program was established to ensure that environmentally sensitive grassland, or other land of significant value, is conserved rather than farmed. In 2022, over 3.1 million acres of …
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The Benefits of the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative
As part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative is designed to enhance important wildlife habitat to achieve local conservation goals. SAFE is a component of CRP that specifically focuses on working with private landowners to convert their land into valuable wildlife habitat. For the environment, the land, …
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The Goals of the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
In 2022, Illinois reinstated the statewide Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) as a division of the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Along with the general conservation and restoration goals of CRP, CREP focuses on specific goals for each state. Upon its return, the Illinois CREP released a number of guidelines and requirements for landowners interested …
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Biochar’s Impact on Climate Change
In the bioenergy sector, biochar is quickly becoming recognized for its promising impact on climate change. As a type of carbon-rich charcoal, biochar is produced through a process called pyrolysis, where organic matter is heated without the use of oxygen. Typically used as a soil amendment to increase the health and fertility of the soil, …
CRP Signup Starts Feb. 27th – April 7th 2023
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced recently that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting February 27 through April 7, 2023. What is the CRP? The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps agricultural producers …
The Benefits of Biochar
When added to soil, biochar can bring numerous benefits to your land. An organically produced amendment, biochar has been used for thousands of years to enhance soil and generate better crop yields. Its unique, porous texture provides abundant opportunities for enriching vulnerable soil and keeping it healthy over the long term. Today, as farmers look …
How Do Conservation Buffers Benefit Your Land?
When you enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), there is a long list of conservation practices, or CPs, that you can put into action to improve the condition of your land. One of the most common CPs is known as a conservation buffer. Conservation buffers, also called buffer strips, can not only enhance your …
What is an Environmental Benefit Index (EBI) Score?
When entering a bid for General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), eligible land is evaluated based on the Environmental Benefit Index (EBI). This comprehensive ranking system is used to measure the overall environmental benefits of your proposed CRP project. Each CRP submission is ranked with an EBI score by the FSA and compared to other applicants …
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FDCE Awarded USDA Funding Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
The USDA recently announced a $197 million investment in local conservation projects through the partner-driven Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). We’re proud to announce that FDCE was one of the recipients of this award and can’t wait to get started with our RCPP project. With the goal of advancing new, innovative conservation projects including efforts …
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