1. Government Conservation Programs
Ethan Massey
Waterfowl Biologist, Ducks Unlimited Inc.

2. Outline Intro Why the government offers conservation programs
Why people would enroll in them
Farm Bill updates
Most important programs for waterfowl
WRE/WRP
CRP
EQIP
CSP

3. Introduction Biologist with DU Masters from UAM; Bachelors from LSU
Jointly funded by NRCS and AGFC
Provide technical assistance to private landowners
Masters from UAM; Bachelors from LSU
I have worked on various waterfowl research projects in LA, AR, ND, and Canada

4. Why Conservation Programs?
65% of land in the US is privately owned
88% in Arkansas
Conservation must be done on private land to be successful
Wildlife habitat
Sustainable water use
Reduction of water pollutants
Conservation programs create financial incentives for private landowners to implement these changes

5. Farm Bill
The Agricultural Improvements Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) is an important piece of legislation that provides funding for many conservation programs
Updated every 4 years
Most recent was just approved
$428 billion budget over 5 years
Conservation gets 6.8%
29.1 billion dollars

6. Farm Bill Updates ACEP – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
Funding increased by 2 billion
WRE county enrollment cap increased from 10 to 15%
CRP – Conservation Reserve Program
Enrollment cap raised from 24 to 27 million acres
Grazing allowed on enrolled lands
EQIP – Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Funding set aside from EQIP budget for wildlife increased from 5 to 10%

7. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
Formerly WRP
Established in 1990
Under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Targets marginal, frequently flooded croplands
Long term easements
30-year or permanent
Restores them by creating wetlands and planting trees
Paid for by NRCS
Over 700,000 acres enrolled in AR, LA, & MS
Administered by NRCS

8. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
Objectives:
Habitat for migratory birds and other wetland- dependent wildlife, including endangered or threatened species and species of concern.
Protection and improvement of water quality.
Attenuation of floodwater.
Recharge of ground water.
Protection and enhancement of open space and aesthetic quality.
Carbon sequestration.
Protection of native flora and fauna contributing to the Nation's natural heritage.
Contribution to educational and scientific scholarship

9. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
100 acres of irrigated ag in the MAV gets $290,000
Clearly a large financial incentive to enroll

10. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
Competitive enrollment
Not everyone gets in
Eligibility: Farmed Lands, Former Wetlands, Grasslands, CRP
Enrollment points:
Easement Duration- perpetual or 30 yr.
Hydrology Restoration- restoration or enhancement & restoration diversity
Water Quality- Riparian Corridor & Floodwater Attenuation
Location Significance- Proximity & Size of protected lands
Wildlife Habitat- Contiguous Forest, Forest Bird Conservation Areas, & Declining, Threatened, or Endangered Species

11. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
This is a real estate transaction
Gov. is basically buying the surface rights
Rights retained by the landowner:
Quiet Enjoyment
Undeveloped Hunting & Fishing
Mineral rights
Control of Access
Title

12. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

13. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

14. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

15. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

16. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

17. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
2017

18. Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)

19. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Program aimed at removing marginal farm ground from production
Administered by Farm Service Agency (FSA)
10 or 15 year contracts
After the contract ends the owner can re-enroll or go back to farming
Landowner is paid an annual rental rate per acre enrolled
22 million acres in US
~215,000 acres in AR
Established in 1985

20. Important Initiatives for Waterfowl:
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Important Initiatives for Waterfowl:
Wintering Grounds
Wetland Restoration (CP23)
Bottomland Timber Establishment (CP31)
Breeding Grounds
Duck Nesting Habitat (CP 37)
Establishment of Grasslands (CP 1 and 2)

21. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Rental rates vary widely based on location and soil type
Often there is a $150/acre sign-up bonus
Typically 90% of restoration costs are paid
Tree planting
Wetland creation
Native grasses establishment
Accomplishments:
25.7 million additional ducks from
Reduced over 8 billion tons of soil erosion
Filtered 365 million pounds of nitrogen and 72 million pounds of phosphorous

22. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

23. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

24. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Financial and technical assistance provided to producers to implement conservation practices
Administered by NRCS
Paid for specific practice
Goals:
Improve air and water quality
Conserve water
Reduce soil erosion / sedimentation
Create wildlife habitat
Examples of practices:
Prescribed burning
Irrigation improvements
Wetland creation and restoration
Cover crops
Aimed more at working lands where WRE and CRP were land taken out of production

25. Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Pretty similar to EQIP
Financial and technical assistance for producers to maintain and improve existing conservation plans
The higher the conservation performance the more you get paid
Administered by NRCS
Both EQIP and CSP are promoted by DU’s Rice Stewardship Program
Also done on working lands
Rice Stewardship encourages landowners to

26. Rice Stewardship
Partnership between Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice Federation
Aides producers in navigating and adhering to EQIP and CSP practices
Winter flooding for waterfowl
Improved water management
Improved nutrient management
Acres affected so far ~400,000

27. Summary
WRE – long-term land retirement, large lump sum, gov. owns surface rights
CRP – 10 to 15 year land retirement, annual rental payments, important in PPR
EQIP – working lands, paid according to practices implemented
CSP – working lands, paid to improve existing conservation practices

28. Questions?