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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2 2007, 2:40 AM EDT (current) | mark | 487 words added |
| Apr 2 2007, 2:39 AM EDT | mark |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
ISSUE
Water Quality/Land Protection
PLACE IN FOOD CYCLE
Natural/Human Resources
POLICY
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
POLICY TOOL
Cost-share grant/inducements (incentive payments) for individuals
SCALE
National, State, local, individual
ACTORS
NRCS, FSA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, VT Agency of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Districts, nonprofits, individual farmers
PROBLEMS ADDRESSED
Joint State-federal program that aims to reduce pollution in streams by installing vegetative cover practices (i.e. planting trees and/or tall grasses along streams) that greatly improve water quality and by compensating landowners for the loss of productive agricultural land (for duration of 15-30 year contracts).CREP establishes 35' wide riparian buffers (forested and/or grassy vegetation along streams) to filter out runoff nutrients before they enter the water. The program is a partnership between the Farm Service Agency, State of VT, NRCS, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, farmers and/or landowners (non-farming landowners often lease their land to farmers) that voluntarily participate. Buffers are most efficient and effective way to protect water quality, while preventing the loss of farmland from excessive erosion.
POLICY GOALS IMPLICATED
Efficiency - Planting trees very efficient way to protect water quality because trees are cheaper than other protective measures (i.e. armoring a streambank to reduce sedimentation). Benefits of trees over time far outweigh their costs. Trees also protect farmland from erosion over time; however immediate loss of "productive" land for farmers to plant trees is seen as costly. Unfortunately, implementation of CREP is time-consuming and complicated (too many forms and red tape)-this often hinders participation b/c enrollement process percieved as more costly than program benefits. Equity - Cost-share requirement can make program too costly for some farmers to participate (nonprofits often help with the cost-share). Sacrifice of productive land seen as too much of a burden, especially in narrow farm valleys in central VT. Many farmers do not know about CREP since it originally was only available to farmers in Lake Champlain basin-more outreach needed throughout VT. Security - Primary goal of program is to protect water quality, which is a security goal for public good. Liberty - Voluntary program so liberty not threatened.
TOOL CHARACTERISTICS
Directness - CREP is indirect tool that relies on numerous implementing partners to administer. Coercion - CREP is voluntary so it is largely not coercive; however it imposes certain requirements once a farmer voluntarily enrolls in program (such as the width of the buffer). If the trees do not survive, nobody enforces the farmer to replace them. Automaticity - Although CREP is a form of grant, it does not rank high on automaticity since it involves so many implementing partners and coordination among them (very cumbersome process for everyone involved). Visibility - Now that CREP is a statewide program, it is gaining in visibility. Everyone sees the trees though they may not know how they were paid for. Growing publicity among partners who help facilitate program (i.e. nonprofits, VAAFM, etc.).
EXTENT POLICY SUPPORTS/HINDERS
ADDITIONAL LINKS
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/cleanandclear/ag-crep.htm http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=cep http://www.anr.state.vt.us/cleanandclear/ag-crep.htm
Water Quality/Land Protection
PLACE IN FOOD CYCLE
Natural/Human Resources
POLICY
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
POLICY TOOL
Cost-share grant/inducements (incentive payments) for individuals
SCALE
National, State, local, individual
ACTORS
NRCS, FSA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, VT Agency of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Districts, nonprofits, individual farmers
PROBLEMS ADDRESSED
Joint State-federal program that aims to reduce pollution in streams by installing vegetative cover practices (i.e. planting trees and/or tall grasses along streams) that greatly improve water quality and by compensating landowners for the loss of productive agricultural land (for duration of 15-30 year contracts).CREP establishes 35' wide riparian buffers (forested and/or grassy vegetation along streams) to filter out runoff nutrients before they enter the water. The program is a partnership between the Farm Service Agency, State of VT, NRCS, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, farmers and/or landowners (non-farming landowners often lease their land to farmers) that voluntarily participate. Buffers are most efficient and effective way to protect water quality, while preventing the loss of farmland from excessive erosion.
POLICY GOALS IMPLICATED
Efficiency - Planting trees very efficient way to protect water quality because trees are cheaper than other protective measures (i.e. armoring a streambank to reduce sedimentation). Benefits of trees over time far outweigh their costs. Trees also protect farmland from erosion over time; however immediate loss of "productive" land for farmers to plant trees is seen as costly. Unfortunately, implementation of CREP is time-consuming and complicated (too many forms and red tape)-this often hinders participation b/c enrollement process percieved as more costly than program benefits. Equity - Cost-share requirement can make program too costly for some farmers to participate (nonprofits often help with the cost-share). Sacrifice of productive land seen as too much of a burden, especially in narrow farm valleys in central VT. Many farmers do not know about CREP since it originally was only available to farmers in Lake Champlain basin-more outreach needed throughout VT. Security - Primary goal of program is to protect water quality, which is a security goal for public good. Liberty - Voluntary program so liberty not threatened.
TOOL CHARACTERISTICS
Directness - CREP is indirect tool that relies on numerous implementing partners to administer. Coercion - CREP is voluntary so it is largely not coercive; however it imposes certain requirements once a farmer voluntarily enrolls in program (such as the width of the buffer). If the trees do not survive, nobody enforces the farmer to replace them. Automaticity - Although CREP is a form of grant, it does not rank high on automaticity since it involves so many implementing partners and coordination among them (very cumbersome process for everyone involved). Visibility - Now that CREP is a statewide program, it is gaining in visibility. Everyone sees the trees though they may not know how they were paid for. Growing publicity among partners who help facilitate program (i.e. nonprofits, VAAFM, etc.).
EXTENT POLICY SUPPORTS/HINDERS
ADDITIONAL LINKS
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/cleanandclear/ag-crep.htm http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=cep http://www.anr.state.vt.us/cleanandclear/ag-crep.htm
