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CREP expanded in Indiana

Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, Julia Wickard, State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and other conservation partners were on hand Friday, August 27, to announce the expansion of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in Indiana. Lt. Governor Skillman tells Brownfield that without those partners expanding a program like CREP during a tough economy would be difficult to do.

“USDA, ISDA, Nature Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources, this is the way we move forward during tough times,” said the Lt. Governor. “You know State government has continued to squeeze and squeeze all we can out of the administration of our services, we don’t want to harm essential services, I consider soil and water conservation to be an essential service, if we want the agricultural industry to remain strong and to protect wetlands as well, we must move forward with these practices.”

AUDIO: Indiana Lt. Governor Skillman (3:05 MP3)

The expansion announced on Friday takes the CREP program in Indiana from 3 watersheds to 11 and from 7,000 acres to 26,250 acres, touching 65 counties.

Julia Wickard, FSA State Executive Director says that with the signing of the agreement, signup is already underway. So what does the CREP expansion mean to Hoosier farmers?

“It’s going to work for some, it won’t work for everyone,” said Wickard. “I think every farmer has to look at it, evaluate it, and decide how they can make it work in their operation.”

AUDIO: Julia Wickard, Indiana FSA State Exec. Director (3:05 MP3)

The first step in the process begins at the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) where landowners can determine whether or not they are eligible for the program, once that is done, the next step will be the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) who will provide landowners with the technical assistance.

“We have the expertise of the soil, we have the expertise of our standards and specifications for conservation practices, we have that connection with the land,” said Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty. “As a partner of USDA, our role is to provide all the technical assistance that goes directly to the farmer.”

AUDIO: Jane Hardisty, Indiana State Conservationist, NRCS (4:05 MP3)