COLUMBUS, Ohio,August 13, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the State of Ohio are collaborating to introduce a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) tailored for the Great Miami and Little Miami watersheds in southwest Ohio.

CREP is a part of the FSA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP is a voluntary program contract with agricultural producers through which environmentally sensitive agricultural land is devoted to conservation benefits. Farmers and landowners who enroll in CREP, are re-establishing valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, reduce loss of wildlife habitat, and address other objectives identified in the CREP agreement. While enrolled in CREP, farmers and landowners receive an annual rental payment for the contract period and may be eligible for additional incentives. FSA also provides cost share assistance to help offset the costs associated with installing the conservation practices.

Through this program, property owners who voluntarily enroll eligible lands will receive incentive payments from the FSA and the State of Ohio's H2Ohio Program. These payments will support the establishment of specific conservation practices over a 15-year period.

"CREP enables our partners to shape CRP to be site-specific and to address local priorities, from water quality and conservation to wildlife habitat and climate outcomes," said Dr. John Patterson, state executive director for FSA in Ohio. "I highly encourage landowners in the Great Miami and Little Miami watersheds in southwest Ohio CREP project areas to take a serious look at this very beneficial conservation opportunity."

The Miami Conservancy District will host a series of open house informational sessions to provide details about the program. These sessions will be held in the following locations:

• Urbana, Ohio:

• Sidney, Ohio:

• Hamilton, Ohio:

• Xenia, Ohio:

• Greenville, Ohio:

• Batavia, Ohio:

The meetings will follow an open house format, allowing attendees to drop in at any time during the scheduled hours. There will be no formal presentations, providing flexibility for attendees to gather information and ask questions at their convenience. For questions regarding the meetings or persons with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in the meetings listed above, contact Sarah Hippensteel Hall with the Miami Conservation District at [email protected] or 937-223-1271.

For those unable to attend the informational sessions, comprehensive details about the program and an opportunity to comment or request additional information can be found on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website: ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/land-water/ohio-river-watershed/conservation-reserve-enhancement-program.

Additional information regarding the Great Miami and Little Miami Watersheds CREP can be found on the Ohio FSA website at: www.fsa.usda.gov/oh. To learn more about FSA's CREP visit: fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-enhancement.

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