Post by sam on Aug 27, 2010 17:16:47 GMT -5
For immediate release: Aug 27, 2010
Posted by: [ISDA]
Contact: Jeannie Keating
Phone: 317-696-9695
Email: jkeating@isda.in.gov
NEWS RELEASE: STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOIN TO ANNOUNCE CONSERVATION PROGRAM, Lt. Governor Skillman Signs New Conservation Program Agreement with USDA
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted an expansion of Indiana's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), nearly quadrupling the number of acres eligible for conservation. CREP is a partnership between USDA and the State of Indiana to address agricultural-related environmental concerns.
"I was proud to sign the state's first CREP agreement in 2005 and I am proud to see this significant expansion today," said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. "This, along with other massive efforts has made Indiana a national model for conservation."
Earlier this year, Governor Mitch Daniels announced two major conservation projects - Muscatatuck Bottoms and Wabash River/Sugar Creek - totaling more than 68,000 acres.
CREP addresses water quality and wildlife concerns by incentivizing reduced sediment and nutrient runoff and enhanced wildlife habitat. Participants receive financial incentives to enroll in contracts of 14 to 15 years and remove portions of marginal cropland from agricultural production (or other eligible land) and convert the area to wetlands, native grasses, trees and other vegetation. CREP participants will receive incentive payments, annual rental payments, and cost-share assistance. The total cost is estimated at $85 million, with USDA contributing $67.5 million and Indiana contributing $17.5 million through the Clean Water Indiana fund and in-kind services.
"FSA is excited to partner with the state and the organizations of the Indiana Conservation Partnership to implement and promote this 2010 CREP expansion covering 11 watersheds, touching 65 counties with a total acreage goal of 26,250 acres ," said Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard. "Indiana farmers have been at the forefront of land conservation and stewardship efforts for years - we are pleased to be able to provide this voluntary CREP program to assist them in their continued efforts."
The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources will continue their partnership with Indiana's CREP program by offering additional incentives to the Tippecanoe and Upper White Watersheds.
The previous CREP agreement included the Tippecanoe River, Upper White River, Pigeon-Highland River watersheds covering 29 counties. The new CREP Agreement will include the following watersheds:
. Tippecanoe, Upper White River, Highland/Pigeon, Lower East Fork White, Lower Wabash, Lower White, Middle Wabash - Busseron, Middle Wabash - Deer, Middle Wabash - Little Vermillion, Upper East Fork White, Upper Wabash
Additionally, the new Indiana CREP Agreement includes all or portions of 65 counties in the Wabash River watershed.
. Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Daviess, Delaware, Decatur, Dubois, Fountain, Fulton, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hanthingy, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Grant, Jackson, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Kosciusko, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Montgomery, Noble, Owen, Orange, Parke, Pike, Posey, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Starke, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, White, Wabash, Wells, Whitley, Warren, Warrick, Washington, and White
A map of these counties and watersheds can be found on the ISDA website at: www.in.gov/isda/files/2010_CREP_Watersheds.pdf
By enrolling in CREP, Hoosier landowners improve water quality by creating buffers and wetlands to reduce sediments, nutrients, pesticides and herbicides that may run off from agricultural land. This can also enhance habitat for wildlife, including State and Federally-listed threatened and endangered species.
A signing of Indiana's new agreement took place today at Starkey Farms in Brownsburg. The Agreement was signed by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Julia Wickard, and State Director of Agriculture, Joe Kelsay. The Agreement supports Governor Daniels and Lt. Governor Skillman's vision for economic development in tandem with environmental responsibility.
More information about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program can be found by visiting the ISDA Web site at www.in.gov/isda/2561.htm , the USDA, Farm Service Agency Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov , or please stop by your local Soil and Water Conservation District or Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.
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Lt. Governor Becky Skillman during her presentation.
Indiana Agriculture Director, Joe Kelsay signs the CREP Amendment as Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard enjoy the moment.
Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard
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Link to this event: www.in.gov/portal/news_events/56997.htm?utm_source=IN.gov&utm_medium=twitter
NEWS RELEASE: STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOIN TO ANNOUNCE CONSERVATION PROGRAM, Lt. Governor Skillman Signs New Conservation Program Agreement with USDA Aug 27, 2010 content_id:A5048C0A0CB84A46B6267EBDE1CBF40E; type:press; agency:ISDA; showOnHomepage:; sortDate:Aug 27, 2010; filterDate:201008; isBanner:no; agencyDivision:ISDA;08 - August;2010;Press Release;Show on Home
Posted by: [ISDA]
Contact: Jeannie Keating
Phone: 317-696-9695
Email: jkeating@isda.in.gov
NEWS RELEASE: STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOIN TO ANNOUNCE CONSERVATION PROGRAM, Lt. Governor Skillman Signs New Conservation Program Agreement with USDA
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted an expansion of Indiana's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), nearly quadrupling the number of acres eligible for conservation. CREP is a partnership between USDA and the State of Indiana to address agricultural-related environmental concerns.
"I was proud to sign the state's first CREP agreement in 2005 and I am proud to see this significant expansion today," said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. "This, along with other massive efforts has made Indiana a national model for conservation."
Earlier this year, Governor Mitch Daniels announced two major conservation projects - Muscatatuck Bottoms and Wabash River/Sugar Creek - totaling more than 68,000 acres.
CREP addresses water quality and wildlife concerns by incentivizing reduced sediment and nutrient runoff and enhanced wildlife habitat. Participants receive financial incentives to enroll in contracts of 14 to 15 years and remove portions of marginal cropland from agricultural production (or other eligible land) and convert the area to wetlands, native grasses, trees and other vegetation. CREP participants will receive incentive payments, annual rental payments, and cost-share assistance. The total cost is estimated at $85 million, with USDA contributing $67.5 million and Indiana contributing $17.5 million through the Clean Water Indiana fund and in-kind services.
"FSA is excited to partner with the state and the organizations of the Indiana Conservation Partnership to implement and promote this 2010 CREP expansion covering 11 watersheds, touching 65 counties with a total acreage goal of 26,250 acres ," said Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard. "Indiana farmers have been at the forefront of land conservation and stewardship efforts for years - we are pleased to be able to provide this voluntary CREP program to assist them in their continued efforts."
The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources will continue their partnership with Indiana's CREP program by offering additional incentives to the Tippecanoe and Upper White Watersheds.
The previous CREP agreement included the Tippecanoe River, Upper White River, Pigeon-Highland River watersheds covering 29 counties. The new CREP Agreement will include the following watersheds:
. Tippecanoe, Upper White River, Highland/Pigeon, Lower East Fork White, Lower Wabash, Lower White, Middle Wabash - Busseron, Middle Wabash - Deer, Middle Wabash - Little Vermillion, Upper East Fork White, Upper Wabash
Additionally, the new Indiana CREP Agreement includes all or portions of 65 counties in the Wabash River watershed.
. Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Daviess, Delaware, Decatur, Dubois, Fountain, Fulton, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hanthingy, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Grant, Jackson, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Kosciusko, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Montgomery, Noble, Owen, Orange, Parke, Pike, Posey, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Starke, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, White, Wabash, Wells, Whitley, Warren, Warrick, Washington, and White
A map of these counties and watersheds can be found on the ISDA website at: www.in.gov/isda/files/2010_CREP_Watersheds.pdf
By enrolling in CREP, Hoosier landowners improve water quality by creating buffers and wetlands to reduce sediments, nutrients, pesticides and herbicides that may run off from agricultural land. This can also enhance habitat for wildlife, including State and Federally-listed threatened and endangered species.
A signing of Indiana's new agreement took place today at Starkey Farms in Brownsburg. The Agreement was signed by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Julia Wickard, and State Director of Agriculture, Joe Kelsay. The Agreement supports Governor Daniels and Lt. Governor Skillman's vision for economic development in tandem with environmental responsibility.
More information about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program can be found by visiting the ISDA Web site at www.in.gov/isda/2561.htm , the USDA, Farm Service Agency Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov , or please stop by your local Soil and Water Conservation District or Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.
####
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman during her presentation.
Indiana Agriculture Director, Joe Kelsay signs the CREP Amendment as Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard enjoy the moment.
Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia A. Wickard
« Back to News Release List
Link to this event: www.in.gov/portal/news_events/56997.htm?utm_source=IN.gov&utm_medium=twitter
NEWS RELEASE: STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JOIN TO ANNOUNCE CONSERVATION PROGRAM, Lt. Governor Skillman Signs New Conservation Program Agreement with USDA Aug 27, 2010 content_id:A5048C0A0CB84A46B6267EBDE1CBF40E; type:press; agency:ISDA; showOnHomepage:; sortDate:Aug 27, 2010; filterDate:201008; isBanner:no; agencyDivision:ISDA;08 - August;2010;Press Release;Show on Home