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CRP Programs- Worth it? Which ones?

G

gjs4

New Member
While I have had some experience with EQUIP I have not with CRP.

Equip experience was in two different states; One went super smooth and easy with a "surprised everyone with hunting dirt doesnt do this"....the other was not the same. The biologist and program admin were super busy or lazy and everything took forever. It involved invasive removal and they payment was garbage- maybe 30% of the actual cost and slow to get those funds. I am done with them as the money they provided wasnt worth the time and headache.

SO hypothetically speaking a guy gets a new property but in a unique area; the central KS prairie. 100ac, 50 ag and 50 (native and brome) grasses and shrubs, seasonal creek bottom drainage. Its just been farmed ag and hayed grasses for years but is a stand alone in cattle country other than a large sanctuary property that touches it. Not sure if this is a keeper kind of farm or not, but the goal is to make it a great deer property for a keep or a flip(if it isnt special). Blue collar guy, not made of money but wants to avoid being hamstrung. Current ag is sorghum for $50ac rent.

Upon purchase CRP is presented for sign up the following year. Get this great list of practices including CP5a windbreaks (?road screening), CP9 waterways for wildlife, CP42, food plots, etc.

For those with experience; Is CRP worth enrolling in? Have noticed many properties selling with years remaining on a contract and it appears to be a detractor (and not pay much). Are there certain programs that are great, or ones to avoid?

Your help and thoughts are appreciated.
 
Nearly all the CRP programs are the same in terms of general structure. They all follow the same basic contract model. "Worth it"..... That's really a hard question to answer without knowing specifics on payments for a specific area.
 
With the low cash rent I would assume the CRP rates are similar. Good cover with income should add value to a hunting property. We are in a lower CRP payment phase than the previous 10 years with many reenrollments offering lower rents.CRP would cap the income for the term of the contract. Make sure the practice allows food plots if you want those many practices do not allow them.
 
Write down your goals.
If your goals align with crp, then it a step in right direction.
If goals and crp dont align.. stop.
It is like wearing combat boots to run a marathon, it can work. But in the end you likely won't be happy.

Eqip is not a cost share program. It is an incentive program. They pay incentive for you to implement conservation practices as they instruct. Think of it an a coupon. Follow their rules and you get the gold.
 
It depends on the program.. I have some filter strips, & smaller 5 to 6 acres blocks of native grasses.

I’ve done a lot of field windbreaks, & riparian buffer (trees) over the years. It’s a 15 yr plans and all the trees are basically paid for. If you plant them yourself, you make $$ on the cost share.IMG_8993.jpeg
 
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