USDA Proposes to Expand its Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in New Jersey

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30-Day Public Review and Comment Period Now Open 


HAMILTON SQUARE, N.J., July 10, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for its Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in New Jersey available to the public for a 30-day review and comment period. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), in coordination with the New Jersey State Department of Agriculture, prepared the draft assessment which evaluates the potential effects of expanding the existing New Jersey CREP to a targeted enrollment of up to 30,000 acres statewide. The public review and comment period ends August 9, 2024.  

“This Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is an incredibly important resource for agriculture and the environment throughout the state of New Jersey,” said Robert Andrzejczak, FSA State Executive Director in New Jersey. “Expanding the program is vital to the state and we want to make sure that, through this public comment period, we receive input from as many people as we can.” 

The proposed expansion of the New Jersey CREP will also add FSA conservation practices such as Hardwood Tree Planting, Establishment of Salt Tolerant Vegetative Cover, and Field Windbreak Establishment, to the four conservation practices currently available to eligible landowners under the existing program. Haying and grazing will be allowed under the revision, in a manner consistent with other enrollment opportunities offered under USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program.  

The eligible acreage currently included in the New Jersey CREP will be included in the expanded program. Landowners participating in the CREP will receive support for the costs of installing and maintaining conservation practices, as well as annual rental and incentive payments for those specific lands enrolled in the program.   

Comments on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment should be submitted to Sarah Lally, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA Farm Service Agency, 200 Clocktower Dr, Suite 101, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 or via email to sarah.lally@usda.gov. The deadline to submit comments is August 9.  

FSA and the New Jersey State Department of Agriculture will review all comments received and determine if changes are needed before the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment is finalized. Upon conclusion of this environmental review, FSA will announce availability of the CREP expansion.  

More Information 

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. Producers without an account can sign up today.   

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.