Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program enrollment opens for land owners

SPRINGFIELD – A land conservation program that has not been accepting new acres since 2015 has now reopened for new enrollment. Farmers, ranchers and agricultural landowners with property prone to flooding and nutrient runoff will have the opportunity to enroll in Illinois’ Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, now available in 68 counties. Through Illinois CREP, federal and state resources are made available to program participants to voluntarily enroll in 14-to-15-year federal CREP contracts and a subsequent 15-year or permanent conservation easement with the State of Illinois. It expands the voluntary, incentive-based Conservation Reserve Program available through FSA to Illinois agricultural producers and landowners within the Illinois and Kaskaskia River watersheds. Eligible area counties include LaSalle, Bureau, DeKalb, Lee, Livingston and Putnam counties.