Cons of CRP or WRP type programs?

My very uneducated opinion is based off of folks much older and wiser than me and they all agree. Don’t get involved with the govt and give them an interest in your land.

I may be way wrong and hope you can get the most of it but I’ve heard that since I was a kid when it seemed the new wore off and everyone was mad they agreed to it.

Most of the CRP around me is planted pines. Our neighbor is trying to sell 800 acres most of which is CRP. I’m not sure what you’re limited in doing but having the government tell me what I can do or not do is an easy no.

I farm and sell real estate, so I am somewhat familiar with both programs. I wouldn’t think WRP would be an option in the hills. It is a wetlands program. WRP has actually become WRE now. It is very hard to qualify for, and pays a one time payment up front. The con is you can never take the land out of trees, and put the land back into agriculture. You can cut the trees eventually, but it must be approved through NRCS.

CRP is usually a 15 year contract and is administered through FSA. At the end of contract you could remove all the trees if you wanted. It is much more flexible. You can have up to ten percent food plots in your contract. It is possible to even get duck impoundments put into CRP contracts. It is a yearly rental rate. The rental rate varies by county. Hill ground will get way less rent than agriculture land. Due to the fact it is based on county rent per acre and soil type. In the MS South Delta rent is typically $90-$120. Also in the Delta you get oaks instead of pines planted.

Another program is CSP (Conservation Steward Program). It is a five year contract that can pay up to $80k depending on property and practices implemented. Basically it pays for different practices such as fire lanes, timber management, or even food plots for butterflies. There are literally hundreds of different practices that can be adopted and used. Hope this was helpful.

Back in the day many dang good deer and duck properties were purchased by using WRP funds. Can’t do it now, but I know of several

What MississippiTiger and No Colors said are pretty much all you need to know. I didn’t know you could thin trees while it is still in contract. I thought you had to wait until it was out and do it before it is re-upped (if eligible).

Just stay away from Land Easements. They might sound good in the beginning, but then you have to get their approval for damn near everything.

quote:

---

Can’t do it now,

---

Sure you can. Two yrs of prior ownership Required for WRE in La. you tote the note for two then apply. The easement values aren’t as lucrative as they once were but are still around 75% of appraised/FM value as determined by NRCS. GUV CHEESE, BAW.

NRCS also has a WRE program for existing wetland forests now. Gov on the grow as usual.

quote:

---

I believe they also do 2 types of WRP Easements...one is in perpetuity and other is 30 yr.

---

Yes.

Thanks for all the reply’s! I’m guessing it won’t qualify for CRP from what y’all tell me.

quote:

---

NRCS also has a WRE program for existing wetland forests now. Gov on the grow as usual.

---

The likelihood of getting a property like this in isn't good though. The more restoration work required, the better it ranks typically.

quote:

---

Sure you can. Two yrs of prior ownership Required for WRE in La. you tote the note for two then apply.

---

Even this isn't always the case. There are special circumstances where the 2 year waiting period can be waived.

I’m guessing OP isn’t interested in farming it? The obvious negative to CRP is the locked in 15 year period. I think a lot of people hate it because it was fine for 5-10 years then some crop they could be growing shoots up in price and they could make 2-3 times the amount by farming the land but can’t.