Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) — North Carolina

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program to encourage private landowners to take agricultural land along streams, ditches, and wetlands out of production and to establish riparian buffer zones, reducing non-point source pollution and sedimentation from agricultural operations while enhancing native wildlife habitat. CREP is a partnership program between the USDA Farm Service Agency and the state of NC. The program offers financial incentives based on the term of enrollment: landowners choose between 10- or 15-year contracts or a 30-year or permanent conservation easement. Cost share assistance to establish the conservation practices and an annual rental payment are offered for all four enrollment options, with bonus payments and other incentives offered for a 30-year or permanent conservation easement.

Agricultural lands with a cropping or grazing history in one of the 9 river basins or 76 counties are eligible. Up to 300 feet from a qualifying watercourse can be enrolled in one of the conservation practices, and landowners must have owned the land for at least one year. The USDA Farm Service Agency for the county determines the farm's eligibility and payment options.

Paid per acre, not as a lump-sum award. The NCDA&CS CREP brochure (August 2026) lists the economic incentives:

• "Cost-Share Assistance: 75%-100% for the installation of eligible practices"

• "Annual Payments: up to $150 per acre for 15 years."

• "State One-Time Incentive Payment for conservation easement: $250 per acre or $1,000 per acre, depending on term."

• "Possible option to enroll existing forestland within the 100-year floodplain or within 300 feet on the opposite side of the waterbody."

Enrollment terms. "Landowners choose between 10 or 15-year contracts or a 30-year or permanent conservation easement. Cost share assistance to establish the conservation practices and an annual rental payment are offered for all four enrollment options. Bonus payments and other incentives are offered for a 30-year or permanent conservation easement." The one-time state incentive payment applies only to the 30-year and permanent easement options, and enrolling existing forested buffer is available only under the permanent option.

Easement trigger. "When 10 acres or more are enrolled in CREP, a conservation easement must be conveyed."

Who sets your numbers. "The USDA Farm Service Agency in your county will determine your farm's eligibility and payment options," and the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation with the local district adds the state incentives. Up to 300 feet from a qualifying watercourse may be enrolled. No per-landowner dollar ceiling is published.

Contact the NC CREP specialist for your area and your county USDA Farm Service Agency office, which determines eligibility and payment options. The NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation, in conjunction with the local soil and water district, offers additional payment incentives and administers the conservation easement portion of the program.