South Dakota CREP – James River Watershed

The James River Watershed CREP pays South Dakota producers higher-than-CRP annual rent (federal CRP plus a GFP payment averaging 31–34% of the CRP payment) to put cropland and marginal pastureland in the James River watershed into grass and wetland habitat under 10–15 year contracts. All enrolled acres must be open to public walk-in hunting and fishing through GFP's Walk-In Area program. The project aims to enroll 100,000 acres.

• JRW fact sheet: 'A minimum total block size of at least 40 acres for any one offer and contract is required to participate' (waivable case by case, including for socially disadvantaged, beginning or limited-resource farmers/ranchers).

• 'The acreage enrolled in CREP must also be enrolled in the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Walk-In Area Program for hunting and fishing access'.

• 'At least 51 percent of all land under each offer and contract must be located within the James River watershed.'

• Cropland must meet cropping history criteria; marginal pastureland along streams may qualify.

10- to 15-year contracts; annual rental from FSA and GFP; expired CRP may be re-enrolled into CREP.

Published amounts: Guide p.19: 'GFP’s annual payments average between 31-34% of the CRP payment in addition to the payment made by FSA on the CRP contract.' 2026 max total (CRP + GFP) rental rate/acre by county ranges from $105 (Hyde) to $264 (Yankton) (Guide p.20).

Guide: 'Enrollment is facilitated by working with a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist in coordination with GFP and USDA FSA.' Contact local USDA Service Center/FSA office or the PF Habitat Advisor for your county.

Deadline text on the page: Continuous CRP-based enrollment; 2026 maximum rental rates published 2/12/2026 (Guide p.20).