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News Release 4-19-2002

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DOUGLASS URGES FARMERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
NEW CONSERVATION PROGRAM

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is urging the state’s farmers to take advantage of a new federal program that will make rental payments to farmers who institute conservation measures on their land designed to protect some of the Mountain State’s more vulnerable watersheds.

The program – the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) – encourages farmers to remove from agricultural production land next to the Potomac, New, Greenbrier, and Little Kanawha Rivers. The Program will reimburse producers for planting riparian buffers, filter strips, trees, and grasses that keep pollutants from entering the watersheds. Incentives include cost-sharing assistance, special rental rates and one-time payments.

“We are very pleased that Secretary Veneman visited West Virginia to kick off this program, which is a tremendous example of how the state and federal governments can work with farmers at the local level to achieve mutual goals,” said Commissioner Douglass.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman and Governor Bob Wise signed the agreement enrolling West Virginia into the Program at the University of Charleston Friday, April 19, 2002. Commissioner Douglass was master of ceremonies for the event, which was also attended by Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, Gerald Miller, President of the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts, and West Virginia Conservation Agency Executive Director Lance Tabor. Representatives from West Virginia Division of Forestry, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The United State Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service and USDA Farm Service Agency also attended the ceremony.

“Secretary Veneman’s presence here today shows how strongly the partnership between state and federal agencies are,” said Tabor. “It also shows a serious commitment on behalf of the USDA to make this a successful program for West Virginia.”

The USDA will contribute $8.2 million to the Program. The state will match that figure with $3.2 million. Interested farmers should contact their nearest USDA Service Center about eligibility and procedures.

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