Se Colorado News

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) have proposed the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Improvement Act. The legislation aims to amend the payment structure from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ensuring ranchers and farmers receive fair compensation while managing water resources effectively. Senators Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper, Dr. Roger Marshall, and Jerry Moran will introduce the companion bill in the Senate.

The CREP Improvement Act aims to encourage more participation among farmers and ranchers by adjusting the incentive and payment formula retroactively for water and conservation agreements. Congresswoman Boebert stated, "Our ranchers and farmers are doing everything they can to conserve water while continuing to provide for their families and communities, but the current agreement with the USDA badly needs reform."

Congressman Evans added, “The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement (CREP) Act gives Colorado’s hardworking farmers and ranchers a path forward, allowing them the flexibility to voluntarily cut back on water use while keeping our working lands productive."

Support for the bill extends to the Colorado Farm Bureau. President Carlyle Currier remarked on removing the $50,000 payment limitation, noting its potential to enhance water conservation efforts. Rod Lenz of the Republican River Water Conservation District appreciated the legislation's attention to the unique needs of regional communities. Chad Franke from the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union emphasized, “We support creating flexibility in the CREP program to reflect local environmental conditions and to meet unique regional conservation goals.”

Provisions of the bill aim to accommodate dryland agricultural practices on CREP acreage and integrate specific conditions to make payment formulas fairer. The bill also proposes allowing more types of crop retirements. Stakeholders supporting the initiative include the Republican River Water Conservation District, Colorado Farm Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District.

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