CREP Signing Bonus (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program)
The CREP Signing Bonus from the Maryland Department of Agriculture rewards farmers for planting riparian forest buffers, promoting water quality and habitat conservation through science-backed land management.
Funder: Maryland Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: Rolling (No fixed deadline; contact local soil conservation district for current availability)
Funding Amounts: One-time signing bonus up to $1,000 per acre for eligible riparian forest buffers; annual rental payments provided separately through CREP.
Summary: One-time financial incentive for Maryland farmers and landowners newly enrolling environmentally sensitive land into CREP with riparian forest buffers.
Key Information: Only newly enrolled CREP participants planting riparian forest buffers are eligible for the signing bonus.
Description
The CREP Signing Bonus, administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Ecosystem Incentives Program, provides a one-time financial incentive to Maryland farmers and landowners who newly enroll environmentally sensitive land in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and establish riparian forest buffers. The initiative aims to encourage long-term retirement of marginal or sensitive farmland from production for 10 to 15 years, supporting conservation practices that improve soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat. The signing bonus is paid in addition to the annual rental payments provided through CREP.
