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Payments have increased significantly for landowners in southeast Minnesota who are willing to convert cropland into permanent native prairie and restored wetlands, especially in flood-prone areas.

Most qualifying lands in Mower County have increased by more than $2,000 per acre through the Reinvest In Minnesota program and state-federal Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program that combines RIM with USDA鈥檚 Conservation Reserve Program, said James Fett, a Mower Soil and Water Conservation District technician who oversees MN CREP and RIM signups in the county.

"Overall, payments now are about $9,000 to $11,000 per acre for RIM and $12,000 to $14,000 per acre for MN CREP," Fett said. 鈥淟andowners with cropland that floods regularly, doesn鈥檛 produce good crop yields or has challenges with soil erosion, we likely have a program that fits your land and will pay you well."

Fett said that in general, RIM rates and MN CREP payments have gone up statewide.

"But it all depends on what the average assessed tillable values are in each township," he said. "There could be some areas where it did go down or stay the same, but I would say definitely in our area, it was on the rise."

Landowners accepted into MN CREP enroll in the federal CRP for 14 to 15 years. At the same time, the land is put into a permanent conservation easement through the state鈥檚 RIM. MN CREP payment rates vary based on the cropland鈥檚 location in the county, Fett said, and are determined by each township鈥檚 average assessed tillable cropland value per acre.

"Under RIM, more types of cropland also now can qualify for the program due to recent changes," Fett said. "There are four active RIM programs in addition to MN CREP, with a fifth RIM option coming soon."

Mower SWCD encourages farmers and landowners to visit with them to learn about the potential opportunities for their land.

Cropland already enrolled in federal CRP can qualify for permanent conservation under RIM, Fett said. For MN CREP, there is just one application period in 2024 due to the potential of a new federal farm bill being passed by the U.S. Congress. Applications for MN CREP are due by April 30.

Since MN CREP was launched in 2017, Mower County has had 15 easements enrolling 748 acres. Overall, a little more than 3% of Mower County鈥檚 385,000 acres of cropland are in permanent or temporary conservation easements.

One year ago, the MN CREP payment rates increased on average by $2,900 per acre as decided by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. Average MN CREP payment rates in Mower increased at the time from about $7,600 an acre in 2018 to about $10,500. MN CREP payments in Mower County range from about $9,900 per acre to $11,100 per acre depending on the township.

By the end of 2022, higher land-sale prices had led many landowners in Minnesota to decide not to apply for MN CREP until the program鈥檚 payments increased to reflect those land-value changes, Fett said.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e been on the fence about enrolling cropland into MN CREP, this is the best time ever to learn more about the program and the potential opportunity for you,鈥� Fett said.

Enrollments will improve water quality and wildlife habitat in local watersheds, Fett said.

"I think these newer payment rates will really result in more participation 鈥� looking at the markets for crop prices, they're looking down," Fett said. "So I think it'll be nice to have this other alternative, and especially for lands that don't produce that well, this is a great option."

Fett advised farmers to reach out to their local Soil and Water Conservation District to find out the payments for their county.