11/09/06 WRP signups underway

Landowners who want to protect, restore or enhance wetlands on their property can get financial and technical assistance through the Wetlands Reserve Program. To do so they must apply for WRP before the November 24th deadline. NRCS assistant state conservationist Bob Bartholomew says landowners have three options under the Wetlands Reserve Program. BARTHOLOMEW "We can enter into a ten year what they call restoration only agreement. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service will pay 75 percent of the cost to restore these wetlands back to a functioning condition. The other options are a 30 year easement where we actually place a deed restriction on the property. We pay for the value of the 30 year easement plus we pay 75 percent of the restoration." The third option being a permanent easement where NRCS pays 100 percent of the restoration costs. Bartholomew says farmers and ranchers do need to make the November 24th deadline. He's still waiting on Congress to approve the money for the program so he can determine how much Idaho will get for 2007. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott