WRP

[mtholton]

I'm looking at a piece of land that has about 25 acres of lowland swamp land surrounded by agriculture. Does the land have to be already farmed to be considered for these programs? Just trying to consider what income options might exist off those 25 acres... Located in WI.

 

[bwoods11]

WRP would need a cropping history . You can at times put cropland in and get some swamp or wetland in the at the same time .

Example … 1 acre of swamp for every acre of wetland tillable acres (they like bottom ground farm land).

 

[Tree Spud]

I'm looking at a piece of land that has about 25 acres of lowland swamp land surrounded by agriculture. Does the land have to be already farmed to be considered for these programs? Just trying to consider what income options might exist off those 25 acres... Located in WI.

WRP is primarily for turning farmland, that was once lowland marsh and then drained with tiles and ditches for farmland, back to marsh.

Not sure what you mean by income options, but by signing a WRP contract, you will lose all rights to do anything to the land. You can walk on the land, hunt, shoot ducks, and enjoy the view but that is about it. You will need a permit from the NRCS to plant a tree, put a food plot in, put a locked gate, mow a trail, etc. The NRCS will retain all rights not set forth in the contract to the landowner.

The NRCS here in Wis is full of eco-activists. I once owned a large tract of WRP land and it was a nightmare. At one point they tried to tell all WRP land owners that they had to remove their deer stands & duck blinds after hunting season. Took me 18 months to get 2 acres of food plots approved and permitted on 300 acres. If you are surrounded by ag, they may decline food plots as there is already sufficient food sources.

The land will actually loose value, even thou you will pay high rec land property taxes, because it is in WRP.

 

[bwoods11]

I saw a guy paid $3900-4000 an acre for land already in WRP in Iowa. I bet he thought he got a good deal! ….I hate to see this, it’s very restricted and should not be going for that much money !

 

[Turkish]

WRP has been an absolute windfall for many sportsmen, land investors and speculators in the MS River Delta regions of ArkLaMiss. Despite the encumbrances, it has appreciated in a way only seen by land that ended up being urban/suburban developments. 4-5x over 20 years in some cases. I think some of the tracts are even harvesting some timber.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I think it works for some. I just don’t feel like you truly own your land when you legally beholden to some other master besides yourself on “your” land

 

[bwoods11]

WRP has been an absolute windfall for many sportsmen, land investors and speculators in the MS River Delta regions of ArkLaMiss. Despite the encumbrances, it has appreciated in a way only seen by land that ended up being urban/suburban developments. 4-5x over 20 years in some cases. I think some of the tracts are even harvesting some timber.

For guys that paid X, and then got a big check I don’t blame them !!

Then they can still sell the land and make more $$.

 

[Tree Spud]

I saw a guy paid $3900-4000 an acre for land already in WRP in Iowa. I bet he thought he got a good deal! ….I hate to see this, it’s very restricted and should not be going for that much money !

Most people don't read the contract thoroughly or understand what it says you are giving up rights & control wise for the payment.

When you are told you cannot mow and maintain a trail until late July due to the yellow tailed spanish warbler's nesting season, you start to understand what you are dealing with.

By the way, your trails have to be approved by the NRCS ...

 

[Turkish]

Those are all reasons why I didn’t like the idea of it. Funny how it’s managed so differently in the South. And fortunate.

I even had the notion on occasion that it might make sense for a a legacy type of property (keep for decades, family rec ground), but that the prohibitions would make it a risky investment. On the contrary, looking back these parcels would’ve been the best ROI hunting tracts that there were.

To the OP, Google Wetland Reserve Easement and do some reading. I think that’s the current name for it. They now offer as term contracts, 30-year contracts and perpetual easements.

 

[Tree Spud]

Those are all reasons why I didn’t like the idea of it. Funny how it’s managed so differently in the South. And fortunate.

I even had the notion on occasion that it might make sense for a a legacy type of property (keep for decades, family rec ground), but that the prohibitions would make it a risky investment. On the contrary, looking back these parcels would’ve been the best ROI hunting tracts that there were.

Duck hunting in the south is the equivalent of deer hunting in the upper midwest ... lots of tourism $$. You also need lots of water to make the open water wetland they want. I think the south is better suited for that.

 

[H20fwler]

WRP is primarily for turning farmland, that was once lowland marsh and then drained with tiles and ditches for farmland, back to marsh.

Not sure what you mean by income options, but by signing a WRP contract, you will lose all rights to do anything to the land. You can walk on the land, hunt, shoot ducks, and enjoy the view but that is about it. You will need a permit from the NRCS to plant a tree, put a food plot in, put a locked gate, mow a trail, etc. The NRCS will retain all rights not set forth in the contract to the landowner.

The NRCS here in Wis is full of eco-activists. I once owned a large tract of WRP land and it was a nightmare. At one point they tried to tell all WRP land owners that they had to remove their deer stands & duck blinds after hunting season. Took me 18 months to get 2 acres of food plots approved and permitted on 300 acres. If you are surrounded by ag, they may decline food plots as there is already sufficient food sources.

The land will actually loose value, even thou you will pay high rec land property taxes, because it is in WRP.

Ohio isn’t like that.

I think it varies state to state.

With the WRP you can sign it up for 20yrs/30yrs/perpetuity..with the longer it's in the more they will pay. You enter into a contract with them, you still own the land and pay the taxes and can sell it. I pay normal ag farm taxes on mine. My land has doubled in value since I bought it, prime hunting ground is almost the same price as farm ground here.

I enrolled thirty acres in it ten years ago, half woods/half tillable farm ground. I worked with a state biologist on what my goals were and what I wanted to do for projects, we went over everything together from the types of trees/shrubs/plants to the shape of the ponds.
The state put in two wetland ponds and footed the bill for native grasses, wildflowers, a couple thousand trees and shrubs and planted it, I helped too. They did all that and paid me $100K and that offset the price of buying the farm huge.
I have been able to add all kinds of shrubs and trees at my expense/labor and the only caveat is they have to be native to the state. I have mowed trails, I have deer stands, I can cut firewood and trim shooting lanes. I can have a shooting house as long as it is portable, has to be either on skids or wheels. I can even have it logged in the future to "open the canopy" with approval. I can hunt and fish all I want; I can have a food plot as long as it isn't more than a certain percentage of the farm, I think mine is like 1/2 acre.

I cannot.
Fence it
Till it
Plant crops on it
Build anything on it
Graze on it
Bale it...basically no farming.

The state basically wanted to do everything I was going to do anyway and footed the bulk of the original habitat bill and paid me. I still have complete control and a biologist to work with me. In the beginning they called me every year and we would walk it to check things out, now its every couple of years. It has been a very positive experience for our family and all the local wildlife. I have no regrets at all about getting into the progam.

 

[bwoods11]

I think a lot of WRP will end up public hunting land over time .

 

[homerj]

I hope anybody getting government money for enrolling hunting land in some program takes a moment to think before criticizing other welfare programs

 

[Turkish]

I hope anybody getting government money for enrolling hunting land in some program takes a moment to think before criticizing other welfare programs

 

[homerj]

You're either part of the problem or part of the solution

 

[bwoods11]

I hope anybody getting government money for enrolling hunting land in some program takes a moment to think before criticizing other welfare programs

I have thought one moment … then did it !

When I pay $X in taxes every year I’m getting some of my dime back !

 

[homerj]

I have thought one moment … then did it !

When I pay $X in taxes every year I’m getting some of my dime back !

...and you're using tax dollars to your advantage. Just like every other government aid program (e.g. entitlement).

When Elon and Vivek start cutting all this B.S. I'll be a happy guy

 

[H20fwler]

I hope anybody getting government money for enrolling hunting land in some program takes a moment to think before criticizing other welfare programs

Did you just say that I am a welfare recipient?

 

[homerj]

Did you just say that I am a welfare recipient?

Are you receiving government (U.S. taxpayer) dollars for doing something that you otherwise wouldn't do? If so, then yes

 

[bwoods11]

I’m

...and you're using tax dollars to your advantage. Just like every other government aid program (e.g. entitlement).

When Elon and Vivek start cutting all this B.S. I'll be a happy guy

Do you know that some of the money comes from sportsman ? License fees, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever?

You are against CRP, wetland restoration, wildlife habitat conservation projects , public land purchases??