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Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish
long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved
grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality
and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers
who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to their
local region and the nation’s environment and economy. CRP
general signup is held annually and is competitive; general
signup includes increased opportunities for wildlife habitat
enrollment through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement
(SAFE) initiative.
New cropland offered in the program must have been planted for
four out of six crop years from 2012 to 2017. Additionally,
producers with land already enrolled but expiring on September
30, 2021, can re-enroll this year. The acreage offered by
producers and landowners is evaluated competitively; accepted
offers will begin October 1, 2021.
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands
conservation programs in the United States. The program marked
its 35-year anniversary in December 2020. Program successes
include:
Preventing more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, which
is enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks.
Reducing nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to annually
tilled cropland by 95% and 85%, respectively.
Sequestering an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse
gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road.
Creating more than 3 million acres of restored wetlands while
protecting more than 175,000 stream miles with riparian forest
and grass buffers, which is enough to go around the world seven
times.
Benefiting bees and other pollinators and increasing populations
of ducks, pheasants, turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie chickens,
grasshopper sparrows, and many other birds.
All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including those
that restrict in-person visits or require appointments. All
Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA,
Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service
Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment.
Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen
visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors
must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also
required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our
program delivery staff will continue to work with our producers
by phone, email, and using online tools. More information can be
found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
[USDA Farm Service Agency]
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