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 CRP
is a cornerstone voluntary conservation program offered by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the
Biden-Harris administration’s effort to address climate change
and help agricultural communities invest in the long-term
well-being of their land and natural resources.
Producers and landowners enrolled more than 5 million acres into
CRP through signups in 2022, building on the acceptance of more
than 3.1 million acres in the largest Grassland CRP signup in
history. There are currently 23 million acres enrolled in CRP,
with 1.9 million set to expire this year. USDA’s Farm Service
Agency (FSA) is aiming to reach the 27-million-acre cap
statutorily set for fiscal year 2023.
General CRP
General CRP helps producers and landowners 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. Additionally, General CRP
includes a Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to help increase
carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
helping producers and landowners establish trees and permanent
grasses, enhance wildlife habitat, and restore wetlands.
Continuous CRP
Under Continuous CRP, producers and landowners can enroll in CRP
throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided
the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the
enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap. The
Climate-Smart Practice Incentive is also available in the
Continuous signup.
FSA offers several additional enrollment opportunities within
Continuous CRP, including the Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers
Initiative (CLEAR30), the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement
(SAFE) Initiative, the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The CLEAR30
Initiative, which was originally piloted in twelve states in the
Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay watershed, has been expanded
nationwide, allowing producers and landowners to enroll in
30-year CRP contracts for water quality practices. Under this
administration, FSA also moved SAFE practices back to the
Continuous CRP signup, giving producers and landowners more
opportunities to participate in the initiative. Through the FWP,
producers and landowners can enroll land in CRP as part of their
efforts to restore previously farmed wetlands and wetland
buffers, to improve both vegetation and water flow.
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This administration has also made significant
improvements to CREP, which leverages federal and non-federal funds
to target specific State, regional or nationally significant
conservation concerns. Specifically, USDA made significant
improvements to CREP to reduce barriers and make the program more
accessible to a broad range of producers and new types of partners.
These updates included flexibility for partners to provide matching
funds in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or technical
assistance, along with an investment in additional staff to work
directly with partners. Through CREP, for the first time ever, three
Tribal Nations are now partnering with USDA to help conserve,
maintain, and improve grassland productivity, reduce soil erosion,
and enhance wildlife habitat.
Grassland CRP
FSA will announce the dates for Grassland CRP signup in the coming
weeks. Grassland CRP is a working lands program, helping landowners
and operators protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland
and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as working
grazing lands.
Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many
regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and
provides important carbon sequestration benefits to deliver lasting
climate outcomes.
How to Sign Up
Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their
local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program
before their deadlines.
Producers with expiring CRP acres can use the Transition Incentives
Program (TIP), which incentivizes producers who sell or enter a
long-term lease with a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged
farmer or rancher who plans to sustainably farm or ranch the land.
More Information
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary
private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was
originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and
potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out
of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing
many conservation and economic benefits.
[Illinois / USDA - FPAC
Farm Service Agency]
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