conservation reserve program (CRP)

Written By William Mertz

What is the purpose of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)?

CRP provides farmers a yearly rental payment to plant eco-friendly plants that would help build stronger habitats and improve environmental quality. A few of CRP’s benefits include:

  • Conserving and improving soil

    • Removing carbon in soil

    • Enhancing soil productivity 

  • Protecting water quality

    • Reducing nitrogen and phosphorus 

    • Minimizing floods

    • Recharging aquifers (bodies of rock/sediment that hold moving groundwater; made up of sand, gravel, sandstone, and Carbonite)

  • Providing wildlife habitats, increasing wildlife populations

    • 31.3 million acres of grass, trees, and wetlands benefit many wildlife species

    • White-tailed deer, pheasants, and grassland birds benefit the most

  • Providing more high-quality pollination grounds 

    • Pollinator Habitat Initiative enhances honey bee and native pollinator populations

    • Approximately 440,000 acres devoted to pollinator recovery

What are the different CRP enrollment opportunities?

Some of the CRP enrollment opportunities include Grassland CRP and Continuous CRP.

Grassland CRP

  • Grassland CRP allows landowners to continue haying and grazing practices while protecting grasslands and promoting plant and animal diversity and conservation.

  • This year, more than 3.1 million acres of land were signed up for the Grassland CRP

  • Top states included Colorado, South Dakota, and Nebraska

Continuous CRP

  • Under continuous CRP signup, environmentally sensitive land devoted to certain conservation practices can be enrolled in CRP at any time. 

  • Offers are not subject to competitive bidding during specific periods. 

  • Continuous signup enrollment contracts are 10-15 years in length.

    • CLEAR 30

      • The Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers initiative offers 30-year CRP enrollment contracts nationwide.

      • Practices reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. 

      • Land enrolled will have periodic, onsite monitoring performed by USDA.

      • Land may be used for hunting/fishing, managed timber harvest, and periodic haying and grazing. 

    • State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

      • The SAFE initiative restores vital habitat in order to meet high-quality state wildlife conservation goals.

      • Landowners establish wetlands, grasses, and trees.

      • These practices enhance important wildlife populations by creating important habitats and food sources. 

      • They also protect soil and water health by working as a barrier to sediment/nutrient run-off before they reach waterways. 

    • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 

      • CREP focuses on specific state, regional , or nationally significant conservation concerns 

      • The 2018 Farm bill expanded the possible partnerships USDA can work with under CREP.

      • CREP focuses on specific state or regional conservation.

    • Farmable Wetlands Program

      • The FWP is designed to improve vegetation and water flow to previously farmed wetlands, Wetlands are critical to providing a healthy environment 

      • All enrollment offers are processed through your local FSA office

      • FSA contracts last between 10 to 15 years 

      • Landowners should check with their local FSA building for other requirements and/or limitations 

What types of land is best for the CRP?

Based on the CRP you are enrolling for, the types of land you conserve may differ. Steeper portions, potentially the more erodible soils of CRP land may be best suited to stay in CRP or used for pasture, forest land, or hay land with some renovation and investment.

Other areas, including wetlands, filter strips or buffer areas where you may have established grass, trees or shrubs could continue to provide excellent wildlife habitat and add diversity to your farm. 

What is the history of CRP?

There are 37 years of history in the CRP. In 1985, Congress created CRP after increased concern regarding higher levels of soil erosion. Soon after, The Farm Bill authorized USDA to enroll up to 45 million acres in CRP. In March of 1986, the first enrollment opportunity was held and the CRP and USDA were excited to hear 700,000 acres were enrolled. By 1990, 3 million acres were enrolled in CRP.


What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • CRP provides technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers.

  • CRP protects the soil.

  • CRP is an environmentally-friendly solution because it isolates carbon and reduces the effects of climate change.

  • CRP keeps water clean.

  • CRP provides a home for wildlife.

  • CRP gives farmers an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract.

  • CRP helps highly erodible and underperforming land. 

Cons

  • CRP is only available to those who are eligible.

  • CRP prohibits buildings from being built on the land.

  • CRP means traditional farming practices cannot be used.

  • CRP desirability is affected by grain commodity prices and crop ground rent prices.

  • CRP rental payments are not rental income for tax purposes.

  • CRP applications do not include a requirement to consider wildlife during enrollment. 

William Mertz
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