Conservation Reserve Program

The original Farm Bill conservation program, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) represents one of the most effective private lands conservation programs in the world. Featuring a variety of subprograms and pilots, CRP is typically characterized by its conversion from commodity production to a conservation practice designed to benefit soil health, water quality, and, in line with the #Farming4Habitat campaign, wildlife habitat. In exchange for forgoing commodity revenue on enrolled acres, participating landowners receive annual payments for their conservation efforts.

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CRP is currently divided into three primary options. General CRP is the classic option in which whole fields are transitioned from commodity productions to conservation practices in exchange for rental payments. General CRP is enrolled on a competitive basis during enrollment periods in which landowners’ offers are graded via an Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). For landowners interested in enrolling a subset of a field with particularly high conservation value, Continuous CRP may be a better opportunity. Here, acres that address a key conservation priority are able to apply for this non-competitive option at any time of year. Within Continuous CRP is the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program which allows landowners to enroll on a continuous basis to meet identified wildlife habitat needs. Finally, the fastest growing subprogram is Grasslands CRP where landowners enroll existing grasslands to prevent their conversion. With Grasslands CRP, landowners receive smaller payments but retain grazing and haying opportunities while conserving critical grassland communities.