The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) that helps protect environmentally sensitive land by converting the area to perennial vegetative cover. The goals of this program are to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat. CRP has also helped increase populations of pheasants, quail, ducks, sage grouse, the lesser prairie chicken, and other grassland birds. Landowners can enroll their land into the program for 10-15 years and in return, FSA will provide annual rental payments, possible incentive payments, as well as cost share for practice establishment and management.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/index
General Conservation Reserve Program
Sign up for the general Conservation Reserve Program is announced periodically and landowners have to submit a competitive offer in order to enroll. These contracts are then ranked according to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). The practices offered in a general sign-up differ from CCRP and are better suited for larger tracts of land. These practices include:
- Native Grass, Forb, and Legume Establishment
- Softwood Tree Planting
- Hardwood Tree Planting
- Permanent Wildlife Habitat
- Flood Control Structure