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CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM
AND CONSERVATION RESERVE
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Background
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
(CREP) are voluntary programs for agricultural landowners or operators that provide annual
rental payments and cost-share assistance. The 1985 farm bill authorized CRP, including CREP.
The purpose of CRP and CREP is to help agricultural producers safeguard environmentally
sensitive lands by planting long-term, resource-conserving covers that would control soil
erosion, improve water and air quality, and enhance wildlife habitat.
USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) makes annual rental payments based on the
agricultural rental value of the land. It provides cost-share assistance at up to 50 percent of the
participant’s costs in establishing approved conservation practices. Participants enroll in CRP
and CREP contracts for 10 to 15 years. CCC administers the program through the Farm Service
Agency (FSA), which receives technical support from the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS); private sector or other non-Federal advisors; the Cooperative State Research,
Education and Extension Service; and State forestry agencies; as well as local soil and water
conservation districts.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
To be eligible to enroll in CRP, land must be either: (1) cropland that is planted or considered
planted to an agricultural commodity 4 of the previous 6 crop years; or (2) certain marginal
pastureland that was converted to wetland or established as wildlife habitat, or is suitable for
similar water quality purposes such as a riparian buffer. In addition to the eligible land
requirements, cropland must meet one of the following criteria: (a) have a weighted average
erosion index of eight or higher; (b) be expiring CRP acreage; (c) be located in a national or
State CRP conservation priority area; or (d) meet a number of other technical criteria designed to
accomplish program