The Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, authorizes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is implemented through the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

CRP is a voluntary program that offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term resource-conserving covers on eligible land. CCC makes annual rental payments based on the agriculture rental value of the land and provides cost-share assistance in an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the participant’s costs in establishing approved practices. The durations of contracts are from 10 to 15 years.

Continuous signup provides management flexibility to farmers and ranchers to implement certain high-priority conservation practices on eligible land.

Offers are automatically accepted provided the acreage and producer meet certain eligibility requirements. The per-acre annual rental rate may not exceed CCC’s maximum payment amount. While acceptance is not determined by a competitive offer process, producers may elect to receive an amount less than the maximum payment rate.

Additional incentives are being offered to encourage producers to participate in the CRP continuous signup.

Producers offering eligible land at their local FSA office for the continuous CRP signup may be eligible for certain enhancements.

To be eligible under continuous signup, land must first meet the basic CRP eligibility requirements. Acceptable land is:

(1)  Cropland that was planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity 2 of the 5 most recent crop years (including field margins), which is also physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity; or

(2)  Marginal pastureland that is suitable for use as a riparian buffer to be planted to trees.

If a tenant, the producer must be a participant with an eligible owner or operator.

CCC bases rental rates on the average value of dryland cash rent or the cash rent equivalent for the past 3 years and adjusts rates to reflect the relative productivity of soils within each county. The maximum CRP rental rate is calculated in advance of enrollment.

In addition, CCC offers additional financial incentives of up to 20 percent of the soil rental rate for field windbreaks, grass waterways, filter strips, and riparian buffers. An additional 10 percent may be added to the soil rental rate for land located within EPA-designated wellhead protection areas. A per-acre payment rate may also be added for maintenance of eligible practices.

Offers for rents greater than the maximum rental rate are not considered, and the maximum rental rate, as a matter of general applicability, is not appealable. Only determinations by USDA officials regarding soil type and related soil type acreage may be appealed.

In addition to the payments described above, CCC will pay up to 50 percent of the eligible cost of establishing a permanent cover.

The effective date of the CRP contract is the first day of the month following the month of approval. In certain circumstances, producers may defer the effective date for up to 6 months.

If the acreage is currently under CRP contract and is within 1 year of the scheduled expiration date, the effective date is the October 1 following the expiration date.

Contracts are for no less than 10 and no more than 15 years in duration.

The CRP is administered by USDA’s FSA with assistance from NRCS, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, State agencies, and local soil and water conservation districts. Producers can find out program details and offer acreage for enrollment at their local FSA or NRCS office, both of which are listed in telephone books under "United States Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture."

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.