Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program that contracts with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed or ranched, but instead devoted to conservation benefits.  In exchange for yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are from 10 to 15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.

Learn more: Conservation Reserve Program (usda.gov)

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is for working lands and is the largest conservation program in the United States. Thousands of people voluntarily enroll in the program because it helps them enhance natural resources and improve their business operation. CSP offers annual payments for implementing these practices on your land and operating and maintaining existing conservation efforts.

Some of the benefits that CSP participants are seeing include:

• Enhanced resiliency to weather and market volatility
• Decreased need for agricultural inputs
• And Improved wildlife habitat conditions.

CSP contracts are for five years, with the opportunity to compete for a contract renewal if you successfully fulfill the initial contract and agree to achieve additional conservation objectives.

Learn More: Conservation Stewardship Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns such as:

• Improved water and air quality
• Conserved ground and surface water
• Increased soil health
• Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation
• Improved or created wildlife habitat; and
• Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues.

Learn more: Environmental Quality Incentives Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)