The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched the 2025 application period for the Conservation Reserve Program under both the General and Continuous signup rules.
Enrollment is open through June 6.
“With 1.8 million acres available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year, we are very aware that we are bumping up against the statutory 27-million-acre statutory cap,” Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bill Beam said. “Now more than ever, it’s important that the acres offered by landowners and those approved by USDA address our most critical natural resource concerns.”
General CRP
Farmers, ranchers and landowners submit offers for General CRP through a competitive bid process. Offers are ranked and scored by FSA using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed.
In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
Continuous CRP
Continuous CRP offers are not subject to a competitive bid process.
To ensure enrolled acres do not exceed the current statutory cap of 27 million acres, FSA is accepting Continuous CRP offers on a first-come, first-served basis through June 6.
If allotted CRP acreage remain available following the June 6 deadline, FSA will accept continuous CRP offers from interested landowners through July 31, 2025, and may be subsequently considered for acceptance, in batches, if it’s determined that the offered acres support USDA’s conservation priorities.
Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
Continuous CRP enrollment options include:
- State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative: Restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals.
- Highly Erodible Land Initiative: Farmers, ranchers and landowners can enroll in CRP to establish long-term cover on highly erodible cropland that has a weighted erodibility index greater than or equal to 20.
- Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative: Prioritizes water quality practices on the land that, if enrolled, will help reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. The vegetative covers also contribute to increased wildlife populations.
- CLEAR30 (a component of the CLEAR Initiative): Offers additional incentives for water quality practice adoption and can be accessed in 30-year contracts.
- Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.
More information
Interested farmers, ranchers and landowners should apply through the FSA at their local USDA Service Center.
Signup dates for Grasslands CRP will be announced later.
Leave A Comment