Why Choose CRP? You Benefit. Land, Water and Wildlife Benefit. Establishing vegetative cover on cropland minimizes moisture evaporation and reduces the negative effects of high 

salinity in soil. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides farmers and landowners with practices like this 

to achieve many farming and conservation goals. Whatever the conservation challenge - soil conservation, water 

quality protection or wildlife habitat enhancement - CRP is a proven land performance and management solution.

Why Salinity Reducing 

Vegetation?

Establishing a vegetative cover made up of salt tolerant 

grasses to lower shallow water tables below depths 

that can cause salt accumulation in the root zone 

contributes to improved overall soil health and can 

reduce the occurrence of saline seeps in susceptible 

areas. Offered in continuous sign-up, CP-18B:

• Reduces soil salinity

• Reduces soil erosion

• Improves water quality by reducing saline runoff 

and leaching

• Creates habitat for grassland and upland game 

birds

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-18B participants are guaranteed:

• 10 years of annual rental payments

• Payments covering up to 90% of the eligible costs 

of establishing the practice

 - 50% from a Cost-Share Payment and

- 40% from a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) 

• Mid-Contract Management Cost Share

Soil Protection | Water Quality Enhancement | Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-18B

ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT VEGETATION TO REDUCE SALINITY

Photo provided by NRCS, MT
Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

FSA will ultimately determine participant and land eligibility.

Eligible Land

• Planted or considered planted 4 out of 6 

years between 2008 and 2013 

• Capable of being planted to an agricultural 

commodity

• Located in a saline seep and recharge area

• Compliant with USDA’s highly erodible land 

and wetland provisions

Practice Requirements

• The practice will be maintained according to 

the approved conservation plan

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects and pests shall be controlled 

Owner/Operator Eligibility

Participants must: 

• Have owned or operated the land for more 

than 12 months prior to program sign-up

• Be in control of the land for the length of the 

contract 

• Meet USDA payment eligibility provisions

Obligations

Participants will:

• Not harvest or graze the practice area except 

under certain approved circumstances

• Work with USDA-approved conservationist to 

develop a conservation plan

• Perform periodic management activities 

according to the conservation plan

• Complete seeding of the practice within 12 

months of the effective date of the contract

CP-18B

For More Information:

Contact your local USDA, Farm Service Agency:

http://offices.usda.gov

Proven Conservation Benefits

• In prime habitat, a 4% increase in CRP vegetation 

is associated with a 22% increase in pheasant 

counts

• CRP reduced nutrient losses in FY 2014 by an 

estimated 542 million pounds of nitrogen and 108 

million pounds of phosphorus

• In 2014, CRP lowered greenhouse gas emissions 

by the equivalent of 43 million metric tons of 

CO2 – the same benefits as taking nearly 8 million 

cars off the road for a year

Photos provided by NRCS, MT