Why Choose CRP? You Benefit. Land, Water and Wildlife Benefit. 

Field windbreaks protect cropland from wind erosion while adding protection for crops, livestock, and homesteads. 

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 Field Windbreaks?

The damage incurred by strong and erratic winds 

on farms can be catastrophic. Rows of trees and 

shrubs forming windbreaks are designed to reduce 

wind’s detrimental impact on farm fields, crops, 

homesteads, and livestock. Windbreaks can also 

provide critical food, cover and travel corridors 

for wildlife and gamebird species. Offered in 

continuous sign-up, CP-5A:

• Reduces wind erosion

• Protects crops, livestock and homesteads 

• Increase bee pollination

• Creates habitat and safe travel paths for wildlife 

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-5A participants are guaranteed:

• 10-15 years of annual rental payments with an 

additional 20% Rental Rate Incentive 

• 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) 

• Sign-up Incentive Payment (SIP) up to $100/acre

• Mid-Contract Management Cost Share

• Maintenance Rate Incentive

• Additional incentives may be available in 

your state under the Conservation Reserve 

Enhancement Program (CREP) 

Erosion Control | Crop and Livestock Protection | Increase Pollination

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-5A

FIELD WINDBREAK ESTABLISHMENT 

Photo provided by FSA 
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

• Suitable for planting trees

• Compliant with USDA’s highly erodible land 

and wetland provisions

Practice Requirements

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects and pests shall be controlled 

• The practice will be maintained without 

additional cost-share payments

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 conditions

• 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-5A

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 FSA