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

Contour grass strips are designed to reduce erosion and improve water quality by slowing run-off and trapping 

sediment. 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 Contour Grass Strips?

For farmland that is susceptible to erosion, contour 

grass strips are an excellent solution. These 

permanent strips of vegetative cover are located on 

cropland and follow natural contours. Vegetation 

includes grasses and a mixture of grasses and 

legumes. These strips function as a filter for run-off 

and help improve surface water quality as they trap 

sediment, nutrients, and pesticides passing through 

them. Offered in continuous sign-up, CP-15A:

• Reduces erosion 

• Improves water quality by trapping sediment 

and nutrients

• Creates habitat for grassland and gamebird 

species

• Provides pollinator habitat

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-15A participants are guaranteed:

• 10 years of annual rental payments 

• Payments covering up to 90% of the eligible costs of 

establishing the grass practice

 - 50% from a Cost-Share Payment and

 - 40% from a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) 

• Mid-Contract Management Cost Share

• Additional incentives may be available in your state 

under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 

Program (CREP) 

Erosion Control | Water Quality Enhancement | Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-15A

CONTOUR GRASS STRIPS

Photo provided by NRCS, Lynn Betts
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

• 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-15A

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 USFWS Chelsi Hornbaker, NRCS Bob Nichols, NRCS Tim McCabe, respectively