1

decline or those that are protected under federal or 

state law), conduct fire rehabilitation and construct 

firebreaks and fences.

Ranking Land Offered for CRP 

Grasslands

Interested participants may submit an offer with the 

USDA FSA from March 16 to May 15, 2020. These 

offers will be reviewed to determine which offers can 

be approved using applicable CRP Grasslands Ranking 

Factors. FSA collects data for each of the ranking 

factors based on the relative benefits for the land 

offered. Each eligible offer is ranked in comparison to 

all other eligible offers and selections for acceptance 

are made from that ranking.

FSA uses the following ranking factors, including:

• Existence of expiring CRP;

• Existing Grassland;

• Existing Multi-species cover and predominance of 

native species;

• State Focus Area (land-based) determined in 

consultation with State Technical Committee;

• Applicant is an eligible Beginning, Veteran, or 

Socially Disadvantaged farmer or rancher;

• Existing Small Livestock Operation;

• Cost; and

• Other factors as determined by FSA

Overview (Signup 2020)

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands 

is part of the Conservation Reserve Program, a 

federally funded voluntary program that contracts 

with agricultural producers so that environmentally 

sensitive agricultural land is protected and used for 

conservation benefits.

With CRP Grasslands, landowners and operators can 

protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland, 

and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas 

as grazing lands. The program emphasizes support for 

grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity and 

grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under 

the greatest threat of conversion. Participants receive 

annual payments and cost-share assistance. Contract 

duration is either 10 or 15 years.

CRP Grasslands is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) FSA 

administers the program on behalf of the USDA 

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

Benefits

Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the 

economy of many regions, provides biodiversity 

of plant and animal populations and improves 

environmental quality.

How the Program Works

Participants retain the right to conduct common 

grazing practices, produce hay, mow or harvest for 

seed production (subject to certain restrictions during 

the nesting season of bird species that are in significant 

FACT SHEET

March 2020

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

GRASSLANDS SIGNUP
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 2

Rental Payments

In return for following an approved CRP conservation 

plan, FSA provides annual rental payments to 

participants based on 75 percent of the NASS estimated 

pastureland rental rate as determined by FSA for the life 

of the agreement.

Cost-Share Assistance

FSA provides cost-share assistance to participants 

who establish approved practices on eligible land 

in an amount that is not more than 50 percent of the 

participants’ costs in establishing approved practices.

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; other 

restrictions may apply. To find more information about 

CRP Grasslands, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/crp. For 

more details on FSA conservation programs, visit www.

fsa.usda.gov/conservation or contact your local FSA 

office. To locate the nearest FSA office or USDA service 

center, visit http://offices.usda.gov. 

Small Livestock Operations

Small livestock operations with 100 or fewer grazing 

dairy cows or equivalent can submit applications to 

enroll up to 200 acres per farm points.

Eligible Producers

A producer must have owned or operated the land for 

at least 12 months prior to closing the CRP enrollment 

period, unless:

• The new owner acquired the land due to the 

previous owner’s death;

• The ownership change occurred due to foreclosure 

where the owner exercised a timely right of 

redeption in accordance with state law; or

• The circumstances of the acquisition present 

adequate assurance to FSA that the new owner did 

not acquire the land for the purpose of placing it in 

CRP.

Eligible Land

Land currently must be planted to a grass cover.

CRP GRASSLANDS SIGNUP - MARCH 2020

Animal Kind/Class Animal Unit 

Equivalent

Beef/Buffalo/Dry Dairy Cow 1.00

Dairy Cow 1.40

Beef/Dairy/Buffalo Bulls 1.50

Calf 0.30

Heifer 0.86

Yearling Cattle 0.65

Sheep, Ewe 0.16

Lamb, Weaned to Yearling 0.14

Ram (200 lbs.) 0.17

Goat, mature 0.15

Kid, yearling 0.10

Llama 0.23