Why Choose CRP? You Benefit. Land, Water and Wildlife Benefit. Habitat buffers for upland birds provide critical cover, nesting and food resources to targeted upland species. 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 Upland Habitat Buffers?

Over the past two decades, field edges and 

hedgerows have been removed to create more 

cropland. These vegetative borders served as vital 

living and protective space for quail, pheasants and 

grassland birds – whose populations are declining. 

CP-33 establishes native grasses and legumes in 30 - 

120 foot buffers around crop fields, giving bobwhite 

quail and other upland birds critical nesting and 

brood rearing habitat. Offered in continuous 

sign-up, CP-33:

• Provides a food source and cover for fragile 

upland species

• Reduces soil erosion and traps sediment 

• Improves water quality by intercepting sediment 

and nutrients

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-33 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) 

• Sign-up Incentive Payment (SIP) up to $150/acre

• Mid-Contract Management Cost Share

• Additional incentives may be available in your state 

under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 

Program (CREP) 

Habitat Enhancement | Soil and Water Quality | Erosion Control

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-33

HABITAT BUFFERS FOR UPLAND BIRDS

Photo provided by FSA Kansas
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 around field edges suitable for quail 

and upland birds

• Compliant with USDA’s highly erodible land 

and wetland provisions

Practice Requirements

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects and pests should be controlled 

• Practice shall 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-33

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 2013 by an 

estimated 565 million pounds of nitrogen and 113 

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 MO Dept. of Conservation, Colin Woolley, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, FSA MO respectively