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

Restoring grasses and legumes sharply reduces erosion, provides habitat for wildlife, and benefits the environment. 

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 Introduced Grasses and 

Legumes?

Establishing vegetative cover on cropland reduces 

the negative impact of wind and water, effectively 

mitigating erosion. In addition, establishing grass 

cover provides critical habitat to gamebird and other 

wildlife species, thus increasing populations. Offered 

in general sign-up (and under certain conditions as a 

continuous sign-up), CP-1:

• Prevents soil loss from wind and water erosion

• Creates habitat for grassland and game bird species

• Improves water quality by intercepting sediment 

and nutrients

• Sequesters carbon

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-1 participants are guaranteed:

• 10 years of annual rental payments 

• 10% Rental Rate Incentive if enrolled under a 

wellhead protection area

• 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) 

 under certain continuous sign-up conditions

• 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-1

Establishment of Permanent Introduced Grasses and Legumes

Photo provided by BLM/Montana
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 

• 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-1

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 gasses 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, ID and BLM/Montana respectively