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

Agriculture productivity relies on pollinators, especially honey bees, to pollinate more than one-third of our food 

products. 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 Pollinator Habitat?

Agriculture depends upon pollinators. Honey bees, 

bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, wasps, birds, 

and bats are responsible for pollinating more than 

80 percent of plants. This vital process not only 

supports plant reproduction and growth, but broad 

native ecosystem diversity and stability. Offered as 

both a general and continuous sign-up, CP-42:

• Boosts yields

• Captures carbon

• Protects soil productivity

• Creates wildlife habitat

• Improves water quality by intercepting sediment 

and nutrients

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-42 participants are guaranteed:

• 10 years of annual rental payments 

• Payment covering 50% of the eligible costs of 

establishing the pollinator practice

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

acre if enrolled in continuous sign-up

• 50% Cost-Share Payment for mid-contract 

management

Agricultural Productivity | Plant Regeneration | Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-42

POLLINATOR HABITAT

Photo courtesy of Peter Berthelsen/Pheasants Forever
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

• Habitat areas must be at least 0.5 acres each

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects, and pests should be controlled

• Strip planting must be at least 20 feet wide

• Must meet additional technical requirements

 (If not planted in whole fields, block plantings 

 are preferred over strips)

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:

• Work with USDA-approved conservationist to develop 

a conservation plan

• Perform periodic management activities on the habitat 

according to the provided conservation plan

• Not harvest or graze the habitat area

• Complete seeding of the practice within 12 months of 

the effective date of the contract

CP-42

For More Information:

Contact your local USDA, Farm Service Agency:

http://offices.usda.gov

Proven Conservation Benefits

• Insect pollination is integral to food security -- 

honey bees enable the production of more than 90 

commercially grown crops in North America

• Honey bee pollinated commodities account for $15 

billion in annual U.S agricultural production

• Native plant habitat attractive to pollinators will also 

attract beneficial insects that are predators of crop 

pests 

Photos courtesy of Peter Berthelsen/Pheasants Forever