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

Food plots established to enhance other CRP practices provide lifesaving resources of food and shelter when 

wildlife need it most. 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 Wildlife Food Plots?

For many wildlife and songbird species that do not 

migrate during winter months, planting a warm or cool 

season forage mix or small grains on cropland can be the 

key element to survival. Often food grown for wildlife 

are field crops, but a number of other grains – such as 

rye, millet and buckwheat – are also good options. Food 

plots provide escape cover for wildlife and critical shelter 

during extreme weather. Forbs, grasses and legumes 

offer additional benefits, including improving soil health 

and sequestering carbon. Offered in general sign-up, 

CP-12:

• Provides a food source and cover for many types of 

wildlife species, especially upland birds 

• Reduces soil erosion

• Sequesters carbon

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-12 participants are guaranteed:

• 10-15 years of annual rental payments

• Additional incentives may be available in 

your state under the Conservation Reserve 

Enhancement Program (CREP) 

Food Resource | Wildlife Habitat | Soil and Water Quality

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-12

WILDLIFE FOOD PLOT

Photo provided by NRCS, Roger Hill
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

• May be in conjunction with the following 

practices only: CP-1, CP-2, CP-3, CP-3A, 

CP-4D and CP-25

• Existing CRP contracts may be revised to 

include a Wildlife Food Plot

• Wildlife Food Plots shall not exceed 5 acres

• Practice may be relocated each year

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects, and pests shall be controlled 

• Practice will be maintained without costshare 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:

• 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-12

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 NRCS Dot Abbott-Donnelly, Lynn Betts and ND FSA respectively