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

The Farmable Wetland Program (FWP) is intended to help farmers retire chronically wet cropland, to restore 

previously these farmed wetlands, and to increase profitability while improving water quality and creating wildlife 

habitat. 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.

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-27 & CP-28 participants are guaranteed:

• 10-15 years of annual rental payments with an 

additional 20% Rental Rate Incentive

• Payments covering up to 90% of the eligible costs of 

establishing the wetland restoration practice

 - 50% from a Cost-Share Payment and

 - 40% from a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) 

• Sign-up Incentive Payment (SIP) up to $100/acre

• Mid-Contract Management Cost Share 

Improve Profitability | Enhance Wildlife Habitat | Improve Water Quality

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-27 & CP-28

FARMABLE WETLANDS PROGRAM

Photo provided by USFWS, Steve Hilebrand

Why FWP?

Landowners and farmers can protect soil from 

erosion and improve water quality by restoring 

wetlands and establishing vegetative buffers on 

typically less-productive cropland. Restoring 

wetland functions also enhance vital habitat for 

wildlife, especially ducks and other waterfowl, upland 

game birds and songbirds. Offered in continuous 

sign-up, CP-27 and CP-28:

• Improves profitability by retiring lower yielding 

wet cropland

• Provides vital habitat for waterfowl, grassland 

birds, and other wetland species

• Filters nutrients from runoff

• Reduces downstream flooding damages
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

• CP-27 must be enrolled with the associated 

buffer practice CP-28

• The maximum size of any one offered 

wetland cannot exceed 40 acres

• The maximum size of the associated buffer 

cannot exceed 4 times the size of the wetland

• Noxious weeds and other undesirable plants, 

insects, and pests shall be controlled

• Practices 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

• 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-27 & CP-28

For More Information:

Contact your local USDA, Farm Service Agency:

http://offices.usda.gov

Proven Conservation Benefits

• Between 2005 and 2011, CRP contributed to an 

estimated net increase of 1.5 million additional ducks 

per year

• 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 Lynn Betts and USFWS Bill Buchanon respectively