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

Permanent wildlife habitat plantings provide critical cover, nesting and food resources to a vast range of bird and 

mammal 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 Permanent Habitat?

As more land is converted for agricultural uses, 

wildlife is left with fewer natural areas for cover, 

nesting and brooding. Managing land to be 

compatible with the needs of wildlife can help 

bird and mammal species thrive and grow. As a 

result, these strategic conservation efforts expand 

recreational activities and drive significant ecological 

benefits. Offered in general sign-up (and under 

certain conditions as a continuous sign-up), 

CP-4D:

• Provides a food source and cover for wildlife 

including upland and grassland bird species

• Prevents soil loss from wind and water erosion 

• Improves water quality by intercepting sediment 

and nutrients

Farm Service Agency USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Financial Benefits

CP-4D participants are guaranteed:

• 10 years of annual rental payments

• 10% Rental Rate Incentive if enrolled in 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) 

Wildlife Habitat | Erosion Control | Water Quality Enhancement

Conservation Reserve Program

CP-4D

PERMANENT WILDLIFE HABITAT 

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

• 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 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-4D

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 Missouri SWCD John Kirchhoff, MO. FSA and USFWS James C. Leupold respectively