Non-Emergency Haying and Grazing Conservation Reserve Program 

● All non-emergency haying and grazing must be discussed and approved with your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office prior to 

starting the activity. Under no circumstances may non-emergency haying or grazing be permitted if such activity would cause long-term 

damage to the vegetative cover on the land, determined on a site-by-site basis. Available to start 12 months after cover is fully established. 

● Non-emergency activities may occur according to the conservation plan during drought / natural disaster conditions, but the site 

conditions should be taken into consideration and the plan modified, as needed.

● Non-emergency harvesting for hay or biomass may occur only once during the approved event. Haying/harvesting may not occur later 

than August 31. Participants must leave 25 percent of the contract acres unharvested or hayed. 

● Non-emergency grazing must not exceed 120 days. During the primary nesting season (PNS), there must be a 50 percent carrying 

capacity reduction.

● Participant may rent or sell the hay or grazing rights. However, the CRP participant is responsible for any damages to the stand.

● Non-emergency haying and grazing requires a 25 percent reduction in annual rental payment.

Conservation Reserve Program Practices 

Outside PNS During PNS

Haying 

(every third 

year)

Grazing 

(every other 

year) Haying Grazing

CP1 Establishment of Permanent Introduced 

Grasses & Legumes 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP2 Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP3 Tree Planting No No No No

CP3A Hardwood Tree Planting No No No No

CP4B Permanent Wildlife Habitat Corridors 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP5A Field Windbreak Establishment No No No No

CP8A Grass Waterways, Noneasement 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP10 Existing Grass 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP12 Wildlife Food Plot No No No No

CP15, A & B Contour Grass Sod Strip 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP16A Shelterbelt Establishment No No No No

CP17A Living Snow Fences No No No No

CP18, B & C

Establishment of Permanent Vegetation to 

reduce Salinity; Establishment of Permanent 

Salt Tolerant Vegetative Cover

75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP21, B & C Filter Strips; Denitrifying Bioreactor on Filter 

Strips; Saturated Filter Strips 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP22 Riparian Buffers 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP22B Denitrifying Bioreactor on Riparian Buffers 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP22S Saturated Riparian Buffers 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP23 Wetland Restoration 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP23A Wetland Restoration, Non-floodplain 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP24 Cross Wind Trap Strips 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP25 Rare and declining Habitat (tree practices 

may not be hayed) 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP27 Farmable Wetlands Pilot Wetland 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP28 Farmable Wetlands Pilot Buffer 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP29 Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP30 Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP31 Bottomland Timber Establishment on 

Wetlands No No No No

CP33 Habitat for Upland Birds 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP36 Long Leaf Pine - Establishment No No No No

CP37 Duck Nesting Habitat 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP39 FWP Constructed Wetland 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP40 FWP Aquaculture Wetland Restoration 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP41 FWP Flooded Prairie Wetlands 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP42 Pollinator Habitat 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

CP43 Prairie Strip 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

SAFE Practices are ONLY eligible if specifically authorized in the SAFE agreement

CP38A SAFE - Buffers No

CP38B SAFE - Wetlands No

CP38C SAFE - Trees No

CP38D SAFE - Long Leaf Pine No

CP38E SAFE - Grass 75% of acres Yes No 50% of carrying capacity

This table applies to General and Continuous (non-CREP) CRP. It does not apply to Grassland CRP. Grassland CRP is a working lands program and therefore participants are permitted to utilize the land in accordance with an approved conservation plan. For availability of haying and grazing on CREP contracts contact your local county FSA office. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Emergency Haying and Grazing Conservation Reserve Program

 Consult you local FSA County Office before taking any action, all request for Emergency Activities must be pre-approved by the COC.

● All Emergency Haying and Grazing must be discussed and approved by your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office prior to starting the 

activity. Under no circumstances may emergency haying or grazing be permitted if such activity would cause long-term damage to the 

vegetative cover on the land, determined on a site-by-site basis. 

● Emergency Haying outside of the primary nesting season (PNS), one cutting may be authorized up to 60 days from when the activity is 

approved or from when the participant receives their modified conservation plan during the program year. Emergency Haying is not 

authorized within the PNS.

● Emergency Grazing may utilize up to 90 consecutive days or a total of 90 days before and after the PNS (if county is still eligible for 

emergency grazing) subject to a modified conservation plan during the program year. 

● No fee or reduction assessed for Emergency Haying and Grazing. Participant may rent or sell the emergency haying and grazing. 

However, the CRP participant is responsible for any damages to the stand.

Conservation Reserve Program Practices 

Drought Condition

Emergency D2 

Outside of PNS 

D2 for 8 weeks, D3, D4 

(LFP payments triggered)

Haying Grazing

Haying 

Outside of 

PNS

Grazing 

Outside 

of PNS 

Haying 

During 

PNS Grazing During PNS 

CP1 Establishment of Permanent Introduced 

Grasses & Legumes Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP2 Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP3 Tree Planting Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP3A Hardwood Tree Planting Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP4B Permanent Wildlife Habitat Corridors Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP4D Permanent Wildlife Habitat Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP5A Field Windbreak Establishment Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP8A* Grass Waterways, Noneasement Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP10 Existing Grass Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP12 Wildlife Food Plot No No No No No

CP15, A & B Contour Grass Sod Strip Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP16A Shelterbelt Establishment Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP17A Living Snow Fences Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP18, B & C

Establishment of Permanent Vegetation to 

reduce Salinity; Establishment of Permanent 

Salt Tolerant Vegetative Cover

Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP21, B & C* Filter Strips; Denitrifying Bioreactor on Filter 

Strips; Saturated Filter Strips Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP22 Riparian Buffers Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP22B Denitrifying Bioreactor on Riparian Buffers Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP22S Saturated Riparian Buffers Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP23 Wetland Restoration Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP23A* Wetland Restoration, Non-floodplain Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP24 Cross Wind Trap Strips Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP25 Rare and Declining Habitat (tree practices 

may not be hayed) Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP27 Farmable Wetlands Pilot Wetland Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP28* Farmable Wetlands Pilot Buffer Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP29 Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP30 Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP31 Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP33 Habitat for Upland Birds Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP36 Long Leaf Pine - Establishment Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP37* Duck Nesting Habitat Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP39* FWP Constructed Wetland Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP40 FWP Aquaculture Wetland Restoration Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP41 FWP Flooded Prairie Wetlands Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP42 Pollinator Habitat Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP43 Prairie Strip Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

SAFE Practices are ONLY eligible if specifically authorized in the SAFE agreement

CP38A SAFE - Buffers Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP38B* SAFE - Wetlands Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP38C SAFE - Trees Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP38D SAFE - Long Leaf Pine Yes Yes No Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

CP38E SAFE - Grass Yes Yes 50% of acres Yes No 50% Carrying Capacity

*Grazing must ot occur within 120 ft of permanent water body. Haying is limited to the buffer portion of the wetland practice at 50% of the buffer acres.

This table applies to General and Continuous (non-CREP) CRP. It does not apply to Grassland CRP. Grassland CRP is a working lands program and therefore participants are permitted to 

utilize the land in accordance with an approved conservation plan. For availability of haying and grazing on CREP contracts contact your local county FSA office.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.