CONSERVATION

PROGRAMS

AT A GLANCE

United States

Department of

Agriculture

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

CONSERVATION

PROGRAM AGENCY DESCRIPTION APPLICABLE 

LAND USES

CONTRACT 

LENGTH ELIGIBILITY NOTES

GRASSLAND 

CRP SIGNUP

FSA A voluntary program that 

contracts with agricultural 

producers to help landowners 

and operators protect 

grassland. The program 

emphasizes support for grazing 

operations, plant and animal 

biodiversity, and eligible land 

containing shrubs and forbs 

under the greatest threat of 

conversion.

Grasslands, 

Rangeland, 

Pastureland

10 - 15 

years

Control land 

for contract 

term

Haying & 

grazing 

allowed 

w/some 

restrictions

CONSERVATION 

RESERVE 

ENHANCEMENT 

PROGRAM 

(CREP)

FSA Targets specific state or nationally 

significant conservation concerns. 

Federal funds are supplemented 

with non-federal funds to 

address those concerns by paying 

farmers in exchange for removing 

environmentally sensitive land 

from production and establishing 

permanent resource conserving 

plant species.

Cropland or 

pasture

15 years Control land 

for contract 

term

Restrictions 

are negotiated 

with the 

partner and 

are specific 

to each 

agreement.

EMERGENCY 

CONSERVATION 

PROGRAM 

(ECP)

FSA Provides funding and technical 

assistance for farmers and 

ranchers to restore farmland 

damaged by natural disasters 

and for emergency water 

conservation measures in 

severe droughts.

Previously 

farmed 

wetlands or 

wetland buffers

10-15 years Must 

have been 

used for 

agricultural 

purposes for 

three of the 

past 10 crop 

years

Land cannot 

be used for 

commercial 

purposes

EMERGENCY 

FOREST 

RESTORATION 

PROGRAM 

(EFRP)

FSA Provides funding to restore 

privately owned forests 

damaged by natural disasters. 

Assistance helps landowners 

carry out emergency measures 

to restore forest health on land 

damaged by floods, hurricanes 

or other natural disasters.

Private 

forestland 

damaged by a 

natural disaster

Disasterspecific 

funding

FSA County 

Committee 

inspects the 

damage to 

determine 

if land is 

eligible

Only owners of 

nonindustrial 

private forests 

with tree 

cover existing 

before the 

natural disaster 

occurred are 

eligible.

FARMABLE 

WETLANDS 

PROGRAM 

(FWP)

FSA Designed to restore previously 

farmed wetlands and wetland 

buffer to improve both 

vegetation and water flow. 

Participants must agree to 

restore the wetlands and 

establish plant cover. Plant 

cover may include plants that 

are partially submerged or 

specific types of trees.

Previously 

farmed 

wetlands or 

wetland buffers

10-15 years Must 

have been 

used for 

agricultural 

purposes for 

three of the 

past 10 crop 

years

Land cannot 

be used for 

commercial 

purposes

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

United States

Department of

Agriculture

FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION 

FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) | NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) | RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY (RMA)

More Information

For more information about USDA conservation programs, visit farmers.gov/conservation

or contact your local USDA Service Center. 

To find your local USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov/service-locator. 
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service 

Agency (FSA) offer federally funded, voluntary conservation programs to 

help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners protect and conserve 

the natural resources we all depend on, supporting healthy soil, cleaner air 

and water, and conserving wildlife habitats, while helping to mitigate the 

impacts of climate change.

NRCS and FSA conservation programs are incentive based and provide 

financial assistance to implement conservation practices. NRCS also offers 

free conservation technical assistance to help producers plan practices. 

NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but 

applications are ranked and funded by funding cycle, which have statespecific application dates.

FSA program application periods vary by program. Producers interested in 

assistance are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.

In addition to NRCS and FSA conservation programs, USDA’s Risk 

Management Agency (RMA) also supports conservation through 

Federal crop insurance, including supporting use of cover crops, water 

conservation, and nutrient management.

To participate in FSA and NRCS programs, 

producers have to be compliant with adjusted 

gross income requirements as well as highly 

erodible soils and wetland provisions. 

Additionally, other eligibility provisions may apply.

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

CONSERVATION

PROGRAM AGENCY DESCRIPTION APPLICABLE 

LAND USES

CONTRACT 

LENGTH ELIGIBILITY NOTES

ACEPAGRICULTURAL 

LAND EASEMENTS 

(ALE)

NRCS Helps private and tribal 

landowners, land trusts, and 

other entities such as state 

and local governments protect 

croplands and grasslands on 

working farms and ranches by 

limiting non-agricultural uses of 

the land through conservation 

easements.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest

Permanent Apply to 

local entity

Apply through 

partner

ACEP-WETLANDS 

RESERVE 

EASEMENTS 

(WRE)

NRCS Helps private and tribal 

landowners protect, restore, 

and enhance wetlands which 

have been previously degraded 

due to agricultural uses.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest 

and non-ag land

30 years or 

Permanent

Landowner 

and 

landscape 

requirements

2-year 

ownership 

prior to 

application

Apply directly 

to NRCS

AGRICULTURAL 

MANAGEMENT 

ASSISTANCE 

(AMA)

NRCS Helps agricultural producers 

manage financial risk through 

diversification, marketing, or 

natural resource conservation 

practices. NRCS administers the 

conservation provisions while 

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing 

Service and RMA implement 

the production diversification 

and marketing provisions.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest, 

farmstead and 

associated ag. 

land

Up to 10 

years

Control land 

for contract 

term

Not available 

in every state

CONSERVATION 

INNOVATION 

GRANTS (CIG)

NRCS Competitive program that 

supports the development of 

new tools, approaches, practices, 

and technologies to further 

natural resource conservation on 

private lands. Through creative 

problem solving and innovation, 

CIG partners work to address our 

nation's water quality, air quality, 

soil health, and wildlife habitat 

challenges, all while improving 

agricultural operations.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest, 

farmstead, and 

associated ag. 

land

1-3 years Classic: All 

non-Federal 

entities and 

individuals 

are eligible 

to apply.

On-Farm 

Trials: All 

non-Federal 

entities are 

eligible to 

apply.

All CIG 

projects 

must involve 

EQIP-eligible 

producers

CONSERVATION 

STEWARDSHIP 

PROGRAM 

(CSP)

NRCS Helps agricultural producers 

maintain and improve 

their existing conservation 

systems and adopt additional 

conservation activities to 

address priority natural 

resource concerns. The higher 

the performance above existing 

management, the higher the 

payment.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest, 

farmstead and 

associated ag. 

land

5 years Control land 

for contract 

term

Meet 

stewardship 

thresholds

CONSERVATION

PROGRAM AGENCY DESCRIPTION APPLICABLE 

LAND USES

CONTRACT 

LENGTH ELIGIBILITY NOTES

ENVIRONMENTAL 

QUALITY 

INCENTIVES 

PROGRAM 

(EQIP)

NRCS NRCS’s flagship conservation 

program provides financial and 

technical assistance to agricultural 

producers to address natural 

resource concerns and deliver 

environmental benefits, such as 

improved water and air quality, 

conserved ground and surface 

water, reduced soil erosion and 

sedimentation, and improved or 

created wildlife habitat.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest, 

farmstead and 

associated 

agricultural land

1 - 10 years Control land 

for practice 

lifespan 

No payment 

duplication

EMERGENCY 

WATERSHED 

PROTECTION 

PROGRAM

NRCS Assists sponsors and 

landowners to protect lives 

and property from flooding 

or soil erosion after a natural 

disaster impairs a watershed. 

The EWP Program is designed 

for emergency recovery work, 

including the purchase of 

floodplain easements.

All Variable Measures 

must provide 

protection 

from 

additional 

flooding or 

soil erosion 

and reduce 

threats to life 

or property

NRCS will 

not provide 

funding for 

activities 

undertaken 

prior to the 

signing of 

a formal 

agreement

HEALTHY 

FORESTS RESERVE 

PROGRAM 

(HFRP)

NRCS Helps landowners restore, 

enhance, and protect forestland 

resources on private lands 

through easements and 

financial assistance. Through 

HFRP, landowners promote 

the recovery of endangered or 

threatened species, improve 

plant and animal biodiversity, 

and enhance carbon 

sequestration.

Forestland 10-year 

restoration 

agreements 

and 30-

year or 

permanent 

easements

Control land 

for contract 

term

Must be 

privately 

owned

Apply directly 

to NRCS

REGIONAL 

CONSERVATION 

PARTNERSHIP 

PROGRAM (RCPP)

NRCS A partner-driven approach 

to conservation that funds 

solutions to natural resource 

challenges on agricultural 

land. By leveraging collective 

resources and collaborating on 

common goals, RCPP Classic 

and RCPP Alternative Funding 

Arrangements demonstrate 

the power of public-private 

partnerships in delivering results 

for agriculture and conservation.

Cropland, 

pasture, forest, 

farmstead, and 

associated ag. 

land

Typically 

five years

Organizations 

interested in 

partnering 

with NRCS on 

conservation 

projects 

submit 

project 

proposals 

during 

application 

periods.

All RCPP 

projects must 

develop and 

report on their 

environmental 

outcomes 

Producers 

can apply to 

participate in a 

funded project 

through NRCS 

or partners. 

GENERAL 

CONSERVATION

RESERVE 

PROGRAM 

(CRP) 

FSA Protects soil, water quality, 

and habitat by removing highly 

erodible or environmentally 

sensitive land from agricultural 

production through longterm rental agreements. CRP 

landowners are eligible for the 

Transition Incentives Program 

(TIP), which assists with selling 

your land to beginning and 

socially disadvantaged farmers.

Cropland 10 - 15 

years

Control land 

for contract 

term

Land cannot 

be farmed

CONTINUOUS 

CONSERVATION

RESERVE 

PROGRAM 

(CRP)

FSA Under continuous CRP signup, 

environmentally sensitive land 

devoted to certain conservation 

practices can be enrolled in 

CRP at any time. Also includes 

CLEAR30 and Safe Acres for 

Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE).

Cropland or 

pasture

10 - 15 

years

Control land 

for contract 

term

Land cannot 

be farmed

CRP HAYING 

& GRAZING 

(EMERGENCY & 

NON-EMERGENCY)

FSA Haying and grazing of CRP 

acres is authorized under 

certain conditions to improve 

the quality and performance of 

the CRP cover (non-emergency) 

or to provide relief to livestock 

producers due to certain natural 

disasters (emergency). 

Cropland or 

pasture

Authorized 

practices 

within 

the 10 to 

15-year 

contract

Emergency 

- County 

designated 

severe drought 

(D2) or greater

NonEmergency 

haying every 

3 year; grazing 

every 2 years.

Haying and 

grazing 

restriction 

apply during 

and outside 

of the primary 

nesting 

season.

PROGRAM KEY

NRCS

FSA