U.S. flag
    An official website of the United States government
     Here’s how you know Here’s how you know **Official websites use .gov**  A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
 Farm Service Agency
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 About FSA
  Ask USDA
  Contact Us
  Forms
 Menu
  close
   Home
    Programs & Services
     ARC/PLC Program
         Civil Rights
         Certified Mediation Program
         Climate Adaptation Plan
         Conservation Programs
         Cooperative Agreements
         Dairy Margin Coverage Program
         Disaster Assistance Programs
         Economic & Policy Analysis
       Emergency Relief 
         Environmental & Cultural Resource Compliance
         Farm Bill Home
         Farm Labor Stabilization & Protection Pilot Grants
         Farm Loan Programs
         Financial Management Information
         Increasing Land Access
         Initiatives
       Laws and Regulations
         Margin Protection Program for Dairy
         Market Facilitation Program
         MIDAS
         Organic Certification Cost Share Program
         Outreach & Education
         Payment Eligibility
         Price Support
         Rice Production Program
    State Offices
    Online Services
     LDP
         eARC/PLC
         Farmers.gov (FSA Farm+)
         FSA Online Data Resources
         Loan Assistance Tool
    Newsroom
     Fact Sheets
         News Releases
         Emergency Designations
         Stakeholder Information
         eFOIA
       Meetings & Events
         Public Service Announcements
         County Committee Elections
         Fence PostSearch small Search
 Conservation Success with CRP
 Section Topics
     Conservation Programs Home
     Conservation Reserve Program
      Conservation Success Stories
       CRP 35-Year Anniversary
       CRP Continuous Enrollment Period
       CRP Sign-Up
       Grassland CRP Signup 205 Overview
       Grassland CRP Signup 205 Ranking Factors
       Emergency Haying and Grazing
     Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
      CREP for Partners
       CREP for Producers
     Grassland CRP
     CRP Practices Library
     Emergency Conservation Program
     Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)
     Farmable Wetlands Program
     Grassland Reserve Program
     "Grassroots" Source Water Protection Program
     Monitoring, Assessment & Evaluation Reports
     Partners in Conservation
     Reports and Statistics
      Conservation Reserve Program Statistics
        CRP Signup Results
     Transition Incentives Program
 Our nation's farmers and ranchers earn the credit for CRP's phenomenal success. This collection of success stories illustrate how CRP participants are using the program to improve their operations and maintain a healthy environment for all Americans. These  stories reflect the varied benefits of CRP - reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, and providing societal benefits. Geographically diverse, the stories cover a wide cross-section of farming operations, as well as CRP practices and initiatives. CRP is achieving far-reaching and long-lasting benefits, thanks to the voluntary participation of farmers and ranchers, America's best stewards of the land. **Restoring for the Future** **Mark Magura of Starke County, Indiana** Mark and Amy Magura of Starke County, Indiana have worked hard over the last three years to restore more than 200 acres of former farmland back into a wetland and wildlife oasis. As stewards of the land, Mark and Amy want to restore and preserve the land for future generations, and with the help of CRP and other conservation programs at USDA, the Magura’s land is now flourishing with life— birds are chirping, frogs are croaking, and a myriad of other wildlife sounds fill the landscape. Read more. **Transforming with Conservation** Bill Cooper raises Angus cattle on the land his family has operated since 1941 in Wythe County, Virginia. He turned eight acres of his farm into buffer areas with the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which is part of CRP. With CREP, high-priority conservation goals are identified by the state, and then federal funds are supplemented with non-federal funds to achieve those goals. Bill Cooper, a cattle farmer from Wythe County, Virginia With CREP and Virginia’s Best Management Practice Program, he was able to add over 13,000 feet of fencing, 7,000 feet of pipeline, eight four-ball water troughs, two wells, stream crossing and cattle walkway, and over 1,100 trees. The fencing has made it easier for Bill to manage his cattle while extending his grazing ability by implementing rotational grazing. “Participating in CREP and BMP has been the best thing I’ve ever done on this farm. I can already see so much benefit from everything we’ve done in these programs,” Bill said. Read more. **Steward of the Land** Christopher Sumpter Jr. is a fourth-generation farmer from Borden, SC, where he raises Hereford and Black Angus cattle. Chris is continuing his family's legacy, running a cow-calf operation and working daily in the pastures. He participates in CRP, which provides yearly rental payments to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Christopher Sumpter Jr., a fourth-generation farmer from Borden, South Carolina As part of his CRP participation, Chris has planted large areas for pollinators and loblolly pine tree reiterating how important it is to be good stewards of the land no matter what operation you’re running. “USDA programs have substantially impacted my operation by helping me to improve my agricultural practices and allowing opportunities to gain more knowledge of the agricultural community,” said Chris. “[These programs] have been a great resource in time of agricultural need.” Chris is best described as a public servant who spends his time between several different ventures. He was elected to the Sumter County Council in 2016 at the age of 24. Read more. **Resiliency on the Rise** **Justin Knopf, a fifth-generation farmer at Knopf Farms near Gypsum, Kansas** Justin Knopf, a fifth-generation farmer at Knopf Farms near Gypsum, Kansas, is a partner in a diversified operation growing wheat, alfalfa, corn, soybeans, and sorghum. If there’s one word he thinks about the most—from a business, environmental, agronomic, and human resource standpoint—it’s resiliency. Building a relationship with USDA has been key to the operation’s resiliency. Working with USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and Natural Resources Conservation Service helps Justin to manage risk and his land. “One of the resources we think about regularly on our farm is human resources – and collaboration with other people. The collaboration we have with FSA, RMA, and NRCS is important to our team,” said Justin. “These agencies’ programs help us offset risks we face season-to-season as we deal with weather and markets out of our control.” Justin has a passion for agriculture. He enjoys telling his story to help others and provide a stronger foundation for the next generation. Learn more.
 Home
   Programs & Services
   State Offices
   Online Services
   Newsroom
 Farmers.gov
          USA.gov
          USDA.gov
          Whitehouse.gov
       Accessibility Statement
          Common Questions
          Freedom of Information Act
       No FEAR Report
          Information Quality
          Non-Discrimination Statement
       Policies and Links
          Privacy Policy
          Sitemap
    Sign up for updates
      Subscribe
 Farm Service Agency
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 facebook-loFacebook
 youtube-loYouTube
 twitter-loTwitter
 gov-delivery-loTwitter
 rss-loRSS