The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers.
Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract.
Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a joint program between the state of Illinois and the USDA to address environmental problems within the Illinois River watershed. The goals of the program are to reduce sedimentation and nutrients in the Illinois River and increase populations of waterfowl and native fish and mussels. To be eligible for the CREP program, you must be eligible to be enrolled in the continuous CRP Program. It must be cropland that has been cropped 2 out of the last 5 years.