Enrollment is now open to agricultural producers and landowners for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), according to a USDA news release. Enrollment for the General CRP will begin in March.
CRP allows farmers and landowners to place marginal or unproductive land under contract, typically for 10-15 years, if they agree to use that land for certain conservation practices centered around water quality, soil erosion prevention, and wildlife habitat support.
Those producers or landowners then receive annual rent payments for the land accepted into the program, and potentially cost-share assistance for the implementation of approved conservation practices on that land.
The enrollment period for Continuous CRP, which will be accepting new offers and renewal offers on a first-come, first-served basis, runs Feb. 12 through March 20.
Enrollment for General CRP will start March 9 and run through April 17. General CRP offers are considered through a competitive bid process, with USDA accepting those offers that rank and score the best under their nationally established environmental benefits criteria.
Only 1.9 million acres are available this fiscal year for all CRP enrollments, which is bound to make the program acceptance competitive this period, USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said in the news release. “This isn’t about the total number of acres enrolled, it’s about producers and landowners offering and USDA accepting acres that can best deliver real, lasting benefits to soil, water and wildlife.”
There may be other CRP periods of acceptance for offers submitted after these enrollment periods end if acreage remains available.
The dates for Grassland CRP have yet to be announced.
To learn more about CRP eligibility and important program dates, click here.
Enrollment offers must be submitted through local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.
FSA’s authority to administer CRP is extended to Sept. 20 under the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026.