Grassland CRP Signup Starts Today

The USDA announced today that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting today, May 3, and continuing through May 26. Among the CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique working lands program that allows producers and landowners to continue their grazing and haying practices while conserving grasslands, and promoting plant and animal biodiversity and healthier soil. 

How do you sign up for Grassland CRP?  Contact your local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program or any other CRP enrollment options before the deadlines. Producers with expiring CRP acres can enroll in the Transition Incentives Program (TIP) that incentivizes producers who sell or enter into a long-term lease with a beginning,  veteran, or socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher who plans to sustainably farm or ranch the land. 

Producers and landowners can enroll in other signups under Continuous CRP throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap.  Continuous CRP includes a Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping producers and landowners establish trees and permanent grasses, enhance wildlife habitat, and restore wetlands. 

FSA offers several additional enrollment opportunities within Continuous CRP, including the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative, the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).  The Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR30) Initiative is also available. The initiative was originally piloted in 12 states, but has since been expanded nationwide. It gives producers and landowners across the country the opportunity to enroll in 30-year CRP contracts for water quality practices.