Conservation Reserve Program
Administrative Agency:
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Program Goals:
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. Through CRP, landowners can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland.
Resource Provided:
Annual rental payments on acres entered into the program for the 10-year contract period and half the cost of establishing permanent cover of grass, trees, windbreaks, or wildlife plantings on the land.
Eligibility:
An agricultural producer may offer cropland, highly subject to erosion, which had been planted or considered planted in at least four of the crop years from 1996 through 2001 and is suitable for crop production. A limit of 25% of cropland can be bid into the program.
Alaska Program Status:
While the program is available throughout the state, participation in CRP has so far been limited to the communities of Delta, Palmer, and Kodiak.
Comments:
Land entered into the Conservation Reserve must be maintained to control erosion for the contract period. Noxious weeds, other undesirable vegetation, insects, rodents, etc., must be controlled. Harvesting or grazing by domestic animals may be allowed with prior approval.
Program Contact: (Primary Contact listed first.)