The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a tremendous effort to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands this year with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This program has provided more than $1.77 billion to agricultural producers and landowners, helping to protect and conserve over 23 million acres of private land.
The CRP was created in 1985 as a voluntary program for agricultural producers to protect land from erosion, reduce sedimentation in streams and rivers, and improve water quality. Through the program, producers receive payments from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for their conservation efforts.
The CRP has seen tremendous success over the past 38 years. More than 667,000 participants have voluntarily enrolled in the program, and the acres enrolled in the program have grown from 36 million in 1985 to more than 23 million in 2020. The program has also helped to reduce soil erosion by more than 1.5 billion tons, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat.
The CRP has also been a key part of the USDA’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands. The program helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering carbon in the soil and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It also helps to reduce energy use by reducing the need for fuel-intensive tillage operations.
The USDA is committed to continuing its support for the CRP and is looking for ways to expand the program and make it more accessible to producers. The agency recently announced a new initiative to provide additional incentives to producers who enroll in the program, including increased payments for certain conservation practices.
The USDA is also working to make the CRP more accessible to producers by expanding the types of land that can be enrolled in the program. This includes allowing producers to enroll land that is used for grazing, as well as land that is used for growing hay or other forage crops.
The USDA is also working to expand the types of practices that can be enrolled in the program. This includes allowing producers to enroll in practices such as cover crops, rotational grazing, and the use of conservation buffers.
The CRP is an important part of the USDA’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands. The program has been a tremendous success over the past 38 years, and the agency is committed to continuing its support for the program and expanding its reach. With the continued support of the USDA, the CRP will continue to be a critical part of the nation’s efforts to protect and conserve our natural resources.
