CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the Federal Government’s single largest environmental improvement program, and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Established in 1985, but having its roots in the Soil Bank Program of the 1950’s, CRP encourages farmers to voluntarily plant permanent areas of grass and trees on land that needs protection from erosion, or in places where vegetation can improve water quality or provide food and habitat for wildlife.

Farmers must enter into contracts with the CCC lasting between 10 and 15 years. In return, they receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain activities, and cost-share assistance to establish protective vegetation. In New Mexico, there are approximately 480,000 acres under the CRP program, with the majority of the acreage being in eastern New Mexico counties.

During periods of severe drought (or similar emergency) FSA may permit farmers with CRP contracts to hay or graze land enrolled in CRP. Producers seeking to hay or graze under emergency conditions agree to a reduction in annual rental payments and a portion of the acreage must remain undisturbed for the benefit of wildlife. This emergency grazing or haying does not require a major disaster determination by the President or Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance.