CRP Establishment

How CRP Improves Soil Health

America is running out of soil.   Currently, the US loses topsoil 10x faster than it’s being replenished. Without healthy topsoil, the crops and materials we depend on can’t grow. Unfortunately, we can’t wait for topsoil to simply replenish itself. It takes roughly 500 years for a single inch of topsoil to be created naturally. At the rate we’re going, we could run out […]

How CRP Improves Soil Health Read More »

General CRP Enrollment for 2021 Has Been Extended

Annual enrollment for general CRP officially opened on January 4th of this year. Originally, enrollment was scheduled to close on February 12. However, the USDA has officially announced that enrollment will remain open for an unspecified period of time.  This means that farmers and landowners still have a chance to submit proposals and earn a contract for general CRP

General CRP Enrollment for 2021 Has Been Extended Read More »

General CRP, CCRP, and CREP: What’s the Difference?

Enrollment for general CRP is currently open until February 12. However, this isn’t the only way to join the Conservation Reserve Program. Two other popular programs within CRP are Continuous CRP and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).   General CRP, CCRP, and CREP are very similar for the most part. All of them are conservation programs overseen

General CRP, CCRP, and CREP: What’s the Difference? Read More »

Understanding and Improving Your EBI Score for CRP

Enrollment for general CRP in 2021 is currently open until February 14th, which means there’s still time to enroll. To enter general CRP, interested parties need to submit a bid. This bid is then scored and ranked according to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI).  The EBI is a ranking system used to determine how environmentally beneficial a general CRP submission is. During

Understanding and Improving Your EBI Score for CRP Read More »

Hiring Contractors for CRP

The Conservation Reserve Program can be complicated, especially for those new to it. The enrollment process alone can raise a lot of questions. Once you’ve successfully enrolled, the real work begins. You will need to prepare the land, create an herbicide plan, select and purchase CRP-approved seed, plant it, submit documentation for cost-share reimbursement, and more.  This might sound relatively straight forward, but CRP comes with

Hiring Contractors for CRP Read More »

Deciding Where to Buy CRP Seed

Enrolling in the Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to restore health to marginal land while protecting local wildlife and water supply. However, it comes with a fair amount of upfront work. Establishing CRP is a multistep process that includes land prep, herbicide application, mowing, mid-contract management, and more.   But it starts with buying quality CRP seed. 

Deciding Where to Buy CRP Seed Read More »

Improving US Water Conditions Through CRP

Recently, Cargill announced a new initiative set to drastically reduce water usage and improve water quality in critical areas around the world. By 2030, they plan to restore 159 billion gallons of water to priority watersheds. As one of the largest US-based ag companies, Cargill is hoping these changes can inspire similar actions across the industry.  Agriculture is currently responsible for 80% of water use in the US.  While much of this water ultimately returns

Improving US Water Conditions Through CRP Read More »

Tips for CRP Reporting

The Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to make a profit on marginal farmland while also restoring it back to health. However, it comes with a number of regulations and requirements that need to be followed. Some of these are fairly straight forward, while others can be a little confusing, especially when you’re initially joining the program.  Many

Tips for CRP Reporting Read More »

Common Mistakes Made When Establishing CRP

Even for the seasoned farmer, establishing CRP for the first time can prove to be tricky. The types of seed and equipment used in CRP are different from traditional crop seed and farming equipment. The end goal is different as well. Rather than planting farm crops that you’ll be harvesting in a few months, you’re establishing native perennial (and biennial) vegetation that will remain in place for at least

Common Mistakes Made When Establishing CRP Read More »