CRP Establishment

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

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

As with traditional farming, the first step to planting CRP is land preparation. With CRP, however, you’re not planting row crops that will be harvested in a few months. You’re establishing native vegetation that will stay in place for at least 10-15 years. Land prep is critical to long term success.  The key to preparing land for

The best time to plant your CRP seed can vary depending on a number of factors including your location, the Conservation Practice you’re enrolled in, the seed you’re establishing, and more. It’s important to plant your seed at the correct time, or it may fail to properly germinate and grow.  Different seeds have different requirements for germination.

As we mentioned in a recent post, one of the first steps in weed control for CRP is to identify the weeds you are dealing with. Like any plant, weeds have different life cycles and seeding methods. They are resilient to some chemicals and weak to others. Once you’ve identified the weeds appearing on your CRP land, you can create an herbicide program

Weed control is an important part of CRP. Left unchecked, weeds will severely hurt your CRP establishment.  Not only do they consume resources and take up root space underground, but some grow much faster than your native vegetation. Weeds can quickly reach heights and create coverage that block the sun from your CRP seeds.  They

Enrolling in the Conservation Reserve Program is a great way to restore soil health while still earning money on your land. As if that weren’t enough incentive, CRP also greatly benefits local water supplies and wildlife.  Within CRP, however, there are actually a number of conservation practices (practices) to choose from. These determine the general focus, seed mix selection, and more. Choosing the best practice for