Eligibility
Land must be either cropland (including field margins) that was planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity four of six crop years from 2012 to 2017, and which is physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal manner to an agricultural commodity; or certain marginal pastureland that is suitable for use as a riparian buffer or for similar water quality purposes. The producer must have owned or operated the land for at least 12 months prior to close of the CRP sign-up period, unless: the new owner acquired the land due to the previous owner’s death; the ownership change occurred due to foreclosure where the owner exercised a timely right or redemption in accordance with state law; or the circumstances of the acquisition present adequate assurance to FSA that the new owner did not require the land for the purpose of placing it in CRP.

Forestry Practices Covered
Pine and hardwood planting, thinning, prescribed burning, native grass planting, permanent wildlife habitat establishment, riparian buffers, field borders, filter strips and wildlife opening establishment.

Pay Rate
General signup: Landowner receives up to a 50% flat rate cost share for eligible costs plus annual per acre rental payments.
Continuous signup: (longleaf planting and longleaf pine management with wildlife objective): Landowner receives a signup incentive payment of 32.5% of the first full year annual rental payment, plus a onetime practice incentive payment of 50% of the eligible installation costs, plus up to 50% flat rate cost share for eligible costs, plus annual per acre rental payments.

Contract Length
10-15 years

Application Process
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) makes CRP available on a nationwide basis through continuous sign-up, with announced cut-off dates for ranking and funding applications.