The General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is part of CRP, a federally funded voluntary program that contracts with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed or ranched but instead used for conservation benefits. FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. General CRP helps landowners and operators establish long-term resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as “covers”) to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat.
FSA will conduct a general CRP signup from May 12, 2025, through June 6, 2025. To submit a general signup offer, producers must contact their local FSA office. FSA will accept general CRP offers only during the signup period.
FSA will rank offers for the general CRP signup period according to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). FSA collects data (primarily based on location, soils information and selected conservation practice) and determines the environmental indices for the land offered. FSA ranks each eligible offer in comparison to all other offers and selects from that ranking. After the general CRP signup period ends, the Secretary of Agriculture will determine an EBI cutoff score used by FSA to accept and reject offers. Those who have met previous EBI thresholds are not guaranteed a contract under this signup period. Producers may consult with local FSA and Natural Resource Conservation (NRCS) staff on how to maximize EBI points and increase the likelihood their offer will be accepted.
FSA encourages agricultural producers and landowners interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider general CRP.