Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provide technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and landowners to address soil, water, wildlife, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The programs provide assistance in complying with Federal, State, and tribal environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement. The program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Both programs are administered by the Farm Service Agency, with NRCS providing technical land eligibility determinations, Environmental Benefit Index Scoring, and conservation planning. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Game Commission provide additional funding for CREP.

The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.

Fact Sheets

(These documents require Adobe Acrobat.)

•  Common Beneficial Plants

•  Managing Canada Thistle

•  Managing Multiflora Rose

•  Managing Purple Loosestrife

•  Managing Japanese Knotweed

•  Wildlife Habitat Fact Sheet

•  Weed Management in CREP Grasslands

 Landowner Guide to Buffer Success
 

For additional information about conserving natural resources through CREP and other USDA conservation programs, visit our Informational Fact Sheets page.

Links

• Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Program Web Page
• Pennsylvania Game Commission's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Web Page

Program Contacts

Martha Joseph, Program Manager, 814-796-6760, ext. 114

Barry Frantz, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 717-237-2216

Barry Isaacs, State Biologist, 717-237-2219