Conservation Reserve Program : Status and Trends

Now over 25 years old, as of June 2012 the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) removes over 29 million acres of environmentally sensitive farmland from crop production under 10- to 15-year contracts. Over time, the program's size and goals have changed, from its early emphasis on limiting crop production and soil erosion to one that now considers a broad set of conservation goals including wildlife, soil, water, and air quality. Driven by improvements in conservation practices and changes in legislative mandates, commodity markets, and environmental concerns, the CRP continues to evolve