Payment program
Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
What you can get
Annual rental payments for 10 to 15 year contracts plus cost-share (typically 50%) to establish the conserving cover; some practices carry signup and practice incentive payments • Offers are accepted without competitive ranking, subject to available acres and USDA conservation priorities.
- Readiness
- Local office first
- Who can apply
- producer, Farmers, ranchers and landowners offering eligible cropland for environmentally sensitive practices such as filter strips, grass waterways, riparian buffers and wildlife habitat
- Coverage
- Available nationwide
- Deadline & timing
- The FY2026 continuous CRP signup closed May 1, 2026 (the first batching period ended March 20, 2026). FSA opens a continuous signup each fiscal year; new acreage is accepted first-come, first-served subject to available acres and USDA conservation priorities, and re-enrollment offers for expiring continuous acreage are also taken first-come, first-served. Ask your county FSA office when the FY2027 signup opens.
Optional expert service · $249
Turn program research into an application package.
An eligibility screen against your farm details, matched cost-share programs ranked by fit with ranking dates, pre-drafted practice justifications, and a document checklist through submission. Delivered within 7 business days after intake.
Last verified Sep 9, 2026. Always confirm current terms and deadlines on the official site before applying.
Plan your next step
Run a quick soil assessment or ask an agronomist how this program fits your fields.