Challenges Facing USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program

Reductions in maximum Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres mandated by the 2008 Farm Act, along with relatively high agricultural commodity prices, could lead to reduced overall environmental benefits and higher CRP costs. ERS is analyzing alternative enrollment policies and practices that could increase environmental benefits per enrolled acre and lower program costs. The effectiveness of changes will depend on improved data and models to more accurately estimate the environmental benefits provided by competing offers to enroll land in the CRP.