The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program is now open for landowners to allocate non productive farm or ranch land and plant idle grasses and other vegetation that will benefit wildlife, improve water quality.

The Conservation Reserve Program only runs for a short time longer.  You need to sign up by Friday, February 12th.  To find out more on the USDA's CRP program CLICK HERE!  If you would like to enroll some of your land into the CRP program, you are encouraged to contact your local USDA county office.  Because of COVID-19 this year, there will be no in-person meetings.

This is a federally funded program that will retire unproductive land for a period of up to 15 years.  You will receive annual rental payments for your enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program and cost share assistance in producing habitat cover.

According to the USDA website, the Conservation Reserve Program was first signed into law in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan.  Thanks to voluntary participation by farmers and landowners, CRP has greatly improved water quality, reduced soil erosion and aided with increased habitat for endangered and threatened species.

In my years of hunting and fishing across all of North Dakota, CRP has been one of the biggest improvements to increasing wildlife.  What is the old saying?  "Build it and they will come?"  The 90's saw some of the best hunting we've ever had in North Dakota thanks mostly to CRP.

Here's a video from the North Dakota Game & Fish that lays it all out for the CRP program, and also the PLOTS program which is another option offered from the North Dakota Game and Fish.

 

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