Conservation Reserve program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It rewards participants monetarily for removing highly erodible land from marginal crop production and replacing it with various plant types of vegetative cover (conservation practices).  The original goal of CRP was to reduce erosion on highly erodible land, however, planting vegetative cover on retired cropland provides additional ecosystem services such the creation of wildlife habitat.

Agricultural Conservation

In partnership with local, state and federal agencies, NGRREC has Land Conservation Specialists placed strategically throughout southern Illinois to provide technical expertise to optimize farming practices through the use of conservation programs such as CRP and WRE. These voluntary programs allow landowners to realize conservation benefits such as wildlife habitat, soil health, reduced erosion and improved water quality on their land, which is important for greater ecosystem health.