Conservation Reserve Program (10.069)
Conservation Reserve Program (Assistance Listing 10.069) is run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $151 million in 153 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $989,252 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $394,040. Half of the 153 awards fell between $178,313 and $1.0 million, and they ranged from $25,500 to $9.5 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$151 million
- Grant awards153
- Typical award$394,040
- Awarded in FY 2025$16.6 million
- Size rank686 of 1824
- Type of assistanceDirect payments for specified use
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $22.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $16.6 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 686th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 81% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 32 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary USDA program which contracts directly with landowners and operators to cost-effectively implement conservation practices that conserve and improve the nation’s natural resources. The program’s objectives are to protect the nation's long-term capacity to produce food and fiber; to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, improve water quality, and create or enhance wildlife habitat.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible participants may include: individual; trust – revocable; trust – irrevocable; general partnership; State and local government; joint venture; churches, charities, and non-profit organizations; corporations; public schools; limited liability companies; BIA or Indian represented by BIA; limited partnerships; limited liability partnership; individuals operating a small business; limited liability limited partnerships; Indian tribal ventures. Estate Payment limitation, adjusted gross income provisions and certain payment eligibility requirements apply.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Eligible landowners or operators may place highly erodible or other environmentally sensitive land into a 10-15-year contract. The participant, in return for annual payments, agrees to implement a conservation plan approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for converting highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive land to a long-term resource conserving cover i.e., eligible land must be planted with a vegetative cover, such as, perennial grasses, legumes, fobs, shrubs, or trees. Financial and technical assistance are available to participants to assist in the establishment of a long- term resource conserving cover.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines National CRP notices and Outreach materials announce deadlines.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Conservation Reserve Program (10.069) awarded$151 million across 153 grant awards, an average of $989,252 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 61% of the money, state and local governments 27% and colleges and universities 8.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 70 | $92.1 million | 61% |
| State and local governments | 62 | $40.8 million | 27% |
| Colleges and universities | 17 | $13.5 million | 8.9% |
| Other | 1 | $4.6 million | 3.1% |
| Businesses | 1 | $237,222 | 0.2% |
| Small businesses | 1 | $75,000 | less than 0.1% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $52,600 | less than 0.1% |
By state
17 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 35 | $54.8 million |
| Illinois | 13 | $25.4 million |
| Iowa | 4 | $12.5 million |
| Indiana | 18 | $11.3 million |
| Tennessee | 2 | $6.5 million |
| South Dakota | 11 | $5.3 million |
| Mississippi | 1 | $4.5 million |
| Ohio | 5 | $4.3 million |
| Colorado | 4 | $4.3 million |
| Kansas | 7 | $4.3 million |
| North Dakota | 8 | $2.3 million |
| Oregon | 7 | $2.3 million |
| South Carolina | 2 | $2.2 million |
| Michigan | 8 | $1.8 million |
| Missouri | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Washington | 4 | $1.3 million |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Texas | 1 | $700,000 |
| Virginia | 3 | $670,855 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $650,000 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $586,347 |
| Idaho | 2 | $424,889 |
| Maryland | 2 | $392,370 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $375,000 |
| North Carolina | 2 | $337,222 |
| Alabama | 1 | $300,000 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $299,944 |
| Georgia | 1 | $283,398 |
| Maine | 1 | $266,270 |
| New York | 1 | $116,222 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $100,000 |
| Vermont | 1 | $75,000 |