Signup period runs from March 4-29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has announced a new general signup period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) running from March 4-29, 2024. The announcement came during the 2024 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the nation’s largest gathering of upland hunters and conservationists.
“The USDA has a long track record of fostering and supporting the vital relationship between agriculture and conservation, and the Conservation Reserve Program helps our producers be good stewards of their lands and boost wildlife populations at the same time,” said USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie. “These efforts demonstrate the power of USDA’s Farm Bill conservation programs to conserve wildlife habitat, protect clean water and address climate change in partnership with farmers, ranchers, forest owners and conservation organizations, like Pheasants Forever, across the country.”
CRP has long been the nation’s most important tool for targeting environmentally sensitive lands with conservation practices that produce wildlife habitat, cleaner waters, healthier soils and a more resilient climate. Landowners should visit their nearest USDA Service Center to learn more about general CRP eligibility.
“This announcement comes at a particularly exciting time as our members, partners and followers gather for the largest celebration of upland hunting and conservation in North America,” said Ariel Wiegard, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s vice president of government affairs. “Since it was developed nearly 40 years ago, CRP has assisted countless farmers and ranchers address land use needs for wildlife habitat, soil health, water quality, and climate resiliency – while also being a key part of the economic safety net for rural communities. Nowhere are these services and values more impactful than the pheasant and quail range. We are thrilled to celebrate this news and the future of CRP in the pheasant capital of South Dakota.”
The Conservation Reserve Program has supported wildlife populations and rural communities since it was created in 1985. Producers and landowners can also enroll acres under the continuous signup, including sought after practices such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.
National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic 2024 includes a Habitat Help Desk, which is a great opportunity for landowners to learn more about CRP and begin the signup process with the help of a professional wildlife biologist.
To locate one of the more than 325+ Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever biologists throughout the United States and begin mapping out a conservation plan, visit our biologist locator to search by zip code.