The USDA strongly encourages eligible conservation partners to submit proposals for $10 million in available funds to research the Conservation Reserve Program’s environmental benefits.
CRP is one of the world’s largest voluntary conservation programs with an established track record of preserving topsoil, sequestering carbon, reducing nitrogen runoff, and providing healthy wildlife habitat. Funding this research with partners outside of USDA will enable the Farm Service Agency, the agency responsible for administering CRP to best focus the program’s future functionality and goals based on the collective research results. Proposals for funding consideration are due June 7, 2024.
Through the CRP Monitoring, Assessment, and Evaluation Program, FSA works with partners to study the benefits of the various ways CRP is implemented. USDA is seeking proposals for projects to survey, sample, and measure ecosystem benefits, citizen science, and in general, evaluate the overall impacts of CRP. All interested organizations are encouraged to apply.