New Sign-Up Period Begins May 12th – Act Now to Secure Your Spot Before the June 6th Deadline
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially opened enrollment for both General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signups for 2025. This announcement, made on May 12th, marks a key opportunity for agricultural producers and landowners to enhance their land’s environmental value while receiving reliable financial support.
As a long-standing partner in CRP establishment and management, FDCE Conservation & Bioenergy is here to help you navigate this enrollment window, from evaluating your land’s eligibility to planning and implementing a successful project.
What’s New for 2025?
This year’s CRP enrollment is especially significant as the program celebrates its 40th anniversary. Since 1985, CRP has helped landowners voluntarily convert marginal or unproductive cropland into vegetative cover that improves water quality, prevents erosion, and restores wildlife habitat.
Thanks to the American Relief Act of 2025, provisions for CRP have been extended through September 30th, 2025. However, with only 1.8 million acres available for enrollment and a statutory cap of 27 million acres, the USDA is emphasizing quality over quantity.
“We’re not necessarily looking for the most acres offered but instead prioritizing mindful conservation efforts to ensure we maximize the return on our investment from both a conservation and economic perspective.”
— Bill Beam, FSA Administrator
Key Enrollment Dates
- Enrollment Period Opens: May 12, 2025
- Deadline for General CRP Sign-Up: June 6, 2025
- Continuous CRP Offers May Be Accepted Through: July 31, 2025 (subject to remaining acreage)
What’s the Difference Between General and Continuous CRP?
General CRP (Signup 64)
- Competitive, ranked bidding process
- Offers are evaluated based on environmental benefits
- Ideal for larger tracts of marginal cropland
- Approved participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance
FDCE Tip: Make your application count by selecting practices with high conservation value—our team can help design an application with competitive scoring potential.
Continuous CRP (Signup 63)
- Non-competitive, first-come, first-served basis
- Focuses on environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, riparian buffers, and filter strips
- Smaller tracts are typically enrolled
- Offers annual rental payments and cost-share support
If acreage remains after the June 6 deadline, Continuous CRP offers may continue to be accepted through July 31st and considered in batches based on USDA conservation priorities.
Specialized Continuous CRP Initiatives
These targeted initiatives within Continuous CRP focus on high-priority conservation goals:
- State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE): Supports habitat creation aligned with state wildlife goals
- Highly Erodible Land Initiative (HELI): Protects cropland with severe erosion risk (erodibility index ≥ 20)
- CLEAR and CLEAR30: Improve water quality through sediment and nutrient reduction—CLEAR30 offers 30-year contracts
- Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): Combines federal and state resources to address specific geographic conservation priorities
What About Grassland CRP and Expiring Acres?
- Grassland CRP: FSA will announce Grassland CRP signup dates soon.
- Expiring Contracts: Landowners with CRP contracts expiring on September 30th, 2025 can re-enroll beginning now. New and expiring acres can be submitted simultaneously.
How FDCE Can Help You Succeed in 2025 Enrollment
With USDA prioritizing high-impact conservation projects, it’s more important than ever to have a partner who understands the program’s evolving goals and scoring criteria. FDCE offers:
- Land and eligibility evaluations
- CRP practice selection guidance
- High-quality native seed and BOOST micronutrient enhancement
- Turnkey site prep, planting, and maintenance
- Documentation support for compliance and cost-share reimbursement
Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or looking to re-enroll expiring acres, FDCE is ready to help you make the most of this limited-acreage opportunity.
Next Steps for Landowners
- Contact your local FSA office to begin your application
- Partner with FDCE to develop a high-quality conservation plan
- Submit your offer before June 6, 2025
- Prepare for implementation following contract approval
Make Conservation Count in CRP’s 40th Year
With limited acres and growing demand, 2025 is a competitive year for CRP enrollment. But with the right plan (and the right partner) you can build a conservation project that provides lasting ecological impact and long-term financial benefit.
Contact FDCE today to begin planning your CRP application and take the first step toward a successful enrollment.