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Photo Credit: Brock Rolston.
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Landowners and Farmers can Help Wild Turkeys through Continuous CRP

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The USDA Farm Service Agency recently announced it will accept applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program. The NWTF encourages landowners and agricultural producers to learn about all the benefits of Continuous CRP.  

January 25, 20242 min read

Continuous CRP is a program by which landowners and agricultural producers can help to ensure environmentally sensitive agricultural land is devoted to conservation benefits. Due to the one-year extension for the 2018 Farm Bill passed last fall, Continuous CRP can continue until September 30. 

“The Continuous CRP program provides valuable grasses and trees in the most critical areas, such as along rivers, streams and field edges and establishes and maintains permanent cover that addresses soil erosion and increases the overall health of water, air and wildlife species,” said Jared McJunkin, NWTF director of conservation operations for the central region. “The enrollment extension for land eligible for Continuous CRP will be a win for landowners, wild turkeys and overall ecological health.”  

Wild turkeys directly benefit from grasslands enrolled in Continuous CRP for nesting and, at times, brood-rearing habitat. Also, some Continuous CRP practices are directly aimed at improving riparian areas, which provide critical roosting habitat for wild turkey in more grassland-rich states.  

Beyond the beneficial ecological impacts, Continuous CRP offers agricultural producers and landowners additional revenue streams for adopting conservation practices on their land. FSA provides eligible participants with annual rental payments and cost-share assistance. 

Continuous signup enrollment contracts are set at 10-15 years in duration. To make sure enrollment acreages do not exceed the statutory cap, the FSA is accepting offers on a first-come, first-served basis and returning offers for approval in batches throughout the year. 

To submit an offer for Continuous CRP signup, producers should reach out to their local FSA office by July 31. For enrolled producers with acres set to expire on September 30, offers for re-enrollment can be submitted now.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation  

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.