The Conservation Reserve Program, which has protected the nation’s natural resources since 1985, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In March 1986, the first CRP contract was signed, igniting a movement that has helped reduce soil erosion by 622 million tons, provided natural habitats for wildlife, restored more than 2 million acres of wetlands and removed millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air. “Although it was designed to address soil erosion, CRP has become one of the standouts in the USDA arsenal of conservation programs by continuing to provide significant economic and environmental benefits beyond its original intent,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
