The Conservation Reserve Program: Implementation and Accomplishments, 1986-87

In fiscal year 1987, 126,421 farms enrolled 13.8 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), 779,000 acres of which were planted to trees. Enrollment per contract averaged 109.2 acres out of an average of 350.7 total acres. Cost-share per treated acre was $38 for a total of $505 million. Soil erosion rates declined an average of 22 tons per acre annually on enrolled cropland. The CRP, enacted in December 1985 as part of the 1985 Food Security Act, is a tool for protecting the Nation's most highly erodible and fragile croplands. The CRP's primary goal is to establish a reserve of 40-45 million acres by 1990 to assist owners and operators of highly erodible cropland in conserving and improving the soil and water resources of their farms and ranches. Producers with highly erodible croplands were given three opportunities to enroll acreage in the program in calender year 1986 and two opportunities in calender year 1987. This report summarizes the accomplishments of the CRP for fiscal years 1986 and 1987