In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mississippi State University's Geosystems Research Institute and Forest & Wildlife Research Center are building a web-enabled "CRP Menu" to provide landowners the opportunity to explore practices under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) supported by the U.S. Farm Bill. The goal is to increase landowner understanding and engagement by improving access to information on conservation practice availability and incentives based on location, interests, and goals. Additionally, the tool will allow landowners the ability to explore potential enrollment scenarios alongside USDA staff and technical service providers. The tool will give landowners access detailed descriptions of available conservation practices tailored to their specific state and county to help facilitate informed decision-making. The tool establishes connections between landowner priorities and potential conservation practices, ensuring alignment with individual objectives. By offering estimates of rental rates derived from county averages and soil types, the tool assists in financial planning and moreover, outlines general eligibility scenarios based on location and objectives, simplifying the process for users. Additionally, the tool allows for the generation of user-specific reports, tailored to their interests and objectives, providing personalized guidance throughout the conservation planning process.

Development of the CRP Menu tool will occur in stages, with a pilot effort currently underway in Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri. Through this phased approach, the research team aims to refine and optimize the tool's functionality, ensuring its effectiveness in providing comprehensive support to landowners in the pilot regions. As the project progresses, researchers anticipate expanding the tool's coverage to additional states and incorporating a broader range of CRP practices to better serve landowners nationwide.

For more information regarding this project visit: CRP Menu Tool