FWP announces CRP Add-on Lease enrollment period

HELENA — Agricultural producers with land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program are invited to apply for enrollment in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ CRP Add-on Lease option.

This option is designed to benefit producers while also providing habitat for upland game birds and other wildlife and also giving game bird hunters more places to hunt.

The CRP Add-on Lease option is offered through FWP’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program and is available to private landowners, including landowners with land enrolled in FWP’s Block Management Program, and public land lessees. New this year, up to 640 CRP acres per landowner or lessee may be enrolled.

Participants receive an annual payment based on $10 per CRP-acre each year the CRP is enrolled in the federal program. Producers applying for enrollment during the 2024 general CRP sign-up are encouraged to apply even though they might not know their federal enrollment status until September.

In addition to rental payments, producers may also qualify for financial incentives to conduct specific mid-contract management activities, such as light disking, with prior approval through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Producers who are seeding CRP this year may also qualify for a bonus payment of $10 per CRP-acre.

All enrollments must be on land that is legally accessible. Landowners must agree to allow free public walk-in game bird hunting without further permission unless land is enrolled in Block Management. CRP Add-on Leases allow for haying or grazing once in five years and must be pre-approved by the USDA Farm Services Agency.   

Applications for enrollment in the CRP Add-on Lease option may be submitted now through April 19. For more information and an application, visit FWP online at the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program web page and then click “CRP Add-on Lease option.”  Because of limited funding, FWP encourages producers to submit their application early.