Conservation Reserve Program May Be Good for the Environment, Farms, and Rural Communities

Farmers who participate in the Conservation Reserve Program (a voluntary program that removes highly erodible cropland from proauction) may be able to supplement their annual government payment by renting out their land to hunters, fishers, birdwatchers, or wildlife photographers. Those recreational activities may boost income and employment in the larger region by raising retail spending in nearby towns. And society still benefits from reduced soil erosion, reduced stream sedimentation, and enhanced wildlife habitat.