Established by the 1985 Farm Bill, the Conservation Reserve Program started out as a "set aside" program, and since then, it has grown into one of the most widely sought-after cost-share programs among farmers in the Midwest. That's particularly the case in Nebraska, where 782,848 acres are enrolled in CRP as of the end of May.

As part of a tour of CRP projects throughout the country this year, USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini joined local staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Game and Parks, and Pheasants Forever at a 30th-anniversary celebration in Lincoln in early August.

SPECIES DIVERSITY: Visitors walk and inspect different species in a brood-rearing habitat planted on Ken Kotera's farm near Wahoo. Here, visitors saw a wide range of species, including forbs like black-eyed Susans and shorter grasses like side-oats grama.

Dolcini noted the benefits of having a diverse mix of plant species for a given ecosystem — from improved pollinator and wildlife habitat to improving soil health. "It isn't just about reducing soil erosion, improving wildlife habitat. It also brings economic benefits to the farmer. It serves multiple purposes," Dolcini says. "It's been a great economic tool for farmers. But it also appeals to urban Americans that don't necessarily have a direct connection to farming and ranching. I think it's important for all Americans to understand what CRP has contributed to our economy."

Evolution of CRP
As with any federal program, CRP has changed through the years. Look at those acres seeded as part of the first round of CRP contracts, and you'll find cool-season species like smooth brome. Later, more tallgrass prairie species were used. The program's objectives have changed to include wildlife habitat and pollinator health, in addition to soil and water quality.

30 YEARS STRONG: At a 30th-anniversary celebration in Lincoln, FSA Administrator Val Dolcini pointed out the benefits the CRP program has provided over the years. "It isn't just about reducing soil erosion, improving wildlife habitat. It also brings economic benefits to the farmer. It serves multiple purposes," he said.

"To a certain degree, pollinators and wildlife are dependent on the right kind of plants," says Steve Riley, Nebraska Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever regional director. "Over time we've continued to modify and add things to our toolbox to improve those mixtures, and just learning how to do it and trying to figure out how to plant and maintain diverse mixtures has been quite a ride."

These days, it's all about diversity, with more forbs included in mixes. Managing a diverse grass and forbs population takes a shift in mindset, including how landowners manage species they traditionally consider weeds — like milkweed, a critical plant in the Monarch butterfly lifecycle. Another challenge is maintaining populations to ensure certain species have a chance to thrive.

"There's an art and science to making a seed mix. We're managing for pollinators, bobwhite quail, and meeting the landowner's needs," says Ritch Nelson, state wildlife biologist. "I compare it to a cook making a chili recipe. Some people like beans, and some people don't."

Pollinator mixes usually include a wide range of species that bloom at different times and have a high forage value for pollinators, like hoary vervain and wild bergamot. Nesting habitats typically include taller grass species, including big bluestem, indiangrass and switchgrass, to make sure game birds have plenty of cover. Brood-rearing habitats more closely resemble pollinator habitats, with more open ground and shorter grasses like little bluestem and side-oats grama to give chicks room to move around.

Benefits of diversity
Ken Kotera, a retired NRCS civil engineering technician, has enrolled acres on his farm near Wahoo in CRP for 20 years — mostly tallgrass prairie mixes as a way to improve soil health. However, this year he seeded new CRP mixes, including mixes to promote nesting and brooding habitats for upland game birds through the State Acre for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program. His property was one of several stops on a tour as part of the CRP 30th anniversary.

Wildlife habitat is a big factor for Kotera, but it's also about soil health and economics. For Kotera, SAFE provides a way to hold the soil and earn some income during times when commodity prices are low. "Erosion control was a major concern on one of my farms," he says. "We're looking at Class 4 to 6 ground, and it wasn't suitable to keep it in farmland. Even with terraces, you still have to provide some cover to prevent the soil from eroding more than it is."

These mixes were seeded in May, and Kotera notes he's already seeing a difference. "I've noticed probably four or five covey of bobwhite quail already that have made residence," he says. "When I'm going out and shredding marestail, I've got probably 50 barn swallows following me around, eating insects."