Four primary goals of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are to reduce erosion, improve water quality, enhance wildlife, and improve air quality.  CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency, a conservation partner of NRCS; however, NRCS provides technical assistance and some promotional assistance to the program.  CRP is a voluntary program in which farmers and ranchers enter into 10- to 15-year contracts with USDA to take highly erodible land and other environmentally sensitive cropland out of production by applying protective vegetative cover best suited for wildlife.  In exchange, landowners receive annual rental payments for the land and cost-share assistance for establishing conservation practices.  The program protects the Nation's most environmentally sensitive cropland.