CP2 vs CP25 vs CP42: which CRP practice to choose
Three of the most common CRP practice codes look similar on paper but produce very different plantings, wildlife outcomes, and rental payments. Here's a side-by-side to match the practice to your acres.
| CP2 | CP25 | CP42 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Permanent native grasses | Rare & declining prairie | Pollinator habitat |
| Primary goal | Erosion control + habitat | Prairie reconstruction | Pollinator conservation |
| Species count | 2–5 (grass-dominant) | 15–30+ (grass + forb) | 40+ (forb-dominant) |
| Seeding rate (PLS lb/ac) | 6–10 | 6–10 | 20–40 |
| Forb component | Optional / low | Required (10 seeds/sq ft) | Required (dominant) |
| Establishment cost | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Rental incentive | Base rate | Rare-and-declining bonus | Pollinator + cost-share |
| Best for | Simple grass cover, biomass | Wildlife, hunting, pheasant | Monarchs, native bees, EQIP |
CP2 — Permanent native grasses
CP2 is the CRP practice for permanent grass cover — the practical baseline for erosion control, water quality buffers, and low-cost habitat. Most CP2 plantings use 2–4 warm season grasses (big bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, little bluestem) with little to no forb component. Best fit: highly erodible acres, biomass plantings, and landowners who want a simple, reliable grass stand.
See CP2 mix options →CP25 — Rare and declining habitat
CP25 is the workhorse of Midwestern CRP. It requires a diverse tallgrass prairie reconstruction — 30 grass seeds per square foot plus 10 forb seeds per square foot, typically 15–30 species total. That diversity delivers year-round wildlife value, strong pheasant and quail nesting cover, and higher rental payments than CP2. Best fit: landowners with hunting, wildlife, or ecological restoration goals on mesic to dry-mesic soil.
See CP25 mix options →CP42 — Pollinator habitat
CP42 is the pollinator-specific practice: 40+ species with staggered bloom from spring through fall, dominated by native forbs like purple coneflower, prairie blazing star, butterfly milkweed, and wild bergamot. Seeding rates run 20–40 PLS pounds per acre because forb seed is lightweight. CP42 carries the strongest incentive payments in the CRP catalog and is often the practice of choice for EQIP monarch enhancements and CSP pollinator jobs.
See CP42 mix options →How to choose
- Primary goal is soil / water? Start with CP2 or CP21 filter strips.
- Primary goal is upland hunting or grassland birds? CP25 is the standard choice across the Midwest.
- Primary goal is monarchs, native bees, or EQIP pollinator dollars? CP42 — and expect a higher first-year investment.
- Mixed goals across a large field? Enroll different acres in different practices. A CP25 block with CP42 corners is a very common combination.
Frequently asked questions
CP2 is a permanent native grass planting — often 2–3 warm-season grasses with little to no forb component, sized for erosion control and general habitat. CP25 requires a rare and declining tallgrass prairie community: 30 seeds per square foot from grasses PLUS 10 seeds per square foot from a diverse mix of native forbs. CP25 is more species-rich, more expensive per acre, and pays higher rental rates.
CP42 is the CRP practice code specifically for pollinator habitat. It requires a forb-dominant mix (typically 40+ species) delivering blooms across the full growing season, plus a modest native grass component for nesting cover. Seeding rates run 20–40 PLS pounds per acre — much higher than CP25 — because the seed is dominated by lightweight forbs.
It depends on your county's soil rental rate and the practice incentive. CP25 and CP42 both carry incentive payments above the base rate; CP42 often carries the highest total per-acre payment because of its higher establishment cost and pollinator conservation value. Confirm current rates with your county FSA office.
You can enroll different acres in different practices. CP42 pollinator habitat often works best on smaller, well-drained corners of a larger CP25 planting — the two practices complement each other for wildlife.
For most first-time CRP landowners, CP25 (Rare and Declining Prairie) is the workhorse — it delivers strong wildlife value, qualifies for good rental rates, and is straightforward to establish. Move to CP42 if pollinators are your top goal or CP2 if you need a simpler, lower-cost grass-only planting.
Not sure which practice fits your acres?
Send us your acreage, CP practice (if known), and state — we'll match a mix and get you a quote back in one business day.