CRP seed in Colorado.
Drought-hardy CRP seed for Colorado's eastern plains.
Colorado's CRP acres sit almost entirely on the eastern plains, where 12 to 18 inches of annual precipitation makes species selection unforgiving. We build shortgrass and mixed-grass blends around blue grama, buffalograss, and western wheatgrass, with drought-proof forbs that still meet pollinator requirements.
~1.6 million acres enrolled statewide
Recommended mixes for Colorado
Cleaned, blended, and shipped for Colorado soils and CP contracts. Request a quote and we'll match the mix to your county.
Shortgrass native prairie mix sized for small lots and yards.
Shortgrass CP25 blend at a 30/10 grass-to-forb PLS ratio.
Higher-forb CP25 shortgrass blend at a balanced 20/20 PLS ratio.
CP42 pollinator mix tuned for droughty upland sites.
USDA CP38 SAFE mixes tuned to your state's priority species and habitat spec.
Nitrogen-fixing native legume blend for interseed and pollinator use.
USDA CP1 cool-season grass and legume mix for erosion control on highly erodible cropland.
Low-fuel perennial mix for prescribed-fire firebreaks.
Primary CP practices in Colorado
- CP2 — Permanent native grass on dryland wheat ground across the eastern plains.
- CP25 — Shortgrass prairie restoration on rare and declining habitat acres.
- CP42 — Pollinator habitat where irrigation or higher-rainfall pockets allow forbs.
- CP38 — State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement targeting lesser prairie-chicken habitat.
Signature native species
- Blue grama
- Buffalograss
- Western wheatgrass
- Sideoats grama
- Little bluestem
- Sand bluestem
- Purple prairie clover
- Blanketflower
Soil moisture zones
Nearly all CRP ground is semi-arid: 12–15 inches in the far east and Arkansas Valley, 15–18 inches along the northern Front Range fringe. Sandhills country in the northeast has droughty sand that needs sand-adapted species.
When to plant in Colorado
Dormant seeding from December through mid-March is the most dependable approach on the eastern plains, letting seed sit until spring moisture arrives. Spring seeding in April and May works when soil moisture is adequate; avoid dry summer plantings.
Program notes
Colorado NRCS specifications vary by precipitation zone and often require drought-adapted shortgrass species. Lesser prairie-chicken focal areas in the southeast carry additional habitat criteria. Emergency haying and grazing are common during drought declarations — confirm terms with your FSA office.
Always confirm current requirements with your local USDA-NRCS and USDA-FSA field offices before ordering.
Pollinator & monarch angle
Pollinator plantings work in Colorado but require dryland-adapted forbs such as purple prairie clover, blanketflower, prairie coneflower, and Rocky Mountain beeplant. Mesic Midwestern pollinator mixes will fail here.
Colorado CRP seed FAQ
›Can you plant a pollinator mix in eastern Colorado?
Yes, with dryland species. Purple prairie clover, blanketflower, prairie coneflower, and Rocky Mountain beeplant establish on 14 to 18 inches of precipitation. Standard Midwestern CP42 mixes built around mesic forbs will not survive the eastern plains.
›What is the best CRP grass mix for the Colorado plains?
A shortgrass base of blue grama and buffalograss with western wheatgrass and sideoats grama added for structure. Sand bluestem and little bluestem work on the northeastern sandhills where soils are coarser and hold moisture deeper.
›When should I plant CRP seed in Colorado?
Dormant seeding from December through mid-March is the safest option, so seed is in place when spring moisture arrives. Spring plantings in April and May succeed when the soil profile is charged, but summer seeding almost always fails.
Quote a Colorado mix for your acres.
Tell us your county, CP practice, acres, and dominant soil type. We'll price a mix built for your specific ground and ship it to your farm.