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Croplands Assessments

Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) croplands assessments quantify the effects of voluntary conservation efforts across the nation’s croplands at both regional and national scales.

About CEAP Croplands Assessments

Through CEAP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) quantifies trends in cropland conservation practices, and associated outcomes, over time. This data empowers a diversity of customers to evaluate conservation successes, identify potential improvements, and set targeted, measurable goals for the future.

Cropland farmers may leverage CEAP findings to inform on-the-ground decisions related to conservation tillage, cover crops, irrigation, nutrient management, and many other conservation actions. NRCS and conservation partners equally rely on CEAP assessments to evaluate regional and national conservation outcomes and to guide targeted, data-driven prioritization of future efforts and initiatives.

CEAP croplands assessments are developed using confidential farmer surveys coupled with modeling. Data sources for CEAP models include the National Resources Inventory and records from both NRCS and Farm Service Agency offices at USDA Service Centers. Additional details on this sampling and modeling approach are available on the CEAP Frequently Asked Questions page.
 

CEAP Croplands Publications

Reports and Articles
Corn in the foreground, with trees and a barn in the background and cloudy blue skies above.
The below publications provide data and associated insights on the effects of voluntary conservation across croplands at both national and regional scales. Categories including national reports, regional reports, and other articles. Publications within each category are organized in descending order by date.

National Reports

Regional Reports

Other Articles

Fact Sheets: Conservation Insights
Specialty crops grow in a field, with trees and blue skies in the background.
The below includes Conservation Insights fact sheets on the effects of voluntary conservation across the nation's croplands.
Webinars and Blogs
A tractor planting into green cover crops in the foreground, with grain bins and cloudy blue skies in the background.
The below Conservation Outcomes Webinar recordings feature scientists and other subject matter experts speaking on the effects of voluntary conservation across the nation's croplands. Blogs related to CEAP croplands assessments are also included. Both webinars and blogs are organized in descending order by date. Visit the Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series webpage to access information on upcoming webinars, including a 2023 calendar of events. 

Conservation Outcomes Webinars

  • April 29, 2021 – NRCS Conservation Practices Delivering Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration Benefits: Webinar Recording 
  • June 25, 2020 – Tillage Management and Structural Conservation Practices: CEAP II Report on Changes in Adoption Rates: Webinar Recording

Blogs

Farmer Survey Documents
Soybeans are planted into corn residue and wild mustard, with trees to the left and cloudy blue skies above.
The below documents provide farmer questionnaires and respondent booklets, in descending order by date, for farmer surveys conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service in support of CEAP croplands assessments.
Croplands Modeling Documentation
Aerial view of cropland fields, with grain bins near the center of the photo and stands of trees in the foreground and background.
The below publications provide documentation of Agricultural Policy Extender (APEX) model calibration and validation, as well as processes for preparing data for modeling and criteria for determining thresholds used in CEAP Croplands reporting.

CEAP Croplands Survey Data

APEX Model Use and Improvements

APEX Model Calibration and Validation

SWAT and HUMUS Model Development, Use, Calibration, and Validation

Historical Model Development

Pest Management and Pesticides

Select APEX Related Publications

Select HUMUS Related Publications

CEAP Croplands Highlights

The below highlights represent recent resources and key findings released by CEAP on croplands conservation efforts and outcomes. Visit this webpage frequently to see what's new, or browse the above publications to access a range of published resources from CEAP croplands assessments.

Conservation Insight Fact Sheet

Reduction in Annual Fuel Use from Conservation Tillage

This Conservation Insight provides the latest USDA data on conservation tillage adoption across the United States and highlights potential fuel savings associated with transitioning from continuous conventional tillage to forms of conservation tillage, including continuous no-till.

Field of growing corn, with stubble remaining from no-till practices and cloudy blue skies above.
Blog

Save Money on Fuel with No-Till Farming

How much fuel can farmers save each year by transitioning from conventional tillage to continuous no-till? This blog answers this question in both gallons and dollars per acre calculations based on findings from the latest national CEAP croplands assessment.

Soybeans grow through corn stubble in a no-till field, with cloudy blue skies above.
Webinar Recording

Impact of Cover Crops on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics

This Conservation Outcomes Webinar highlights the effects of cover crops and reduced tillage practices on nutrient and sediment losses from croplands and associated water quality outcomes. The presenter is Dr. Kenneth Staver, University of Maryland, Wye Research and Education Center.

Soybeans grow through remaining corn residue on a cropland field managed under no-till.

Additional Resources

Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)

USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is a multi-agency effort led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to quantify the effects of conservation practices across the nation’s working lands.

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Frequently Asked Questions | Conservation Effects Assessment Project

This webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP).

Last Updated: April 17, 2023

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Publications | Conservation Effects Assessment Project

USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project, CEAP, provides a suite of publications highlighting the effects of voluntary conservation across the nation’s working lands. 

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Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series

The Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series provides key findings, data, and tools to support producers and partners in pursuing voluntary conservation efforts across the nation's working lands. 

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Chris Lester

Acting Modeling Team Lead and Croplands Lead, Conservation Effects Assessment Project