Conservation Effects Assessment Project - Brochure

Why is CEAP important?

Do you want to know more?

The CEAP survey will provide the
farming community, the general public,
legislators, and others involved in
environmental policy with a current
accounting of the environmental impacts
of conservation practices. CEAP will also
help determine what resources farmers
may need to further protect the soil,
water and related resources.

If you have questions about the survey,
please contact the NASS Agricultural
Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540, or
visit:https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/
Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Conservation_
Effects_Assessment_Project/index.php.

CEAP will provide information on the
efficacy of conservation programs that
agricultural leaders value due to the
positive impact they provide in protecting
and restoring the environment and
natural resources.

To learn more about CEAP cropland
assessments, visit nrcs.usda.gov/ceap/
croplands.

National Resources Inventory

Conservation Effects
Assessment Project
Survey of Farming
and Conservation Practices
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service

In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection
and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018, Title III of Pub. L. No.
115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35 and other applicable
Federal laws, your responses will be kept confidential and
will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other
than employees or agents.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

January 2024
OMB No. xxxx-xxxx
Approval Expires xx/xx/xxxx

What is the

CEAP Survey?
The Conservation Effects Assessment Project
(CEAP) survey collects information from
producers about farming and conservation
practices on their cropland. Information
collected through the CEAP survey is vital to
help determine the effectiveness of existing
conservation practices.

Why participate in CEAP?
CEAP captures producers’ current
farming and management practices,
including conservation practices designed
to help protect soil and water resources.
CEAP information is used to maintain,
modify and improve programs that assist
farmers in planning and installing on-farm
conservation practices.
Billions of federal dollars have supported
the implementation of conservation
programs and practices on U.S. private
lands. Maintaining USDA conservation
programs protects the natural resources on
which producers’ livelihoods depend and
ultimately strengthens their resiliency and
productivity. These conservation programs
provide financial incentives such as rental
payments and cost-sharing incentives to
offset the cost of installing conservation
practices.
Current USDA conservation programs
include:
» Agricultural Conservation
Easement Program
» Regional Conservation
Partnership Program
» Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program
» Conservation Reserve Program
» Conservation Stewardship Program
» Environmental Quality Incentives Program
» Farmable Wetlands Program
In addition to these and other federal
programs, assistance is available from state
agencies and nonprofit organizations, while
many farmers install conservation practices
without public incentives or assistance.

How is CEAP
conducted?
USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS)
conducts the CEAP
survey. Collecting
updated information
helps document
possible changes in
the prevalence and
type of conservation
practices adopted
over time. CEAP
provides a base from
which to strengthen
conservation
planning,
implementation and
management.
NASS representatives
visit farms in the
selected areas to
collect information
such as on-farm
production practices;
chemical, fertilizer and manure applications;
integrated pest management activities; and
installed conservation practices.
NASS safeguards the privacy of all
respondents. The information you provide
will be used for statistical purposes only. In
accordance with federal law, your responses
will be kept confidential and will not be
disclosed in identifiable form.