Backgrounder

NASS Programs

Conservation Effects
Assessment Project (CEAP)

About the Survey

Why participate in CEAP?

How is CEAP conducted?

The National Resources Inventory
(NRI) – Conservation Effects
Assessment Project (CEAP)
survey collects information
from farmers about farming
and conservation practices on
their cropland. The information
collected through the CEAP
survey is vital to help determine
not only the effectiveness of
existing conservation practices
but also what resources farmers
may need to further protect the
soil, water and related resources
in selected watersheds and to
document on-farm conservation
accomplishments.

The survey captures
producers’ current farming
and management practices,
including conservation practices
designed to help protect soil
and water resources. Each
year, the survey provides a
complete picture of conservation
practices in selected watersheds.
This information is used to
maintain, modify and improve
programs that assist farmers in
planning and installing on-farm
conservation practices. Changes
made to these conservation
programs have the potential to
further reduce sediment and
nutrient losses from cropland.

USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) conducts
the CEAP survey in selected
watersheds. Since they were
last surveyed, area farmers may
have changed their on-farm
best management practices.
Collecting updated information
helps document the prevalence
of conservation practices and
provides the base from which
to strengthen conservation
planning, implementation and
management.

Response Confidentiality
All information NASS collects in
this survey will be kept strictly
confidential, as required by
federal law. The results of this
survey will be available in
aggregate form only, ensuring
that no individual operation or
producer can be identified.

Maintaining conservation
programs in the United States
benefits producers by protecting
the environment on which
their livelihoods depend. The
programs provide financial
incentives such as rental
payments and cost-sharing
incentives to offset the cost of
installing conservation practices.

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Do you want to know more?
For more information or
questions about the CEAP survey,
contact the NASS Agricultural
Statistics Hotline at 1-800-7279540, or visit:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/
Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_
Surveys/Conservation_Effects_
Assessment_Project/index.php
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ceap

www.nass.usda.gov