The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that
agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve
Program (Grassland CRP). The signup runs from today through June 28, 2024. Grassland CRP, offered
by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables
participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health
and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most grazing and haying practices.
“Grassland CRP is a vital conservation tool that supports two of USDA’s top priorities: the wellbeing of
American agriculture and the health of America’s grasslands, which provide critical environmental
benefits for wildlife and carbon sequestration,” said Gene Schriefer, FSA State Executive Director in
Wisconsin. “Over the past three years, we have seen historic interest in the Grassland Conservation
Reserve Program with producers signing up to conserve over 6.8 million acres. This historic interest
from agriculture has proven that agricultural productivity and conservation priorities are not exclusive
from one another, but can coexist and, more importantly, complement and enhance one another.”
More than 2.3 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners were accepted through
the 2023 Grassland CRP signup. That signup reflects the continued success and value of investments in
voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs. The current total participation in
Grassland CRP is 8.64 million acres, which is part of the 24.8 million acres enrolled in CRP opportunities
overall.
On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations
and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which generally extended the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through
Sept. 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including CRP, to continue operating.
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Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn
more or to apply for the program before the June 28 deadline.