By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with a successful 2025 enrollment of 1.78 million acres. Farmers and landowners across the nation will use the program to protect soil, improve water quality, and restore wildlife habitats.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reported that CRP now covers about 25.8 million acres, approaching the 2025 limit of 27 million. FSA received offers on more than 2.6 million acres, making the process highly competitive.
About 955,795 acres will expire on September 30, 2025. Producers submitted re-enrollment offers for more than 624,000 acres, while new offers totaled 2 million acres. Kansas, South Dakota, and Colorado ranked highest for accepted acres.
Through CRP, landowners voluntarily remove environmentally sensitive land from production and plant species that prevent erosion, enhance water quality, and create wildlife habitats. Grassland CRP participants can continue many grazing and haying activities while conserving grasslands.
“What better way to celebrate CRP’s 40th anniversary and mark four decades of voluntary private lands stewardship than to announce an extremely successful 2025 enrollment for CRP’s many program options,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “I think the numbers speak for themselves; America’s agricultural producers recognize the value of preserving and protecting our most sensitive lands and are very committed to conserving our natural resources.”
The American Relief Act of 2025 extended CRP provisions through September 30, 2025. This extension ensures that farmers and ranchers can continue to participate in the program, reinforcing CRP’s value in protecting sensitive lands and supporting rural economies.
The strong enrollment reflects the dedication of U.S. farmers to conservation and marks another important step in sustaining America’s natural resources for future generations.
Photo Credit:usda
Categories: National