USDA Expands Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that 1.78 million acres have been accepted into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2025 through General, Continuous, Grassland, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program enrollments.
This update highlights the program’s continued success as it reaches its 40th anniversary. CRP is a voluntary program where farmers and landowners convert marginal cropland into vegetation that protects water quality, prevents erosion, and restores wildlife habitat. Grassland CRP also allows participants to conserve grasslands while continuing most grazing and haying practices.
According to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), more than 25.8 million acres are currently enrolled. With a 2025 cap of 27 million acres, this year’s enrollment was competitive.
FSA received offers on more than 2.6 million acres but could only accept 1.78 million due to the acreage limit and expiring contracts. About 955,795 acres will expire on September 30, with over 624,000 acres re-enrolled and 2 million acres offered as new land.
Kansas, South Dakota, and Colorado lead the nation in accepted acres. The American Relief Act of 2025 extended CRP provisions through September 30, 2025, ensuring ongoing support for private land stewardship.
“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.”
This milestone underscores CRP’s enduring role in conserving natural resources and supporting rural economies across the country.