Program allows landowners to protect grasslands while continuing grazing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that enrollment for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) will be open from May 4 through May 29, 2026. The program is managed by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and is available to agricultural producers and private landowners.
Grassland CRP is a voluntary conservation initiative that allows participants to protect valuable grasslands while continuing most grazing and haying practices. The program focuses on maintaining working lands rather than removing them entirely from agricultural use.
One of the key goals of Grassland CRP is to support grazing operations while improving plant and animal biodiversity. It also prioritizes grasslands and areas with shrubs and forbs that are most at risk of being converted to non-agricultural uses.
“Our Grassland CRP enrollment will be competitive just like our previous enrollment periods since we are very close to the 27-million-acre statutory cap,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam.
“Grassland CRP is designed to strike a balance between the importance of continued agricultural productivity and prioritizing the stewardship of America’s ecologically significant grasslands. USDA continues to put Farmers First by providing viable economic incentives while preserving working lands,” said Bill Beam.
The Conservation Reserve Program is USDA’s major conservation effort. It provides financial and technical assistance to producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal land under 10- to 15-year contracts. In return, participants agree to establish protective vegetative cover that helps improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, and support wildlife habitats.
Currently, more than 26.2 million acres are enrolled in CRP nationwide, including nearly 10.3 million acres under Grassland CRP. Because of the statutory cap, only about 1.9 million additional acres are available for all CRP enrollment during the current fiscal year.
USDA recently closed enrollment for General CRP, and the Continuous CRP signup ends May 1, 2026. Submitted offers are now under review, and accepted applications will be announced at a later date. The program authority has been extended through September 30, 2026. To apply contact your local FSA county office before the May 29 deadline.
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