Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), along with Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), has introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act. The bill aims to enhance the CRP by increasing access to grazing, expanding enrollment options for agricultural producers, and speeding up emergency haying during droughts and other severe weather events.

The proposed legislation would provide cost-sharing for infrastructure such as fencing and water distribution on all CRP practices if grazing is part of an approved conservation plan. It also seeks to raise the annual payment limit from $50,000—set in 1985—to $125,000 to reflect inflation and higher land values. This adjustment is intended to give landowners more options for enrolling their property in CRP.

Other provisions include reinstating mid-contract management cost-share payments for activities unrelated to haying or grazing, permanently establishing the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement practice under Continuous CRP, and allowing emergency haying on CRP acres when certain conditions are met after consultation with state technical committees.

“Equipping farmers and ranchers with improved access to CRP resources is crucial to the sustainability of the agricultural economy in Kansas,” said Senator Moran. “This bipartisan legislation grants greater flexibility for producers in Kansas and across the country to improve their economic stability while conserving our nation’s farmland, wildlife habitats and water supply for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.”

Senator Thune stated, “Ensuring that CRP continues to be an effective option for producers and landowners is critical to South Dakota’s agriculture industry. As a longtime supporter of CRP, I’m proud to lead this commonsense legislation that would help advance the multiple-use benefits of this conservation program, including wildlife habitat and livestock forage potential.”

Senator Klobuchar added, “The Conservation Reserve Program helps equip our farmers with the tools to conserve and improve soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat. This bipartisan legislation makes commonsense improvements to CRP that will strengthen conservation practices and landowner enrollment in this vital program.”

According to a statement from the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), “The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) has long advocated for additional grazing opportunities on CRP acres. Grazing benefits the native grass species, advancing the conservation goals of the program. We appreciate Senator Moran's leadership in improving CRP for producers and the land.”

Representatives from Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) commented: “The Conservation Reserve Program is one of our nation’s most effective tools for improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and soil health on private lands, and is a vital part of the farm safety net. The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act will make this critical program work better for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and wildlife. PF and QF are grateful to Majority Leader Thune, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and Sens. Moran and Smith for their continued leadership in strengthening CRP and ensuring it remains a cornerstone of private lands conservation.”

Another statement noted: “The Conservation Reserve Program is an important, incentive-based program that provides flexibility for farmers and ranchers to implement voluntary conservation practices on their land. We thank Senators Moran, Thune, Klobuchar, and Smith for their leadership in enhancing CRP to ensure landowners can continue to get the most out of this historically successful program in Kansas and across the U.S.”