USDA opens enrollment for Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 1:51 PM

By Staff report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) through May 29.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers Grassland CRP, a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.

Grassland CRP emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and grasslands and land with shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion.

“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.”

CRP is USDA’s flagship conservation program, providing financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, extends FSA’s authority to administer CRP through Sept. 30, 2026.    

Currently, more than 26.2 million acres are enrolled in CRP, with nearly 10.3 million acres in Grassland CRP. FSA recently closed the enrollment period for General CRP and Continuous CRP closes May 1, 2026. FSA is reviewing submitted offers and will announce accepted offers at a later date. Due to the 27-million-acre statutory cap, only 1.9 million acres are available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year.

Producers and landowners interested in participating in CRP should contact their local FSA county office before the May 29 deadline.  