NW Kansas News

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has joined Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen the CRP by improving access to grazing, expanding enrollment options for producers, and expediting emergency haying during droughts and other weather-related disasters.

The bill proposes several changes to the current program. It would provide cost-share assistance for establishing grazing infrastructure such as fencing and water distribution on all CRP practices when grazing is included in an approved conservation plan. The legislation also seeks to increase the annual payment limitation from $50,000—set in 1985—to $125,000 to reflect inflation and rising land values. This change is intended to offer more enrollment options for landowners and ensure that resources are properly conserved.

Other provisions include reinstating mid-contract management cost-share payments for activities not related to haying or grazing, permanently establishing the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement practice under Continuous CRP, and allowing flexibility for emergency haying on CRP acres under certain conditions with input from state technical committees.

Senator Moran stated: “Equipping farmers and ranchers with improved access to CRP resources is crucial to the sustainability of the agricultural economy in Kansas,” adding, “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 commented: “Ensuring that CRP continues to be an effective option for producers and landowners is critical to South Dakota’s agriculture industry,” continuing, “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 said: “The Conservation Reserve Program helps equip our farmers with the tools to conserve and improve soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat,” adding that “This bipartisan legislation makes commonsense improvements to CRP that will strengthen conservation practices and landowner enrollment in this vital program.”

A statement from the Kansas Livestock Association reads: “The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) has long advocated for additional grazing opportunities on CRP acres,” noting that “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.”

Another statement highlighted: “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,” further stating that “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.”

A final comment 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,” concluding with thanks: “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.”