Central Valley Project
Credit: USBR

September 11, 2025 - WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, has introduced H.R. 5111 – The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide stronger incentives for farmers and producers to restore farmland and conserve water.

“Clean water and healthy soil are the foundation of American agriculture,” said Congressman Costa. “By modernizing the Conservation Reserve Program for the first time in nearly 40 years, we can meet the challenges of drought and climate change head-on. My bipartisan bill would put more dollars into conservation practices to conserve water, restore farmland, and keep family farms thriving for generations to come.”

“Iowa farmers are the best stewards of our farmland and natural resources – and their actions are proof of that. Our producers go to great lengths to protect our water, maintain soil health, and ensure that our farmland can be passed from one generation to the next, keeping our rural traditions alive,” said Congressman Feenstra. “I’m glad to introduce bipartisan legislation with Rep. Jim Costa to modernize the Conservation Reserve Program to help our farmers continue their strong, yet voluntary, conservation practices. From implementing buffer strips to conducting responsible grazing practices, our producers are leading the charge to keep our farmland the most productive in the world, our water safe and clean, and our environment healthy.”

BACKGROUND
Created under the Food Security Act of 1985, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Farm Service Agency. This program provides farmers, ranchers, and producers with federal support to implement long-term conservation practices on environmentally sensitive land.

Through the planting of native grasses, trees, and riparian buffers, CRP reduces soil erosion, recharges groundwater, improves water quality, and restores wildlife habitat. This program has helped recharge groundwater, prevent flooding, and sequester carbon — making the program one of agriculture’s most effective conservation tools.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act would enhance this program by increasing federal assistance and incentives for eligible participants and entities. Specifically, this legislation would:

• Lift the cap and increase CRP annual payments from $50,000 to $125,000, which has not been updated since 1985.
   
• Provide cost-share for the establishment of grazing infrastructure, including interior cross fencing, perimeter fencing, and water infrastructure such as rural water connections, wells, pipelines, and water tanks.
   
• Permanently establish the States Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative to support wildlife habitat conservation.
   
• Expedite emergency haying and grazing authorizations in response to drought and other weather-related disaster events.

Originally created in 1985, CRP was most recently reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and extended by the American Relief Act of 2025. Congressman Costa’s legislation builds on that foundation, ensuring the program keeps pace with today’s challenges while providing farmers stronger incentives to protect land and water resources.