Washington, D.C. - September 17, 2025 - Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever applaud the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) acceptance of 1.78 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 2025. The announcement today by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), which includes General, Continuous and Grassland enrollments, will help bolster agriculture, wildlife habitat, hunting opportunities and rural communities throughout the upland range and beyond.
“For four decades, CRP has delivered unmatched benefits for wildlife habitat, soil health and water quality,” said Andrew Schmidt, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s director of government affairs. “Thanks to swift action by the Trump administration on a condensed timeline, the program now effectively stands at full enrollment, reflecting its value and standing among the nation's farmers and ranchers as a critical component of their business operation and the farm safety net.”
According to FSA, about 25.8 million acres are currently enrolled in CRP, the agency’s flagship conservation program through which landowners, farmers and ranchers voluntarily convert marginal or unproductive cropland into vegetative cover that prevents erosion, restores wildlife habitat and—in the case of Grassland CRP—enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices. The announcement today represents the maximum number of acres that could be enrolled this year while staying under the statutory cap of 27 million acres.
“What better way to celebrate CRP’s 40th anniversary and mark four decades of voluntary private lands stewardship than to announce an extremely successful 2025 enrollment for CRP’s many program options,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “I think the numbers speak for themselves; America’s agricultural producers recognize the value of preserving and protecting our most sensitive lands and are very committed to conserving our natural resources.”
Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, CRP is one of the most successful voluntary private lands conservation programs in the United States. Designed to address widespread environmental and economic challenges in the farming sector, CRP emerged as a solution to soil erosion, declining water quality and farm income instability. The program has since evolved to provide many conservation, recreation and economic benefits, while remaining a key piece of the farm safety net.
The American Relief Act of 2025 extended provisions for CRP through September 30, 2025. Without action by Congress to reauthorize the program, FSA will no longer be able to accept new landowners into CRP after this date, although existing contracts will continue to be serviced by the agency. PF & QF urge Congress to pass a bipartisan farm bill in 2025 that extends and strengthens this vital program so it can continue to deliver for farmers, wildlife and rural America.
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 500,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 585,000 habitat projects benefiting 31 million acres.
Media Contact
Casey Sill
402-657-4143
csill@pheasantsforever.org