Voluntary Land Stewardship

USDA Accepts 2.2 Million Acres Through 2026 Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment to Benefit Natural Resources, Ag Operations

FSA Limits General, Grassland, and Continuous Signups to Statutory 27-Million-Acre Cap Amid Intense Landowner Demand

In a highly competitive enrollment window driven by expanding producer demand for risk-mitigation tools, the USDA Accepts 2.2 Million Acres Through 2026 Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment to Benefit Natural Resources, Ag Operations. Announced on July 7, 2026, by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), landowners submitted offers on nearly 2.5 million acres through General, Grassland, and Continuous pools. However, with the national conservation buffer statutorily capped at 27 million total acres for fiscal year 2026, only 2.2 million acres were admitted. The selection prioritized environmental benefit matrices across major western hubs, with Nebraska, Colorado, and South Dakota securing the top three operational allocations. While nearly 1.5 million existing acres are set to expire this September, the FSA authorized re-enrollments for 982,000 acres alongside 1.5 million acres of entirely new land entries, stabilizing rural incomes with predictable rental assistance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 7, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting 2.2 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2026. Through CRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers agricultural producers and landowners incentive payments for their conservation efforts while benefiting their agricultural operations and protecting the nation’s natural resources.

“The Conservation Reserve Program continues to demonstrate the strength of voluntary, producer-led conservation across the country,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “The success of the 2026 enrollment period reflects USDA’s Farmers First commitment and the dedication of America’s farmers and ranchers to protecting our natural resources.”

Producers and landowners submitted offers on nearly 2.5 million acres through the General, Grassland and Continuous CRP signups. Because the program’s total acreage is capped at 27 million acres for fiscal year 2026, only 2.2 million acres were available for enrollment, making for a highly competitive process for those who submitted offers for CRP.

Of the nearly 1.5 million acres set to expire on Sept. 30, producers submitted re-enrollment offers for just over 982,000 acres. Additionally, producers submitted offers to enroll 1.5 million acres of new land. Nebraska, Colorado, and South Dakota hold the top three slots for accepted acres for all 2026 CRP enrollment opportunities.

About CRP

By enrolling in CRP, producers and landowners receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative covers. CRP helps reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and increase wildlife habitat, contributing to the overall health of ecosystems.

Additionally, annual rental payments provide a steady income stream for participants, helping to stabilize farm income. Grassland CRP is a working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.

More Information

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. Originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production, the program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits to farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the country.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) — National Conservation Division

Washington, D.C. | Statutory CRP Annual Enrollment Briefing | July 2026 | fsa.usda.gov