The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is among nearly three dozen conservation, hunting and outdoor organizations calling on Congress to support a key farmland conservation program and its undeniable role supplying critical habitat for wildlife.
In a December 2025 letter (see below) to congressional leadership, the groups want the next farm bill to include foundational support for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which encourages agricultural producers and landowners to convert highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, like native grasses, trees and riparian buffers. Doing so benefits a wide array of wildlife species.
“This program was originally established more than four decades ago in the 1985 Farm Bill and is probably the most impactful private land conservation effort ever implemented,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer.
For each of the last three years, CRP existed under one-year extensions but according to the groups, a long-term reauthorization gives producers a more reliable and effective way to manage their land.
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December 22, 2025
The Honorable John Boozman
Chairman
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Glenn “GT” Thompson
Chairman
House Committee on Agriculture
United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Angie Craig
Ranking Member
House Committee on Agriculture
United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, Chairman Thompson, and Ranking Member Craig:
The undersigned organizations, representing millions of hunters, anglers, wildlife professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts, urge you to ensure the next farm bill includes strong support for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). As CRP celebrates its 40th anniversary on December 23, 2025, Congress has an opportunity to mark four decades of voluntary stewardship on private lands by strengthening one of the most successful conservation programs in American history.
Since 1985, CRP has been a cornerstone of the farm safety net, giving producers a voluntary, market-based tool to manage risk on their most marginal and environmentally sensitive acres. For countless farmers and ranchers, enrolling vulnerable acres in CRP helps stabilize operations, diversify on-farm income, and protect long-term productivity, especially during periods of volatile commodity prices and input costs, severe drought, or extreme weather.
At the same time, CRP has delivered unparalleled conservation outcomes over the last 40 years. The program has dramatically reduced soil erosion, improved water quality, enhanced soil health, and provided some of the nation’s most important habitats for myriad wildlife species. Land enrolled in CRP bolsters rural economies by supporting outdoor recreation and access, while targeted initiatives like the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) demonstrate how the program is tailored to meet local resource needs. Grassland CRP and emergency forage authorities have helped the program evolve into a flexible tool for producers to improve and utilize working lands on their operations.
For the past several years, however, CRP has operated under three successive one-year extensions, creating uncertainty for producers who depend on stable enrollment options and consistent program rules. While leaders at USDA have done an excellent job administering the program under less-than-ideal circumstances, a full, long-term reauthorization is critical to ensure that CRP continues to provide the reliability and predictability producers need to manage risk and steward their land.
As Congress continues developing the next farm bill, this anniversary offers a timely reminder of how well CRP works—and how we can build on the program’s impressive record by making it more accessible and effective for landowners, while strengthening outcomes for wildlife, soil, and water. Reauthorizing and improving CRP now will ensure the program continues meeting the needs of growers, rural communities, and natural resources for decades to come.
We appreciate your ongoing leadership and your long-standing commitment to rural America, agricultural producers, hunters and anglers, and voluntary conservation. We look forward to working with you to ensure CRP’s next 40 years deliver even greater benefits for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and wildlife.
Sincerely,
American Woodcock Society
Archery Trade Association
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Boone and Crockett Club
California Waterfowl Association
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Conservation Force
Delta Waterfowl
Ducks Unlimited
Izaak Walton League of America
Mule Deer Foundation
National Association of Forest Service Retirees
National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative Foundation
National Deer Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation
National Wild Turkey Federation
National Wildlife Federation
North American Falconers Association
North American Grouse Partnership
Pheasants Forever
Pope and Young Club
Quail Forever
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Ruffed Grouse Society
Safari Club International
Safari Club International Foundation
Sportsmen’s Alliance
Texas Wildlife Association
The Wildlife Society
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Whitetails Unlimited
Wildlife Management Institute
Wildlife Mississippi
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)