Landowners can now enroll in the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program, a unique opportunity to enhance habitat and water quality.
The United States Department of Agriculture announced on May 12th that enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, is now open.
First introduced in the 1985 Farm Bill, the CRP provides incentives and rental payments to landowners who choose to put a portion of their land into conservation cover, particularly on acres that would be more productive as wildlife habitat than they are for crops, as well as in other key locations for water quality or wildlife habitat. This gives landowners an opportunity to devote their land to its fullest potential without sacrificing their bottom line and provides multiple ecological benefits to all Americans.
“With 1.8 million acres available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year, we are very aware that we are bumping up against the 27-million-acre statutory cap,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Now more than ever, it’s important that the acres offered by landowners and those approved by USDA address our most critical natural resource concerns. With the limited number of acres that we have available, we’re not necessarily looking for the most acres offered but instead prioritizing mindful conservation efforts to ensure we maximize the return on our investment from both a conservation and economic perspective.”
“In farm country nationwide, the CRP is synonymous with habitat” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “The CRP’s ability to create and enhance habitat while improving water quality makes it one of the most important federal programs for both hunters and anglers. It’s great to see USDA recognize the value of this program by prioritizing this signup.”
Many of the species we love to pursue find habitat in farm country thanks to the CRP. Without the CRP, pheasant numbers would plummet, the northern plains states would lose much of their duck breeding habitat, sage grouse in the West would be at even greater risk, and brook trout would decline in Eastern headwaters. Put simply, without the CRP, millions of sportsmen and women would lose hunting and fishing opportunities across rural America.
Learn more about the Conservation Reserve Program here, and if you are a landowner interested in enrolling, find your nearest USDA Service Center here.
Learn more about Farm Bill Conservation Programs here
“If a landowner is able to make conservation improvements on their property, they will likely be able to utilize it more,” Harvey explains. “Better conservation practices mean more rabbits, ducks, and deer. More animals means better hunting, and that means the landowner and their family will spend more time hunting there.”
Find the full series below or watch the full playlist on YouTube HERE.
The Land Manager
Harvey speaks about the elemental and communal aspects of hunting and how his own upbringing in the world of hunting and fishing led to his career in forestry. He now uses his expertise to help landowners utilize voluntary programs in the Farm Bill to enhance the wildlife qualities of their properties.
The Complex Wildlife Challenges of the Mississippi River Delta
Harvey identifies some of the complex wildlife challenges of the Mississippi River Delta, and the opportunities for restoration to increase the habitat values of the Delta.
The Importance of Private Land Conservation
Wildlife doesn’t recognize the boundaries between private and public land, so good habitat management across property lines means better hunting and fishing for all. Harvey discusses how deliberate land management creates a sense of connection and identity with people and the land.
Farm Bill Programs and Benefits
Harvey discusses the process of working with landowners and the programs included in the Farm Bill, such as EQUIP and Conservation Stewardship, that benefit and support private land conservation in the Mississippi River Delta.
The African American Hunting Tradition of the Mississippi River Delta
Harvey discusses the rich African American hunting tradition of the Mississippi River Delta, a culture that he is a part of, and the importance of private land hunting opportunities in the Delta.
Watch the full YouTube playlist of this video series HERE.
Read TRCP’s duck hunting and Farm Bill blog on Split Reed.
Wildlife for the 21st Century: A Policy Briefing to Safeguard Our Outdoor Heritage
On March 25, 2025, TRCP joined conservation leaders and policymakers for a crucial briefing on the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation and outdoor access
Every four years, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), a coalition of 52 leading hunting and wildlife conservation organizations, releases Wildlife for the 21st Century (W-21)—a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at ensuring a thriving future for America’s wildlife and outdoor traditions. These recommendations serve as a guiding framework for policymakers, addressing the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation and outdoor access while offering actionable solutions.
A Blueprint for the Future of Conservation
The latest edition, Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII, represents over a year of dedicated work by AWCP partners. It identifies strategic opportunities to enhance wildlife conservation, sustain public access to natural spaces, and protect America’s cherished outdoor traditions. The document is designed to help policymakers make informed decisions that will shape the conservation landscape for the next four years. You can access Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VIIHERE
A Critical Briefing on Capitol Hill
On March 25, 2025, TRCP joined key conservation leaders and policymakers in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center for a crucial briefing on W-21. Hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and sponsored by leading conservation organizations—including the Boone and Crockett Club, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants/Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Wildlife Mississippi—the event provided a platform to discuss and advocate for the commonsense recommendations outlined in W-21.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation for hosting this important event and to all the sponsoring organizations and attendees for their unwavering commitment to conservation,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and vice chair of AWCP. “By working together, we can ensure that America’s lands, waters, and wildlife continue to thrive for the benefit of hunters, anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide.”
The briefing featured insights from some of the foremost voices in conservation policy and highlighted critical policy priorities, focusing on how sportsmen and women, conservationists, and policymakers can work together to ensure healthy wildlife populations, protect vital habitats, and promote responsible land and water stewardship across the nation.
The Wildlife for the 21st Century policy recommendations serve as a vital tool for shaping the future of wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in the United States. As we move forward, it is essential that decision-makers embrace these strategies to safeguard our nation’s rich outdoor heritage for generations to come.
You can find a copy of Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume 7 HERE.
Top photo by USDA
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
New Legislation Aims to Codify Highly Successful USDA Migratory Big Game Initiative
The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act is aimed at expanding voluntary efforts to enhance wildlife habitat connectivity on private and working lands.
This week, Congressmen Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) and Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) introduced the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act. This bill would expand voluntary efforts to improve wildlife habitat, including big game habitat, on working lands.
The MBGI partnership has been both innovative and highly successful. In Wyoming, enrollment in conservation programs in priority corridors increased by 264% compared to before the partnership. However, the USDA is unlikely to expand this model nationwide unless the Farm Bill is updated as proposed in this legislation.
In addition, the bill will spur USDA research on virtual fencing technologies, which allow for greater wildlife movement and animal safety on livestock operations. It also provides additional incentives through EQIP for the adoption of conservation practices that conserve or restore wildlife habitat connectivity.
“Working lands provide key habitats for migratory wildlife, including big game like elk, mule deer, and pronghorn,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “USDA’s voluntary conservation programs need to work together to support farmers, ranchers, and other producers who create and enhance this habitat. The next Farm Bill is our opportunity to make that happen. The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act removes unnecessary barriers to support conservation on private land that will improve habitat conditions for big game and other migrating wildlife. The TRCP thanks Congressmen Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership on this bill and urges its inclusion in the Farm Bill.”
TRCP is excited about the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act because it helps complement successful public land corridor conservation efforts with the long track record of voluntary, incentive-based conservation on private land promoted through the Farm Bill. We appreciate the leadership of Congressmen Vasquez and Zinke and hope to see this common-sense bill included in the next Farm Bill as it is a clear win-win for agricultural producers and wildlife.
Learn more about Farm Bill conservation programs HERE
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act Introduced in the Senate and House
Lawmakers have introduced the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act to boost a crucial Farm Bill program that creates public hunting and fishing opportunities on private land.
The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025 has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Senator Marshall (R-Kan.) and in the House of Representatives by Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). This bipartisan, bicameral bill would strengthen one of the most critical Farm Bill programs for America’s hunters and anglers: the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). VPA-HIP is the only federal initiative that helps to create public hunting and fishing opportunities on private land and this new legislation reauthorizes the program at triple its prior funding level. This reinforces the full Farm Bill that House Ag Committee Chairman GT Thompson’s (R-Pa.) introduced last Congress, which proposed a similar funding increase to this critical program. Bipartisan, bicameral bills like this are rare and show the value of this program to leaders across the political spectrum.
“State-led access programs are hurting this year without support from VPA-HIP, and including the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act in a 2025 farm bill would be a major positive development for hunters and anglers,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We are thrilled to see such an influential, bipartisan group of leaders recognize the importance of increased hunting and fishing access by introducing this legislation. Thank you, Senators Daines, Bennet, and Marshall and Representatives Dingell and Johnson, for your leadership and support.”
The legislation would invest $150 million over the next five years in the VPA-HIP, which provides grants to states and Tribes to be implemented at the local level. This increased investment was among the recommendations made by TRCP’s Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group in its Farm Bill platform and has been echoed by groups across the hunting and fishing community.
What they are saying:
“On behalf of the nation’s recreational fishing industry, the American Sportfishing Association thanks Senators Daines, Marshall, and Bennet, as well as Representatives Dingell and Johnson for their leadership of the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association. “This legislation will support and enable landowners to provide fishing access on private lands, opening valuable waters to anglers. The reauthorization and expansion of VPA-HIP will strengthen a program that has allowed access to private lands since 2008, creating memorable days on the water for America’s anglers.”
“We greatly appreciate Senators Daines, Bennet, and Marshall and Representatives Dingell and Johnson introducing the House version of the VPA Improvement Act. As we entered discussions of the 2023 Farm Bill, extending and expanding the impact of VPA-HIP was one of Delta’s highest priorities,” said John Devney, chief policy officer at Delta Waterfowl. “As duck hunters across the country look for additional access, increased investments in VPA HIP can lead to new partnerships with private landowners to enhance habitat and also provide access. We hope that the effort by these leaders will lead to a broader bi-partisan effort to include an expanded VPA-HIP in the final Farm Bill.”
“There are dozens of state programs throughout country that help open public hunting access on private lands, but one common thread is that VPA-HIP is the unsung hero that makes much of that access possible,” said Ariel Wiegard, vice president of government affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “The economic returns for rural communities in VPA-HIP have been shown many times over, and increasing funding for the program is one of our top priorities in the next farm bill. Access is at the core of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s mission, and we thank Senators Daines, Bennet, and Marshall and Representatives Dingell and Johnson for their leadership and support for this very successful program.”
“Hunting access is one of the most significant barriers for both new and experienced hunters,” said Kellis Moss, Ducks Unlimited managing director of federal affairs. “The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act is a win-win for sportsmen and landowners, and we thank Sens. Daines, Bennet, Marshall for leading this bipartisan effort in the Senate, as well as Reps. Dingell and Johnson for their leadership in the House.”
“We are proud to support Representative Dingell’s, and Representative Johnson and Senator Daines’, reintroduction of the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act,” said Nick Pinizzotto, president and CEO of the National Deer Association. “Reauthorizing and strengthening the Act will ensure that landowners and sportsmen alike can continue to benefit from sustainable wildlife management and habitat preservation for generations to come.”
VPA-HIP is the single best federal tool for increasing recreational access on private lands by helping states create innovative ways of incentivizing private landowners to open their lands to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation. It also has a very special place in the hearts of TRCP’s staff and supporters, as it was championed by our inspirational co-founder, Jim Range, before his untimely death. The program was established and funded through the 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills—most recently at $50 million over five years—with its impacts felt across the country.
Apart from creating more outdoor recreation access, VPA-HIP funding is also utilized to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners for wildlife habitat improvement and enhancement projects. It is often layered with other Farm Bill programs that have habitat benefits, such as Conservation Reserve Program and Wetland Reserve Easements. And the program allows states to address liability, alleviating a roadblock for many landowners to open their lands to the public.
Studies estimate that the VPA-HIP has a more than eight-to-one return on investment in the form of outdoor recreation spending in rural communities.
Watch a video about some of the many benefits of VPA-HIP below.
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to further our commitment to conservation. $4 from each bag is donated to the TRCP, to help continue our efforts of safeguarding critical habitats, productive hunting grounds, and favorite fishing holes for future generations.
