New Farm Bill Advances in House Committee: Key Impacts for Hunters and Anglers

March 5, 2026

The House Agriculture Committee has advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, launching the next phase of negotiations over conservation programs that will impact wildlife habitat and hunting and fishing access.

It’s been nearly two years since we had a Farm Bill proposal to evaluate, but that changed on February 13, when House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson introduced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. A lot has happened in agricultural conservation policy since the 2018 Farm Bill. Key programs have been extended and received major funding boosts, first through the Inflation Reduction Act and then made permanent in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But without a Farm Bill, there has been no opportunity to improve the underlaying structure that makes these programs work.

On March 4, the House Ag Committee debated this bill, proposed amendments, and ultimately advanced it to the House floor on a 34-17 vote. Given the importance of the Farm Bill to hunters and anglers—and the difficulty of moving legislation of this scale—we are encouraged to have a bill to review and formal committee action toward passing it.

Before we summarize the key provisions of this bill, there are a few important dynamics to keep in mind.

With tight margins in both the House and Senate, bipartisanship will be essential. Although this bill could have advanced through Committee on a party-line vote, passing a fully partisan on the House floor would be highly unlikely. Nearly 30% of Ag Committee Democrats voted to advance this bill, indicating substantive bipartisan support. However, major sticking points remain, including earlier changes within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, policy around pesticide labeling, and state authority to regulate swine production. These issues fall outside of TRCP’s primary focus, but they will influence whether conservation priorities ultimately advance.

Work on this Farm Bill began as soon as, or even before, the 2018 bill was signed. Although six or seven years seems like ample time to resolve differences, significant negotiations remain. This markup, and advancing the bill out of committee, is an important step, but further debate will occur as the bill moves to the House floor. In the Senate, Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are working on their own proposal. As a result, this means that any individual provision in Chairman Thompson’s bill has additional hurdles to clear, and elements are likely to change.

Extended Farm Bill negotiations are not new, but after more than seven years without a comprehensive bill—and with bipartisan legislation increasingly difficult to move—Congress is fast approaching uncharted waters. At the same time, the Conservation Title is in better shape than usual. Investments in Title II programs through budget reconciliation packages in 2022 and 2025 extended most USDA conservation programs through 2031 and strengthened their long-term funding, providing some stability as Congress debates program changes. However, reconciliation rules allow funding adjustments but not policy reforms, meaning updates to conservation programs are still needed. Additionally, because the Conservation Reserve Program is limited by acreage rather than funding, CRP did not receive a funding increase or long-term reauthorization through reconciliation.

Policy and funding changes in this Farm Bill will impact fish and wildlife habitat and hunting and fishing access for the next five years and beyond. You can find explanations about how Farm Bill programs support hunters and anglers here.

Keeping these dynamics in mind, what exactly is in this bill? Farm Bills cover a wide range of issues—from nutrition assistance and agricultural research to trade, risk management, and livestock disease—so a comprehensive analysis of the entire 800-page bill is beyond the scope of this blog. Instead, we focus on several provisions most likely to affect habitat and access for hunters and anglers. Let’s dig in.

Key Conservation Provisions in The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 would:

Shift Funding Among Title II Programs

This bill has been informally called “Farm Bill 2.0”, in recognition that many priorities were accomplished through the budget reconciliation process last summer. As part of that package, Congress made the remaining conservation funding from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act permanent. This represented a major investment in Title II programs and shifted the balance among several programs, particularly the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). However, Chairman Thompson’s team has consistently stated their intention to reallocate those resources to support policy improvements and new programs in this Farm Bill. Priority programs differ among members of the hunting and fishing community—and even more among the broader ag conservation community— but TRCP’s priority throughout this process has been ensuring that conservation funding remains conservation funding, and this bill meets that criterion.

Reauthorize the Conservation Reserve Program

Chairman Thompson’s 2024 bill included major changes to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), some of which were clearly beneficial to habitat and others potentially problematic. This time CRP is simply reauthorized for five years. This puts the program back on the same reauthorization schedule as the rest of Title II and avoids complications associated with repeated expirations and extensions. However, it is also a missed opportunity to make needed improvements to the program. Ideally, the bill would increase payment limitations, restore cost share for mid-contract management, and remove rental rate limitations, among other improvements. Still, leaving CRP largely unchanged gives the Senate significant latitude to pursue these updates, many of which have already been proposed in the bipartisan CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Calif.) offered an amendment reflecting this legislation with support from Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), and Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), but it was withdrawn after the Chairman committed to continuing work toward solutions.

Support Voluntary Conservation Easement Programs

This bill would have substantial impacts on conservation easement programs. One of the most significant is the creation of a new Forest Conservation Easement Program with mandatory funding filling a gap in current easement opportunities and supporting working forest conservation. The bill also makes several adjustments that expand management opportunities on new and existing wetland easements, helping ensure these wetlands continue to provide quality habitat for generations.

Simplify the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) has tremendous potential to deliver conservation in innovative, partnership-driven ways, but the program has long been hampered by barriers that frustrated partners and limited its impact. Chairman Thompson’s bill returns the RCPP to an earlier structure, that more closely connects projects to “covered programs” like EQIP. It also aims to shorten approval timelines and reimburse partner administrative expenses. While the covered program model has both advantages and drawbacks, efforts to streamline the RCPP are welcome, as is the addition of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity to the program’s purposes.

Encourage Habitat Connectivity Across Programs

In addition to the language within RCPP, the bill encourages the Secretary of Agriculture to “encourage the use of conservation practices that support the development, restoration, and maintenance of habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors” in all conservation programs. The impact of this provision will vary depending on the priorities of any given Secretary but given the importance of corridors for species like Western big game, the direction is encouraging.

During the markup itself, Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), offered an amendment based on the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act he is leading with Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.). The amendment includes several provisions supporting migration corridors and habitat connectivity. One of the most significant aims to codify the USDA’s ability to use EQIP or the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) on the same acres, but for different purposes, as Grassland CRP. This approach – often referred to as a “program stack,” where multiple conservation programs can be used together on the same acreage – is a key component of the Migratory Big Game Initiative, which has proven successful in Wyoming and elsewhere. The amendment was adopted by voice vote and generated positive comments from members of both parties including Chairman Thompson and Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK). It was also great to hear Ranking Member Craig comment on the importance of “developing conservation programs with an eye toward restoring wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity.”

Leave Access Funding Unchanged

Chairman Thompson has long been an advocate for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). In 2024, the committee tried to include $150 million for the program, a funding level called for by the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act and dozens of conservation organizations. However, this current bill does not include funding for VPA-HIP. Fortunately, thanks in large part to Chairman Thompson’s efforts, VPA-HIP received $70 million over seven years in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. While important, that funding level is unlikely to expand the program’s impact.

Strengthen Tools for Enhancing Forest and Watershed Health

The bill provides several new tools aimed at improving forest health and watershed function, with benefits for water quality, fish and wildlife, and resilience to wildfire and drought. Notable provisions include reauthorization of the U.S. Forest Service’s Water Source Protection Program, expanded use of good neighbor agreements, and additional improvements to watershed health and drinking water sources within the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program.

Include Potentially Problematic Fire Management Restrictions

While proactively addressing wildfire risk is important, the bill also includes provisions that could limit the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to manage wildfire effectively. These include requirements to suppress certain fires within 24 hours of detection and additional limitations on prescribed fire. Although these provisions apply only in certain areas and conditions, relying primarily on suppression has not historically been an effective wildfire strategy, and experienced land management professionals are better equipped than Congress to make these decisions.

There are many other provisions in this bill that we will continue to follow, and there is still a long road before its impacts are felt on the ground. The TRCP thanks both House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership for their work toward a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports habitat and access.

The Hunter & Angler’s Guide to the Farm Bill

We know it can be challenging to break through the alphabet soup of program acronyms to understand why the reauthorization and improvement of Farm Bill conservation programs is a top priority. In The Hunter & Anglers Guide to the Farm Bill, we demystify the Farm Bill and the crucial conservations programs that sportsmen and women should care about.

One Response to “New Farm Bill Advances in House Committee: Key Impacts for Hunters and Anglers”

George Vandel March 6, 2026

Does CRP still allow a 1/3 annual haying after 1 Aug w/a 25% payment reduction?

March 6, 2026 at 10:45 pm

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by: Aaron Field

posted in: Farm Bill

February 13, 2026

House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson Introduces Farm Bill Proposal

Hunters and anglers depend on strong Conservation and Forestry Titles, and TRCP will closely evaluate the bill’s impacts as it moves forward.

For hunters and anglers, the Farm Bill is one of the most important pieces of conservation legislation that Congress considers – and it’s long overdue. The bill helps support voluntary conservation programs on private lands, which make up the majority of wildlife habitat in this country. The connection is direct: the cover a pheasant needs, the wetland that holds ducks, the grass buffers that keep streams cold for trout, and access opportunities on working lands all trace back to Farm Bill conservation programs. While funding for several key conservation programs have been increased through budget reconciliation, the actual programs hunters and anglers care about have not been updated since 2018, and lapses of authority or funding have compromised both habitat and access

Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-Penn.), took a major step toward getting the Farm Bill process back on track by introducing his “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.” This bill will be considered by the House Agriculture Committee beginning on February 23, and if passed, may finally get a full floor vote this spring.

“After too long, it’s great to see momentum toward updating these critical programs,” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “The Farm Bill directly supports wildlife habitat and the hunting and fishing opportunities that depend on healthy working lands. We’d like to thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and Ag Committee members and staff from both parties for their commitment to getting the Farm Bill process back on track.”

For a Farm Bill to pass in this Congress, it will have to be bipartisan. For it to deliver for fish and wildlife, it will need strong Conservation and Forestry Titles. In the coming days, the TRCP and our partners will dig into the bill, evaluate its probable impacts on habitat and access, and work to ensure decision makers fully understand what is at stake for hunters and anglers. Look for a more detailed analysis of the bill’s content and impacts after it is debated by the Committee.

To learn more about how Farm Bill conservation programs support habitat and access for hunters and anglers, visit Farm Bill Conservation Programs | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

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.

Click here to sign up today.

by: Aaron Field

posted in: Farm Bill

February 11, 2026

USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2026

CRP continues a proven legacy of habitat conservation benefiting landowners, producers, wildlife, and sportsmen and women.

Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency announced upcoming enrollment periods for the Conservation Reserve Program’s Continuous and General sign-ups. Continuous CRP offers will be accepted from February 12 through March 20, and the General CRP signup will run from March 9 through April 17. USDA also indicated that Grassland CRP signup dates will be announced soon.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is one of the most important habitat creation and improvement tools in existence. Directly impacting almost 27 million acres, the Conservation Reserve Program gives landowners the financial support they need to put their least productive and most sensitive cropland into conservation cover, particularly on acres that would be more productive as wildlife habitat than they are for crops. It also incentivizes improved management on rangelands. This keeps soil in place, filters water, creates wetlands, and boosts wildlife populations while supporting farm and ranch profitability.

“We’re still very close to the 27-million-acre statutory cap with 1.9 million acres available for all CRP enrollments this fiscal year so enrollment is likely to be competitive,” USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said. “This isn’t about the total number of acres enrolled, it’s about producers and landowners offering and USDA accepting the acres that can best deliver real, lasting benefits to soil, water and wildlife.”

Many of the species hunters and anglers 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.

“Habitat makes opportunity, and no USDA program creates more habitat that benefits both producers and hunters and anglers than the Conservation Reserve Program,” said Aaron Field, director of private lands conservation at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “CRP has a long track record of supporting wildlife, improving water quality, and expanding access to quality hunting and fishing opportunities, while keeping working lands working. We thank USDA for opening this signup as producers make decisions for the year ahead.”

Learn more about Conservation Reserve Program enrollment options and eligibility through USDA’s Farm Service Agency HERE

Additional information on how the Conservation Reserve Program and how it benefits hunters and anglers can be found HERE

Learn more about Farm Bill Conservation Programs here

by: Guest Author Kate Hansen

posted in: Farm Bill

February 5, 2026

Private Lands, Public Good: The Conservation Stewardship Program in Action

Kate Hansen, Agriculture Program Director at the Izaak Walton League of America, highlights how the Conservation Stewardship Program empowers landowners and volunteers to care for the land they love.

More than 100 years ago, a group of hunters and anglers gathered with a mission. They were concerned about threats to the natural resources they loved, and established the Izaak Walton League of America to defend them. They named the organization after Izaak Walton, 17^th century author of the Compleat Angler, a foundational book on fishing and the outdoors.

While our founders first met in Chicago, many of them spent their time hunting and fishing in my home state of Indiana. They enjoyed the bounties of wildlife-rich areas like the Grand Kankakee Marsh, a half-million-acre area once known as the “Everglades of the North” before it was drained.

*The first convention of the Izaak Walton League, 1923.*

Today, the Izaak Walton League has more than 40,000 members across the country. About 4,500 of them, and 20 chapters, are here in Indiana.

Like other Midwestern states, our land area in Indiana is a mix of agriculture and forests. The vast majority (95%) is privately owned. Here, prioritizing conservation means working together with individual landowners to make the best decisions to steward their land.

Making a change in land management is never simple and rarely free. But doing so can have a big impact on water quality, wildlife habitat, soil health, and more—outcomes that benefit us all.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers programs that help landowners implement new conservation practices. If accepted, participants receive financial assistance to help cover costs and technical assistance to be successful.

Working with farmers over the years, I have seen countless examples of these programs in action. Some will use the programs to establish wildlife habitat on marginal lands that are less suitable for agriculture. Others begin planting a cover crop, which will armor the soil in the off-season and protect against erosion. The list goes on.

The programs are also important for privately-owned forests. One example can be found close to home.

The St. Joseph County, Indiana chapter of the Izaak Walton League offers recreation opportunities for its members and visitors alike. The chapter owns three properties, primarily forested, totaling 130 acres. They include fishing ponds, hiking trails, an archery range, and a 30-target archery course that has attracted shooters from across the country.

Recently, the chapter has used the USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to address invasive species and improve the quality of the habitat of its property.

Honeysuckle, oriental bittersweet, and privet are among the top invasive species the chapter is trying to tackle. Their five-year CSP contract will provide financial resources and a plan to achieve their goals.

“CSP is helping a lot and has allowed us to purchase supplies and machinery to remove invasives. Work is done by our volunteers, and the resources have also helped us purchase safety equipment to ensure safety is our top priority,” said Mike Hay, the chapter’s president.

So far, the effort is working and bringing new volunteers into the fold. Part of the work is also educating participants about invasive species and conservation management more broadly. Even after their contract expires, the volunteers will be more equipped to manage the property in the future.

*Volunteers removing invasive species at the Indiana chapter, 2025.*

Hay is a third generation Izaak Walton League member. At the chapter, he can point out the areas his father and grandfather helped build. When asked why the project is important, he shares, “you can’t do everything, but we can all do something. We’ve got to chip away at it. That’s why we’re enthusiastic about doing this in our community.”

USDA conservation programs like CSP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Conservation Reserve Program are some of the best tools we have to drive conservation on privately owned lands across the country. Combined each year, their impact totals hundreds of thousands of acres in Indiana and tens of millions of acres nationwide – impact highlighted in the Indiana NRCS Annual Report, which outlines how these programs are working on the ground across the state.

At the Izaak Walton League, we continue in the footsteps of our founders to protect our natural resources. In that mission, we advocate for these programs and more—their funding, their improvement, and their continued success. In Indiana, they are making a difference one contract at a time, including in our own backyard.

Learn more about the Izaak Walton League of America by visiting Home – Izaak Walton League of America

Learn more about Farm Bill Conservation Programs and how they benefits hunters and anglers HERE

Kate Hansen, Agriculture Program Director at the Izaak Walton League of America leads the League’s agriculture work to increase conservation practices, improve water quality, and restore soil health on farmland across the country. She is based in northern Indiana.

by: Dan Morgan

posted in: Farm Bill

December 19, 2025

Looking Ahead: TRCP’s Conservation Priorities for 2026

The year ahead provides hunters and anglers with opportunities to further advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access

Building on the achievements of 2025, the year ahead will require the same steady engagement, practical problem-solving, and bipartisan collaboration that have long defined conservation success for hunters and anglers. Theodore Roosevelt understood that progress is not forged from the sidelines, but by those willing to step into the arena, accept responsibility, and do the work. That spirit continues to guide TRCP forward.

While political uncertainty remains and agency capacity is strained, the path ahead is clear. As T.R. urged, “Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action.” Conservation advances when hunters, anglers, landowners, policymakers, and partners stay engaged, work together, and “get action” with purpose and resolve. In 2026, TRCP will remain focused on durable solutions that safeguard access, strengthen habitat, and carry forward the hunting and fishing traditions that define a vigorous American conservation legacy.

With that focus guiding our work, TRCP’s conservation priorities for 2026 include:

Championing Access

Access is where conservation becomes personal. In 2026, TRCP will continue to champion policies that ensure hunters and anglers can reach – and responsibly enjoy – the places that define America’s conservation legacy and our outdoor traditions.

Public lands remain central to this work. TRCP will stay engaged on public access, forest health, habitat restoration, wildlife connectivity, and active stewardship. This work also includes maintaining special places and conserving intact habitats, while advancing management activities that improve habitat conditions and reduce the risk of severe wildfire. We will also focus on ensuring land management plans are implemented as intended, balancing conservation goals with hunting and fishing opportunities.

Access also depends on thoughtful decision making on infrastructure and permitting. TRCP will work to support reforms that improve efficiency without sacrificing longstanding safeguards, recognizing that strong conservation and responsible development must coexist. Bringing diverse stakeholders to the same table will remain central to finding workable, durable solutions.

On private lands, TRCP will continue advancing programs that strengthen access while supporting landowner interests, ensuring these tools remain effective, well-supported, and relevant for hunters, anglers, and landowners alike.

Strengthening Habitat

Healthy habitat is a foundation of conservation – and in 2026, TRCP’s focus will be on turning policy momentum into on-the-ground results. That includes conserving intact habitats where they still exist, while advancing thoughtful management that improves resilience and reduces the risk of severe wildfire.

On private lands, that means ensuring conservation programs deliver real benefits for landowners, wildlife, and sportsmen and women. Historic conservation investments have created opportunities but staffing shortages and delivery challenges threaten outcomes. TRCP will continue working with agencies and partners to identify solutions that keep voluntary conservation effective and accessible, including sustained attention to programs like the Conservation Reserve Program.

Water will remain central to habitat work. In the West, rivers like the Colorado and Rio Grande face increasing pressure from drought, demand, and sustained extreme weather events. TRCP will support bipartisan efforts that promote collaborative river management, invest in watershed health, and recognize that resilient watersheds support fish, wildlife, agriculture, and communities alike.

Habitat priorities also include planning for change. In regions experiencing rapid development, shifting land use, and more extreme weather, TRCP is working to identify priority landscapes and guide smarter conservation investments – particularly where privately owned lands play an outsized role.

Conserving Wildlife Through Habitat and Access

Healthy wildlife populations depend on science-based management and coordination across boundaries. In 2026, TRCP will continue advocating for policies that sustain fish and wildlife while strengthening habitat and supporting the fishing and hunting opportunities they make possible.

This includes championing science-driven marine fisheries management along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts – particularly for forage fish species like menhaden that underpin entire ecosystems and recreational fisheries. TRCP will remain engaged with management bodies to advocate for decisions that reflect the best available science, while building broader regional support for conservation outcomes that benefit anglers, coastal communities, and wildlife alike.

Freshwater systems will also remain a priority. Along the Mississippi River, TRCP is working to elevate interstate and non-profit coordination on fisheries management, nature based solutions, and invasive species – challenges that no single entity can solve alone, but that directly affect habitat restoration and sporting opportunities throughout the basin.

On land, wildlife health continues to demand sustained attention. Chronic wasting disease remains a complex, evolving challenge. In 2026, TRCP will continue focusing on collaborative research and thoughtful engagement that reflects reality – there are no quick fixes, but informed, coordinated action can make a meaningful difference over time.

Across these efforts, TRCP will continue strengthening the links between hunters, anglers, science, and policy – and work to ensure that decision-makers have access to credible research and practical pathways to act.

Staying Engaged, Together

The year ahead will bring both challenges and opportunity – but conservation has never advanced by standing still. It moves forward when people stay engaged, build on what works, and commit for the long haul.

In 2026, TRCP will continue prioritizing durable, bipartisan solutions grounded in science and strengthened through collaboration. Progress may not always come quickly, but history has shown that steady engagement, shared responsibility, and persistence deliver lasting results.

As we look ahead, the call is the same one Theodore Roosevelt issued more than a century ago: step into the arena, get action, and do the work. Conservation moves forward when hunters, anglers, partners, and decision makers show up together. With your continued support, TRCP will keep working to advance solutions that safeguard wildlife, strengthen habitat, and secure access – today and for generations to come. As TR urged, we will “get action” and do the work necessary to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

When we unite, we win.

Stay connected in 2026. 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.

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