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by: Ryan Lockwood

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May 6, 2026

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by: Aaron Field

posted in:

April 30, 2026

New Farm Bill Passes the House: Key Impacts for Hunters and Anglers

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a meaningful step forward for hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, and the working lands we all depend on.

We are now closer to a comprehensive ag policy update than we have been since 2018. Today, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on a 224-200 vote, with bipartisan support. 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 underlying structure that makes these programs work.

“We’re grateful to Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Angie Craig, and members on both sides of the aisle who worked to advance conservation priorities that benefit hunters, anglers, wildlife habitat and the farmers, ranchers, and landowners who steward these lands every day. This bill recognizes that healthy, productive working lands are good for everyone,” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “This is one step in a longer journey – negotiations will continue and a Senate process awaits – but we’re encouraged by the bipartisan commitment to building a Farm Bill that works for sportsmen, sportswomen, and working lands alike.”

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

Compared to House votes on recent Farm Bills, this bill received stronger than average support from both Republicans and Democrats, with 14 Democrats voting in support. With tight margins in the Senate, bipartisanship will be essential. Major sticking points remain, including earlier changes within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state authority to regulate swine production, and year-round use of higher blends of ethanol in gasoline. 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 passage is a major step forward, but further debate will occur as the bill moves to the Senate. Currently, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are working on their own proposal. Although the bills will likely be very similar, there will be changes before this bill becomes law.

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 committee markup, 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.

Contain 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.

You can help. Conservation is, and should be, a shared priority regardless of party affiliation or ideology. Congress needs to hear that this is important to you. Take action here.

Top photo: @NickMKE on Flickr.

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.

by: Ryan Lockwood

posted in:

April 28, 2026

In the Arena: Cason Short

TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.

Cason Short

Hometown: Hunter, Arkansas
Occupation: Owner of Bill Byers Hunter Club, partner of farming operation Byers Family Ltd., and co-host of The Standard Sportsman Podcast
Conservation credentials: Short developed a passion for hunting greenheads in the flooded timber of eastern Arkansas through the guidance of his father and grandfather, and translated that knowledge into managing the family farm and on-site hunting club for conservation. In 2024 and 2025 he was an advisory council member for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and he shares his knowledge of waterfowl hunting in the wooded bottomlands of eastern Arkansas on a popular weekly podcast.

A lifelong Arkansan, Short is the third-generation operator of the Bill Byers Hunter Club near Hunter, Ark., which has been hosting duck hunters for more than 70 years. The property offers thousands of managed acres of seasonally flooded timber and rice fields, with food plots, a hunting lodge, and strategically placed pit blinds – but much hunting is still done knee-deep in green timber. Short recently began to share his experise and insights on waterfowl hunting in the highly productive habitat of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), an area adjacent to the Mississippi River that includes eastern Arkansas, through The Standard Sportsman Podcast. Sponsored by names like Ducks Unlimited and Sitka, the podcast features informational discussions about regional waterfowl behavior, habitat, and private lands conservation, as wells as the strong duck hunting heritage in Arkansas. Short endeavors to hang on to hunting heritage and conservation principles and share them with others as widely as he is able.

Here is his story.

My earliest memories of hunting come from being around our lodge as a young boy. I would tag along with any guide who would let me, and I never missed a chance to hunt with my father and grandfather. Duck hunting was a huge part of our life, but my grandfather instilled upon me the importance of stewardship. As a landowner, he felt he was entrusted with taking care of the land and everything on it. Having a farm for a playground lent itself to enjoying everything outdoors, from fishing to whitetail deer hunting.

I’ve been blessed to spend a lot of time on our farm, but my greatest memories aren’t necessarily from my own hunts. Seeing my three sons harvest their first duck and then their first deer are by far the greatest moments in the field. It’s pretty special to see the fourth generation carrying on the role that my grandfather passed down on the farm.

“Reaping the rewards of your own hard work is hard to beat.”

I’m a pretty simple man. I like working to build something, and that makes hunting and fishing at our farm the best. Don’t get me wrong, I hope to take my children out West one day to chase elk, or possibly east to hunt the waterfowl there, but reaping the rewards of your own hard work is hard to beat.

Conservation doesn’t just enhance my outdoor life. It’s better to say it allows me to have an outdoor life. Without conservation production, agriculture would be all we would know. There wouldn’t be any room for wildlife. But it can be difficult to convince a farmer and businessman to leave money on the table and do something in the name of wildlife. Voluntary programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WREs) – both funded by the Farm Bill – offer an economic alternative to ag production. Both in terms of income to offset the loss of taking land out of production, and the overall bottom line when we look at marginal farmland and the losses that may be incurred when Mother Nature has other plans.

When these programs are implemented as part of an overall conservation plan, the rewards to both the landowner and the wildlife that inhabit it can be amazing. With these types of programs, we have reduced the taxpayer burden by restoring marginal farmland that could have seen a number of crop insurance claims, and we’ve also increased the carrying capacity for wildlife that benefits users well beyond the borders of the property lines. We’ve seen it firsthand with our reforestation projects. Obviously, the target species have thrived, but it’s the effects on non-target species that really open your eyes to the scope of the good that is being done. A simple project targeting whitetails and waterfowl now also plays host to bobwhite quail, rabbits, and box turtles.

Funding has become the biggest conservation challenge in eastern Arkansas. Or maybe access to funding. There are great programs out there like WREs, but the vehicles to get the funding to the areas that make the biggest impact are failing Americans. We need to conserve where we can have the biggest impact, but that’s hard to do that when we put stipulations in place that dictate where that funding has to be spent. Too often, small tracts of land are prioritized because of their proximity to protected lands, as opposed to their overall impact and value to wildlife. If the goal is “farm the best and restore the rest,” we must be proactive in how we select and fund these projects.

Conservation is a mindset. It’s knowing that you have a duty to the land. Without it, we wouldn’t have the great outdoors. I’m involved in conservation for four main reasons: Byers, Mac, Ford, and Charlie. My four children. And for the entire next generation of outdoorsmen and women. As small towns dry up, and year-round sports continue to attract young kids, hunting and fishing continue to take a back seat. All while we continue to lose habitat. We must conserve what we have, and hopefully restore even more if we want to hang on to the legacy of hunting and fishing for future generations.

Banner image credit: Ed Wall

The Hunter & Angler’s Guide to the Farm Bill

It can be difficult to understand all the acronyms tied to Farm Bill conservation programs and why the reauthorization and improvement of this legislation 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.

by: Dan Morgan

posted in:

April 24, 2026

Hunters and Anglers Applaud NRCS Support For Critical Hunting and Fishing Access Program

USDA-NRCS announces VPA-HIP funding that benefits hunters, anglers, and working lands

Today, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), opening the door for state and Tribal wildlife agencies to apply for funding that will expand public hunting and fishing access on private lands across the nation.

This release of $52 million – the largest amount in VPA-HIP history – will make a tremendous difference in both the quality and quantity of private lands open to public hunting and fishing. Not only will this benefit hunters and anglers, but also farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who enroll in access programs, as well as rural businesses that depend on sportsmen and sportswomen.

“Lack of access is one of the biggest barriers to hunting and fishing participation. VPA-HIP works to address that through locally-led access programs designed to meet the needs of hunters, anglers, and landowners,” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “We applaud NRCS for distributing this critical access funding which will help deliver the priorities of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission.”

Since 2023, following the initial expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill, VPA-HIP has relied on piecemeal funding, and in 2024 received no funding at all. This uncertainty made it difficult for state and Tribal agencies to plan, maintain, or expand private lands access programs, limiting opportunities for hunters, anglers, and landowners alike. Without this announcement, hunters and anglers stood to lose hundreds of thousands of access in the next few years.

“The VPA-HIP program has provided important funding to help state fish and wildlife agencies enhance public recreational access and habitat on private land across the country,” said Paul Johansen, chief of the wildlife resources section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “A major barrier to outdoor recreation is access, so the availability of these new VPA-HIP funds is needed to ensure the outdoors are open and open for everyone. This program has an incredible return on investment of 8:1 for the economy and is a key tool towards retaining, reactivating, and recruiting outdoor recreationalists.”

“Expanding voluntary public access on private lands is one of the most effective ways to strengthen our nation’s upland hunting tradition while supporting private landowners,” said Andrew Schmidt, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Increasing access for hunting and incentivizing voluntary conservation on private lands are both key priorities for the MABA 250 initiative, and PF & QF thank NRCS and the Trump Administration for ensuring VPA-HIP will continue to deliver meaningful benefits to rural communities.”   

VPA-HIP is the only federal program specifically designed to expand public hunting and fishing access on private lands through a voluntary, incentive-based approach led by state and Tribal wildlife agencies. By compensating landowners who choose to open their lands to public access, the program respects private property rights and working-lands needs while supporting habitat improvements and responsible access management. In doing so, VPA-HIP helps address the loss of places to hunt and fish, sustains America’s hunting and fishing traditions, and supports rural economies tied to outdoor recreation. The release of this Notice of Funding Opportunity ensures that states and Tribes can once again plan and deliver reliable access programs, translating this investment into meaningful, on-the-ground opportunities for hunters, anglers, and landowners.

Learn more about VPA-HIP and see examples of how the program creates access here.

Top photo: Aaron Field

What Is VPA-HIP?

by: Dan Morgan

posted in:

April 23, 2026

Thompson, Vasquez, and onX’s Siegfried and Orvidas Receive TRCP’s Conservation Awards

Gala event hosted by MeatEater’s Steven Rinella brought together D.C. luminaries, outdoor industry leaders, and TRCP supporters

At its 18^th annual Capital Conservation Awards Dinner, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership honored a Republican congressman, a Democratic congressman, and a technology company – united by a shared commitment to conservation. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas of onX were recognized for conservation achievements that reflect the breadth and durability of TRCP’s mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

The gala event was hosted by Steven Rinella, founder of MeatEater and TRCP board member, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The evening brought together more than 500 conservation advocates, policymakers, and outdoor industry leaders for TRCP’s marquee annual event.  

The evening also featured remarks from special guest Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who spoke on the importance of hunters and anglers to conservation, Theodore Roosevelt’s enduring legacy, and the recently re-established Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council and Make America Beautiful Again commission.

“We are thrilled to be presenting our 2026 awards to four leaders who, in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation,” said Matt Cook, TRCP CEO and board chair. “Representatives Thompson and Vasquez are exactly the kind of leaders this work depends on. They have been instrumental in clinching legislative victories for habitat, access, and conservation funding that will impact hunting and fishing opportunities for years to come. And we’re honored to celebrate the contributions of Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas at onX, whose work has fundamentally changed how hunters and anglers engage with public lands.”

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.)

(L to R) TRCP Board Member Steven Rinella, Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, and TRCP CEO and Board Chair Matt Cook

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania has been a consistent and effective voice for hunters and anglers who depend on healthy working lands. As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, his commitment to conservation programs within the Farm Bill - and his willingness to work across the aisle to advance them - reflects exactly the kind of durable, results-oriented leadership that moves the needle for hunters and anglers. And under his leadership, the Conservation and Forestry Titles have been a priority, not an afterthought – including fighting to secure one of, if not, the largest increases in funding for the Conservation Title in history He is also a leader in combating the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, as he fought to get the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act signed into law, and was instrumental in the inclusion of the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act in the House Farm Bill.

Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.)

(L to R) TRCP Board Member Steven Rinella, Representative Gabe Vasquez, and TRCP CEO and Board Chair Matt Cook

Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico represents a district defined by some of the West’s most storied hunting and fishing country and he has championed policies that protect public land access, wildlife corridors, and the sporting traditions that bring communities together.  As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, he works to build conservation solutions on private land that benefit wildlife and support farmers and ranchers. His work goes further though, as he has emerged as a leading champion for public lands conservation and access. He introduced the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act,  Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act, and co-founded the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.

Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas, onX

(L to R) TRCP Board Member Steven Rinella, onX founder Eric Siegfried, onX CEO Laura Orvidas, and TRCP CEO and Board Chair Matt Cook

Eric Siegfried, founder of onX, helped catalyze groundbreaking work with TRCP to identify 16.43 million acres of landlocked public lands across 22 states – an effort that helped drive full, permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, elevate public access in federal land policy, and inspire landmark legislation like the MAPLand Act.

As CEO, Laura Orvidas has built on that foundation by advancing passage of the MAPLand and MAPWaters Acts, championing walk-in access programs including the Farm Bill’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, and mobilizing the onX community to defend and expand access to public lands. Together, Siegfried, Orvidas, and the team at onX, represent what is possible when innovation and a deep commitment to the hunting and fishing community come together in service of conservation.

Now in its 18^th year, the Capital Conservation Awards Dinner has become one of Washington’s premier gatherings at the intersection of conservation, policy, and the American sporting tradition. TRCP looks forward to continuing that work alongside its partners and supporters in the year ahead.

The 18^th annual Capital Conservation Awards Dinner was made possible with the support of the following generous sponsors:

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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