Farm Conservation Update: Bill Boosts Payment Flexibility and Water Protection Under CREP

This bill, the "Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025," tweaks the rules for a key government program that pays farmers and landowners to take sensitive land out of production for conservation purposes. It amends parts of the Food Security Act of 1985, aiming to make the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) more attractive and effective, particularly when it comes to protecting water resources.

More Control Over Conservation Cash

One straightforward change gives landowners more say in how they receive their money. Under Section 2 of the bill (amending Section 1231A of the Food Security Act), landowners enrolled in CREP agreements can decide how their annual payments are allocated throughout the year. Think of it like choosing your payment schedule – instead of a fixed structure, you might have options that better fit your farm's cash flow needs. This added flexibility could make participating in conservation efforts easier to manage financially.

New Math for Water Conservation Payments

The legislation sets specific payment rates for agreements focused on water. If a landowner agrees to permanently retire water rights on their land (meaning they stop using that water for irrigation), the payment rate will match the standard rate for irrigated acres, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. For agreements that allow for dryland farming (farming without irrigation) instead of irrigated farming, the payment rate is set as the difference between the established irrigated and dryland acre rates. The bill also requires the Secretary to update existing agreements to this new rate if the current one is lower, potentially giving some landowners a pay bump for their ongoing conservation work. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary to actively seek agreements specifically designed to protect water resources on agricultural land.

Clearing the Path: Payment Limits Lifted for CREP

Typically, there are limits on the total amount of money a single farming operation can receive from various government programs. This bill makes a specific exception for CREP. By amending Section 1234(g) of the Food Security Act, it exempts the rental payments landowners receive through CREP agreements from these overall payment limitations. This means participating in CREP won't count against the cap for other farm support programs, potentially removing a barrier for landowners considering enrolling larger or more valuable tracts of land into conservation focused on water quality and availability.