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119-hr-5111119th CongressWALLET

CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would increase CRP flexibility for habitat and grazing. It centers on adding continuous enrollment for certain wildlife acres, allowing emergency haying and grazing under set conditions, expanding grazing cost‑shares, and raising payment limits.

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  • Producers would be allowed emergency haying or grazing on up to 50% of contract acres in declared local or regional disasters when triggers apply, such as a county drought rating of D2 or at least a 40% loss in forage, or a Secretary determination that activity aids disaster response.
  • Conservation and management would gain new options because State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) lands could enroll continuously and mid‑contract management cost‑share would cover more non‑haying/grazing activities; emergency haying that causes long‑term damage during the final two weeks of nesting would be barred.
  • Payments and reenrollment would change: cost‑share support would explicitly cover grazing infrastructure like cross fencing and water systems, land with such infrastructure could be treated as planted for reenrollment, and the rental payment cap would rise from $50,000 to $125,000.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher CRP rental payment cap

If enacted, the bill would raise the annual maximum CRP rental payment from $50,000 to $125,000. This would let landowners and producers who previously hit the $50,000 cap receive larger rental payments. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Cost-share for grazing and management

If enacted, CRP owners and operators would be able to get cost-share payments for grazing infrastructure like interior cross fencing, perimeter fencing, and water systems when grazing is in the conservation plan and addresses a resource concern. The bill would also let the Secretary pay part of the cost for eligible mid-contract management activities, except those related to haying or grazing. Land with grazing infrastructure built with cost-share would be considered "planted" for reenrollment purposes. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Emergency haying and limited grazing

If enacted, the bill would allow emergency haying on all CRP practices during the final two weeks of the primary nesting season and outside that season in response to local or regional drought, flooding, wildfire, or other emergencies. Emergency haying would be limited to no more than 50 percent of contract acres identified in the site-specific plan and would apply only if one of three tests is met: the county is D2 (severe drought) or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor, the county has at least a 40 percent loss in forage production, or the Secretary and the State technical committee determine haying can help without causing permanent damage. Haying or grazing would be prohibited if it would cause long-term damage to vegetative cover for wildlife. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Continuous CRP signup for wildlife acres

If enacted, land enrolled under the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement practice would be eligible for CRP continuous enrollment. This would let producers use the continuous signup pathway to enroll SAFE wildlife practices. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/22/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]

    SD • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 2/23/2026

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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