USDA Accepts Nearly 150,000 Acres in Grassland CRP in Wyoming; Underlines Importance of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

CASPER, Wyo., July 19, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers on nearly 150,000 acres in Wyoming and nearly 2.7 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners nationwide through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup. Grassland CRP, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), leverages working lands practices to improve biodiversity and conserve environmentally sensitive land; allowing producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands. Grasslands enrolled in CRP also help sequester carbon in vegetation and soil, while enhancing resilience to drought and wildfire.  

“The success of this year’s Grassland CRP signup in Wyoming and nationwide, demonstrates the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, working lands conservation programs,” said Bill Bunce, State Executive Director for FSA in Wyoming. “Grassland CRP clearly demonstrates that conservation priorities and agricultural productivity can coexist and also complement and enhance one another. Through all our working lands conservation programs, Wyoming farmers and ranchers play a critical role in helping secure the future of our food production and our natural resources.”    

Grassland CRP in Wyoming    

To target conservation in key geographies, USDA prioritizes land within two National Priority Zones, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Dust Bowl area. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem zone, which covers much of Western Wyoming, FSA accepted 78,757 acres, more than doubling the existing enrollment in the zone of 64,257 acres. Acceptance of these acres in Wyoming underlines the importance of one of the largest intact temperate-zone ecosystems in the world. 

CRP acres enrolled in these priority zones contribute to USDA’s broader Working Lands for Wildlife conservation efforts by conserving working grasslands and other lands that underpin iconic big game migrations. Specifically, in Wyoming, the Big Game Conservation Partnership Pilot, brings together FSA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State of Wyoming to strategically implement USDA conservation programs, including Grassland CRP. Through this partnership and programs like Grassland CRP,  USDA, Wyoming CRP participants, and conservation partners can ensure the success of programs like the Big Game Conservation Partnership Pilot while helping the ranchers of Wyoming maintain their vital grazing operations. 

Overall CRP Enrollment 

Grassland CRP is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and conserve natural resources. In June, USDA announced acceptance of more than 1 million acres through the 2023 General CRP signup, and more than 465,800 acres have been submitted through the Continuous CRP signup so far this year.  These added acres will bring program enrollment closer to the statutory cap of 27 million, while keeping a reasonable reserve for CRP General and Continuous signups as well as existing and new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreements. 

Broadening Reach of Program         As part of the Agency’s Justice40 efforts, producers and landowners who are underserved, including beginning farmers, limited-resource producers and military veterans, received 20 additional ranking points to enhance their offers. From more than 6,400 underserved producers, USDA accepted offers of more than 1.8 million acres, about 74% of those who submitted applications.          Additionally, USDA is working to broaden the scope and reach of Grassland CRP by leveraging CREP to engage underserved communities. CREP is a partnership program that enables states, Tribal governments, and non-profit entities to partner with FSA to implement CRP practices and address high priority conservation and environmental objectives. Interested entities are encouraged to contact FSA.      

More Information    

Producers can still make an offer to participate in CRP through the Continuous CRP signup, which is ongoing, by contacting FSA at their local USDA Service Center.      

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.