NGFA Statement on USDA’s Announcement to Provide CRP Flexibility

National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) President and CEO Mike Seyfert issued a statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that it will allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants in the final year of their CRP contract to request voluntary termination. USDA also announced additional flexibilities for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

“NGFA thanks USDA for providing some additional flexibility to producers with expiring CRP contracts and those with existing EQIP and CSP contracts," Seyfert said.

"These actions will allow producers to respond to market signals by putting farmland back into production while providing proven environmental best practices on working lands and continuing to protect our most environmentally sensitive agricultural lands.

"NGFA encourages USDA to consider next year’s expiring CRP contracts as well and to make any announcements in a timely manner that would allow for the planting of 2023 spring crops.

“We should explore every option available to assist countries facing challenges in feeding their growing and hungry populations due to the decline of exports caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"That is why back in March, NGFA called for flexibility to plant on prime farmland idled in the CRP, which represents one out of every four acres in the program. During this global food crisis, NGFA encourages USDA to continue to provide more flexibility to landowners and urges Congress to make reforms in the next farm bill to prevent idling of productive farmland acres,” said Seyfert.