HR 2758 — Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025

Summary

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025This bill revises the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which is a component of the Farm Service Agency's (FSA's) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CREP is a public-private partnership program which allows states, tribal governments, and nonprofit and private entities to partner with FSA to implement CRP practices. CRP is a land conservation program that provides an annual rental payment to farmers in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental health and quality.The bill specifies that dryland agricultural uses and grazing are included as appropriate practices under CREP.The bill also allows a land owner or operator to elect to determine the annual payment amount allocated for each year of a CREP agreement, instead of a fixed payment per year for the contract period.For drought and water conservation agreements that include the permanent retirement of water rights, annual payment rates must be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the case of an agreement that permits dryland agricultural uses, the annual payment rates must be equal to the difference between the irrigated acre payment rates and the dryland acre payment rates determined by USDA. The payment formula is retroactive for certain existing drought and water conservation agreements.Further, the bill exempts CREP payments from the $50,000 annual payment limitation under CRP.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html April 09, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program by adding new definitions and requirements, adjusting payment structures, and changing the applicable agreements.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a

  (other than an agreement described in subsection (e))

  Clarifies that certain agreements are excluded from a specific definition.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(b)(2)(A)(vi)

  conservation practices → or other appropriate practices, such as dryland agricultural uses and grazing,

  Expands the range of practices eligible under the conservation agreement.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(c)

  Variable allocation.--An owner or operator may elect to determine the amounts of annual payments under this section allocated to each year of the agreement under subsection (b)(1).

  Allows flexibility for landowners in choosing how payments are allocated yearly.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(c)

  Drought and water conservation agreements.--

  Introduces provisions for agreements related to drought and water conservation.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(c)(6)(A)

  In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that includes a permanent retirement of water rights, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.

  Establishes payment rates for agreements that retire water rights based on irrigated acre rates.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(c)(6)(B)(i)

  In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that permits dryland agricultural uses pursuant to paragraph (2) of that subsection, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the difference between the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary and the dryland acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.

  Sets mechanisms for payment rates for agreements allowing dryland agricultural uses based on relative acre rates.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(c)(6)(B)(ii)

  Retroactive application.--In the case of an agreement covered by clause (i) entered into before the date of enactment of this paragraph under which the payment rate is lower than the payment rate that would be calculated for the agreement under that clause, the Secretary shall modify the agreement by calculating the payment rate in accordance with that clause.

  Requires the Secretary to retroactively adjust certain agreements to reflect updated payment rates.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(e)

  may-- → shall--

  Changes the allowance of a practice to a requirement for agreements concerning conservation.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(e)(1)

  (including agricultural land on which a continuous crop or crop rotation is maintained)

  Increases the scope of land types included in the agreements.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(e)(2)

  with the adoption of best management practices on → in accordance with a conservation plan adopted with respect to

  Modifies the standard of compliance for best management practices to align with conservation plans.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3831a(e)(3)

  subject to subsection (c)(6),

  Adds a condition relating to the evaluation of payment calculations.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3834(g)(1)

  paragraph (2) → paragraphs (2) and (3)

  Expands the conditions for rental payments applicable to a new paragraph.

• 16 U.S.C. § 3834(g)

  (3) Conservation reserve enhancement program.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to rental payments received under agreements entered into under section 1231A.

  Exempts rental payments from limitations for agreements under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Action History

1. April 09, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. April 09, 2025

   Introduced in House

3. April 09, 2025

   Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sponsors

• Lauren Boebert · Primary
• Gabe Evans · Cosponsor
• Jeff Hurd · Cosponsor
• Tracey Mann · Cosponsor
• Joe Neguse · Cosponsor

Subjects