GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (DTN) -- For decades, the Conservation Reserve Program has kept millions of acres of cropland idle in the name of conservation. Now, cattle producers say those acres could be doing double duty -- protecting the land while also helping to rebuild a shrinking national cow herd.

Shayne Wiese has used the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to diversify his family's cattle operation. Wiese is the fifth generation to raise and sell Herefords at Wiese & Sons Herefords, near Manning in west-central Iowa. Along with his father, Dave, and brother, Chance, they raise purebred and commercial Hereford cattle.

The operation started in 1912 and has consistently aimed to raise real-world Hereford genetics while emphasizing soil and land preservation through continuous stewardship and conservation practices.

"We have had rotational-grazed pastures and had CRP since the 1980s. We look at CRP as a tool to diversify our business and provide seasonal cash flow to help us, especially in the years when we need it," Wiese explained. "I know that CRP was started to help protect the highly erodible ground, but I also think there may be an opportunity for the program to be more conducive to the cattle industry."

HISTORY OF CRP

USDA's CRP was established in 1985 to help prevent erosion of cropland. By 1986, landowners began enrolling highly erodible cropland by putting it in a 10 to 15-year contract. By 1990, 33 million acres were enrolled, according to USDA. This peaked at more than 36 million acres in 2007 and has declined since 2021. The program has had goals of improving not just soil erosion, but also water quality and wildlife habitats.

CRP acreage is capped under the 2018 farm bill at 27 million acres. In a recent DTN Ag Policy Blog, Ag Policy Editor Jake Zajkowski wrote that in fiscal year 2026, USDA has accepted more than 2.2 million acres into the program. And this spring, producers submitted nearly 2.5 million acres for consideration under General, Grassland and Continuous CRP sign-ups.

Nearly 1.5 million acres of CRP are set to expire on Sept. 30. Producers submitted offers to re-enroll 982,000 of those acres, and another 1.5 million acres were offered for new enrollment.

The only time the ground in CRP can be used is for emergency haying and grazing. This is determined by county with the designation of D2 or higher on the U.S. Drought Monitor, or in a county where there is at least a 40% loss in forage production. This is in eligible counties if the grass stand is in condition to support such activity and is subject to a modified conservation plan.

These options are available under non-emergency haying and grazing provisions outside of the primary nesting season. Nesting seasons vary by state.

A CHANGE COULD HELP SEVERAL SECTORS

Julia Peebles, senior director of Public Policy for Ducks Unlimited, told DTN that their organization works to fit the needs of ranchers and their operations through voluntary and incentive-based programs.

"We partner with ranchers to implement sustainable grazing systems that promote healthy ecosystems through grazing and water management plans and grazing infrastructure that not only improves conservation on the landscape, but enhances economic stability, livestock health, water quality and vegetative growth," she said.

Peebles said they are more than happy to work with cattle producers.

"The bird community that nests within the Prairie Pothole Region evolved with large herds of grazing bison. Grazing is compatible with the bird community achieving good reproductive success in areas grazed by cattle," she added. "Our philosophy at Ducks Unlimited is 'What is good for the herd is good for the bird.'"

Wiese said he thinks CRP ground can be a very useful tool for cattle producers, and used properly in an integrated grazing system, improvements have been seen in soil health. But it's also important to make sure the grass isn't becoming so stagnant, and the ecosystem is working.

"By grazing ground properly, we have seen improvement in our pastures," Wiese said. "The plants seed themselves back, and new plants are more likely to grow in a good ecosystem. On some of our CRP ground, we don't see as many new grass species."

NCBA POLICY CHANGE PROPOSED

Cattlemen across the country have raised the question of changing CRP rules. At the 2026 CattleCon in Nashville in February, several states proposed a policy amendment to how the National Cattlemen's Beef Association supports the Conservation Reserve Program. Due to the need for changes in what was brought forward, the amendment was withdrawn to get the policy rewritten. At the NCBA Summer Business Meeting next week, the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA), along with Kansas, Illinois and Wisconsin organizations, will introduce a modernized policy to make CRP more usable by cattle producers as working lands.

Kelli Klink, director of government relations and public policy for ICA, said the group realizes not every state utilizes CRP but hopes that making grazing available on these acres would help young and beginning producers find acres for cows.

"We think this could help provide some much-needed grassland to help grow the cow herd and add some longevity for producers who may not see an option to keep their cows," she said.

Some of the points are that grazing CRP creates access to producers, especially in states with a lot of competition for the land. This was a point that Wiese shared as well.

"The other states need to realize the competition we have for land in Iowa. CRP causes competition for cattle producers and has undeniably affected cow numbers," said Wiese. "I think I heard that since 1975, Iowa has lost 50% of its cow herd. We can't afford to lose more, and finding a way to be able to better utilize CRP with cattle production could really help all producers."

The details will be debated and likely amended during the business meeting, but Klink explained a price adjustment would be expected if CRP grazing were allowed. This could be offset by the amount a landowner would receive for leasing or renting the ground to a cattle producer for grazing. A clause would likely be included in the policy for drought situations to be able to use the ground if feasible during dry conditions, similar to the current regulation.

The House and Senate versions of the farm bill each make some changes to allow more grazing on CRP ground under certain conditions, such as drought.

"Management plans would be an important part of a grazing allowance. It would be important to address scenarios of both drought and excessive moisture," Klink said. "Timing availability will be discussed too, in order to make wildlife partners agree."

Peebles said Ducks Unlimited supports establishing a working lands component under CRP, which would allow managed grazing as a conservation practice on enrolled acres.

"Doing so will promote continuous grazing, enhance perennial grass cover and restore grassland habitat," she added.

Wiese agreed, saying it's time to use CRP correctly -- benefiting not just one industry, but the entire ecosystem.

"Our ultimate goal is to get a leasing or renting benefit for both parties -- the landowner and the cattle producer -- and make it a true partnership," Klink said. "We want to be completely respectful of the land. It's a win for everyone involved."

Also read:

-- "USDA's Competitive CRP Enrollment Adds 1.5 Million New Acres," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Prime Time to Reform the Conservation Reserve Program," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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