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CRP Reform Act introduced in U.S. Senate

Bipartisan legislation to scale back the Conservation Reserve Program is being introduced in the U.S. Senate.

Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley says he and New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker are teaming up on the CRP Reform Act.

“The bill will fundamentally change CRP from enrolling prime farmland in the program to enrolling more marginal farmland.”

The bill would reduce the CRP acreage cap from 28 million to 24 million acres for the next five years and lower the payment rate from 85 percent of county rental averages to 75 percent.

“While these two items save money, I’ve committed to (Senator) Booker that the bill will remain budget neutral.”

Grassley says that’s accomplished by increasing payments for practices like grass waterways, filter strips, prairie strips, and by allowing up to 30-year CRP contracts.