New enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program has stopped following the September 30th expiration of the 2018 farm bill, leaving USDA without authority to approve additional contracts.
DTN reports Congress’ latest continuing resolution funds the federal government through December 11th, but does not extend the farm bill.
The Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency told offices that September 30th was the deadline for approving CRP contracts.
Beginning October 1st, county offices can complete certain activities involving contracts approved before the deadline, subject to state office review.
The lapse does not mean all farm bill programs immediately stop. Legislation passed in 2025 preserved funding for crop insurance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and many other agricultural programs through 2031.
CRP faces a different problem because USDA’s legal authority to enroll new acreage expired.
The 2018 farm bill originally expired in 2023 and was subsequently extended three times. Congress could restore CRP enrollment by extending or reauthorizing the program.
