The USDA pays farmers across the country approximately $1.7 billion annually to establish and maintain perennial cover on about 32 million acres of private farm lands under the Conservation Reserve Program.  Since the CRP was established in the 1985 Farm Bill, it has provided enormous conservation benefits in the way of reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, and providing high quality habitat for many species of wildlife.  Now, without public participation and without reviewing the impacts of its action, the USDA is allowing haying and grazing on 24 million acres of lands enrolled in the CRP, endangering important habitat. On behalf of the National Wildlife Federation, we are requesting review of this decision.

UPDATE!  On July 8, 2008 we were granted a Temporary Restraining Order preventing the USDA from processing or approving any additional CRP contract modifications and ordering all CRP participants who have already received contract modifications to halt haying or grazing.

On July 24, 2008 Federal District Court Judge Coughenour granted our request for a Permanent Injunction. 

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Attorney: Sarah McMillan