New Report Reviews CRP And Hay Trends

By Scout Nelson

Conservation programs, forage production, and grazing resources continue to play an important role in supporting livestock agriculture across the United States. Recent information shows changes in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment, harvested hay acreage, and grazing capacity that may affect future forage supplies and cattle production.

The Conservation Reserve Program, managed by the USDA Farm Service Agency, encourages landowners to remove environmentally sensitive cropland from production and establish long-term vegetation. The program helps reduce soil erosion while improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and environmental conservation. National CRP enrollment reached its highest level in 2007 before declining significantly. More recent increases mainly come from Grassland CRP, while non-grassland CRP acres remain lower than previous levels.

Matthew Diersen, Griffith Endowed Professor and SDSU Extension Risk and Business Management Specialist, and Hoanh Le examined national and South Dakota trends to help explain how conservation programs and forage resources continue to influence agricultural production. Their work highlights the relationship between CRP enrollment, hay production, grazing land, and livestock demand while providing useful information for producers planning future management decisions.

As cropland leaves non-grassland CRP, much of it returns to annual row crop production instead of forage production. During the past decade, harvested hay acreage has declined across many states, including South Dakota. This reduction follows long-term changes in cattle inventories and reflects shifts in land use across major agricultural regions.

South Dakota follows many of the same trends seen nationally. Grassland CRP has expanded since 2017, while non-grassland CRP remains relatively stable. The state now has about 2.6 million acres enrolled in CRP, with most acres classified as Grassland CRP. Several central and northeastern counties continue to have the highest non-grassland CRP enrollment.

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