Rancher Preferences for Grassland Conservation in the Great Plains

By Md. Faizul Kabir and Elliott Dennis et.al

Why Grasslands Matter:

Grasslands across the Great Plains are among the world’s most productive and ecologically valuable ecosystems. They support beef cattle production, provide habitat for wildlife, and store substantial soil carbon (Lark 2020). Yet, these landscapes face growing pressure from cropland expansion and woody-plant encroachment (NRCS 2021). On the western edge of the Corn Belt, comprising North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa, millions of acres have been converted to row crops since the mid-2000s (Wright and Wimberly 2013). While crop production provides economic gain through higher production, converting grassland reduces soil productivity, degrades water quality, and diminishes resilience to drought and fire (Zhang et al. 2021). Protecting grasslands is therefore critical not only for environmental stewardship but also for sustaining livestock-based rural economies.

The Role of the Grassland CRP:

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began in 1985, primarily to retire highly erodible cropland. Over time, it expanded into multiple components: General CRP for competitive land retirement, Continuous CRP for targeted practices (e.g., erosion control, improving water quality), and Grassland CRP for conserving active grazing lands. The Grassland CRP provides the policy context for this article. This program was nationally launched in 2014. It is a working lands program and allows ranchers to continue grazing on enrolled parcels while committing to practices that protect vegetative cover and wildlife habitat on them. Enrollment of Grassland CRP has grown steadily, exceeding 7.7 million acres by 2024, and now accounts for roughly one-third of all CRP acres nationwide (See Figure 1). The Grassland CRP program has notably expanded the scope of CRP.

How the Program Works:

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces Grassland CRP enrollment once a year. To be eligible, land must have a history of grazing and should contain less than 5% tree cover. A cropping history is not mandatory. Applicants must retain the right to use or manage the land during the contract period. After the signup period, FSA scores each offer based on land quality, applicant status, and proposed rental rate. Offers are ranked nationally. Contracts are awarded to applicants who meet the selection threshold that depends on the budget. Participants sign 10 to 15 year contracts that require maintaining grass cover and adhering to a conservation plan. Participants receive annual rental payments typically valued at 75 percent of local pasture rental rates and may qualify for up to 50 percent cost-share on conservation improvements, such as fencing or the installation of water pipelines for grazing animals (Pratt et al. 2024).