USDA Announces Additional Continuous Conservation Batching Period and Reminds Producers of Important Upcoming Economic Assistance and Conservation Program Deadlines

(Washington, D.C., April 13, 2026)- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) offers can be submitted during a second batching period that runs through May 1, 2026. Additionally, USDA reminds producers and landowners of the upcoming April 17, 2026, deadline for both the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program and the General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Signup 66. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already made over $9.4 billion in FBA payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. Landowners and producers still have time to submit General CRP offers to convert highly erodible land or environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and enhance wildlife habitat.

"I know spring is a busy time for farmers and ranchers with field work preparations, planting and calving season underway, and it's easy to miss important FSA program deadlines. Please take a minute to check in with your local county office regarding upcoming deadlines," said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. "Don't miss out on these valuable economic support programs because putting Farmers First means making sure you have every opportunity to strengthen your operations and manage financial risk."

Continuous CRP Signup 65, Second Batching Period

The first Continuous CRP batching period closed on March 20, 2026. Since acreage remains available, FSA is opening a second batching period and will consider Continuous CRP offers submitted by interested agricultural producers and landowners between March 23, 2026, and May 1, 2026. Offers to re-enroll expiring CRP continuous acreage will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. New acreage offered in continuous CRP practices will be considered for acceptance on a first-come, first-serve basis if they support USDA conservation priorities including but not limited to practices that address water quality, such as filter strips and grass waterways, and practices that restore native ecosystems or target specific resource concerns.

Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers, and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.

CRP is USDA's flagship conservation program, providing financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, extends FSA's authority to administer CRP through Sept. 30, 2026.

Farmer Bridge Assistance
April 17, 2026, is the deadline to submit completed FBA applications. Pre-filled applications are available online to producers with a Login.gov account who timely filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible commodities. Producers who have a Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application from fsa.usda.gov/fba. Additionally, producers can also request their pre-filled FBA application from their FSA county office.

General CRP Signup 66

General CRP offers must be submitted by April 17, 2026.

General CRP offers are submitted through a competitive bid process. USDA is close to the 27-million-acre statutory cap with 1.9 million acres available for all CRP enrollments this fiscal year, making enrollment competitive. USDA is focused on accepting the acres that can best deliver real, lasting benefits to soil, water and wildlife.

After the enrollment period closes, General CRP offers are ranked and scored by FSA, using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed. In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.

Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers

As a reminder, FSA has reopened the 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. Specialty crop producers now have until April 24, 2026, to report 2025 acres to FSA. Announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on Feb. 13, the ASCF program is designed to help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports.

More Information
To meet upcoming program deadlines, producers should contact their local FSA county office to make an appointment for assistance.