S. 2608 — CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025

This section revises the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)—under which the Secretary of Agriculture enrolls eligible land through contracts to conserve soil, water, and wildlife resources—as follows: (1) designates land enrolled under the State acres for wildlife enhancement (SAFE) practice as continuously enrollable; (2) authorizes emergency haying on up to 50% of contract acres during the final two weeks of, and outside of, the primary nesting season in response to localized or regional drought (D2 or greater on U.S. Drought Monitor), flooding, wildfire, or other emergency with at least 40% county forage loss or a Secretary determination (in coordination with the state technical committee), and prohibits haying or grazing in such periods if it would cause long-term damage to vegetative cover for wildlife populations; (3) provides cost-sharing payments for grazing infrastructure (e.g., interior cross fencing, perimeter fencing, rural water connections, water wells, pipelines, water tanks) if grazing addresses a resource concern in the conservation plan, and deems land with such infrastructure as planted (for eligibility purposes) upon contract expiration, making it eligible for reenrollment; and (4) limits cost-sharing payments for mid-contract management to activities other than haying or grazing; and (5) increases the annual limitation on rental payments to $125,000 (from $50,000).