H.R. 8843House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:03 PM UTC

The bill changes the 1985 Food Security Act to raise the amount of land that can be signed up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). It sets higher minimum acre limits for each fiscal year from 2021 through 2025, aiming to get more farmland into the program. The changes apply to general enrollment contracts and do not affect the program’s continuous enrollment stream. It also directs the USDA to give priority to projects that improve soil health and capture carbon, such as planting deep‑rooted perennials.

Key Provisions

Sets minimum CRP enrollment caps: at least 28 million acres for FY 2021, 32 million for FY 2022, 37 million for FY 2023, 43 million for FY 2024, and 50 million for FY 2025.
Leaves the continuous enrollment portion of the CRP unchanged.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize enrollment applications that promote soil health and carbon sequestration, especially those involving deep‑rooted perennial crops.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

December 3, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 3, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

December 3, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 3, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8843

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 3, 2020

Mr. Peterson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes.

Increase in authorized maximum enrollment in conservation reserve

(a)

General enrollment increase

Section 1231(d)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(1)(E)) is amended by striking subparagraphs (C) through (E) and inserting the following:

(C)

fiscal year 2021, to the maximum extent practicable, not fewer than 28,000,000 acres;

(D)

fiscal year 2022, to the maximum extent practicable, not fewer than 32,000,000 acres;

(E)

fiscal year 2023, to the maximum extent practicable, not fewer than 37,000,000 acres;

(F)

fiscal year 2024, to the maximum extent practicable, not fewer than 43,000,000 acres; and

(G)

fiscal year 2025, to the maximum extent practicable, not fewer than 50,000,000 acres.

(b)

Limitation

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall have no effect on the number of acres enrolled and maintained in the conservation reserve program using the continuous enrollment procedure under section 1231(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(6)).

(c)

Priority

In holding a signup for general enrollment contracts for 25,000,000 acres of the total acres authorized to be enrolled in the conservation reserve program under subparagraphs (C) through (G) of section 1231(d)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(1)), the Secretary shall give priority to applications for the enrollment of land that would promote soil health and carbon sequestration, including applications for the enrollment of land on which deep-rooted perennials will be planted.