Farm Bill 2.0 Supports Wildlife Connectivity, But the Work Continues
Working lands, and the farmers and ranchers who steward them, are central to the conservation of wildlife habitat in the West. When managed thoughtfully, these lands provide essential habitat, enable wildlife movement, and maintain landscape connectivity. Conservation programs authorized under the farm bill are critical tools for preserving the working lands of the West and the wildlife species that rely on them.
The House Agriculture Committee recently advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, informally dubbed “Farm Bill 2.0.” The nickname reflects the many farm bill priorities that were addressed last summer through the budget reconciliation process in the “Big Beautiful Bill.” While the previous legislation laid important groundwork, Farm Bill 2.0 presents a renewed opportunity to direct USDA resources and incentives toward land stewards seeking to enhance habitat connectivity and support wildlife movement.
Here’s what we’re tracking as a farm bill draft moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
Supporting Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors
The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage the use of conservation practices that support the development, restoration, and maintenance of habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors across all conservation programs. While the implementation provision will depend on the priorities of the Secretary of Agriculture, it places greater emphasis on connectivity for big game species while supporting the ranches and working lands that provide big game habitat.
An amendment offered by Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), developed in collaboration with Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and based on the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act, was adopted. The amendment includes multiple provisions to support migration corridors and habitat connectivity. One notable feature codifies USDA’s ability to apply multiple programs on the same acres for better conservation outcomes for working lands and habitat—a strategy known as “program stacking.” This approach allows EQIP or the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to operate on the same land as Grassland CRP, enabling landowners to receive compensation for the forage they provide to wildlife while simultaneously investing in habitat improvements through EQIP, such as wildlife friendly fencing or herbaceous weed control. Landowners should not be expected to shoulder the costs of managing habitat for big game without receiving support for stewardship. Program stacking has been a cornerstone of the USDA Migratory Big Game Initiative, which has demonstrated success in Wyoming.
The USDA Migratory Big Game Initiative, championed by the Western Landowners Alliance, exemplifies how policy, incentive-based programs, and landowner collaboration can sustain working lands while supporting wildlife movement. WLA seeks to expand this approach across additional states in the West, fostering connected landscapes that benefit both wildlife and ranching operations.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Reauthorization
Farm Bill 2.0 reauthorizes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), including Grassland CRP, for five years. Aligning CRP’s schedule with the rest of Title II addressed in the Big Beautiful Bill helps reduce the administrative complications associated with repeated expirations and extensions. While reauthorization is a positive step, the bill largely maintains the status quo, missing opportunities for meaningful program improvements such as increasing annual payment limits to $125,000. The current limit of $50,000 was set when the program was launched more than 40 years ago. You could buy a new pickup truck for less than $10,000 back then! The Senate will have an important role in considering these potential improvements to Grassland CRP.
Enhanced Conservation Easement Programs
The legislation is expected to advance conservation easement efforts significantly. Notably, it establishes a new Forest Conservation Easement Program with mandatory funding, addressing gaps in existing easement options and supporting working forest conservation. Additionally, the federal cost share for agricultural conservation easements is increased, further incentivizing landowners to participate in long-term conservation efforts.
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) has delivered important conservation outcomes through innovative, partnership-driven approaches. However, partners have often faced barriers that slowed project implementation. Farm Bill 2.0 returns RCPP to an earlier structure that better aligns projects with covered programs, such as EQIP, streamlines approval timelines, reimburses partner administrative costs, and explicitly incorporates wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity into its objectives. These changes aim to make RCPP more effective and responsive to on-the-ground conservation needs.
