New enrollments for some of the USDA’s conservation programs expired along with the Farm Bill on September 30, 2024, including the Conservation Reserve Program, livestock projects under the EQIP program, and the Grassland Conservation Incentive. 

No new CRP offers or offers for re-enrollment may be processed or approved after September 30, 2024.

Many of the programs authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill were originally authorized through FY2023, and as extended through FY2024. However, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), extended some conservation programs and their funding authority for the IRA’s 10-year budget window—through FY2031. This has resulted in some Farm Bill conservation programs expiring at the end of FY2024 and others at the end of FY2031.

Conservation Program Funding Authority Expiration Dates Table

The timing and consequences of the Farm Bill expiring vary by program across the breadth of the act. A Congressional Research Service report issued on September 13, outlined the complexity in program continuity if the Farm Bill is not reauthorized. There are two new principal expiration dates: September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The major issues and consequences for expiration are the following:

• For programs with mandatory funding that is provided by the Farm Bill and for provisions that expire at the end of FY2024, authority to operate may cease. 
• For programs with a fiscal year authorization that are funded with discretionary appropriations, or for programs with mandatory spending authorized but not appropriated by the Farm Bill—such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—an appropriations act or continuing resolution could allow operations to continue.
• For the farm commodity and dairy support programs that expire after the 2024 crop year, the consequences of expiration begin on January 1, 2025, when inactive and outdated laws—commonly called “permanent law”—would be restored for dairy, the first commodity affected in the new crop year.
• Some programs had their expiration dates extended beyond the expiration of the Farm Bill by other legislation. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 extended some—but not all—conservation programs through FY2031.
• Some programs, such as crop insurance, are permanently authorized, do not expire, and would not be affected by Farm Bill expiration.

Congress passed a short-term funding bill in September that is set to expire December 16, making funding the government the number one priority for Congress when they return from recess. There will be a great deal of work to complete during the upcoming 5-week lame duck session, so how the Farm Bill reauthorization or extension proceeds is still in question.