Farmers, ranchers and conservationists need a functioning government

Federal conservation programs have helped create wildlife habitat in areas such as this land in Hanson County, South Dakota, which is enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program. (Photo courtesy of Tamara Sommer/USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Political gridlock in Washington has shut down the government and left South Dakota’s farmers, ranchers and conservationists stranded. Too many in Washington are ignoring the urgent need for a Farm Bill that improves and funds U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs, like the Conservation Reserve Program.

Everyone saw the government shut its doors at midnight on Oct. 1, but few realize the Farm Bill expired at the same moment, halting the vital programs it supports.

This bureaucratic paralysis now threatens more than 2.6 million acres enrolled in CRP across South Dakota, impacting over 14,000 farms and ranches and jeopardizing $145 million in conservation payments annually. With CRP unable to enroll new acres or pay landowners, rural livelihoods and our state’s hunting economy hang in the balance. Every fall, hunters drive $680 million into South Dakota’s economy, an investment built on strong partnerships between private landowners and USDA programs.

What the government shutdown means for agriculture agencies

Yes, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act boosted long-term USDA funding, and leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, deserve thanks for advancing conservation. But these gains mean nothing if Congress fails to act now. This shutdown only compounds what was already a tough year for agriculture: Corn prices have dropped to their lowest level since 2020, and farmers face mounting uncertainty with every day of delay.

Farmers and ranchers need a resolution to the shutdown and a Farm Bill that strengthens voluntary conservation, maintains local input on conservation decisions and rewards stewardship. They also need reinstated contract payments to prevent further economic damage.

Washington could prioritize farmers, ranchers and the future of conservation by:

• Reinstating mandatory CRP and conservation program payments.
• Passing a Farm Bill that funds and improves voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs.
• Ensuring CRP is reauthorized, expanded and enhanced for the benefit of wildlife, rural communities, and agricultural producers statewide.

South Dakota’s agricultural producers and sporting tradition cannot afford more empty promises. They need Congress to do its job.