Tell Congress to protect America’s grasslands

Dear Congressmember,

America’s Great Plains grasslands are a natural treasure. They anchor one of the world’s most productive food-growing regions, safeguard freshwater supplies, and serve as habitat for species like bison, black-footed ferrets, Southern Plains bumble bees, and more. 

World Wildlife Fund’s latest Plowprint Report found that an estimated 1.8 million acres of North America’s grasslands were converted to row crop agriculture in 2023 alone. That’s nearly 5,000 acres of North America’s remaining ranch lands and wildlife habitat plowed over each day. Protecting grasslands ecosystems is essential for the stability of our food and water supplies and the livelihoods of ranchers and rural communities.

I urge you to cosponsor bipartisan legislation to expand programs at the Department of Agriculture that help farmers and ranchers adopt practices that protect grasslands while keeping family operations viable: 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act (H.R. 5111; S. 2608) 
Sponsored by Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA), as well as Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).  
This bill would modernize the CRP – the largest working lands conservation program in the country – to better support ranchers and keep grasslands intact. The bill would offer cost-share support for grazing infrastructure, extend contract options, and update annual payment caps to reflect current economic conditions. These improvements would help more producers voluntarily use sustainable grazing as a tool in conserving environmentally sensitive acres, including recently restored marginal lands,while improving soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat.  

American Prairie Conservation Act (S. 1209)
Sponsored by Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
This bill would expand the successful Sodsaver program nationwide to help conserve native grasslands while saving taxpayers money. Active in six states today, the Sodsaver program reduces federal crop insurance subsidies on newly converted native prairie, helping discourage the plow-up of fragile, highly erodible lands. Expanding this program would reduce taxpayer costs, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and lower the economic risks associated with farming unsuitable areas.

By enacting these bipartisan bills, Congress can take meaningful and immediate action to secure the future of America’s grasslands and support the communities that rely on them.

Thank you for your consideration. 

[Your Name]