Land conservation practices in South Dakota’s farming country are important, since the land itself is a key component to the state’s economy. And there is more to farmland than just farming it.

A recent South Dakota Searchlight story confirmed that fact. The story reported that South Dakota ranks fourth in the country in terms of federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments. State landowners received $129.5 million in CRP funds in 2022.

(Interestingly, the No. 1 state on the list is Iowa, with more than $400 million in payments, which is more than the combined totals of No. 2 Illinois at $172.7 million and No. 3 Minnesota at $150.8 million. It’s interesting because Iowa is, by far, the smallest of these states geographically.)

These program payments are important to note, and not simply because it reflects an influx of funding or, if you wish, the important role federal programs play in farming.

The CRP program pays landowners, through 10- or 15-year leases, to maintain grass, trees and other plant species on enrolled acres.

This practice helps reduce soil erosion, filters runoff that flows into waterways (thus promoting cleaner water) and provides habitat for wildlife, including pollinators such as bees which are essential to crop production.

According to Searchlight, “The program also helps fight climate change. Some farming practices can release plant and soil carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, where it acts as a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. Consistent plant cover pulls carbon dioxide out of the air and stores it in the soil.”

The participation of South Dakota farmers in this program is not a surprise, and it is a healthy sign.

But what may be even more encouraging is that CRP continues to grow in the state.

Another Searchlight story from last summer dealing with concerns about dwindling CRP participation nationally indicated that South Dakota may be an outlier in this trend. The number of South Dakota acres enrolled in CRP production in 2023 reached its highest level ever (2,104,715 acres) since the program began in 1986. The 2023 figure represents a 46% increase from 2020. However, there is a 25% acreage cap that many counties are nowhere near approaching.

So, while the CRP program may be struggling overall — national acreage is down 37% since 2007 — it still remains a popular option in South Dakota, and there is room for more growth.

Because of the national issues, some changes may loom in the program. These options may increase payments even more — the maximum payment limitation of $50,000 hasn’t changed since 1986 — as well as offer more assistance in CRP grazing.

So, there is a chance that the CRP program could become even more enticing for producers.

That would only maximize the benefits of the program.

“We can use these lands without abusing them,” said Pete Bauman, a South Dakota State University Extension Natural Resources field specialist, “and we still reap the benefits of the water quality, erosion control (and) wildlife habitat.”

It’s a win-win for producers and the environment — and for everyone.