Press Releases
Reps. Lawler, Riley, and McDonald Rivet Introduce CROP For Farming Act to Support Conservation and Agriculture
Washington, D.C. ,
July 7, 2025
Washington, D.C. – 7/7/25… Today, Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17), joined by Josh Riley (NY-19) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) introduced the Conservation and Regenerative Optimization Practices for Farming Act, or the CROP for Farming Act, a targeted, bipartisan proposal to strengthen conservation efforts and equip farmers with new tools to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and reduce harmful emissions through voluntary practices. The bill updates the Food Security Act of 1985 to recognize and support farming efforts to reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions, while promoting carbon storage in soil and vegetation, all through existing conservation incentive contracts under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through commonsense updates to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the bill encourages practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and improved grazing management —strategies that enhance soil fertility, improve water retention, and support long-term farm resilience. “Our farmers are the backbone of our economy and the original conservationists,” said Congressman Mike Lawler. “The CROP for Farming Act empowers them to continue adopting responsible land management practices that protect natural resources and ensure long-term viability, not just for their farms, but for our food supply and our environment. This bill ensures federal policy reflects the realities on the ground and supports producers who are making smart, forward-looking decisions.” “Upstate farmers are leading on climate-smart ag—using cover crops, rotational grazing, and precision fertilizer to cut emissions and rebuild the soil. The CROP for Farming Act makes sure USDA conservation funding supports those efforts. It directs more resources to practices that fight climate change and strengthen rural economies. It’s practical, it’s bipartisan, and I’m proud to sponsor it,” said Congressman Josh Riley. “The success of our farmers and protecting the environment go hand in hand,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “I hear from farmers all the time whose families have worked their land for generations and who want to conserve that same land for future generations. Through the CROP Farming Act, I am working with both parties to make that easier to achieve.” “Our farmers need federal conservation programs that support the soil management practices essential for addressing today’s environmental and economic challenges. The CROP for Farming Act takes an important step by formally recognizing carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reductions as conservation priorities. This legislation affirms the role of farmers in increasing carbon sequestration while stewarding healthy landscapes for soil health and water quality. We applaud Representatives Lawler and McDonald Rivet for advancing this bipartisan legislation that invests in the economic and environmental sustainability of both our farmers and their future,” said Daphne Yin, Director of Land Policy at Carbon180. The following organizations have endorsed the CROP for Farming Act:
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. ### Full text of the bill can be found HERE. |