79–010

Calendar No. 797

106TH CONGRESS REPORT

2d Session " ! SENATE 106–407

CARBON CYCLE AND AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES

RESEARCH ACT

SEPTEMBER 12, 2000.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. LUGAR, from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and

Forestry, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 1066]

The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, to which

was referred the bill (S. 1066) to amend the National Agricultural

Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to encourage

the use of and research into agricultural best practices to improve

the environment, and for other purposes, having considered the

same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill as

amended do pass.

CONTENTS

Page

I. Purpose, need and background ........................................................................ 1

II. Section-by-section analysis .............................................................................. 3

III. Legislative history and votes in committee .................................................... 6

IV. Regulatory impact statement .......................................................................... 7

V. Budgetary impact of the bill ............................................................................ 7

VI. Changes in existing law ................................................................................... 10

I. PURPOSE, NEED AND BACKGROUND

After the completion of the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a number of persons

and organizations in American agriculture expressed serious concern about the potential economic impact it may have on food and

fiber production. There may be common sense agricultural practices addressing climate change that can offer positive environmental benefits in other areas. Research shows that agriculture

provides significant environmental benefits through agricultural

best management practices that enhance the carbon cycle.
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We continue to learn more about carbon dioxide uptake through

research. For example, in 1998 scientific findings from the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Modeling and

Diagnostics Laboratory showed the North American continent absorbed from 1988 to 1992 an amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) equal

to or exceeding North American carbon dioxide emissions from the

same time period. This finding is consistent with the statement

contained in the Executive Summary of the 1999 Carbon Cycle

Science Plan, ‘‘the understanding of carbon sources and sinks has

advanced enormously in the last decade. There is now clear evidence that global uptake of anthropogenic CO2 occurs by both land

plants and by the oceans.’’

Carbon sequestration describes the process of how the carbon

cycle converts carbon dioxide absorbed by crops and trees to carbon

that is incorporated into soil. Carbon sequestration is the process

of best management practices returning organic matter consisting

of humus, stubble, and crop litter that is 40 to 60% carbon back

into soil. Researchers estimate that the physical potential for carbon sequestration in U.S. crop lands is as much as 200 million tons

of carbon each year. The equivalent of 200 million tons of carbon

is 307 million tons of coal. For comparison, some coal-fueled utilities use 10 to 15 millions tons of coal annually.

How does carbon sequestration actually work on the farm and

field? Conservation tillage incorporates crop residues as part of the

planting and harvesting processes that increases soil organic carbon levels. Adjusting cropping patterns can also augment soil organic carbon levels. In the Great Plains, intensifying cropping systems by conversion from wheat-fallow rotation to wheat-grain sorghum-fallow rotation increases soil organic carbon levels. Additionally, intensive management of grasslands, including prescribed

burning, also can boost soil organic carbon levels in soils that provide forage for cattle and other livestock.

These common sense best management practices that are increasing soil organic carbon levels have multiple environmental

benefits in addition to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions. Increased soil organic carbon levels retain more water, increase soil

fertility to improve yields, and make soils more erosion resistant

which improves water quality.

In order to facilitate the continued research of the carbon cycle

and increased use of voluntary best practice management tools, the

legislation elevates carbon cycle research to a priority item for the

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agenda. USDA

has a broad research base unique to the federal government

through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Agricultural Research Service, supplemented by America’s land grant

universities. Delivery and dissemination of research findings and

information can be distributed through USDA’s extension system,

a reliable and trustworthy source of information for every agricultural operation.

Agricultural scientists’ basic understanding of the carbon cycle

and agricultural best management practices have led to these important findings, but we need more research to start the progression of this science to use on a daily basis by producers. There are

new exciting production tools that should be included in this research, including global positioning systems that guide crop chem-
3

ical and fertilizer application as well as monitoring yields. Furthermore, potential breakthroughs can combine this on-farm information with satellite-based remote sensing for cost effective monitoring of carbon sequestration results.

The Committee recognizes that an array of benefits to the general public and individual farmers can be generated from broader

adoption of conserving agricultural practices. These benefits include reduced soil erosion, reduced chemical runoff into ground and

surface water, improved air quality, and sequestration of carbon

into soils. The Committee anticipates that farmers will be eventually able to realize some return for providing these benefits, either

through public programs that provide voluntary incentive payments or private valuation through environmental markets, which

would be a positive outcome for all concerned. Such streams of income would originate from different sources, and the Committee

sees no reason to restrict farmers’ ability to capitalize on such opportunities.

The Committee believes that many of the scientific techniques

that will be used to measure the accumulation of carbon in soils

and above-ground biomass already exist, but work needs to be done

to combine these practices to arrive at an accounting framework

that is both scientifically defensible and cost-effective for implementing practices at a field-level scale. One of the major objectives

of this legislation is to encourage collaboration among Federal

agencies and scientific institutions where such expertise resides

and make their joint efforts accessible to those who might make

use of such a framework.

II. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Carbon Cycle and Agricultural

Best Practices Research Act.’’

Section 2. Findings

The findings set forth the fact that voluntary agricultural best

practices contribute multiple conservation benefits. The findings

state USDA research on these practices should be increased to

quantify how best management practices convert carbon dioxide

into soil organic carbon that in turns reduces soil erosion, improves

water quality, and increases yields.

Section 3. Agricultural best practices

The section amends Title XIV of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 by adding the

following:

Subtitle N—Carbon Cycle and Agricultural Best Practices

Section 1490. Definitions.

This section defines terms used in the bill.
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Section 1491. Carbon cycle and agricultural best practices research.

Subsection (a) states that USDA will be the lead agency with respect to agricultural soil carbon research within the Federal government.

Subsection (b) Research Services.

Paragraph (b)(1) Agricultural Research Service. This paragraph

provides for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in collaboration with other Federal agencies, to develop data and conduct research addressing soil carbon. The study should include the following: the effects of management and conservation on soil organic

carbon; evaluation of the long-term impact of tillage and residue

systems; the transfer of organic carbon to soil; and the carbon storage of commodities.

Paragraph (b)(2) Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Subparagraph (b)(2)(A) states that NRCS is authorized to develop a soil carbon database to provide information to users about

soil carbon that could be incorporated into national, state, and local

county maps. This provision sets forth the research mission to improve U.S. soils databases with a basic unit of information related

to carbon in soils, making it understandable to the public and

users.

Subparagraph (b)(2)(B) states that NRCS shall disseminate a national basic unit of information for an assessment of the carbon

storage potential of soils.

Paragraph (b)(3) Economic Research Service Report. This paragraph directs the Economic Research Service to complete within

one year of enactment a thorough economic analysis of the Kyoto

Protocol’s impact on agriculture, taking into account market mechanisms, such as permit trading, with and without developing country participation, carbon sink accounting, and possible command

and control measures.

Paragraph (b)(4) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES).

Paragraph (b)(4)(A) provides for the development of a comprehensive national carbon cycle and agricultural best practices research

agenda by CSREES through land-grant colleges and universities.

Paragraph (b)(4)(B) provides for research opportunities to improve the scientific basis for using land management practices to

increase soil carbon, including innovative methods using biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Subparagraph (b)(4)(C) provides the Secretary, acting through

CSREES, authority to: use partnerships to identify, develop, and

evaluate agricultural best practices; develop computer models to

predict and assess the carbon cycle; estimate and develop mechanisms to measure change in carbon levels resulting from voluntary

programs; develop outreach programs; and research new technologies that may increase carbon cycle effectiveness.

Subsection (c) Consortia.

Paragraph (c)(1) authorizes the Secretary to select two consortia.

By selecting two consortia, CSREES will direct basic and applied

research on carbon cycle and best management practices encompassing varied farming and ranching operations, climates, and precipitation. The consortia will deliver research findings and information through the extension system to producers and ranchers interested in this issue.
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Paragraph (c)(2) states that the consortia designated by the Secretary will be selected in a competitive process by CSREES.

Paragraph (c)(3) defines eligibility for participants in the consortia.

Paragraph (c)(4) authorizes appropriations of $5 million for each

of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.

Subsection (d) Promotion of Agricultural Best Practices. This

subsection directs the Secretary to promote voluntary agricultural

best practices that take into account soil organic matter dynamics,

carbon cycle, ecology and soil organisms that will lead to more effective use of soil resources.

Subsection (e) Annual Report. This subsection directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees describing the consortia and other research

findings and extension outreach as well as scientific peer reviews.

Section 1492. Carbon cycle remote sensing technology

Because verification of soil carbon levels is expensive and time

consuming, scientists believe that satellite-based remote sensing

may be the most cost-effective method. This section directs USDA

and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to

develop a carbon cycle remote sensing technology program to create

remote sensing products that can be used in research and commercial applications. This builds on the 1998 USDA/NASA Memorandum of Understanding titled ‘‘Cooperation and Coordination in

Science, and Technology Research, Development, Transfer, Utilization, and Commercialization.’’

Subsection (a) Carbon Cycle Remote Sensing Technology. This

subsection directs the Secretary, in cooperation with the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to develop a carbon

cycle remote sensing technology program.

Subsection (b) Use of Centers. This subsection directs the NASA

Administrator to use the regional earth science application centers

to conduct the research.

Subsection (c) Researched Areas. This subsection defines the

areas of research.

Subsection (d) Authorization of Appropriations. This subsection

authorizes appropriations of $5 million for each of fiscal years 2001

through 2005.

Section 1493. Research incentive payments

In order to get widespread research across the country about

what works and what does not, it is good policy to encourage USDA

to provide small payments to producers to allow researchers physical access to their farms to collect and analyze data on best management practices, especially as research moves from research plots

to whole farms.

Subsection (a) allows the Secretary to provide research incentive

payments to farmers and ranchers who allow researchers to collect

data.

Subsection (b) Confidentiality. This subsection provides for confidentiality of acquired research data.

Subsection (c) Authorization of Appropriations. This subsection

authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry

out this section for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
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Section 1494. Assistance for agricultural best practices and natural

resource management plans under conservation programs

Subsection (a) directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance on best management practices through extension activities to

increase the use of voluntary best management plans that will increase soil carbon levels.

Subsection (b) Information to Developing Nations. This subsection directs the Secretary to share information on the environmental benefits of agricultural best practices to developing nations.

Subsection (c) Authorization of Appropriations. This subsection

authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry

out this section for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.

Section 1495. Trace gas network system

A key research component is identifying when and where carbon

dioxide is being absorbed. Since USDA and the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are conducting similar

research on a local level about how and where carbon dioxide is

stored in soil, USDA and NOAA should combine their efforts.

Subsection (a) states that the Secretary, with the cooperation of

NASA, may establish a nationwide trace gas network.

Subsection (b) defines the purpose of the trace gas network.

Subsection (c) directs the Secretary and Administrator to enter

into a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure each agency can

develop and utilize a joint research network. Subsection (d) authorizes $10 million in appropriations to carry

out this section.

III. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE VOTE

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On May 4, 2000, the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Price

Competitiveness and Production held a hearing examining carbon

cycle research and the role of agriculture in reducing greenhouse

gases. The purpose of the hearing was to hear from scientists, agricultural producers, and Administration officials on carbon cycle research, how it needs to be improved, and why it provides multiple

environmental benefits.

The first panel testifying included Dr. David Hofmann, Director,

Climate Modeling and Diagnostics Laboratory, National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration; Keith Collins, Chief Economist,

United States Department of Agriculture; and Richard Stuckey,

Executive Vice President, Council for Agricultural Science and

Technology (CAST).

Dr. Hofmann testified the North American continent presents a

major sink for carbon dioxide emissions. Dr. Hofmann also described plans to study this important sink, and in particular, its regional nature. Dr. Collins pointed out the types of research that additional funding would support include the Agricultural Research

Service collaborating with other Federal agencies to expand data

and research on the role of agriculture in the carbon balance and

define ways which farmers and ranchers can store carbon in agricultural soils. Special emphasis would be given to measuring the

effects of management and conservation practices on carbon storage in cropland and grazing lands, particularly the long-term im-
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pacts of tillage and residue management systems on accumulation

of organic carbon. Dr. Stuckey reviewed for the Subcommittee the

recent CAST issue paper acknowledging that organic matter contributes greatly to plant productivity and ecosystem stability. Land

management is a critical component of whether the net change in

the soil carbon is a gain or a loss.

The second panel testifying included Dr. Chuck Rice, Soil Microbiology Professor, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University; Dr. John M. Kimble, Research Soil Scientist, United States

Department of Agriculture; William Richards, Former Chief of the

Soil Conservation Service; and John Haas, Kansas producer.

Dr. Rice shared with the Subcommittee that Kansas State University research has shown that conservation tillage can sequester

0.2 to 0.4 tons of carbon per acre. Under the scenario of one million

acres under conservation tillage, this land could hold the carbon

equivalent of 85 million gallons of gasoline each year. Dr. Kimble

testified that for research to be most effective, it requires collaboration among scientists from many different disciplines, and must

eventually move from the lab to the whole farm. Mr. Richards provided that a stewardship approach can be embraced and that agriculture will be given the chance to mitigate the climate change

problem long enough for scientists to find long-term solutions to

our problems. Finally, Mr. Haas shared the multiple positive benefits he has seen on his farm using no-till, including better quality

crops, greater variety, and higher value at the elevator.

COMMITTEE VOTE

In compliance with paragraph 7 of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, the following statement is made concerning

the votes of the Committee in its consideration of the bill:

The Committee met in open session on Tuesday, June 20, 2000

and, in the presence of a quorum, ordered that the bill be favorably

reported by a voice vote.

IV. REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, the following evaluation is made concerning

the regulatory impact of enacting this legislation:

The Committee has determined that this legislation will have no

detrimental impact on the private sector as a result of regulatory

requirements. The Committee does not anticipate an adverse impact on the personal privacy of individuals affected by this legislation or an increase in paperwork or record keeping requirements.

V. BUDGETARY IMPACT OF THE BILL

In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, the following letter has been received from the

Congressional Budget Office regarding the budgetary impact of the

bill:
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U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, July 19, 2000.

Hon. RICHARD G. LUGAR,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, U.S.

Senate, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1066, the Carbon Cycle and

Agricultural Best Practices Research Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is James Langley.

Sincerely,

BARRY B. ANDERSON

(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).

Enclosure.

S. 1066—Carbon Cycle and Agricultural Best Practices Act

Summary: S. 106 would authorize appropriations for fiscal years

2001 through 2005 for agricultural research and incentive programs related to the earth’s carbon cycle and other environmental

concerns. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts and

adjusting for anticipated inflation, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $417 million over the 2001–2005 period. (Without any adjustment for inflation, implementation costs

would be about $402 million over this period.) S. 1066 would not

affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. S. 1066 contains no intergovernmental or

private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: For this estimate,

CBO assumes that the amounts authorized will be appropriated for

each fiscal year and that spending will follow the pattern of past

appropriations for similar projects. The estimated impact of S. 1066

is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall

within budget function 350 (agriculture).

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars—

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Estimated Authorization Level ...................................................................... 101 93 94 96 97

Estimated Outlays ......................................................................................... 64 77 87 93 96

Basis of estimate: S. 1066 would amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to expand federal support for agricultural programs that benefit the environment, especially those that affect carbon storage in soils. For

example, it would authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA)

to study the effects of agricultural systems and ‘‘best practices’’ on

the carbon balance in soils develop a database on the carbon storage potential of soils and support interagency programs to monitor

the carbon cycle. The bill also would authorize payments and technical assistance for agricultural producers that participate in research programs for best practices that protect the environment.
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All of the funding authorized in S. 1066 would be subject to appropriation.

Environment research

Based on information provided by USDA, CBO estimates that S. 1066 would authorize the appropriation of $86 million for fiscal

year 2001, including $75 million for the following research initiatives outlined in the bill: • $30 million for the Agricultural Research Service to develop data and conduct research addressing soil carbon balance

and storage; • $20 million for the Cooperative State Research, Education,

and Extension Service to develop a research agenda on the carbon cycle and agricultural best practices, and to identify, develop, and evaluate agricultural best practices; • $15 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a soil carbon database, linked electronically to

county-level soil surveys and state-level soil maps, for an assessment of the carbon storage potential of soils in the United

States; • $5 million as specified in the bill for up to two research

consortia that would study and promote agricultural best practices related to the carbon cycle; and • $5 million as specified in the bill for a cooperative effort

between USDA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for a remote sensing program that would focus on

carbon sequestration.

CBO estimates that the above activities would continue under

the bill at an annual cost of $75 million adjusted for anticipated

inflation over the 2002–2005 period. In addition, the bill would authorize the appropriation of $10

million for a joint research initiative between USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a national network for measuring trace gases that would document the

flux of carbon between soil, air, and water. CBO assumes that all

of those funds would be appropriated in fiscal year 2001.

Finally, the bill would direct the Economic Research Service to

submit a report no later than one year after enactment that analyzes the impact of the financial health of the farm economy of the

United States under the Kyoto Protocol and other international

agreements under the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

CBO estimates that preparing this report would require the appropriation of $1 million in fiscal year 2001.

Incentive and assistance programs

CBO estimates that S. 1066 would authorize the appropriation of

about $15 million for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 for

payments and technical assistance to producers that cooperate in

scientific research on agricultural best practices on their farms.

Based on information from USDA, CBO estimates that producers

with 2 million acres (around 5 percent of acres enrolled in major

conservation programs) would participate in these programs. For

this estimate, CBO assumes that those producers would receive an

annual payment of $2.50 per acre for cooperating in the research

programs. In addition, we estimate that requiring USDA to assist
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those producers in planning, designing, and implementing agricultural best practices and natural resource management plans would

cost about $5.00 per acre.

Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 1066 contains no

intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA

and would impose no costs on the state, local, or tribal governments.

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: James Langley. Impact on

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller. Impact on

the Private Sector: Jean Wooster.

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made in the bill, as

reported are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted

is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING POLICY ACT OF

1977

TITLE XIV—RESEARCH ACT OF 1977

SEC. 1483. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated, to implement the provisions of this subtitle, such sums not to exceed

$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 2002.

(b) Funds appropriated under this section shall be allocated by

the Secretary to eligible institutions for work to be done as mutually agreed upon between the Secretary and the eligible institution

or institutions.

* * * * * * *

øSubtitle N—Carbon Cycle and Agricultural Best

Practices

øSEC. 1490. DEFINITIONS.

øIn this subtitle:

ø(1) AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICE.—The term ‘‘agricultural

best practice’’ means a voluntary practice used by 1 or more

agricultural producers to manage a farm or ranch that has a

beneficial or minimal impact on the environment, including—

ø(A) crop residue management;

ø(B) soil erosion management;

ø(C) nutrient management;

ø(D) remote sensing;

ø(E) precision agriculture;

ø(F) integrated pest management;

ø(G) animal waste management;

ø(H) cover crop management;
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ø(I) water quality and utilization management;

ø(J) grazing and range management;

ø(K) wetland management;

ø(L) buffer strip use; and

ø(M) tree planting.

ø(2) CONSERVATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘conservation program’’ means a program established under—

ø(A) subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of

1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq.);

ø(B) section 401 or 402 of the Agricultural Credit Act of

1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201, 2202);

ø(C) section 3 or 8 of the Watershed Protection and

Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003, 1006a); or

ø(D) any other provision of law that authorizes the Secretary to make payments or provide other assistance to agricultural producers to promote conservation.

øSEC. 1491. CARBON CYCLE AND AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH.

ø(a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Agriculture shall be the

lead agency with respect to any agricultural soil carbon research

conducted by the Federal Government.

ø(b) RESEARCH SERVICES.— ø(1) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.—The Secretary, acting through the Agricultural Research Service, shall collaborate with other Federal agencies to develop data and conduct

research addressing soil carbon balance and storage, making

special efforts to—

ø(A) determine the effects of management and conservation on carbon storage in cropland and grazing land;

ø(B) evaluate the long-term impact of tillage and residue

management systems on the accumulation of organic carbon;

ø(C) study the transfer of organic carbon to soil; and

ø(D) study carbon storage of commodities.

ø(2) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE.—

ø(A) RESEARCH MISSIONS.—The research missions of the

Secretary, acting through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, include—

ø(i) the development of a soil carbon database to—

ø(I) provide online access to information about

soil carbon potential in a format that facilitates

the use of the database in making land management decisions; and

ø(II) allow additional and more refined data to

be linked to similar databases containing information on forests and rangeland;

ø(ii) the conversion to an electronic format and linkage to the national soil database described in clause (i)

of county-level soil surveys and State-level soil maps;

ø(iii) updating of State-level soil maps;

ø(iv) the linkage, for information purposes only, of

soil information to other soil and land use databases;

and

ø(v) the completion of evaluations, such as field validation and calibration, of modeling, remote sensing,
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and statistical inventory approaches to carbon stock

assessments related to land management practices

and agronomic systems at the field, regional, and national levels.

ø(B) UNIT OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary, acting

through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall

disseminate a national basic unit of information for an assessment of the carbon storage potential of soils in the

United States.

ø(3) ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE REPORT.—Not later than 1

year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary,

acting through the Economic Research Service, shall submit to

the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of

the Senate a report that analyzes the impact of the financial

health of the farm economy of the United States under the

Kyoto Protocol and Other International Agreements Under the

Framework Convention on Climate Change—

ø(A) with and without market mechanisms (including

whether the mechanisms are permits for emissions and

whether the permits are issued by allocation, auction, or

otherwise);

ø(B) with and without the participation of developing

countries;

ø(C) with and without carbon sinks; and

ø(D) with respect to the imposition of traditional command and control measures.

ø(c) CONSORTIA.— ø(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may designate not more

than 2 carbon cycle and agricultural best practices research

consortia.

ø(2) SELECTION.—The consortia designated by the Secretary

shall be selected in a competitive manner by the Cooperative

State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

ø(3) DUTIES.—The consortia shall—

ø(A) identify, develop, and evaluate agricultural best

practices using partnerships composed of Federal, State, or

private entities and the Department of Agriculture, including the Agricultural Research Service;

ø(B) develop necessary computer models to predict and

assess the carbon cycle, as well as other priorities requested by the Secretary and the heads of other Federal

agencies;

ø(C) estimate and develop mechanisms to measure carbon levels made available as a result of voluntary Federal

conservation programs, private and Federal forests, and

other land uses; and

ø(D) develop outreach programs, in coordination with extension services, to share information on carbon cycle and

agricultural best practices that is useful to agricultural

producers.

ø(4) CONSORTIA PARTICIPANTS.—The participants in the consortia may include—

ø(A) land-grant colleges and universities;

ø(B) State geological surveys;
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ø(C) research centers of the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration;

ø(D) other Federal agencies;

ø(E) representatives of agricultural businesses and organizations; and

ø(F) representatives of the private sector.

ø(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000

for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2002.

ø(d) PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall promote voluntary agricultural best practices that take

into account soil organic matter dynamics, carbon cycle, ecology,

and soil organisms that will lead to the more effective use of soil

resources to—

ø(1) enhance the carbon cycle;

ø(2) improve soil quality;

ø(3) increase the use of renewable resources; and

ø(4) overcome unfavorable physical soil properties.

ø(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate

an annual report that describes programs that are or will be conducted by the Secretary, through land-grant colleges and universities, to provide to agricultural producers the results of research

conducted on agricultural best practices, including the results of—

ø(1) research;

ø(2) future research plans;

ø(3) consultations with appropriate scientific organizations;

ø(4) proposed extension outreach activities; and

ø(5) findings of scientific peer review under section 103(d)(1)

of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform

Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(d)(1)).

øSEC. 1492. CARBON CYCLE REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY.

ø(a) CARBON CYCLE REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.— ø(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the

Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop a carbon cycle remote sensing technology

program—

ø(A) to provide, on a near-continual basis, a real-time

and comprehensive view of vegetation conditions; and

ø(B) to assess and model agricultural carbon sequestration.

ø(2) USE OF CENTERS.—The Administrator of the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration shall use regional earth

science application centers to conduct research under this section.

ø(3) RESEARCHED AREAS.—The areas that shall be the subjects of research conducted under this section include—

ø(A) the mapping of carbon-sequestering land use and

land cover;

ø(B) the monitoring of changes in land cover and management;

ø(C) new systems for the remote sensing of soil carbon;

and

ø(D) regional-scale carbon sequestration estimation.
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ø(b) REGIONAL EARTH SCIENCE APPLICATION CENTER.—

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the

Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall carry out this section through the Regional Earth

Science Application Center located at the University of Kansas

(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Center’’), if the Center enters into a partnership with a land-grant college or university.

ø(2) DUTIES OF CENTER.—The Center shall serve as a research facility and clearinghouse for satellite data, software,

research, and related information with respect to remote sensing research conducted under this section.

ø(3) USE OF CENTER.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the

Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall use the Center for carrying out remote sensing

research relating to agricultural best practices.

ø(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to

be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal years

2000 through 2002.

øSEC. 1493. CONSERVATION PREMIUM PAYMENTS.

øIn addition to payments that are made by the Secretary to producers under conservation programs, the Secretary may offer conservation premium payments to producers that are participating in

the conservation programs to compensate the producers for allowing researchers to scientifically analyze, and collect information

with respect to, agricultural best practices that are carried out by

the producers as part of conservation projects and activities that

are funded, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government.

øSEC. 1494. ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES AND

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS UNDER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

ø(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to assistance that is provided by

the Secretary to producers under conservation programs, the Secretary, on request of the producers, shall provide education through

extension activities and technical and financial assistance to producers that are participating in the conservation programs to assist

the producers in planning, designing, and installing agricultural

best practices and natural resource management plans established

under the conservation programs.

ø(b) INFORMATION TO DEVELOPING NATIONS.—The Secretary shall

disseminate to developing nations information on agricultural best

practices and natural resource management plans that—

ø(1) provide crucial agricultural benefits for soil and water

quality; and

ø(2) increase production.

øSEC. 1495. CARBON CYCLE RESEARCH MONITORING SYSTEM.

ø(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in conjunction with the

Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Global Change Research Program,

may establish a nationwide carbon cycle monitoring system (referred to in this section as the ‘‘monitoring system’’) to research the

flux of carbon between soil, air, and water.

ø(b) PURPOSE OF SYSTEM.—The monitoring system shall focus on

locating network monitors on or near agricultural best practices

that are—
15

ø(1) undertaken voluntarily;

ø(2) undertaken through a conservation program of the Department of Agriculture;

ø(3) implemented as part of a program or activity of the Department of Agriculture; or

ø(4) identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration.

ø(c) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Secretary may

enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Administrator

of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ensure

that research goals of programs established by the Federal Government related to carbon monitoring are met through the monitoring

system.

ø(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to

be appropriated to carry out this subtitle $10,000,000.¿

Subtitle N—Carbon Cycle and Agricultural Best

Practices

SEC. 1490. DEFINITIONS.

In this subtitle:

(1) AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICE.—The term ‘‘agricultural

best practice’’ means a voluntary practice used by 1 or more agricultural producers to manage a farm or ranch that has a beneficial or minimal impact on the environment, including—

(A) crop residue management;

(B) soil erosion management;

(C) nutrient management;

(D) remote sensing;

(E) precision agriculture;

(F) integrated pest management;

(G) animal waste management;

(H) cover crop management;

(I) water quality and utilization management;

(J) grazing and range management;

(K) wetland management;

(L) buffer strip use; and

(M) tree planting.

(2) CONSERVATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘conservation program’’ means a program established under—

(A) subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985

(16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq.);

(B) section 401 or 402 of the Agricultural Credit Act of

1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201, 2202);

(C) section 3 or 8 of the Watershed Protection and Flood

Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003, 1006a); or

(D) any other provision of law that authorizes the Secretary to make payments or provide other assistance to agricultural producers to promote conservation.

SEC. 1491. CARBON CYCLE AND AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Agriculture shall be the lead

agency with respect to any agricultural soil carbon research conducted by the Federal Government.
16

(b) RESEARCH SERVICES.—

(1) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.—The Secretary, acting

through the Agricultural Research Service, shall collaborate

with other Federal agencies to develop data and conduct research addressing soil carbon balance and storage, making special efforts to—

(A) determine the effects of management and conservation

on soil organic carbon storage in cropland and grazing

land;

(B) evaluate the long-term impact of tillage and residue

management systems on the accumulation of organic carbon;

(C) study the transfer of organic carbon to soil; and

(D) study carbon storage of commodities.

(2) NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE.—

(A) RESEARCH MISSIONS.—The research missions of the

Secretary, acting through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, include—

(i) the development of a soil carbon database to—

(I) provide online access to information about

soil carbon potential in a format that facilitates

the use of the database in making land management decisions; and

(II) allow additional and more refined data to be

linked to similar databases containing information

on forests and rangeland;

(ii) the conversion to an electronic format and linkage to the national soil database described in clause (i)

of county-level soil surveys and State-level soil maps;

(iii) updating of State-level soil maps;

(iv) the linkage, for information purposes only, of soil

information to other soil and land use databases; and

(v) the completion of evaluations, such as field validation and calibration, of modeling, remote sensing,

and statistical inventory approaches to carbon stock assessments related to land management practices and

agronomic systems at the field, regional, and national

levels.

(B) UNIT OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary, acting

through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall

disseminate a national basic unit of information for an assessment of the carbon storage potential of soils in the

United States.

(3) ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE REPORT.—Not later than 1

year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary,

acting through the Economic Research Service, shall submit to

the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of

the Senate a report that analyzes the impact of the financial

health of the farm economy of the United States under the

Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements under the

Framework Convention on Climate Change—

(A) with and without market mechanisms (including

whether the mechanisms are permits for emissions and
17

whether the permits are issued by allocation, auction, or

otherwise);

(B) with and without the participation of developing

countries;

(C) with and without carbon sinks; and

(D) with respect to the imposition of traditional command

and control measures.

(4) COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTEN- SION SERVICE.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service shall, through land-grant

colleges and universities, develop a comprehensive national

carbon cycle and agricultural best practices research agenda.

(B) RESEARCH MISSIONS.—The research missions of the

Secretary, acting through the Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service, include the provision,

through land-grant colleges and universities, of research

opportunities to improve the scientific basis for using land

management practices to increase soil carbon sequestration

needed for producers, including research concerning innovative methods of using biotechnology and nanotechnology.

(C) ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary, acting through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,

shall—

(i) identify, develop, and evaluate agricultural best

practices using partnerships comprised of Federal,

State, or private entities and the Department of Agriculture, including the Agricultural Research Service;

(ii) develop necessary computer models to predict and

assess the carbon cycle, as well as other priorities requested by the Secretary and the heads of other Federal

agencies;

(iii) estimate and develop mechanisms to measure

changes in carbon levels resulting from voluntary Federal conservation programs, private and Federal forests, and other land uses;

(iv) develop outreach programs, in coordination with

cooperative extension services, to share information on

carbon cycles and agricultural best practices that is

useful to agricultural producers; and

(v) research new technologies that may increase carbon cycle effectiveness, such as biotechnology and

nanotechnology.

(c) CONSORTIA.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may designate not more than

2 carbon cycle and agricultural best practices research consortia

to carry out this section.

(2) SELECTION.—The consortia designated by the Secretary

shall be selected in a competitive manner by the Cooperative

State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

(3) CONSORTIA PARTICIPANTS.—The participants in the consortia may include—

(A) land-grant colleges and universities;

(B) State geological surveys;
18

(C) research centers of the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration;

(D) other Federal agencies;

(E) representatives of agricultural businesses and organizations; and

(F) representatives of the private sector.

(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000

for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.

(d) PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall promote voluntary agricultural best practices that take

into account soil organic matter dynamics, carbon cycle, ecology,

and soil organisms that will lead to the more effective use of soil

resources to—

(1) enhance the carbon cycle;

(2) improve soil quality;

(3) increase the use of renewable resources; and

(4) overcome unfavorable physical soil properties.

(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an annual report that describes programs that are or will be conducted

by the Secretary, through land-grant colleges and universities, to

provide to agricultural producers the results of research conducted

on agricultural best practices, including the results of—

(1) research;

(2) future research plans;

(3) consultations with appropriate scientific organizations;

(4) proposed extension outreach activities; and

(5) findings of scientific peer review under section 103(d)(1) of

the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform

Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(d)(1)).

SEC. 1492. CARBON CYCLE REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall

develop a carbon cycle remote sensing technology program—

(1) to provide, on a near-continual basis, a real-time and

comprehensive view of vegetation conditions; and

(2) to assess and model agricultural carbon sequestration.

(b) USE OF CENTERS.—The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall use regional earth science

application centers to conduct research under this section.

(c) RESEARCHED AREAS.—The areas that shall be the subjects of

research conducted under this section include—

(1) the mapping of carbon-sequestering land use and land

cover;

(2) the monitoring of changes in land cover and management;

(3) new systems for the remote sensing of soil carbon; and

(4) regional-scale carbon sequestration estimation.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to

be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
19

SEC. 1493. RESEARCH INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to payments that are made by the

Secretary to producers under conservation programs, the Secretary

may offer research incentive payments to producers that are participating in the conservation programs to compensate the producers

for allowing researchers to scientifically analyze, and collect information with respect to, agricultural best practices that are carried

out by the producers as part of conservation projects and activities

that are funded, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government.

(b) CONFIDENTIALITY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), any

information submitted to the Secretary under subsection (a)

shall be confidential and may be disclosed only if required

under court order.

(2) RELEASE OF INFORMATION IN AGGREGATE FORM.—The Secretary may release or make public information described in

paragraph (1) in an aggregate or summary form that does not

directly disclose the identity, business transactions, or trade secrets of any person that submits the information.

SEC. 1494. ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES AND

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS UNDER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to assistance that is provided by the

Secretary to producers under conservation programs, the Secretary,

on request of the producers, shall provide education through extension activities and technical assistance to producers that are participating in the conservation programs to assist the producers in planning, designing, and installing agricultural best practices and natural resource management plans established under the conservation

programs.

(b) INFORMATION TO DEVELOPING NATIONS.—The Secretary shall

disseminate to developing nations information on agricultural best

practices and natural resource management plans that—

(1) provide crucial agricultural benefits for soil and water

quality; and

(2) increase production.

SEC. 1495. TRACE GAS NETWORK SYSTEM.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, may establish a nationwide trace gas network system to research the flux of carbon between soil, air, and water.

(b) PURPOSE OF SYSTEM.—The trace gas network system shall

focus on locating appropriate research equipment on or near agricultural best practices that are—

(1) undertaken voluntarily;

(2) undertaken through a conservation program of the Department of Agriculture;

(3) implemented as part of a program or activity of the Department of Agriculture; or

(4) identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration.

(c) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Secretary may enter

into a memorandum of understanding with the Administrator of the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ensure that

research goals of programs established by the Federal Government
20

relating to trace gas research are met through the trace gas network

system.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to

be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000.

* * * * * * *

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