Preserving Marginal Lands and Protecting Farming Act of 2013

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to maximum enrollment and eligible land in the conservation reserve program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving Marginal Lands and Protecting Farming Act of 2013 2. Maximum enrollment Section 1231(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(d) (d) Maximum enrollment The Secretary may maintain in the conservation reserve at any 1 time, not more than— (1) during fiscal year 2013, 29,000,000 acres; (2) during fiscal year 2014, 26,000,000 acres; and (3) during each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018, 24,000,000 acres. . 3. Ineligible land Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831 (j) Ineligible land Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary may not enroll land in the conservation reserve that is classified as class I or class II land under the land capability classification system published in the National Soil Survey Handbook of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, unless such land is enrolled as a buffer, filterstrip, or strip adjacent to a riparian area. . 4. Contract requirements (a) Early termination by owner or operator Section 1235(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3835(e) (1) in paragraph (1)(A)— (A) by striking The Secretary During fiscal year 2014, the Secretary (B) by striking before January 1, 1995, (2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following: (C) Land devoted to hardwood trees. (D) Wildlife habitat, duck nesting habitat, pollinator habitat, upland bird habitat buffer, wildlife food plots, State acres for wildlife enhancement, shallow water areas for wildlife, and rare and declining habitat. (E) Farmable wetland and restored wetland. (F) Land that contains diversions, erosion control structures, flood control structures, contour grass strips, living snow fences, salinity reducing vegetation, cross wind trap strips, and sediment retention structures. (G) Land located within a federally-designated wellhead protection area. (H) Land that is covered by an easement under the conservation reserve program. (I) Land located within an average width, according to the applicable Natural Resources Conservation Service field office technical guide, of a perennial stream or permanent water body. ; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking 60 days after the date on which the owner or operator submits the notice required under paragraph (1)(C) upon approval by the Secretary (b) Transition option for certain farmers or ranchers Section 1235(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3835(f) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Duties a beginning farmer Transition to covered farmer or rancher.— (B) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting , including preparing to plant an agricultural crop improvements (C) in subparagraph (D), by striking the farmer or rancher the covered farmer or rancher (D) in subparagraph (E), by striking section 1001A(b)(3)(B) section 1001(a) (2) in paragraph (2), by striking requirement of section 1231(h)(4)(B) option pursuant to section 1231(h) (c) Final year contract Section 1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) Final year of contract The Secretary shall not consider an owner or operator to be in violation of a term or condition of the conservation reserve contract if— (1) during the year prior to expiration of the contract, the land is enrolled in the conservation stewardship program; and (2) the activity required under the conservation stewardship program pursuant to such enrollment is consistent with this subchapter. .

Summary: Preserving Marginal Lands and Protecting Farming Act of 2013 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to set the maximum number of acres that may be enrolled at any one time in the conservation reserve program (CRP) at: (1) 29 million acres for FY2013, (2) 26 million acres for FY2014, and (3) 26 million acres for each of FY2015 through FY2018. Prohibits the enrollment of land in the conservation reserve that is classified as class I or class II land under the National Soil Survey Handbook's land capability classification system unless such land is enrolled as a buffer, filterstrip, or strip adjacent to a riparian area. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), during FY2014, to permit a participant that entered into a CRP contract to terminate the contract at any time if the contract has been in effect for at least five years. Revises the types of land that are not subject to early contract termination.