PRECISE Act

To leverage incentives for the adoption of costly precision agriculture technology, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act PRECISE Act 2. Conservation loan and loan guarantee program Section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1924 (1) in subsection (b)(3), by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively, and inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: (F) the adoption of precision agriculture practices, and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology; ; (2) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking and (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (4) producers who use the loans to adopt precision agriculture practices or acquire precision agriculture technology, including adoption or acquisition for the purpose of participating in the environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985. ; (3) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) 90 percent of the principal amount of the loan in the case of— (A) a producer that is a qualified socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a beginning farmer or rancher; or (B) loans that are used for the purchase of precision agriculture technology. ; and (4) in subsection (f)— (A) by striking (f) Administrative provisions.— (f) Administrative provisions (1) Geographic diversity The Secretary ; and (B) by adding after and below the end the following: (2) Coordination with NRCS In making or guaranteeing loans under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there is coordination between the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. . 3. Assistance to rural entities Section 310B(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1932(a)(2) (1) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (E) expanding precision agriculture practices, including by financing equipment and farm-wide broadband connectivity, in order to promote best-practices, reduce costs, and improve the environment. . 4. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (a) Definitions Section 1240A(6)(B)(v) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1(6)(B)(v) (including the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology) planning (b) Payments (1) Other payments Section 1240B(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(6) (A) by striking A producer shall (A) Payments under this subtitle A producer shall ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Conservation loan and loan guarantee program payments (i) In general A producer receiving payments for practices on eligible land under the program may also receive a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to cover costs for same practices on the same land. (ii) Notice to producer The Secretary shall inform a producer participating in the program in writing of the availability of a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act as it relates to costs of implementing practices under this program. . (2) Increased payments for high-priority practices Section 1240B(d)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(7) State-determined high-priority (3) Increased payments for precision agriculture Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d) (8) Increased payments for precision agriculture Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary may increase the amount that would otherwise be provided for a practice under this subsection to not more than 90 percent of the costs associated with adopting precision agriculture practices and acquiring precision agriculture technology. . (c) Conservation incentive contracts Section 1240B(j)(2)(A)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(j)(3)(A)(i) (which may include the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology) incentive practices 5. Conservation Stewardship Program (a) Conservation stewardship payments Section 1240L(c)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(c)(3) (3) Exclusions A payment to a producer under this subsection shall not be provided for conservation activities for which there is no cost incurred or income forgone by the producer. . (b) Supplemental payments for resource-Conserving crop rotations and advanced grazing management Section 1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d) (1) in the subsection heading, by striking and advanced grazing management , advanced grazing management, and precision agriculture (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ; or (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (C) by adding at the end the following: (C) precision agriculture. ; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking or advanced grazing management , advanced grazing management, or precision agriculture 6. Delivery of technical assistance Section 1242(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3842(f) (6) Soil health planning The Secretary shall emphasize the use of third-party providers in providing technical assistance for soil health planning, including planning related to the use of cover crops, precision conservation management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other innovative plans. . June 3, 2022 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act or the PRECISE Act This bill incorporates support for precision agriculture into various programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Precision agriculture refers to an information- and technology-based management system used to identify, analyze, and manage variability in agricultural production for optimum profitability, sustainability, and environmental protection. Specifically, the bill makes changes to eligibility criteria, administrative procedures, and other aspects of the Conservation Loan Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. These changes include allowing the programs to support the adoption of precision agriculture practices and acquisition of precision agriculture technologies. In addition, the bill expands a program through which USDA makes and insures loans to for-profit and nonprofit organizations that invest in rural areas by allowing the loans to be used for precision agriculture practices. The bill also requires USDA to emphasize the use of third-party providers with respect to technical assistance on matters related to soil health for participants in certain USDA conservation programs.