Conservation and Innovative Climate Partnership Act of 2021

To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish a competitive grant program under which the Secretary of Agriculture provides grants to land-grant colleges and universities to support agricultural producers in adopting conservation and innovative climate practices, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Conservation and Innovative Climate Partnership Act of 2021 2. Conservation and innovative climate partnership competitive grant program (a) In general Subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is amended by inserting after section 1672 ( 7 U.S.C. 5925 1672A. Conservation and innovative climate partnership competitive grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) 1862 Institution; 1890 Institution The terms 1862 Institution 1890 Institution 7 U.S.C. 7601 (2) 1994 Institution The term 1994 Institution 7 U.S.C. 301 Public Law 103–382 (3) Conservation practice The term conservation practice (A) that may include any or a combination of— (i) carbon retention or carbon sequestration cropping practices; (ii) resource conserving crop rotation; (iii) alley cropping; (iv) integrated livestock-crop systems; (v) advanced grazing management; (vi) improved forestry or agroforestry management; (vii) the insertion of buffers or saturated buffers; or (viii) any other practice that an eligible institution carrying out a project under the program determines to be appropriate; and (B) the purpose of which is to increase overall sustainability on farmland or ranch land through— (i) improved soil health and tilth; (ii) improved water quality, quantity, and management; (iii) improved nutrient management; (iv) reduction in tillage; or (v) wildlife promotion and maintenance. (4) Eligible institution The term eligible institution (A) an 1862 Institution; (B) an 1890 Institution; and (C) a 1994 Institution. (5) Innovative climate practice The term innovative climate practice (A) a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxide; (B) carbon sequestration; (C) soil health improvement; or (D) reduced exposure to climate-related risk. (6) Program The term program (7) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a program to provide competitive grants pursuant to section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act ( 7 U.S.C. 343(d) (c) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, an eligible institution shall submit to the Secretary an application, including a demonstration that the applicant will— (1) increase interaction with local agricultural producers by a rate of not less than 25 percent above the outreach rate before the implementation of the project under the program; (2) assist agricultural producers in implementing new conservation practices or innovative climate practices on farms or edges of fields, improving existing conservation practices or innovative climate practices on farms or edges of fields, or any combination thereof; and (3) assist agricultural producers in implementing a combination of conservation practices or innovative climate practices that contribute to— (A) the overall improvement of conservation; or (B) a decrease in, or sequestration of, greenhouse gas emissions. (d) Partnerships An eligible institution shall carry out a project using a grant under the program in partnership with not fewer than 1 other entity, which may include— (1) a nonprofit organization; (2) a State entity; (3) the Natural Resources Conservation Service; (4) an 1862 Institution; (5) an 1890 Institution; (6) a 1994 Institution; or (7) any combination thereof. (e) Maximum amount The amount of a grant under the program shall be not more than $400,000. (f) Use of funds An eligible institution may use a grant under the program— (1) to support agricultural producers in implementing a conservation practice or an innovative climate practice; (2) subject to subsection (g), for additional staffing at the eligible institution to assist in carrying out a project using the grant; (3) to conduct workshops for agricultural producers, and develop and distribute digital and hard-copy materials directly to agricultural producers, that provide clear directions for accessing technical assistance for adopting conservation practices and innovative climate practices; and (4) for soil testing and the measuring of other indicators of the effectiveness of conservation practices and innovative climate practices. (g) Limitation on administrative expenses An eligible institution may use not more than 30 percent of the amount of a grant under the program for administrative expenses. (h) Duration A grant provided under the program shall be for such period as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, but not less than 4 years. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to provide grants under the program pursuant to section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act ( 7 U.S.C. 343(d) . (b) Eligibility of 1994 Institutions Section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act ( 7 U.S.C. 343(d) (1) by striking program and program, (2) by inserting , and the conservation and innovative climate partnership competitive grant program established under section 1672A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990

Summary: Conservation and Innovative Climate Partnership Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to award competitive grants to land-grant colleges or universities for raising public awareness, conducting workshops, and providing technical assistance to increase agricultural producers' voluntary adoption of conservation practices (e.g., alley cropping) and innovative climate practices (e.g., carbon sequestration). Grantees must carry out activities in partnership with at least one other entity, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a land-grant college or university, a state entity, or a nonprofit organization.