I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6969 
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a program that 
provides payments to producers for carrying out conservation practices 
in selected eligible watersheds, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2026 
Mr. RILEY of New York (for himself and Mr. LAWLER) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a 
program that provides payments to producers for car-
rying out conservation practices in selected eligible water-
sheds, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Investment for 
Producers and the Environment (RIPE) Act of 2026’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 1240M the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240N. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE WATERSHED.—The term ‘eligi-
ble watershed’ means a watershed with significant 
agricultural production, as determined by the Sec-
retary, that is located in a State or a United States 
Territory. 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means 
the program established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(3) SELECTED PRACTICE.—The term ‘selected 
practice’ means a practice that has one or more en-
vironmental benefit, including— 
‘‘(A) improved water quality and quantity, 
soil health, air quality, climate resiliency, and 
biodiversity; 
‘‘(B) increased agricultural yields; 
‘‘(C) restored or enhanced wildlife habitat; 
and 
‘‘(D) any other environmental benefit, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a program under which the Secretary enters 
into a contract with a producer to implement a se-
lected practice on an eligible watershed, selected in 
accordance with paragraph (2), for the purpose of 
demonstrating the effects of implementing such se-
lected practice. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE WATERSHED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), not later than one year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall, in carrying out the program, select— 
‘‘(i) not more than 2 eligible water-
sheds in a State or territory; and 
‘‘(ii) not more than 30 eligible water-
sheds total. 
‘‘(B) WATERSHEDS FOR TRIBAL LANDS.— 
In selecting an eligible watershed under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall not include 
an eligible watershed that serves Tribal lands 
towards the limitation described in clause (i) of 
such subparagraph. 
‘‘(c) CONTRACT TERMS.— 
‘‘(1) PAYMENT.—In entering into a contract 
with a producer under the program, the Secretary 
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shall provide direct payments to the producer for 
adopting and implementing a selected practice on an 
eligible watershed selected under subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(2) TERM.—A contract under this subsection 
shall be for a term of not less than 3 years and not 
more than 5 years. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.—Under a contract en-
tered into under subsection (b), the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) provide to program participants the 
opportunity to enhance or adopt additional ex-
isting conservation practices to improve envi-
ronmental outcomes given the best available 
and accessible technology and practices, as ap-
propriate for the size and type of operation; 
‘‘(B) not prohibit a producer under the 
program from participating in, and receiving 
compensation from, an environmental services 
market; and 
‘‘(C) to the extent practical, use perform-
ance-based metrics and tools to— 
‘‘(i) assess outcomes of implementing 
selected practices; and 
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‘‘(ii) support the payment amounts 
that are determined pursuant to subsection 
(d). 
‘‘(d) PAYMENTS TO PRODUCERS.— 
‘‘(1) 
PAYMENT
AMOUNTS.—In 
determining 
amounts for payments pursuant to subsection (c), 
the Secretary shall establish an amount on a per 
acre and per animal unit basis each year that re-
flects— 
‘‘(A) the cost of adopting, installing, com-
pleting, managing, and improving a selected 
practice; 
‘‘(B) income foregone by the producer, if 
applicable, to address— 
‘‘(i) increased economic risk; 
‘‘(ii) loss in revenue due to reductions 
in yield; and 
‘‘(iii) economic losses during transi-
tion to new practices; 
‘‘(C) compensation to ensure long-term 
continued management, maintenance, and im-
provement of the selected practice; and 
‘‘(D) the environmental benefit, any green-
house gas emissions reductions, and carbon se-
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questration derived from implementing the se-
lected practice. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW OF PAYMENT AMOUNT.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Rural 
Investment for Producers and the Environment 
(RIPE) Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall, after a producer adopts selected practices pur-
suant to the contract entered into under subsection 
(b), review, and adjust if determined necessary, pay-
ment amounts provided under subsection (c) with re-
spect to accounting for agricultural producer costs, 
associated technology, and any other factors as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) SPECIAL
RATE
FOR
CERTAIN
FARMERS 
AND RANCHERS.—In the case of a producer that is 
a limited resource or socially disadvantaged farmer 
or rancher, the Secretary shall increase the amount 
that would otherwise be provided to a producer 
under this subsection to 15 percent above the other-
wise applicable rate. 
‘‘(e) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Rural Investment for 
Producers and the Environment (RIPE) Act, the Sec-
retary shall, to the maximum extent practical— 
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‘‘(1) implement a simple application and accept-
ance process, administered by the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, to approve applications, sub-
ject to the availability of funding, submitted by pro-
ducers; 
‘‘(2) ensure 10 percent of funds are reserved 
for contracts with producers who are limited re-
source or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers 
through targeted outreach and education; 
‘‘(3) establish a minimum contract payment for 
contracts entered into with producers as an incentive 
to increase accessibility to the program; 
‘‘(4) provide technical assistance to the applica-
ble producer, that has entered into a contract under 
this section, for implementing and developing a com-
prehensive conservation plan for any acres of land or 
animal units related to the eligible watershed se-
lected by the Secretary under subsection (b)(2) that 
takes effect between the second year of the applica-
ble contract and the end date of such contract; and 
‘‘(5) authorize technical assistance to be pro-
vided by— 
‘‘(A) State or local government, including 
conservation districts; 
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‘‘(B) third-party providers, including agri-
cultural producer associations; 
‘‘(C) commercial entities, including farmer 
cooperatives; and 
‘‘(D) nonprofit entities with technical ex-
pertise. 
‘‘(f) REPORTS.—Not later than December 30, and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives summarizing the accomplish-
ments of the program, including the number of operations, 
acres and animal units enrolled, the accrued environ-
mental benefits, the additional and net greenhouse gas 
benefits accrued, participant demographics, and limita-
tions to adoption, especially within the animal feeding in-
dustry. 
‘‘(g) FUNDING.—Of the funds from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the following funds shall be made 
available until expended: 
‘‘(1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, for the 
purpose of establishing program regulations, policy, 
and administrative procedures. 
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‘‘(2) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 
through 2029.’’. 
Æ 
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