(i) by striking the paragraph designa-
tion and all that follows through ‘‘means’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) INTEGRATED CROP AND LIVESTOCK MAN-
AGEMENT SYSTEM OR PRACTICE.—The term ‘inte-
grated crop and livestock management system or 
practice’ means’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘resilience,’’ after 
‘‘profitability,’’; 
(F) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), 
(4), (5), and (9) as paragraphs (9), (3), (1), 
(2), and (4), respectively, and moving all para-
graphs so as to appear in numerical order; and 
(G) by inserting before paragraph (6) the 
following: 
‘‘(5) RESILIENCE.—The term ‘resilience’, with 
respect to an agricultural management system, 
means the ability of that system to absorb and re-
cover from climate and other disturbances, such that 
the system is not impacted by a severe shock.’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER INTO RESEARCH AND 
EXTENSION PROJECT AGREEMENTS.—Section 1621(b) of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5811(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘or Fed-
eral or State’’ and inserting ‘‘1994 Institutions (as defined 
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in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103– 
382)), or Federal, State, or Tribal’’. 
(c) AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE 
INITIATIVE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1627 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5821) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1627. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEM RESIL-
IENCE INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In close conjunction with 
programs and projects established under sections 
1621 and 1623, the Secretary shall establish a re-
search, education, extension, and outreach initiative 
to increase the resilience and climate change mitiga-
tion potential of agriculture and the food system in 
the context of a changing climate and related eco-
nomic, social, and environmental shocks, which may 
include— 
‘‘(A) farmer and rancher research and 
demonstration grants; and 
‘‘(B) the use of an interdisciplinary ap-
proach wherever appropriate. 
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‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the initiative 
established under paragraph (1) shall be— 
‘‘(A) to equip farmers to prepare, adapt, 
and transform the farming systems of the farm-
ers when confronted by shocks and stresses to 
the agricultural production and livelihoods of 
the farmers; 
‘‘(B) to support local and regional food 
systems that support resilience and enhance 
local access to and control over productive re-
sources; 
‘‘(C) to encourage producers to adopt prac-
tices and systems that provide living cover year- 
round throughout the farm, including through 
the use of cover crops and perennial plants in 
diversified combinations, and that are designed 
to support crop, livestock, and crop-livestock in-
tegrated systems that— 
‘‘(i) minimize or abate adverse climate 
and environmental impacts; 
‘‘(ii) increase soil carbon sequestration 
and storage; 
‘‘(iii) reduce soil erosion and loss of 
water and nutrients; 
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‘‘(iv) enhance soil quality and the effi-
cient use of on-farm and off-farm inputs; 
‘‘(v) reduce dependency on fossil fuels; 
and 
‘‘(vi) maintain or increase profitability 
and long-term productivity; 
‘‘(D) to develop knowledge and information 
and conduct outreach on living cover systems 
and 
practices, 
including 
greater 
use 
of 
perennials, and integrated crop and livestock 
management systems and practices to increase 
resilience and assist agricultural producers in 
the adoption of those systems and practices; 
‘‘(E) to facilitate the adoption of year- 
round living cover and perennial production sys-
tems supporting whole-farm integrated crop 
and livestock management systems and prac-
tices through demonstration projects on indi-
vidual farms, including small and limited re-
source farms, throughout the United States; 
and 
‘‘(F) to evaluate and recommend appro-
priate policies and programs to improve food 
and agricultural system resilience. 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.— 
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‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall use to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. 
‘‘(2) DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.—There is au-
thorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
through the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 
through 2030.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The chapter 
heading of chapter 2 of subtitle B of title XVI of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEM 
RESILIENCE INITIATIVE’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL GUIDES AND BOOKS.—Section 1628 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘and outreach resources and’’ 
after ‘‘educational’’ each place it appears; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Not later 
than two years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’; 
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(3) in subsection (b), by striking the second 
sentence; 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) adapting to, and mitigating the effects of, 
climate change;’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘Soil Con-
servation’’ and inserting ‘‘Natural Resources Con-
servation’’; and 
(6) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2030’’. 
(e) NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM.—Section 1629 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the third sentence— 
(i) by inserting before the period at 
the end the following: ‘‘, including employ-
ees of the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture, the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service, and other appropriate 
Department of Agriculture personnel, as 
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(C) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and 
(11) as paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively; 
and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (9) the 
following; 
‘‘(10) develop and provide information relating 
to climate change adaptation and mitigation devel-
oped under this subtitle and other research and edu-
cation programs of the Department of Agriculture;’’; 
(4) by striking subsection (h); 
(5) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection 
(h); and 
(6) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘, and $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2026 through 2030’’ before the period at the end. 
SEC. 204. LONG-TERM AGROECOSYSTEM RESEARCH NET-
WORK. 
Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting 
before section 404 (7 U.S.C. 7624) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 402. LONG-TERM AGROECOSYSTEM RESEARCH NET-
WORK. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Re-
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search Service, shall provide for the establishment 
and maintenance of a network of research sites, to 
be known as the ‘Long-Term Agroecosystem Re-
search Network’ (referred to in this section as the 
‘Network’), operated by the Agricultural Research 
Service for research regarding the sustainability of 
agricultural systems in the United States. 
‘‘(2) GOALS.—The Network shall have the fol-
lowing goals: 
‘‘(A) To understand and enhance the sus-
tainability of agriculture. 
‘‘(B) To integrate research projects with 
common standardized measurements on mul-
tiple agroecosystems and land uses, including 
cropland, rangeland, and pastureland. 
‘‘(C) To develop new farming systems, 
practices, and technologies to address agricul-
tural challenges and opportunities, including 
challenges and opportunities posed by climate 
change. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the Network shall 
include— 
‘‘(1) research conducted for a minimum of 30 
years to develop novel scientific insights at regional 
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and national scales, and to evaluate the applicability 
of, and adaptation to, local conditions; 
‘‘(2) the establishment and maintenance of mul-
tiple sites or research centers that capture the diver-
sity of agricultural production systems that function 
as a network; and 
‘‘(3) the coordination, management, and anal-
ysis of large-scale data collection relating to the sus-
tainability of agricultural systems and the provision 
of infrastructure to research sites to allow for ana-
lyzing and disseminating those data. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION OF RESEARCH.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) coordinate long-term agroecological re-
search to improve understanding within the Depart-
ment regarding the means by which agroecosystems 
function at the field, regional, and national scales; 
‘‘(2) designate for inclusion in the Network re-
search sites that are representative of major agricul-
tural regions; 
‘‘(3) ensure that each research site included in 
the Network conducts experiments with standardized 
goals and methods— 
‘‘(A) to increase agricultural productivity 
and profitability; 
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‘‘(B) to enhance agricultural resilience and 
the capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate 
change; 
‘‘(C) to boost the provision of ecosystem 
services from agricultural landscapes; and 
‘‘(D) to improve opportunities for rural 
communities; 
‘‘(4) make data collected at research sites in-
cluded in the Network open to researchers and the 
public whenever practicable, and integrate data 
across the network and partner sites; 
‘‘(5) provide infrastructure to research sites in-
cluded in the Network for data collection, common 
measurements, and data streams that complement 
other national networks, such as the National Eco-
logical Observatory Network and the Long-Term Ec-
ological Research Network; 
‘‘(6) coordinate with Climate Hubs of the De-
partment to share research findings and data in-
sights; and 
‘‘(7) collaborate with those Climate Hubs to 
translate research findings into educational, out-
reach, and technical assistance materials for agricul-
tural producers. 
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‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out activities of 
the Network under this section $50,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.’’. 
SEC. 205. PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Competitive, Special, and Fa-
cilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘hereby’’ each place it appears; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation 
and heading and all that follows through ‘‘In 
order’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS; ESTABLISHMENT 
OF GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.— 
In order’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as paragraphs (3) and (1), respectively, and 
moving the paragraphs so as to appear in nu-
merical order; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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‘‘(A) 
CONVENTIONAL
BREEDING.—The 
term ‘conventional breeding’ means the develop-
ment of a new variety of an organism through 
controlled mating and selection without the use 
of transgenic methods. 
‘‘(B) 
CULTIVAR.—The 
term 
‘cultivar’ 
means a variety of a species of plant that has 
been intentionally selected for use in cultivation 
because of the improved characteristics of that 
variety of the species. 
‘‘(C) PUBLIC ANIMAL BREED.—The term 
‘public animal breed’ means an animal breed 
that is the commercially available end product 
of a publicly funded breeding program that has 
been sufficiently tested to demonstrate im-
proved characteristics and stable performance. 
‘‘(D) PUBLIC CULTIVAR.—The term ‘public 
cultivar’ means a cultivar— 
‘‘(i) that is the commercially available 
end product of a publicly funded breeding 
program that has been sufficiently tested 
to demonstrate improved characteristics 
and stable performance; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to which, if intellec-
tual property rights are asserted, the intel-
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lectual property rights are in the form of 
plant patents or plant variety protection 
and not utility patents. 
‘‘(E) 
PUBLIC
CULTIVAR
OR
ANIMAL 
BREED.—The term ‘public cultivar or animal 
breed’ means— 
‘‘(i) a public animal breed; and 
‘‘(ii) a public cultivar. 
‘‘(F) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ 
means the Secretary of Agriculture.’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of Agri-
culture (referred to in this subsection as ‘the 
Secretary’)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘defined under’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘defined in’’; 
(4) in subsections (c), (e), (f), (g), (i), and (k), 
by striking ‘‘Secretary of Agriculture’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT 
FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the total amount of 
grants made under the provisions of law described in 
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ensure that not 
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less than $75,000,000 for each fiscal year is used 
for competitive research grants that support the de-
velopment of public cultivars and animal breeds. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE PROGRAMS.—The provisions 
of law referred to in paragraph (1) are— 
‘‘(A) subsections (a) and (b); 
‘‘(B) section 1672B(e) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 5925b(e)); 
‘‘(C) sections 1619 through 1624 of that 
Act (7 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.); 
‘‘(D) any relevant competitive grant pro-
gram authorized by section 406 of the Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626), as deter-
mined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(E) section 412 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 
7632). 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In making grants under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to high- 
potential research projects that lead to the release of 
regionally adapted public cultivars and animal 
breeds that assist producers in mitigating and 
adapting to climate change, including— 
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‘‘(A) regionally adapted public cultivars 
and animal breeds; 
‘‘(B) public cultivars and animal breeds 
bred for environmental resilience, including re-
silience to changing climates, mitigating green-
house gas emissions, and sequestering carbon; 
‘‘(C) public animal breeds adapted to graz-
ing and overwintering as appropriate for the 
applicable production region; 
‘‘(D) public cultivars and animal breeds 
bred to enhance the nutritional and health out-
comes of local and Native American, Alaska 
Native, and Native Hawaiian populations; 
‘‘(E) public cultivars and animal breeds of 
indigenous and place-based importance that are 
endangered; and 
‘‘(F) public cultivars and animal breeds 
with beneficial and compatible characteristics 
and behaviors for dual-use renewable energy-ag-
ricultural systems. 
‘‘(4) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that— 
‘‘(A) the terms and renewal process for 
any competitive grants made under subsection 
(b) in accordance with paragraph (1) facilitates 
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the development and commercialization of pub-
lic cultivars and animal breeds through long- 
term grants with a term of not less than 5 
years; and 
‘‘(B) Tribal consultation occurs to ensure 
public cultivar or animal breed development 
does not infringe on the abilities of Indian 
Tribes to maintain culturally sensitive animal 
breeds and cultivars. 
‘‘(5) REQUIREMENT
FOR
DOMESTIC
PRODUC-
TION.—No person that receives title to a plant pat-
ent or plant variety protection relating to any public 
cultivar or animal breed developed using funds re-
ceived under this subsection, and no assignee of any 
such person, shall grant to any person the exclusive 
right to use or sell that public cultivar or animal 
breed unless that person agrees that any cultivars or 
animals embodying the public cultivar or animal 
breed or produced through the use of the public 
cultivar or animal breed will be produced substan-
tially in the United States. 
‘‘(6) REPORT.—Not later than October 1 of 
each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report that provides information relating to all pub-
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lic cultivar and animal breeding research funded by 
the Department of Agriculture, including— 
‘‘(A) a list of public cultivars and animal 
breeds developed and released in a commercially 
available form; 
‘‘(B) areas of high-priority research; 
‘‘(C) identified research gaps relating to 
public cultivar and animal breed development; 
and 
‘‘(D) an assessment of the state of com-
mercialization for public cultivars and animal 
breeds.’’. 
(b) PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR RESEARCH AC-
TIVITIES COORDINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 251 of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 6971) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (e), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(7) PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR RESEARCH 
ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary 
shall appoint a coordinator within the Office of 
the Chief Scientist that reports to the Under 
Secretary to coordinate research activities at 
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the Department relating to the breeding of pub-
lic cultivars and animal breeds (as defined in 
paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of the Competi-
tive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 3157)). 
‘‘(B) DUTIES OF COORDINATOR.—The co-
ordinator appointed under subparagraph (A) 
shall— 
‘‘(i) coordinate plant and animal 
breeding research activities funded by the 
Department relating to the development of 
public cultivars and animal breeds; 
‘‘(ii)(I) carry out ongoing analysis and 
track activities for any Federal research 
funding supporting plant and animal 
breeding (including any public cultivars 
and animal breeds developed with Federal 
funds); and 
‘‘(II) ensure that the analysis and ac-
tivities are made available to the public not 
later than 60 days after the last day of 
each fiscal year; 
‘‘(iii) develop a strategic plan that es-
tablishes targets for public cultivar and 
animal breed research investments across 
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the Department to ensure that a diverse 
range of crop and animal needs are being 
met in a timely and transparent manner, 
with a strong focus on delivery of resource- 
efficient, stress-tolerant, regionally adapted 
public cultivar and animal breeds that— 
‘‘(I) help build agricultural resil-
ience to climate change; and 
‘‘(II) support on-farm carbon se-
questration and greenhouse gas miti-
gation, nutritional quality, and other 
farmer-identified priority agronomic 
and market traits; 
‘‘(iv) convene a working group to 
carry out the coordination functions de-
scribed in this subparagraph comprised of 
individuals who are responsible for the 
management, administration, or analysis of 
public cultivar and animal breeding pro-
grams within the Department from— 
‘‘(I) the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture; 
‘‘(II) the Agricultural Research 
Service; and 
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‘‘(III) the Economic Research 
Service; 
‘‘(v) in order to maximize delivery of 
public cultivars and animal breeds, pro-
mote collaboration among— 
‘‘(I) the coordinator; 
‘‘(II) the working group convened 
under clause (iv); 
‘‘(III) the advisory council estab-
lished under section 1634 of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5843); 
‘‘(IV) genetic resource conserva-
tion centers; 
‘‘(V) land-grant colleges and uni-
versities (as defined in section 1404 of 
the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)); 
‘‘(VI) Hispanic-serving institu-
tions (as defined in section 502(a) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1101a(a))); 
‘‘(VII) Native American-serving 
nontribal institutions (as defined in 
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section 371(c) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1067q(c))); 
‘‘(VIII) Tribal Colleges and Uni-
versities (as defined in section 316(b) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))) and federally 
recognized Indian Tribe extension pro-
grams; 
‘‘(IX) nongovernmental organiza-
tions with interest or expertise in pub-
lic breeding; and 
‘‘(X) public and private plant and 
animal breeders, including small-scale 
organic breeders; 
‘‘(vi) convene regular stakeholder lis-
tening sessions to provide input on na-
tional and regional priorities for public 
cultivar and animal breed research activi-
ties across the Department; and 
‘‘(vii) 
evaluate 
and 
make 
rec-
ommendations to the Under Secretary with 
respect to training and resource needs to 
meet future breeding challenges.’’; and 
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(B) in subsection (f)(1)(D)(i), by striking 
‘‘(7 U.S.C. 450i(b))’’ and inserting ‘‘(7 U.S.C. 
3157(b))’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
296(b)(6)(B) of the Department of Agriculture Re-
organization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)(6)(B)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Scientist; and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Scientist (including the public breed and 
cultivar research activities coordinator under sub-
section (e)(7) of that section); and’’. 
(c) PUBLIC
BREED
AND
CULTIVAR
DEVELOP-
MENT.—Subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5921 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1681. PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Research 
Service (referred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’) and 
in conjunction with the Director of the National Genetic 
Resources Program appointed under section 1633, shall 
support the development of public breeds and cultivars (as 
defined in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of the Competi-
tive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
3157)) by Federal researchers. 
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‘‘(b) PRIORITY.—In supporting research under sub-
section (a) using funds made available pursuant to sub-
section (d), the Secretary shall give priority to high-poten-
tial research projects that lead to the release of regionally 
adapted public breeds and cultivars that assist producers 
in mitigating and adapting to climate change. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than October 1 of each 
year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that 
provides information relating to all public breed and 
cultivar research funded by the Agricultural Research 
Service and the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture, including— 
‘‘(1) a list of public breeds and cultivars devel-
oped and released in a commercially available form; 
‘‘(2) areas of high-priority research; 
‘‘(3) identified research gaps relating to public 
breed and cultivar development, including newly 
emerging needs stemming from climate change; and 
‘‘(4) an assessment of the state of commer-
cialization for breeds and cultivars that have been 
developed. 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available to the 
Secretary for each fiscal year, not less than $50,000,000 
shall be made available to carry out this section.’’. 
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SEC. 206. ARS CLIMATE SCIENTIST CAREER DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in accordance with 
section 922 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2279c), shall carry out an 
internship program within the Agricultural Research Serv-
ice for graduate students pursuing a degree in, or con-
ducting research relating to, climate change and agri-
culture. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Cred-
it Corporation, the Secretary may use to carry out the pro-
gram under subsection (a) not more than $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. 
SEC. 207. AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITI-
GATION THROUGH AFRI. 
Subsection (b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) AGRICULTURAL
CLIMATE
ADAPTA-
TION
AND
MITIGATION.—Agricultural climate 
adaptation and mitigation, including— 
‘‘(i) strategies for agricultural adapta-
tion to climate change and drought, includ-
ing strategies for small- and medium-sized 
farms and ranches; 
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‘‘(ii) on-farm mitigation strategies and 
solutions, including infrastructure, equip-
ment, and ecosystem-based strategies; 
‘‘(iii) economic and social costs and 
benefits of adopting conservation practices 
to mitigate and adapt to climate change; 
‘‘(iv) ecosystem services co-benefits of 
reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and 
adapting to climate change; 
‘‘(v) new technologies, methods, and 
models to measure and predict greenhouse 
gas emissions and soil carbon sequestra-
tion; and 
‘‘(vi) the intersection of agricultural 
production, soil health, climate change, and 
human health.’’. 
SEC. 208. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
Section 412 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by inserting ‘‘, diverse multicrop production 
systems,’’ after ‘‘specific crops’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking 
‘‘pesticide application systems’’ and inserting 
‘‘ecologically based pest management, pesticide 
application systems,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)(E), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate 
change, including— 
‘‘(A) on-farm mitigation strategies and so-
lutions, including agricultural ecosystem-based 
strategies; 
‘‘(B) conservation practices and tech-
nologies designed to improve soil health, includ-
ing practices and technologies that sequester 
carbon in soil; and 
‘‘(C) breeding research and cultivar devel-
opment to help adapt to climate change.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘equal 
to not less than the amount of the grant’’ and in-
serting ‘‘in an amount that is equal to not less than 
25 percent of the funds provided through the 
grant’’. 
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SEC. 209. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT. 
Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and 
(f) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) EMPHASIS ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that grants made under this section 
are, where appropriate, consistent with the development 
of food and agricultural systems that improve climate re-
silience. 
‘‘(e) ECOLOGICALLY BASED PEST MANAGEMENT.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that grants made under this 
section to support pest management prioritize ecologically 
based approaches that— 
‘‘(1) are effective, affordable, and environ-
mentally sound; 
‘‘(2) maintain agricultural productivity and 
healthy communities; and 
‘‘(3) improve climate resilience.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2030’’. 
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SEC. 210. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR 
RURAL AREAS PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 310B(i)(2) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1932(i)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘that are seeking information to’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, including beginning farmers or ranchers 
and veteran farmers or ranchers (as those terms are 
defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(a))) and socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers (as defined in section 355(e)), that are 
seeking information’’; 
(2) in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), 
by inserting ‘‘to’’ after the subparagraph designa-
tion; 
(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(4) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E); 
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) to increase on-farm resilience to ex-
treme weather by enhancing soil health and 
adopting other conservation practices;’’; 
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(6) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), 
by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(7) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) 
to 
improve 
farm 
viability 
and 
strengthen local, regional, and national supply 
chains.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Section 310B(i)(3) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1932(i)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) ELIGIBILITY
FOR, AND
USE
OF, 
OTHER FUNDS.—A national nonprofit agricul-
tural assistance institution that receives a grant 
or enters into a cooperative agreement under 
this subsection— 
‘‘(i) may not, as a result of that grant 
or cooperative agreement, be treated as in-
eligible for a grant under any other Fed-
eral program; and 
‘‘(ii) may use, in accordance with ap-
plicable law, other public and private funds 
made available to the institution to expand 
the resources and outreach of the program 
established under this subsection.’’. 
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(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
310B(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)) is amended by striking paragraph 
(4) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection— 
‘‘(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and 
‘‘(B) $8,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2026 through 2030.’’. 
TITLE III—SOIL HEALTH 
SEC. 301. CROP INSURANCE. 
(a) VOLUNTARY GOOD FARMING PRACTICES.—Sec-
tion 508(a)(3)(A)(iii) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(3)(A)(iii)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘including scientifically’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘including— 
‘‘(I) scientifically’’; 
(2) in subclause (I) (as so designated), by strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(II) conservation practices and 
enhancements that are approved by— 
‘‘(aa) the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; or 
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‘‘(bb) an agricultural expert, 
as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) RISK-REDUCTION BASED DISCOUNTS.—Section 
508(d) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(d)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (5); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) RISK-REDUCTION BASED DISCOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Effective beginning 
with the 2026 reinsurance year, the Corpora-
tion may provide a risk-reduction based pre-
mium discount for a producer of an agricultural 
commodity that uses risk-reduction farming 
practices, as determined by the Corporation in 
accordance with subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) RISK-REDUCTION
FARMING
PRAC-
TICES.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), a 
risk-reduction farming practice may include any 
of the following: 
‘‘(i) The use of a cover crop. 
‘‘(ii) A resource-conserving crop rota-
tion. 
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‘‘(iii) Management-intensive rotational 
grazing. 
‘‘(iv) A compost or biochar applica-
tion. 
‘‘(v) An agroforestry or other peren-
nial production system. 
‘‘(vi) Other risk-reducing and soil 
health-promoting farming practices, as de-
termined by the Corporation.’’. 
(c) CROP PRODUCTION ON NATIVE SOD APPLICA-
BILITY.— 
(1) APPLICATION
TO
CERTAIN
STATES.—Sec-
tion 508(o) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1508(o)) is amended by striking paragraph 
(3). 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the first day 
of the first reinsurance year that begins after the 
date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 302. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PURPOSES.—Section 1240 of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa) is amended— 
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(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘and environmental quality’’ and inserting 
‘‘environmental quality, and climate change adapta-
tion and mitigation’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) greenhouse gas emissions reduction 
and carbon sequestration;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ‘‘seques-
tering carbon, increasing drought resilience, reduc-
ing greenhouse gas emissions, and’’ before ‘‘con-
serving energy’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘climate 
change and’’ before ‘‘increasing weather volatility’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1240A of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6)(B)— 
(A) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause 
(vii); and 
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(C) by inserting after clause (v) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(vi) greenhouse gas emissions reduc-
tion planning; and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (7), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘natural resource 
concern or problem’’ and inserting ‘‘resource con-
cern’’; 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10) 
as paragraphs (10) and (11), respectively; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (8) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(9) RESOURCE CONCERN.—The term ‘resource 
concern’ means a natural resource condition of the 
soil, water, air, plant, animal, or energy resource 
base that impairs the sustainability or an intended 
use of the resource.’’. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) PAYMENTS.—Section 1240B(d)(7)(A) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa– 
2(d)(7)(A)) is amended— 
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in clause (iv), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) increases carbon sequestration or 
reduces greenhouse gas emissions.’’. 
(2) 
ALLOCATION
OF
FUNDING.—Section 
1240B(f)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(f)(1)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2023, at least’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2033, not less than’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘including grazing manage-
ment practices’’ and inserting ‘‘of which not 
less than 2⁄3 shall be targeted at practices relat-
ing to grazing management’’. 
(3) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES 
RELATED
TO
ORGANIC
PRODUCTION.—Section 
1240B(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)) is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (3); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and 
(5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively. 
(4) CONSERVATION INCENTIVE CONTRACTS.— 
Section 1240B(j) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(j)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘, which may include climate change adap-
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tation and mitigation,’’ after ‘‘priority re-
source concerns’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘, which may include climate change adap-
tation and mitigation’’ before the period at 
the end; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii)— 
(I) in subclause (I), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(II) in subclause (II), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
or’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(III) funding, through annual 
payments, for a suite of incentive 
practices that are appropriate for the 
region and land use and that best en-
hance soil health and carbon seques-
tration and reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions, as determined by the Sec-
retary.’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
inserting the following: 
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‘‘(B) TERM.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A contract under 
this subsection shall have a term of not 
less than 5, and not more than 10, years. 
‘‘(ii) GRADUATION OPTION.—The Sec-
retary may reduce the term for a contract 
under this subsection if the producer en-
ters into a conservation stewardship con-
tract under section 1240K with respect to 
the eligible land that is subject to the con-
tract under this subsection.’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(iii) give priority to applications that 
cover eligible land that, on expiration of a 
contract under this subsection, may be en-
rolled in a conservation stewardship con-
tract under section 1240K.’’. 
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(d) ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PLAN.— 
Section 1240E(a)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–5(a)(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, and 
a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan’’ after ‘‘if appli-
cable’’. 
(e) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS.—Section 1240G of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–7) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Not including payments’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘A person or 
legal entity (including a joint venture and a general part-
nership) may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share 
or incentive payments under this subchapter that, in ag-
gregate, exceed $450,000 for all contracts entered into 
under this subchapter by the person or legal entity during 
any 5-fiscal-year period’’. 
(f) CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS.— 
(1) AIR
QUALITY
CONCERNS
FROM
AGRICUL-
TURAL
OPERATIONS.—Section 1240H(b) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(b)) 
is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘practices to address’’ 
in the first sentence and all that follows 
through ‘‘The funds’’ in the second sen-
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tence and inserting the following: ‘‘prac-
tices— 
‘‘(i) to address air quality concerns 
from agricultural operations; and 
‘‘(ii) to meet Federal, State, and 
local— 
‘‘(I) regulatory requirements; and 
‘‘(II) goals with respect to green-
house gas emissions reductions. 
‘‘(B) BASIS OF AVAILABILITY AND USE.— 
Funds for payments under subparagraph (A)’’; 
and 
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so designated), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) 
in 
paragraph 
(2), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$37,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2031’’ and inserting ‘‘$37,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, and 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2033’’. 
(2) 
ON-FARM
CONSERVATION
INNOVATION 
TRIALS.—Section 1240H(c) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c)) is amended— 
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(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)— 
(i) in subclause (II), by inserting ‘‘on- 
farm nutrient recycling,’’ after ‘‘plans,’’; 
(ii) in subclause (VI), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(VII) perennial production sys-
tems, including agroforestry and pe-
rennial forages and grain crops; and’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘2019 
through 2031’’ and inserting ‘‘2025 through 
2027, $50,000,000 of the funds made available 
to carry out this subchapter for each of fiscal 
years 2028 and 2029, and $100,000,000 of the 
funds made available to carry out this sub-
chapter for each of fiscal years 2030 through 
2033’’. 
SEC. 303. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1240I of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
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(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘en-
hancements,’’ after ‘‘practices,’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)(v), by inserting 
‘‘and climate change’’ before the period at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ‘‘main-
tained, actively’’ after ‘‘implemented,’’; 
(3) in paragraph (5), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘natural resource 
concern or problem’’ and inserting ‘‘resource con-
cern’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (8); and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(7) RESOURCE CONCERN.—The term ‘resource 
concern’ means a natural resource condition of the 
soil, water, air, plant, animal, or energy resource 
base that impairs the sustainability or an intended 
use of the resource.’’. 
(b) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 1240J(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–22(a)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘2031’’ and inserting ‘‘2033’’; and 
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(2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) by maintaining, actively managing, and, 
where practicable, improving existing conservation 
activities; and 
‘‘(2) by undertaking additional conservation ac-
tivities.’’. 
(c) STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF CONTRACT OFFERS.—Sec-
tion 1240K(a)(2)(B) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–23(a)(2)(B)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘improving, maintaining, and managing’’ 
and inserting ‘‘maintaining, actively managing, and, 
where practicable, improving’’. 
(2) EVALUATION OF CONTRACT OFFERS.—Sec-
tion 1240K(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–23(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking clause 
(iii) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(iii) other criteria consistent with an 
equal weighting of the factors described in 
clauses (i) and (ii), as determined by the 
Secretary, including criteria the Secretary 
determines are necessary to ensure that— 
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‘‘(I) the program effectively tar-
gets improvements to soil health, in-
creases in carbon sequestration, and 
reductions in greenhouse gas emis-
sions; and 
‘‘(II) other national, State, and 
local priority resource concerns are ef-
fectively addressed.’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3). 
(3) CONTRACT
RENEWAL.—Section 1240K(e) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–23(e)) is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘may provide the producer an op-
portunity’’ and inserting ‘‘shall guarantee that 
each producer has an opportunity’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (B); 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘; or’’ at the end and inserting ‘‘, if appli-
cable.’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘period—’’ in the 
matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all 
that follows through ‘‘to meet’’ in subpara-
graph (A) and inserting ‘‘period, to meet’’. 
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(d) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.— 
(1) CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITI-
GATION.—Section 1240L(a)(2) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(a)(2)) is amend-
ed by inserting ‘‘(which may include climate change 
adaptation and mitigation)’’ after ‘‘priority resource 
concerns’’. 
(2) 
CONSERVATION
STEWARDSHIP
PAY-
MENTS.—Section 1240L(c) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(c)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘on 1 or more types of eligible land cov-
ered by the contract’’ after ‘‘activities’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘improving, maintaining, and managing’’ 
and inserting ‘‘maintaining, actively man-
aging, and improving’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) Income forgone by the producer, in-
cluding amounts that reflect— 
‘‘(i) increased economic risk; and 
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‘‘(ii) loss in revenue due to— 
‘‘(I) production changes; 
‘‘(II) anticipated reductions in 
yield; 
‘‘(III) transitioning to an or-
ganic, resource-conserving cropping or 
grazing, or perennial production sys-
tem; or 
‘‘(IV) acreage converted to con-
servation uses.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘maintained over the term of the con-
tract.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘main-
tained, actively managed, and, where appli-
cable, improved over the term of the con-
tract, in a manner that ensures that— 
‘‘(i) producers receive payment for 
maintaining high levels of stewardship es-
sential to addressing priority resource con-
cerns; and 
‘‘(ii) all land uses with sufficiently 
high levels of stewardship in place receive 
payment for maintaining that level of stew-
ardship, regardless of additional conserva-
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tion activities implemented on that land 
over the contract term.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) PAYMENTS
FOR
CONSERVATION
ACTIVI-
TIES
RELATED
TO
ORGANIC
PRODUCTION
SYS-
TEMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide payments under this subsection for con-
servation activities relating to— 
‘‘(i) organic production; and 
‘‘(ii) transitioning to organic produc-
tion. 
‘‘(B) CONSERVATION
ACTIVITIES.—Con-
servation activities described in subparagraph 
(A) may include— 
‘‘(i) generally available and specifically 
tailored conservation activities; and 
‘‘(ii) individual conservation activities 
and bundles of conservation activities. 
‘‘(7) MINIMUM PAYMENT.—The amount of an 
annual payment under the program shall be not less 
than $4,000.’’. 
(3) 
SUPPLEMENTAL
PAYMENTS.—Section 
1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d)) is amended— 
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(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘, PERENNIAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS,’’ after 
‘‘ROTATIONS’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraph (C) 
as subparagraph (D); and 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(B) the following: 
‘‘(C) PERENNIAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM.— 
The 
term 
‘perennial 
production 
system’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) the use of cropland for agro-
forestry, 
including 
alley 
cropping, 
silvopasture, and related production prac-
tices, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) the use of woodland for agro-
forestry, including forest farming, multi-
story cropping, and related production 
practices, as determined by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the use of cropland for perennial 
forages or perennial grain crops.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) a perennial production system.’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘or ad-
vanced grazing management’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
advanced grazing management, or a perennial 
production system’’. 
(4) PAYMENT FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVA-
TION PLAN.—Section 1240L(e)(1) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(e)(1)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘plan that meets’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘plan that— 
‘‘(A) meets’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so des-
ignated), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) with respect to an organic production 
system— 
‘‘(i) is integrated with an organic sys-
tem plan approved under the national or-
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ganic program established under the Or-
ganic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.); or 
‘‘(ii) allows a producer to transition to 
organic production systems and pursue 
certification under that Act.’’. 
(5) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—Section 1240L(f) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–24(f)) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(including a joint venture 
and a general partnership)’’ after ‘‘A person or 
legal entity’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2019 through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘any consecutive 5-fiscal- 
year period’’. 
(6) SPECIALTY
CROP
AND
ORGANIC
PRO-
DUCERS.—Section 1240L(g) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(g)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘, and producers transitioning to or-
ganic production systems,’’ after ‘‘organic pro-
ducers’’. 
(7) SOIL HEALTH.—Section 1240L(k) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa– 
24(k)) is amended by striking ‘‘health.’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘health, including by— 
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‘‘(1) conducting outreach to encourage the use 
of contracts to improve soil health and sequester 
carbon in the soil; and 
‘‘(2) offering payments for, and supporting the 
interpretation of, soil health testing to provide to 
producers and the Secretary information relating to 
the soil health and carbon sequestration impacts of 
conservation activities.’’. 
(e) ON-FARM CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP INNO-
VATION GRANTS.—Subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–21 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240L–2. ON-FARM CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP IN-
NOVATION GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Using funds made available to 
carry out this subchapter, the Secretary shall provide com-
petitive grants to carry out on-farm conservation innova-
tion projects on eligible land of program participants for 
the purpose of stimulating innovative approaches on farms 
and ranches to leverage Federal investment in conserva-
tion stewardship, in conjunction with agricultural produc-
tion or forest resource management, through the program. 
‘‘(b) PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary shall provide 
grants under this section— 
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‘‘(1) directly to agricultural operations, or 
groups of agricultural operations, participating in 
the program; or 
‘‘(2) through partnerships between small groups 
of agricultural operations participating in the pro-
gram and organizations assisting farmers and ranch-
ers at the local level, including— 
‘‘(A) university researchers or educators; 
‘‘(B) extension agents or specialists; 
‘‘(C) Federal agency field staff; 
‘‘(D) agricultural consultants; 
‘‘(E) State and local agency staff; 
‘‘(F) Tribal agency staff; 
‘‘(G) Federally-Recognized Tribes Exten-
sion Program agents; and 
‘‘(H) nonprofit organization staff. 
‘‘(c) USE.—An entity that receives a grant under this 
section directly or through a partnership in accordance 
with subsection (b) shall carry out an on-farm conserva-
tion innovation project that— 
‘‘(1) facilitates on-farm research and dem-
onstration or pilot testing of new technologies or in-
novative conservation systems and practices that aim 
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize 
agriculture; 
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‘‘(2) facilitates on-farm research and dem-
onstration or pilot testing of practices and systems 
with a proven high impact for greenhouse gas emis-
sions reduction and decarbonization and low national 
or regional adoption rates; or 
‘‘(3) helps to prepare program participants for 
participation in environmental services markets that 
have as a primary goal greenhouse gas emissions re-
duction or decarbonization of agriculture. 
‘‘(d) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall enter into agree-
ments with agricultural operations (directly or 
through governmental or nongovernmental or-
ganizations involved in a partnership with 1 or 
more agricultural operations) on the land of 
which an on-farm conservation innovation 
project is being carried out under this section 
to provide payments to the agricultural oper-
ations to assist with adopting and evaluating 
new or innovative conservation approaches to 
achieve conservation benefits. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNT.—Payments provided under 
subparagraph (A) shall reflect the direct costs 
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of the research and demonstration and com-
pensation for foregone income, as appropriate 
to address the increased economic risk or lower 
economic return potentially associated with the 
applicable innovative conservation approach. 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTED
GROSS
INCOME
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The adjusted gross in-
come requirements under section 1001D(b)(1) 
shall— 
‘‘(i) apply to producers receiving pay-
ments under this subsection; and 
‘‘(ii) be enforced by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) REPORTING.—A governmental or 
nongovernmental organization participating in 
an on-farm conservation innovation project 
under this subsection shall submit to the Sec-
retary an annual report describing the amount 
of payments that the organization made to each 
agricultural operation under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND 
ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—The Secretary may 
provide to a partnership described in paragraph 
(1)(A) not more than $50,000 for each on-farm con-
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servation innovation project for research, technical 
assistance, and administrative expenses. 
‘‘(4) LENGTH OF AGREEMENTS.—An agreement 
entered into under paragraph (1)(A) shall be for a 
period determined by the Secretary that is— 
‘‘(A) not less than 2 years; and 
‘‘(B) if appropriate, more than 2 years, in-
cluding if the longer period is appropriate to 
support— 
‘‘(i) adaptive management over mul-
tiple crop years; and 
‘‘(ii) adequate data collection and 
analysis by an agricultural operation or 
partnership to report the natural resource 
and agricultural production benefits of the 
new or innovative conservation approaches 
to the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 304. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH. 
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 adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240S. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY
AND PURPOSE
OF GRANTS.— 
Using funds made available under subsection (k), the Sec-
retary shall make grants to States or Tribal governments 
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for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to be used by 
State departments of agriculture or appropriate Tribal au-
thorities to develop and implement plans to improve soil 
health on agricultural land. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State department of ag-
riculture or Tribal government requesting a grant 
under this section shall prepare and submit for ap-
proval by the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such a manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary shall require, including an assur-
ance that grant funds received under this section 
shall supplement the expenditure of State or Tribal 
funds in support of soil health, rather than replace 
State or Tribal funds for those purposes. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—A State or Tribal gov-
ernment may request funds under this section— 
‘‘(A) to develop or modify a State or Tribal 
soil health plan; or 
‘‘(B) to implement a State or Tribal soil 
health plan approved by the Secretary under 
this section, including through— 
‘‘(i) technical assistance; 
‘‘(ii) financial assistance; 
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‘‘(iii) on-farm research and dem-
onstration; 
‘‘(iv) education, outreach, and train-
ing; 
‘‘(v) monitoring and evaluation; or 
‘‘(vi) such other activities as the Sec-
retary determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(3) PLAN COMPONENTS.—Before approving a 
State or Tribal soil health plan, the Secretary shall 
ensure that the plan, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) is broadly consistent with the soil 
health principles of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service; and 
‘‘(B) identifies effective strategies for in-
creasing adoption of regionally appropriate soil 
health practices and systems on privately owned 
agricultural land under the jurisdiction of the 
applicable State or Tribal government. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBILITY.—A State or Tribal govern-
ment may— 
‘‘(A) apply for a grant for the purposes de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(A) at any time; and 
‘‘(B) apply for a grant for the purposes de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(B) on approval by the 
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Secretary of a soil health plan for the State or 
Tribal government. 
‘‘(c) TRIBAL OPTION.—At the sole discretion of a 
Tribal government, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization 
shall have the option of being incorporated into a State 
application rather than submitting an application for the 
Indian Tribe or Tribal organization. 
‘‘(d) GRANT AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) MAXIMUM.—The maximum amount of a 
grant that any 1 State or Tribal government may 
receive under this section for a fiscal year shall be— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a grant for the pur-
poses 
described 
in 
subsection 
(b)(2)(A), 
$1,000,000; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a grant for the pur-
poses 
described 
in 
subsection 
(b)(2)(B), 
$5,000,000. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(A) GRANTS TO STATES.—The amount of 
a grant to a State under this section shall not 
exceed— 
‘‘(i) 75 percent of the cost of devel-
oping or modifying a soil health plan; or 
‘‘(ii) 50 percent of the cost of imple-
menting the soil health plan. 
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‘‘(B) GRANTS TO TRIBES.—The amount of 
a grant to a Tribal government under this sec-
tion may cover 100 percent of the costs of de-
veloping or implementing a soil health plan. 
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL
FUNDS.—A grant under 
this section shall be provided subject to the condition 
that the non-Federal share of expenditures under 
paragraph (2) shall be provided by non-Federal 
sources. 
‘‘(e) GRANT TERM.—A grant under this section— 
‘‘(1) shall be for a term of 1 year; and 
‘‘(2) may be renewed annually, at the discretion 
of the Secretary. 
‘‘(f) PRIORITY.—In providing grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to a State or Tribal 
government with a climate action plan that includes soil 
health, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(g) PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—Each applica-
tion under subsection (b) shall include performance 
measures to be used to evaluate the results of the 
assistance received under this section. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW.—Each applicable State depart-
ment of agriculture or Tribal authority shall submit 
to the Secretary a review and evaluation of the 
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progress of the State department of agriculture or 
Tribal authority, using the performance measures 
under paragraph (1), at such intervals as the Sec-
retary shall establish. 
‘‘(h) EFFECT
OF NONCOMPLIANCE.—If the Sec-
retary, after providing reasonable notice to a State or 
Tribal government, determines that the State or Tribal 
government has failed to comply with the terms of a grant 
provided under this section, the Secretary may disqualify, 
for 1 or more years, the State or Tribal government from 
receipt of future grants under this section. 
‘‘(i) AUDIT REQUIREMENT.—For each year during 
which a State or Tribal government receives a grant under 
this section, the State or Tribal government shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct an audit of the expenditures of 
grant funds by the State or Tribal government; and 
‘‘(2) not later than 30 days after the completion 
of the audit under paragraph (1), submit to the Sec-
retary a copy of the audit. 
‘‘(j) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) DEPARTMENT.—The Secretary may not 
use more than 3 percent of the funds made available 
to carry out this section for a fiscal year for admin-
istrative expenses. 
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‘‘(2) STATES AND TRIBES.—A State or Tribal 
government receiving a grant under this section may 
not use more than 7 percent of grant funds for a fis-
cal year for administrative expenses. 
‘‘(k) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to make grants 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
and 2027; 
‘‘(2) $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 
and 2029; and 
‘‘(3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2030 and 
each fiscal year thereafter.’’. 
SEC. 305. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.— 
(1) ANNUAL FUNDING.—Section 1241(a) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘, and $17,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030,’’ after ‘‘2023’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and $70,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
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years 2026 through 2030, including not 
more than $5,000,000 to provide outreach 
and technical assistance,’’ after ‘‘technical 
assistance,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘2031.’’ and inserting ‘‘2025; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) $700,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2026 through 2033.’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in clause (iv), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) in clause (v), by striking 
‘‘each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2031’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 
2025’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(vi) $3,000,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2033; and’’; and 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (iv), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) in clause (v), by striking 
‘‘each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2031.’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 
2025; and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(vi) $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2033.’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 1241(c) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3841(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) SPECIAL INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Beginning in fiscal 
year 2025, and each year thereafter through 
fiscal year 2030, the Secretary shall use for a 
special technical assistance initiative to assist 
producers in mitigating and adapting to climate 
change, of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, an amount equal to not less than 
1 percent of Commodity Credit Corporation 
funds made available for the applicable fiscal 
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year for each of the programs described in sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(B) PROVISION
OF
TECHNICAL
ASSIST-
ANCE.—The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance under the special initiative under this 
paragraph to producers— 
‘‘(i) directly; 
‘‘(ii)(I) through an agreement with a 
third-party provider (as defined in section 
1242(a)); or 
‘‘(II) at the option of the producer, 
through a payment, as determined by the 
Secretary, to the producer for a third-party 
provider approved under section 1242, if 
available; or 
‘‘(iii) through a cooperative agreement 
or contract with— 
‘‘(I) a cooperative extension; 
‘‘(II) a nongovernmental organi-
zation; or 
‘‘(III) a State, Tribal, or Federal 
agency. 
‘‘(C) UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS.—In pro-
viding technical assistance under this para-
graph, the Secretary shall give priority to pro-
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ducers that are persons described in section 
1244(a)(2).’’. 
(3) ASSISTANCE
TO
CERTAIN
FARMERS
OR 
RANCHERS
FOR
CONSERVATION
ACCESS.—Section 
1241(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841(h)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking 
‘‘practicable—’’ in the matter preceding clause 
(i) and all that follows through the period at 
the end of clause (ii) and inserting ‘‘practicable, 
30 percent to assist beginning farmers or 
ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘section 
2501(e)’’ and all that follows through the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘section 2501(a) 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))) that 
qualifies under paragraph (1)(B).’’. 
(b) DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 
1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘an individual,’’ before ‘‘a 
commercial entity’’; 
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(B) by striking ‘‘State or local’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘State, local, or Tribal’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘nutrient management 
planning,’’ and inserting ‘‘soil health planning, 
greenhouse gas emissions reduction planning, 
nutrient management planning, integrated pest 
management planning, agroforestry planning, 
organic transition planning,’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘individuals,’’ before 
‘‘commercial entities,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘State or local’’ and 
inserting ‘‘State, local, or Tribal’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘or or-
ganic’’ after ‘‘sustainability’’; and 
(3) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘PERENNIAL
PRODUCTION
SYSTEM,’’ after 
‘‘ORGANIC,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘organic’’ and inserting ‘‘organic produc-
tion, perennial production systems’’; and 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by strik-
ing ‘‘organic, specialty crop production’’ 
and inserting ‘‘organic production, peren-
nial production systems, specialty crop pro-
duction,’’. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CON-
SERVATION PROGRAMS.— 
(1) INCENTIVES FOR CERTAIN FARMERS AND 
RANCHERS
AND
INDIAN
TRIBES.—Section 
1244(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3844(a)(1)) is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘incentives’’ and inserting ‘‘in-
centives, including higher payment rates, ad-
vance payments, transition payments, and farm 
infrastructure assistance,’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(C) by striking subparagraph (B) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(B) to establish a new generation of pro-
ducers that use the full array of climate-friendly 
conservation activities that reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions, increase soil carbon, and improve 
resilience to weather extremes; and 
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‘‘(C) to enhance other long-term environ-
mental goals.’’. 
(2) REVIEW
AND
GUIDANCE
FOR
PRACTICE 
COSTS
AND
PAYMENT
RATES.—Section 
1244(j)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3844(j)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) accelerates progress in meeting 
the goals established under title I of the 
Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025.’’. 
(3) ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT.—Sec-
tion 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3844) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(q) ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out any con-
servation program administered by the Secretary, 
the Secretary shall encourage advanced grazing 
management, including management-intensive rota-
tional grazing (as those terms are defined in section 
1240L(d)(1)). 
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‘‘(2) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—In each of fis-
cal years 2026 through 2030, the Secretary shall use 
to carry out this subsection not less than 2⁄3 of any 
funds available for activities relating to livestock 
production under conservation programs adminis-
tered by the Secretary under this title (other than 
the conservation reserve program established under 
subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D, except for 
acres enrolled in that program under section 
1231(d)(2)).’’. 
(d) ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MARKETS.—Section 
1245 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3845) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND CARBON SE-
QUESTRATION MONITORING
AND MEASUREMENT FED-
ERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this subsection, 
the Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, 
to be known as the ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions and 
Carbon Sequestration Monitoring and Measurement 
Federal Advisory Committee’ (referred to in this 
subsection as the ‘advisory committee’). 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary shall ap-
point members to the advisory committee that— 
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‘‘(A) reflect diversity in gender, age, race, 
and geography; and 
‘‘(B) include— 
‘‘(i) farmers and ranchers, including 
farmers and ranchers operating small- and 
mid-sized farms; 
‘‘(ii) organizations representing farm-
ers and ranchers, including organizations 
representing farmers and ranchers oper-
ating small- and mid-sized farms; 
‘‘(iii) scientists; 
‘‘(iv) environmental nonprofit organi-
zations; 
‘‘(v) existing private sector carbon and 
ecosystem services market development ini-
tiatives; 
‘‘(vi) businesses working to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture 
in the supply chains of the businesses; 
‘‘(vii) relevant Federal agencies; 
‘‘(viii) Tribal communities; and 
‘‘(ix) State agriculture agencies. 
‘‘(3) TERMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term of a mem-
ber of the advisory committee shall be 3 years. 
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‘‘(B) 
REAPPOINTMENT.—The 
Secretary 
may reappoint a member of the advisory com-
mittee for not more than 2 consecutive terms. 
‘‘(4) MEETINGS.—The advisory committee shall 
meet— 
‘‘(A) not fewer than 4 times during the 
first year after the advisory committee is estab-
lished; and 
‘‘(B) not less frequently than twice annu-
ally thereafter. 
‘‘(5) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date on which the advisory committee 
is established, and periodically thereafter, the advi-
sory committee shall submit to the Secretary rec-
ommendations regarding— 
‘‘(A) the feasibility of establishing reliable 
outcomes-based measurement systems, as de-
scribed in subsection (g); 
‘‘(B) existing technology that provides reli-
able measurement data; 
‘‘(C) with respect to parameters for which 
existing technology does not provide reliable 
measurement data, research and technical 
needs and, as appropriate, goals and plans for 
that research; 
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‘‘(D) standards for data collection and dis-
semination; 
‘‘(E) farmer data management and pri-
vacy; 
‘‘(F) greenhouse gas emissions and soil 
health inventories and databases, as described 
in subsection (h); and 
‘‘(G) criteria for soil health and green-
house gas emissions reductions incentives, as 
described in subsection (i). 
‘‘(g) MEASUREMENT SYSTEM.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The Secretary shall evaluate 
existing outcomes-based measurement systems for 
recordkeeping, modeling, and measurement of farm- 
level greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon se-
questration, including measures of soil disturbance, 
plant diversity, continual living cover, residue man-
agement, advanced grazing management, and crop- 
livestock integration, to determine which of those 
systems— 
‘‘(A) can be implemented quickly; 
‘‘(B) can improve in accuracy and ease 
over time; 
‘‘(C) use the best available science and 
technology; 
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‘‘(D) estimate uncertainty; and 
‘‘(E) are cost-effective. 
‘‘(2) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall issue guidance on the outcomes- 
based measurement systems evaluated under para-
graph (1), based on— 
‘‘(A) recommendations from the advisory 
committee established under subsection (f); and 
‘‘(B) information from— 
‘‘(i) 
existing 
and 
emerging 
agroecosystem models; 
‘‘(ii) remote sensing data and anal-
ysis; 
‘‘(iii) soil health demonstration trials 
carried out under section 1240H(c)(7); 
‘‘(iv) existing and emerging public en-
vironmental services protocols, measure-
ment systems, and benchmarks, including 
uncertainty predictions and measurements; 
‘‘(v) field-level measurement, including 
field-based data collected under section 
21002(a)(2) of Public Law 117–169 (7 
U.S.C. 6936 note; 136 Stat. 2018); 
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‘‘(vi) the Conservation Evaluation and 
Monitoring Activity for the Carbon Seques-
tration and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation As-
sessment; and 
‘‘(vii) such other sources as the Sec-
retary determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(3) REVIEW.—The Secretary, based on rec-
ommendations from the advisory committee estab-
lished under subsection (f), shall— 
‘‘(A) establish and maintain an outcomes- 
based measurement system in accordance with 
the guidance issued under paragraph (2) when 
feasible; 
‘‘(B) conduct a periodic review of that sys-
tem; 
‘‘(C) periodically make any necessary up-
dates to that system; and 
‘‘(D) establish research and development 
goals and plans, as necessary. 
‘‘(h) INVENTORY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, and 
every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the advisory committee established under 
subsection (f) and the Administrator of the Environ-
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100 
mental Protection Agency, shall conduct a nation-
wide soil health and agricultural greenhouse gas 
emissions inventory that uses the best available 
science and data to establish expected average per-
formance for soil carbon drawdown and storage and 
greenhouse gas emissions reduction by primary pro-
duction type and production region. 
‘‘(2) DATABASE.—Drawing on the field-based 
data collected under section 21002(a)(2) of Public 
Law 117–169 (7 U.S.C. 6936 note; 136 Stat. 2018), 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) establish an accessible and interoper-
able database for the information collected 
through the inventory conducted under para-
graph (1); and 
‘‘(B) improve and update that database 
not less frequently than once every 2 years as 
new data is collected. 
‘‘(i) CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the advisory committee established under 
subsection (f), shall establish criteria for payments, 
credits, or other forms of incentives to inform policy 
established to promote soil carbon sequestration or 
greenhouse gas emissions reductions. 
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101 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The criteria established 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) have a documented likelihood to lead 
to long-term net increases in soil carbon seques-
tration and net reductions in greenhouse gas 
emissions, according to the best available 
science; 
‘‘(B) be based in part on environmental 
impact modeling of the changes of shifting from 
baseline agricultural practices to new or im-
proved agricultural practices; and 
‘‘(C) be designed to prevent the degrada-
tion of other natural resource or environmental 
conditions. 
‘‘(j) DEMONSTRATION TRIALS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall peri-
odically review the results from soil health dem-
onstration 
trials 
carried 
out 
under 
section 
1240H(c)(7), and other similar public and private 
demonstration trials that the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate, to inform the activities under sub-
sections (g), (h), and (i). 
‘‘(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In submitting re-
ports pursuant to section 1240H(c)(7)(C)(ii), the 
Secretary shall include any recommendations to Con-
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102 
gress for changes or additions to the conservation 
programs under this Act that the Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate to accelerate net increases 
in soil carbon sequestration and other improvements 
in soil health.’’. 
SEC. 306. CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1201 of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and designa-
tion and all that follows through ‘‘(a) For purposes 
of’’ in subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1201. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in each of paragraphs (1), (5), (6), 
(10), (12), (13), (15), (20), (21), (22), (24), 
and (26), by inserting a paragraph heading, the 
text of which comprises the term defined in that 
paragraph; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘highly erodible’’ each 
place it appears; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and conservation treatment measures’’ 
and inserting ‘‘crop rotation and cover 
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103 
crop systems, and other relevant soil con-
servation and soil health management 
treatment measures’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘or a substantial 
improvement in soil conditions on a 
field or group of fields containing 
highly erodible cropland’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘and a substantial improvement 
in soil health conditions (including soil 
carbon levels) on a field or group of 
fields containing cropland’’; and 
(II) by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) are designed to achieve, within 5 
years of actively applying a conservation plan, 
a level of erosion not to exceed twice the soil 
loss tolerance level; and 
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104 
‘‘(D) are designed to effectively prevent the 
formation of new, or treat all existing, ephem-
eral gullies.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (7)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(7)(A) The term’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(7) CONVERTED WETLAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by indenting 
clauses (i) and (ii), and subclauses (I) and 
(II) of clause (ii), appropriately; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(B) Wetland 
shall not be considered’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—For purposes of this 
paragraph, a wetland shall not be considered to 
be’’; and 
(II) by indenting clauses (i) and 
(ii) appropriately; 
(E) in paragraph (11)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(11)(A) The term’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(11) HIGHLY ERODIBLE LAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term’’; 
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106 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (C) as clauses (i) through 
(iii), respectively, and indenting the clauses 
appropriately; 
(ii) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), 
in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘For 
purposes of this Act, and any other Act, 
this term shall not include lands in’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—In this Act, the term 
‘wetland’ does not include any land in the State 
of’’; and 
(iii) by striking the paragraph des-
ignation and all that follows through ‘‘The 
term’’ in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so redesignated) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(27) WETLAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘(b) The’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA
AND LIST RELATING
TO HYDRIC 
SOILS AND HYDROPHYTIC VEGETATION.—The’’. 
(b) CROPLAND CONSERVATION.— 
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107 
(1) PROGRAM INELIGIBILITY.—Section 1211 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811) is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘produces an agricultural 
commodity’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘as determined by the Secretary’’ and in-
serting ‘‘carries out an activity described in 
subsection (b), as determined by the Sec-
retary,’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting 
‘‘cropland or’’ before ‘‘highly erodible 
land’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking the sub-
section designation and heading and all that 
follows through ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary’’; 
and 
(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
following: 
‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES.—The activities 
referred to in subsection (a) are— 
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108 
‘‘(1) the production of an agricultural com-
modity on a field on which cropland is predominant; 
‘‘(2) the designation of land on which cropland 
is predominant to be set aside, diverted, devoted to 
conservation uses, or otherwise not cultivated under 
a program administered by the Secretary to reduce 
production of an agricultural commodity; and 
‘‘(3) the production of an agricultural com-
modity without having in place a conservation 
plan.’’. 
(2) EXEMPTIONS.—Section 1212 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) in the third sentence, by 
striking ‘‘If the person’s conservation 
plan’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) CONSERVATION
PLANS
REQUIRING 
CONSTRUCTION.—If the conservation plan of a 
person under this paragraph’’; and 
(II) by striking the paragraph 
designation 
and 
all 
that 
follows 
through ‘‘other highly erodible’’ in the 
second sentence of the matter pre-
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109 
ceding subparagraph (B) (as so des-
ignated) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) CROPLAND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN OTHER 
CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A person that owns or 
operates cropland that was the subject of a con-
tract entered into under subchapter B of chap-
ter 1 of subtitle D shall be required to apply a 
conservation plan established under this subtitle 
consistent with the standard applied to other’’; 
and 
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘(4) 
On the’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) EXPIRATION OF OTHER CONTRACT.— 
On the’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Soil Conservation’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Nat-
ural Resources Conservation’’; 
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(c) No’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(c) INELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN LOANS AND PAY-
MENTS.—No’’; and 
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110 
(II) by striking ‘‘hereafter in this 
subsection referred to’’ and inserting 
‘‘referred to in this subsection’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘highly erodible land’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘cropland’’; and 
(C) in subsection (f)(4)(A)— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘highly 
erodible’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii)(II), by inserting 
‘‘and soil health’’ after ‘‘erosion control’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subtitle B of 
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3811 et seq.) is amended, in the subtitle 
heading, by striking ‘‘Highly Erodible Land’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Cropland’’. 
SEC. 307. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AGROFORESTRY CEN-
TERS. 
Section 1243 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 1642 note; Public Law 
101–624) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 
(d) as subsections (c), (d), and (f), respectively; 
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111 
(2) by striking the section designation and 
heading and all that follows through the end of sub-
section (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1243. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AGROFORESTRY 
CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) AGROFORESTRY.—The term ‘agroforestry’ 
means a management system that intentionally inte-
grates trees and shrubs into crop and animal farm-
ing systems to build more profitable and weather-re-
silient farms, ranches, and communities, address 
natural resource concerns and conservation needs, 
and establish productive and sustainable land use 
practices, including— 
‘‘(A) riparian forest buffers and managed 
waterbreaks; 
‘‘(B) alley cropping; 
‘‘(C) silvopasture; 
‘‘(D) forest farming and multistory crop-
ping; and 
‘‘(E) windbreaks, shelterbelts, hedgerows, 
field borders, and living snow fences. 
‘‘(2) CENTER.—The term ‘Center’ means, as 
applicable— 
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112 
‘‘(A) the National Agroforestry Research, 
Development, and Demonstration Center estab-
lished under subsection (b)(1)(A); and 
‘‘(B) any additional regional agroforestry 
center established under subsection (b)(1)(B). 
‘‘(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL
AND
REGIONAL
AGROFORESTRY 
CENTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish— 
‘‘(A) at the Forestry Sciences Laboratory 
of the Forest Service, in Lincoln, Nebraska, a 
National Agroforestry Research, Development, 
and Demonstration Center; and 
‘‘(B) acting through the Chief of the For-
est Service and in cooperation with the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, not fewer than 
3 additional regional agroforestry centers at 
other locations, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) NATIONAL AND REGIONAL DIRECTORS.— 
The Secretary shall appoint a National Director and 
Regional Directors to manage and coordinate the 
program established under subsection (c).’’; 
(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)— 
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(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Center’’ and inserting 
‘‘Centers’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and organizations’’ 
after ‘‘nonprofit foundations’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘surveys to’’ and in-
serting ‘‘surveys’’; 
(B) in each of paragraphs (1) through 
(11), by inserting ‘‘to’’ after the paragraph des-
ignation; 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘on semiarid lands 
that’’ and inserting ‘‘that build soil health 
and’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, including agro-
forestry systems on semiarid land and 
other fragile agroecosystems in which res-
toration of permanent woody perennial 
plant communities will enhance carbon se-
questration and reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions’’ before the semicolon; 
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘forestry 
products for commercial sale from semiarid 
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land’’ and inserting ‘‘agroforestry products for 
commercial sale’’; 
(E) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘in semiarid regions’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the Great Plains re-
gion’’ and inserting ‘‘particular regions’’; 
(F) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘tech-
nical assistance and’’ before ‘‘technology’’; 
(G) by striking paragraph (6) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(6) to develop improved silvopasture, alley 
cropping, forest farming, multistory cropping, ripar-
ian buffer, windbreak and shelterbelt, and other pe-
rennial production and conservation systems and 
technologies to improve soil health, carbon seques-
tration, drought preparedness, soil and water con-
servation, environmental quality, and biological di-
versity;’’; 
(H) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘on 
semiarid lands’’; 
(I) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘on semi-
arid lands worldwide’’ and inserting ‘‘world-
wide, including on semiarid land’’; and 
(J) in paragraph (9)— 
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(i) by striking ‘‘on semiarid lands’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and climate change’’ 
after ‘‘pollution’’; 
(4) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Center’’ and inserting 
‘‘Centers’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘known as the Na-
tional Clearinghouse on Agroforestry Con-
servation and Promotion to’’ and inserting 
‘‘known as the ‘National Clearinghouse on 
Agroforestry 
Conservation 
and 
Pro-
motion’ ’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘to’’ after the para-
graph designation; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘to’’ after the para-
graph designation; and 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(3) to facilitate agroforestry adoption by dis-
seminating comprehensive information on Federal, 
State, local, and Tribal programs that provide sup-
port for agroforestry.’’; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (d) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(e) GRANTS.—The Secretary may establish regional 
grant programs at each of the Centers to support agro-
forestry projects, including demonstration farms.’’; and 
(6) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by in-
serting ‘‘, and $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2026 through 2030,’’ after ‘‘through 2023’’. 
TITLE IV—FARMLAND PRESER-
VATION AND FARM VIABILITY 
SEC. 401. LOCAL AGRICULTURE MARKET PROGRAM. 
Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(12)(A)— 
(A) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as 
clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after clause (iii) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iv) is produced and marketed in a man-
ner that significantly improves soil health and 
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carbon sequestration or significantly reduces 
greenhouse gas emissions; 
‘‘(v) when added to the crop or grazing ro-
tation on a farm, will significantly improve soil 
health and carbon sequestration or significantly 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions;’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
the semicolon at the end and inserting ‘‘, 
including value-added agricultural products 
from crops or animals that, when added 
into crop or grazing rotations on a farm, 
will significantly improve soil health and 
carbon sequestration or significantly re-
duce greenhouse gas emissions; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) markets for agricultural commodities 
and products produced in a manner that signifi-
cantly improve soil health and carbon seques-
tration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions;’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and local’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, local’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and production and 
marketing approaches to significantly im-
prove soil health and carbon sequestration 
or significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions’’ before the semicolon at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (7); and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (5) the 
following: 
‘‘(6) enhances the economic viability of pro-
ducers and related agricultural enterprises; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subsection (i)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (j)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2030’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C)— 
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(I) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) in clause (ii), by adding 
‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(iii) agricultural commodities and 
products that are produced and marketed 
in a manner that— 
‘‘(I) significantly improves soil 
health and carbon sequestration or 
significantly reduces greenhouse gas 
emissions; or 
‘‘(II) when added to a crop or 
grazing rotation on a farm will signifi-
cantly improve soil health and carbon 
sequestration or significantly reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions;’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘producers of local food products and 
value-added agricultural products in new 
and existing markets’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘producers of— 
‘‘(i) local food products; 
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‘‘(ii) value-added agricultural products 
in new and existing markets; and 
‘‘(iii) agricultural commodities and 
products that are produced in a manner 
that— 
‘‘(I) enhances soil health and car-
bon sequestration or significantly re-
duces greenhouse gas emissions; or 
‘‘(II) when added to a crop or 
grazing rotation on a farm, will sig-
nificantly improve soil health and car-
bon sequestration or significantly re-
duce greenhouse gas emissions;’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting ‘‘and 
the Chief of the Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service’’ before the period at the end; 
(4) in subsection (e)(2)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subsection (i)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘subsection (j)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2030’’; 
(5) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), 
and (i) as subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j), respec-
tively; 
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(6) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) FARM VIABILITY AND LOCAL CLIMATE RESIL-
IENCY CENTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Mar-
keting Service and in coordination with the Adminis-
trator of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and 
the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, shall provide grants to eligible entities de-
scribed in paragraph (2) to serve as farm viability 
and local climate resiliency centers (referred to in 
this section as ‘centers’) to support— 
‘‘(A) efforts to enhance farm viability; and 
‘‘(B) the development, coordination, and 
expansion of markets for commodities and farm 
products that significantly improve soil health 
and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity is eligible 
to receive a grant under this subsection if the entity 
is— 
‘‘(A) an agricultural cooperative or other 
agricultural business entity or a producer net-
work or association; 
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‘‘(B) a local, State, or Tribal government; 
‘‘(C) a nonprofit corporation; 
‘‘(D) a public benefit corporation; 
‘‘(E) an economic development corporation; 
‘‘(F) an institution of higher education; or 
‘‘(G) such other entity as the Secretary 
may designate. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiv-
ing a grant under this subsection shall use grant 
funds to provide to entities described in subsection 
(d)(5)(B)— 
‘‘(A) assistance for the development of 
business plans and feasibility studies; 
‘‘(B) assistance in developing marketing 
strategies for— 
‘‘(i) local products; and 
‘‘(ii) value-added agricultural products 
in new and existing markets; 
‘‘(C) assistance in enterprise development 
for the processing, aggregation, distribution, 
and storage of— 
‘‘(i) local and regional food products 
that are marketed locally or regionally; and 
‘‘(ii) value-added agricultural prod-
ucts; 
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‘‘(D) assistance relating to finances and 
recordkeeping; 
‘‘(E) assistance relating to enterprise and 
business management; 
‘‘(F) assistance relating to ownership suc-
cession planning; 
‘‘(G) outreach and assistance in the adop-
tion of farming practices that enhance soil 
health and carbon sequestration or significantly 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 
‘‘(H) outreach regarding assistance avail-
able under subsection (d); 
‘‘(I) outreach regarding assistance avail-
able through other programs administered by 
any other Federal agency that supports the 
adoption of farming practices that enhance soil 
health and carbon sequestration or significantly 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions; or 
‘‘(J) at the request of the entity described 
in subsection (d)(5)(B), assistance in applying 
for a grant under subsection (d), including act-
ing on behalf of the entity in applying for the 
grant. 
‘‘(4) GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY.—To the max-
imum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure 
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geographic diversity in selecting eligible entities to 
receive a grant under this subsection. 
‘‘(5) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—An entity receiv-
ing a grant under this subsection shall provide fund-
ing in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent 
of the total amount of the Federal portion of the 
grant. 
‘‘(6) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this subsection, an eligible 
entity shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary con-
siders to be necessary to evaluate and select ap-
plications. 
‘‘(B) COMPETITIVE
PROCESS.—The Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) shall conduct a competitive proc-
ess to select applications submitted under 
subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(ii) may assess and rank applications 
with similar proposals as a group; and 
‘‘(iii) shall, prior to accepting applica-
tions under that subparagraph, make pub-
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lic the criteria to be used in evaluating the 
applications. 
‘‘(7) PRIORITY.—The Secretary may give pri-
ority to applications submitted under paragraph 
(6)(A) that include— 
‘‘(A) plans to use funds for 3 or more of 
purposes described in paragraph (3); or 
‘‘(B) activities relating to improving the 
use and expanded adoption of farming practices 
that enhance soil health and carbon sequestra-
tion or significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions while simultaneously improving farm 
viability. 
‘‘(8) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—An entity 
receiving a grant under this subsection may use not 
more than 4 percent of the funds received through 
the grant for administrative expenses.’’; 
(7) in subsection (i)(1) (as so redesignated), in 
the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘subsection (i)(3)(E)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(j)(3)(E)’’; and 
(8) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 
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126 
2019 through 2025 and $150,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2026’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
‘‘35’’ and inserting ‘‘36’’; and 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) FARMERS’ MARKET AND LOCAL FOOD 
PROMOTION GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Of the funds 
made available to carry out this section for 
a fiscal year, 36 percent shall be used for 
grants under subsection (d)(6). 
‘‘(ii) ALLOCATION
AMONG
SUBPRO-
GRAMS.—Of the funds made available for 
grants under subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal 
year— 
‘‘(I) 40 percent shall be made 
available for farmers’ market pro-
motion grants; and 
‘‘(II) 60 percent shall be made 
available for local food promotion 
grants.’’; 
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(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) 
and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respec-
tively; 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
the following: 
‘‘(D) FARM
VIABILITY
AND
LOCAL
CLI-
MATE RESILIENCY.—Of the funds made avail-
able to carry out this section for a fiscal year, 
10 percent shall be used to provide grants 
under subsection (f).’’; and 
(E) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesig-
nated), in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
striking ‘‘or (C)’’ and inserting ‘‘(C), or (D)’’. 
SEC. 402. NATIONAL ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST-SHARE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) FEDERAL SHARE.—Section 10606(b)(2) of the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 
U.S.C. 6523(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘$750’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$1,500’’. 
(b) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Section 10606(d)(1) of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 
U.S.C. 6523(d)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘shall make 
available’’ in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and 
all that follows through the period at the end of subpara-
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graph (C) and inserting ‘‘shall use such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section.’’. 
SEC. 403. FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY ACT. 
(a) FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND DEFINITIONS.—Sec-
tion 1540 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7 
U.S.C. 4201) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and designa-
tion and all that follows through ‘‘(a) Congress’’ in 
subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1540. FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the Na-
tion’s’’ and inserting ‘‘United States’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘amount 
of the Nation’s’’ and inserting ‘‘quantity of 
United States’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Na-
tion’s’’ and inserting ‘‘United States’’; 
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) 
through (7) as paragraphs (5) through (8), re-
spectively; and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
following: 
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‘‘(4) United States farmland is a vital source of 
environmental services, such as carbon sequestra-
tion;’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(b) The’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘assure’’ and inserting 
‘‘ensure’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘Tribal,’’ after ‘‘State,’’; 
and 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in each of paragraphs (2) and (3), by 
striking the semicolon at the end of the para-
graph and inserting a period; 
(B) in each of paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(5)— 
(i) by inserting a paragraph heading, 
the text of which comprises the term de-
fined in the paragraph; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the term’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘The term’’; 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (5) as paragraphs (7), (8), and (6), respec-
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tively, and moving all paragraphs so as to ap-
pear in numerical order; 
(D) in paragraph (1), by redesignating 
subparagraphs (A) through (C) as subpara-
graphs (B) through (D), respectively; 
(E) by striking the subsection designation 
and all that follows through ‘‘defined as fol-
lows:’’ in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(B) of paragraph (1) (as so redesignated) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) 
CONVERSION.—The 
term 
‘conversion’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) the physical conversion of farmland 
to a nonagricultural use; 
‘‘(B) the effective conversion of farmland 
as a consequence of physical conversion of adja-
cent farmland, which threatens the continued 
viability of the land for agricultural use; and 
‘‘(C) a change in management of federally 
owned land historically used for agriculture to 
a nonagricultural use. 
‘‘(2) FARMLAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘farmland’ 
includes— 
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‘‘(i) prime farmland described in sub-
paragraph (B); 
‘‘(ii) unique farmland described in 
subparagraph (C); and 
‘‘(iii) farmland of statewide or local 
importance 
described 
in 
subparagraph 
(D).’’; 
(F) in paragraph (2) (as so redesig-
nated)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B) (as redesig-
nated by subparagraph (D))— 
(I) by striking the subparagraph 
designation 
and 
all 
that 
follows 
through ‘‘is land’’ in the first sentence 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) PRIME FARMLAND.—For purposes of 
subparagraph (A)(i), prime farmland— 
‘‘(i) means land’’; 
(II) in clause (i) (as so des-
ignated), by striking ‘‘the Secretary. 
Prime farmland includes land that 
possesses the above characteristics’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘the Sec-
retary; 
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‘‘(ii) includes land that possesses the 
characteristics described in clause (i)’’; 
(III) in clause (ii) (as so des-
ignated), by striking ‘‘timber. It does 
not include’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘timber; and 
‘‘(iii) does not include’’; and 
(IV) in clause (iii) (as so des-
ignated), by striking the semicolon at 
the end and inserting a period; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C) (as redesig-
nated by subparagraph (D))— 
(I) by striking the subparagraph 
designation 
and 
all 
that 
follows 
through ‘‘that is used for’’ in the first 
sentence and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) UNIQUE FARMLAND.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of 
subparagraph (A)(ii), unique farmland 
means land other than prime farmland 
that— 
‘‘(I) is suitable for’’; 
(II) in clause (i) (as so des-
ignated)— 
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(aa) in subclause (I) (as so 
designated), by striking ‘‘the Sec-
retary. It has’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘the Secretary; and 
‘‘(II) has’’; and 
(bb) in subclause (II) (as so 
designated), in the second sen-
tence, by striking ‘‘Examples of 
such crops’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) CROPS DESCRIBED.—The crops 
referred to in clause (i)’’; and 
(III) in clause (ii) (as so des-
ignated), by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the 
end and inserting a period; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (D) (as redesig-
nated by subparagraph (D))— 
(I) by striking the subparagraph 
designation 
and 
all 
that 
follows 
through ‘‘farmland, other’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(D) FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE OR LOCAL 
IMPORTANCE.—The farmland referred to in 
subparagraph (A)(iii) is farmland, other’’; 
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(II) by inserting ‘‘and is suit-
able’’ after ‘‘local importance’’; and 
(III) by striking the semicolon at 
the end and inserting a period; 
(G) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(3) 
FARMLAND
OF
NATIONAL
SIGNIFI-
CANCE.—The term ‘farmland of national signifi-
cance’ means farmland that is the most suitable for 
intensive crop and food production, as determined by 
the Secretary, taking into consideration, among 
other factors, the physical and chemical characteris-
tics of the farmland.’’; 
(H) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in the first sentence— 
(I) by striking ‘‘involve (A) un-
dertaking’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘involve— 
‘‘(i) undertaking’’; and 
(II) in clause (i) (as so des-
ignated), by striking ‘‘(B) acquiring’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) acquiring’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii) (as so designated), in 
the second sentence— 
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(I) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end 
and inserting a period; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘The term’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term’’; and 
(iii) by striking the paragraph des-
ignation and all that follows through 
‘‘those’’ in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so designated) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) FEDERAL PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘Federal 
program’ means any’’; and 
(I) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following: 
‘‘(5) PERMANENTLY PROTECTED FARMLAND.— 
The term ‘permanently protected farmland’ means 
farmland encumbered by a conservation easement 
that is— 
‘‘(A) held by the Federal Government, a 
State or Tribal government, a unit of local gov-
ernment, or a land conservation organization; 
and 
‘‘(B) for a term that is— 
‘‘(i) perpetual; or 
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‘‘(ii) the maximum number of years 
allowed by State law.’’. 
(b) FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY.—Section 1541 
of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 4202) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1541. FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United 
States that Federal programs— 
‘‘(1) shall minimize the conversion of farmland 
to nonagricultural uses; and 
‘‘(2) subject to subsection (d), shall not convert 
to nonagricultural uses farmland that— 
‘‘(A) is permanently protected farmland; 
‘‘(B) has been defined and delineated by 
the Secretary under subsection (b)(1) as farm-
land of national significance; or 
‘‘(C) has been defined and delineated by a 
State as significant to the State or a priority 
for inclusion in a State farmland protection 
program and for which the State has submitted 
a definition and delineation under subsection 
(b)(2). 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION AND DELINEATION OF LAND.— 
‘‘(1) NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.— 
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137 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
define and delineate farmland of national sig-
nificance. 
‘‘(B) EXPERTS.—The Secretary shall con-
vene a group of experts, including agronomists 
and soil scientists, to assist the Secretary in 
carrying out subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) STATE SIGNIFICANCE.—Any State wishing 
to have farmland recognized under subsection 
(a)(2)(C) shall provide to the Secretary a definition 
and delineation of the farmland. 
‘‘(c) PROCESS AND CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(1) PROCESS AND CRITERIA.—The Secretary 
shall develop a process, including criteria— 
‘‘(A) to determine the potential conversion 
of farmland as a consequence of any action or 
activity conducted through a Federal program; 
‘‘(B)(i) to minimize the conversion of 
farmland to nonagricultural uses; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of farmland identified 
under subsection (a)(2), to avoid conversion of 
the farmland to nonagricultural uses; 
‘‘(C) to provide to the Secretary notice re-
garding actions described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B); and 
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138 
‘‘(D) that the Secretary shall use to make 
determinations under subsection (d). 
‘‘(2) USE REQUIRED.—Each department, agen-
cy, independent commission, and other unit of the 
Federal Government shall use the process and cri-
teria developed under paragraph (1) in carrying out 
a Federal program. 
‘‘(d) EXEMPTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a)(2) shall not 
apply if the Secretary determines, based on the proc-
ess and criteria developed under subsection (c)(1), 
that converting farmland to nonagricultural uses 
cannot be avoided. 
‘‘(2) MINIMIZATION
OF
CONVERSION.—In a 
case in which the Secretary makes a determination 
under paragraph (1), the Federal program shall 
minimize the conversion of farmland described in 
subsection (a)(2) to the maximum extent practicable. 
‘‘(e) INFORMATION.—The Secretary may make avail-
able to States, units of local government, individuals, orga-
nizations, and other units of the Federal Government in-
formation— 
‘‘(1) useful in restoring, maintaining, and im-
proving the quantity and quality of farmland; and 
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139 
‘‘(2) concerning the location of permanently 
protected farmland. 
‘‘(f) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall provide as-
sistance to departments, agencies, independent commis-
sions, and other units of the Federal Government, on re-
quest, in using the process and criteria developed under 
subsection (c)(1).’’. 
SEC. 404. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1265B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3865b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (4)(C)(iv), by striking 
‘‘only’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) CONDITION OF ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of re-
ceiving cost-share assistance under this section, 
the owner of eligible land shall agree to have in 
place a conservation plan that addresses appli-
cable resource concerns for the land subject to 
the easement, including soil health and green-
house gas emissions reduction, not later than 3 
years after the date on which the easement is 
granted. 
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140 
‘‘(B) BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.—Sub-
paragraph (A) may be satisfied by having in 
place a conservation plan developed or recog-
nized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
provide technical assistance, if requested, to assist in— 
‘‘(1) compliance with the terms and conditions 
of an easement; and 
‘‘(2) development and implementation of a con-
servation plan required under subsection (b)(6), in-
cluding, as applicable— 
‘‘(A) a conservation plan for highly erod-
ible 
land 
required 
under 
subsection 
(b)(4)(C)(iv); and 
‘‘(B) a comprehensive conservation plan 
developed pursuant to subsection (e)(1). 
‘‘(e) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) ENROLLMENT IN CSP.—At the sole 
option of the owner of the eligible land subject 
to an easement, the Secretary shall provide for 
the automatic enrollment of the eligible land 
subject to the easement in the conservation 
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141 
stewardship program established by subchapter 
B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, including financial 
assistance for the development of a comprehen-
sive conservation plan under section 1240L(e), 
if the person or entity farming the eligible land 
is otherwise eligible for the conservation stew-
ardship program, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(B) DETERMINATION OF COMPLIANCE.— 
In the case of eligible land enrolled in the con-
servation stewardship program pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall have the sole 
responsibility of determining compliance with 
the terms of the conservation stewardship pro-
gram contract. 
‘‘(C) FUNDING.—Funding received by an 
eligible entity pursuant to this paragraph shall 
not be considered in the calculation of costs 
under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) TIMING.—The owner of the eligible land 
subject to an easement may exercise the option 
under paragraph (1)(A) during the 3-year period be-
ginning on the date on which the easement is grant-
ed.’’. 
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142 
TITLE V—PASTURE-BASED 
LIVESTOCK 
SEC. 501. ANIMAL RAISING CLAIMS. 
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Subtitle H—Animal Raising 
Claims 
‘‘SEC. 298A. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) ANIMAL RAISING CLAIM.—The term ‘ani-
mal raising claim’ means a statement on the labeling 
of a meat food product or poultry product used in 
interstate commerce that references— 
‘‘(A) the manner in which the source ani-
mal for the meat food product or poultry prod-
uct was raised, including— 
‘‘(i) production practices that were 
used, such as living or raising conditions; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the location or source where the 
source animal was born, raised, and proc-
essed; or 
‘‘(B) the breed of the source animal. 
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‘‘(2) MEAT FOOD PRODUCT.—The term ‘meat 
food product’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 1 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601). 
‘‘(3) POULTRY
PRODUCT.—The term ‘poultry 
product’ has the meaning given the term in section 
4 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
453). 
‘‘(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, in 
coordination with the Administrator of the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service. 
‘‘SEC. 298B. REQUIRED VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR ANI-
MAL RAISING CLAIMS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to fa-
cilitate marketing, truth in labeling, and new economic op-
portunities for producers and businesses using animal 
raising claims. 
‘‘(b) STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this subtitle, after 
providing notice and an opportunity to comment, 
and in a manner consistent with United States obli-
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144 
gations under international agreements, the Sec-
retary shall establish— 
‘‘(A) mandatory standards with respect to 
animal raising claims, including the standards 
described in paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) procedures— 
‘‘(i) to verify an animal raising claim 
prior to the use in commerce of any meat 
food product or poultry product bearing 
that claim; and 
‘‘(ii) that are incorporated seamlessly 
with the labeling requirements under the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
601 et seq.) and the Poultry Products In-
spection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.); and 
‘‘(C) on-farm and supply chain auditing 
and verification procedures to ensure the truth-
fulness of animal raising claims. 
‘‘(2) STANDARDS.—In developing and approv-
ing animal raising claim standards under paragraph 
(1)(A), the Secretary shall include standards relat-
ing to— 
‘‘(A) diet claims, including claims that the 
source animal was grass fed, vegetarian fed, or 
fed no animal byproducts; 
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‘‘(B) living and raising condition claims, 
including claims that the source animal was 
cage free, free range, or pasture raised; 
‘‘(C) antibiotic and hormone claims, in-
cluding claims that the source animal was 
raised without antibiotics, had no hormones 
added, 
or 
was 
raised 
without 
growth 
promotants; 
‘‘(D) source claims that the source animal 
can be traced back to its farm of origin from 
birth to slaughter; 
‘‘(E) age claims; 
‘‘(F) animal welfare claims; 
‘‘(G) environmental stewardship claims, in-
cluding greenhouse gas reduction and carbon 
sequestration claims; 
‘‘(H) breed claims; and 
‘‘(I) any other claim that the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER LAWS.—The 
Secretary shall ensure consistency between the ani-
mal raising claim standards established under this 
subsection and the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and any rules or regu-
lations implementing that Act. 
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‘‘(c) THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION.—A producer of 
a meat food product or a poultry product may use an ani-
mal raising claim that is verified by a third party if— 
‘‘(1) the claim is consistent with standards es-
tablished by the Secretary under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(2) the procedures used by the third party to 
verify the claim, and for any subsequent auditing, 
are equivalent to the verification and auditing proce-
dures established under subsection (b)(1)(C), as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) APPROVAL PROCESS.—To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall require that a producer 
seeking to make an animal raising claim shall submit to 
the Secretary, prior to using the label on the meat food 
product or poultry product that is the subject of the ani-
mal raising claim, the following documentation to support 
the animal raising claim: 
‘‘(1) A detailed written description explaining 
the controls used for ensuring that the animal rais-
ing claim is valid, as applicable— 
‘‘(A) from birth to harvest; or 
‘‘(B) for the period of raising referenced in 
the animal raising claim. 
‘‘(2) A signed and dated document describing 
the manner in which the source animals were raised. 
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‘‘(3) A written description of the product trac-
ing and segregation mechanism used with respect to 
the applicable meat food product or poultry product 
from the time of slaughter of the source animal or 
further processing through the packaging and dis-
tribution of the meat food product or poultry prod-
uct. 
‘‘(4) A written description of the identification, 
control, and segregation of nonconforming animals 
or products. 
‘‘(5) In the case of a meat food product or 
poultry product certified by a third party, a current 
copy of the third-party certificate. 
‘‘(e) COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.—Beginning on 
the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this subtitle— 
‘‘(1) a person may sell or label a domestic meat 
food product or poultry product with an animal rais-
ing claim only if the animal raising claim and the 
meat food product or poultry product is in compli-
ance with the standards established under subsection 
(b); and 
‘‘(2) an imported meat food product or poultry 
product may be sold or labeled with an animal rais-
ing claim if, as determined by the Secretary, the ani-
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148 
mal raising claim and the meat food product or 
poultry product is in compliance with a verification 
program that provides safeguards and guidelines 
that are at least equivalent to the standards estab-
lished under subsection (b). 
‘‘(f) VIOLATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) MISUSE
OF
LABEL.—Any person that, 
after notice and an opportunity to be heard, is found 
by the Secretary to have knowingly sold or labeled 
any meat food product or poultry product with an 
animal raising claim in violation of this subtitle, in-
cluding the standards and procedures established 
under subsection (b), shall be assessed a civil pen-
alty of not more than $10,000. 
‘‘(2) FALSE
STATEMENT.—Any person that, 
after notice and an opportunity to be heard, is found 
by the Secretary to have made to the Secretary, a 
Federal or State official, or a third-party certifier a 
false, fraudulent, or fictitious statement, or to have 
concealed to, hidden from, falsified to, or deceived 
the Secretary, official, or certifier regarding a mate-
rial fact, with respect to an animal raising claim 
subject to the requirements of this subtitle, shall be 
subject to a penalty described in section 1001 of title 
18, United States Code. 
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149 
‘‘(g) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Nothing in this sec-
tion alters the authority of the Secretary under the Fed-
eral Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). 
‘‘SEC. 298C. APPLICABILITY. 
‘‘This subtitle shall only apply to meat food products 
and poultry products that are subject to labeling require-
ments under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
601 et seq.) or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 451 et seq.). 
‘‘SEC. 298D. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this sub-
title.’’. 
SEC. 502. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 
(7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 210B. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a smaller establishment or very small 
establishment (as those terms are defined in the 
final rule entitled ‘Pathogen Reduction; Hazard 
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Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) 
Systems’ (61 Fed. Reg. 33806 (July 25, 
1996))); 
‘‘(B) a slaughtering or processing estab-
lishment subject to— 
‘‘(i) a State meat inspection program 
pursuant to section 301 of the Federal 
Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661); or 
‘‘(ii) a State poultry product inspec-
tion program pursuant to section 5 of the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 454); 
‘‘(C) a person engaging in custom oper-
ations that is exempt from inspection under— 
‘‘(i) section 23 of the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 623); or 
‘‘(ii) section 15 of the Poultry Prod-
ucts Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 464); and 
‘‘(D) a person seeking— 
‘‘(i) to establish and operate an estab-
lishment described in subparagraph (A) or 
(B); or 
‘‘(ii) to engage in custom operations 
described in subparagraph (C). 
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151 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall award competitive grants to eligible enti-
ties for activities to increase resiliency and diver-
sification of the meat processing system, including 
activities that— 
‘‘(A) support the health and safety of meat 
and poultry plant employees, suppliers, and cus-
tomers; 
‘‘(B) support increased processing capac-
ity; and 
‘‘(C) otherwise support the resilience of the 
small meat and poultry processing sector. 
‘‘(2) 
MAXIMUM
AMOUNT.—The 
maximum 
amount of a grant awarded under this section shall 
not exceed $500,000. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—The term of a grant awarded 
under this section shall not exceed 3 years. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desiring a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Sec-
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retary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS FOR SMALL GRANTS.—The 
Secretary shall establish a separate, simplified appli-
cation process for eligible entities applying for a 
grant under this section of not more than $100,000. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that any application for a grant under this sec-
tion is— 
‘‘(A) simple and practicable; 
‘‘(B) accessible online; and 
‘‘(C) available through local staff of the 
Department of Agriculture. 
‘‘(4) NOTICE.—Not later than 14 days before 
the date on which the Secretary begins to accept ap-
plications under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
publish a notice of funding opportunity with respect 
to the grants available under this section. 
‘‘(5) REAPPLICATION.—If an application of an 
eligible entity under this subsection is denied by the 
Secretary, the eligible entity may submit a revised 
application. 
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‘‘(6) PRIORITY.—In reviewing applications sub-
mitted under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
give priority to proposals that will— 
‘‘(A) increase farmer and rancher access to 
animal slaughter options within a 200-mile ra-
dius of the location of the farmer or rancher; 
‘‘(B) support an eligible entity described in 
subsection (a)(2)(A); or 
‘‘(C) support an eligible entity that is a 
business enterprise owned and controlled by so-
cially and economically disadvantaged individ-
uals (as defined in section 3002 of the State 
Small Business Credit Initiative Act of 2010 
(12 U.S.C. 5701)). 
‘‘(d) USE OF GRANT.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to 
carry out activities in support of the purposes described 
in subsection (b)(1), including through— 
‘‘(1) the development and issuance of a Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Points plan for the eli-
gible entity, which may be developed by a consultant; 
‘‘(2) the purchase or establishment, as applica-
ble, of facilities, equipment, processes, and oper-
ations necessary for the eligible entity to comply 
with applicable requirements under the Federal 
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Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et 
seq.); 
‘‘(3) the purchase of cold storage, equipment, or 
transportation services; 
‘‘(4) the purchase of temperature screening 
supplies, testing for communicable diseases, dis-
infectant, sanitation systems, hand washing stations, 
and other sanitizing supplies; 
‘‘(5) the purchase and decontamination of per-
sonal protective equipment; 
‘‘(6) the construction or purchase of humane 
handling infrastructure, including holding space for 
livestock prior to slaughter, shade structures, and 
knock box structures; 
‘‘(7)(A) the purchase of software and computer 
equipment for record keeping, production data, Haz-
ard Analysis and Critical Control Points record re-
view, and facilitation of marketing and sales of prod-
ucts in a manner consistent with the social 
distancing guidelines of the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention; and 
‘‘(B) the provision of guidelines and training re-
lating to that software and computer equipment; 
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‘‘(8) the provision of staff time and training for 
implementing and monitoring health and safety pro-
cedures; 
‘‘(9) the development of a feasibility study or 
business plan for, or the carrying out of any other 
activity associated with, establishing or expanding a 
small meat or poultry processing facility; 
‘‘(10) the purchase of equipment that enables 
the further use or value-added sale of coproducts or 
byproducts, such as organs, hides, and other rel-
evant products; and 
‘‘(11) other activities associated with expanding 
or establishing an eligible entity described in sub-
section (a)(2)(A), as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) OUTREACH.—During the period beginning on 
the date on which the Secretary publishes the notice under 
subsection (c)(4) and ending on the date on which the Sec-
retary begins to accept applications under subsection 
(c)(1), the Secretary shall perform outreach to States and 
eligible entities relating to grants under this section. 
‘‘(f) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Federal share of the activities carried out using 
a grant awarded under this section shall not ex-
ceed— 
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‘‘(A) 90 percent in the case of a grant in 
the amount of $100,000 or less; or 
‘‘(B) 75 percent in the case of a grant in 
an amount greater than $100,000. 
‘‘(2) FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 2026.—An eligible 
entity awarded a grant under this section during fis-
cal years 2025 or 2026 shall not be required to pro-
vide non-Federal matching funds with respect to the 
grant. 
‘‘(g) ADMINISTRATION.—The promulgation of regula-
tions under, and administration of, this section shall be 
made without regard to— 
‘‘(1) the notice and comment provisions of sec-
tion 553 of title 5, United States Code; and 
‘‘(2) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code 
(commonly known as the ‘Paperwork Reduction 
Act’). 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2030.’’. 
SEC. 503. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND. 
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 1240M(a) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb(a)) is amended— 
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