H. R. 2642—47 
(b) REPEAL OF MILK INCOME LOSS CONTRACT PROGRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Effective on the termination date, section 
1506 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 8773) is repealed. 
(2) TERMINATION
DATE
DEFINED.—In paragraph (1), the 
term ‘‘termination date’’ means the earlier of the following: 
(A) The date on which the Secretary certifies to Con-
gress that the margin protection program required by sec-
tion 1403 is operational. 
(B) September 1, 2014. 
SEC. 1423. REPEAL OF DAIRY EXPORT INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 153 of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(15 U.S.C. 713a–14) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 902(2) of the Trade 
Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 
7201(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (D); and 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subpara-
graphs (D) and (E), respectively. 
SEC. 1424. EXTENSION OF DAIRY FORWARD PRICING PROGRAM. 
Section 1502(e) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8772(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting 
‘‘2018’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2015’’ and inserting 
‘‘2021’’. 
SEC. 1425. EXTENSION OF DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM. 
Section 3 of Public Law 90–484 (7 U.S.C. 450l) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
SEC. 1426. EXTENSION OF DAIRY PROMOTION AND RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 113(e)(2) of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 
1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(e)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
SEC. 1427. REPEAL OF FEDERAL MILK MARKETING ORDER REVIEW 
COMMISSION. 
Section 1509 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (Public Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 1726) is repealed. 
PART III—DAIRY PRODUCT DONATION 
PROGRAM 
SEC. 1431. DAIRY PRODUCT DONATION PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED; PURPOSE.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date on which the Secretary certifies to Congress that 
the margin protection program is operational, the Secretary shall 
establish and administer a dairy product donation program for 
the purposes of— 
(1) addressing low operating margins experienced by 
participating dairy operations; and 
(2) providing nutrition assistance to individuals in low- 
income groups.
H. R. 2642—48 
(b) PROGRAM TRIGGER.—The Secretary shall announce that the 
dairy product donation program is in effect for a month, and under-
take activities under subsection (c) during the month, whenever 
the actual dairy production margin has been $4.00 or less per 
hundredweight of milk for each of the immediately preceding 2 
months. 
(c) REQUIRED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Whenever the dairy product donation 
program is in effect under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
immediately purchase dairy products, at prevailing market 
prices, until such time as one of the termination conditions 
specified in subsection (d)(1) is met. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—To determine the types and quantities 
of dairy products to purchase under the dairy product donation 
program, the Secretary shall consult with public and private 
nonprofit organizations organized to feed low-income popu-
lations 
(d) TERMINATION OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) TERMINATION THRESHOLDS.—The Secretary shall cease 
activities under the dairy product donation program, and shall 
not reinitiate activities under the program until the condition 
specified in subsection (b) is again met, whenever any one 
of the following occurs: 
(A) The Secretary has made purchases under the dairy 
product donation program for three consecutive months, 
even if the actual dairy production margin remains $4.00 
or less per hundredweight of milk. 
(B) The actual dairy production margin has been 
greater than $4.00 per hundredweight of milk for the imme-
diately preceding month. 
(C) The actual dairy production margin has been $4.00 
or less, but more than $3.00, per hundredweight of milk 
for the immediately preceding month and during the same 
month— 
(i) the price in the United States for cheddar cheese 
was more than 5 percent above the world price; or 
(ii) the price in the United States for non-fat dry 
milk was more than 5 percent above the world price 
of skim milk powder. 
(D) The actual dairy production margin has been $3.00 
or less per hundredweight of milk for the immediately 
preceding month and during the same month— 
(i) the price in the United States for cheddar cheese 
was more than 7 percent above the world price; or 
(ii) the price in the United States for non-fat dry 
milk was more than 7 percent above the world price 
of skim milk powder. 
(2) DETERMINATIONS.—For purposes of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall determine the price in the United States for 
cheddar cheese and non-fat dry milk and the world price of 
cheddar cheese and skim milk powder. 
(e) DISTRIBUTION OF PURCHASED DAIRY PRODUCTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall dis-
tribute, but not store, the dairy products purchased under 
the dairy product donation program in a manner that encour-
ages the domestic consumption of such dairy products by
H. R. 2642—49 
diverting them to persons in low-income groups, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(2) USE OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.— 
The Secretary shall utilize the services of public and private 
nonprofit organizations for the distribution of dairy products 
purchased under the dairy product donation program. A public 
or private nonprofit organization that receives dairy products 
may transfer the products to another public or private nonprofit 
organization that agrees to use the dairy products to provide, 
without cost or waste, nutrition assistance to individuals in 
low-income groups. 
(f) PROHIBITION ON RESALE OF PRODUCTS.—A public or private 
nonprofit organization that receives dairy products under subsection 
(e) may not sell the products back into commercial markets. 
(g) USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION FUNDS.—As speci-
fied in section 1601(a), the funds, facilities, and authorities of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation shall be available to the Secretary 
for the purposes of implementing and administering the dairy 
product donation program. 
(h) DURATION.—In addition to the termination conditions speci-
fied in subsection (d)(1), the dairy product donation program shall 
end on December 31, 2018. 
Subtitle E—Supplemental Agricultural 
Disaster Assistance Programs 
SEC. 1501. SUPPLEMENTAL AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE PRODUCER ON A FARM.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible producer on a 
farm’’ means an individual or entity described in subpara-
graph (B) that, as determined by the Secretary, assumes 
the production and market risks associated with the agri-
cultural production of crops or livestock. 
(B) DESCRIPTION.—An individual or entity referred to 
in subparagraph (A) is— 
(i) a citizen of the United States; 
(ii) a resident alien; 
(iii) a partnership of citizens of the United States; 
or 
(iv) a corporation, limited liability corporation, or 
other farm organizational structure organized under 
State law. 
(2) FARM-RAISED FISH.—The term ‘‘farm-raised fish’’ means 
any aquatic species that is propagated and reared in a con-
trolled environment. 
(3) LIVESTOCK.—The term ‘‘livestock’’ includes— 
(A) cattle (including dairy cattle); 
(B) bison; 
(C) poultry; 
(D) sheep; 
(E) swine; 
(F) horses; and 
(G) other livestock, as determined by the Secretary. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Agriculture.
H. R. 2642—50 
(b) LIVESTOCK INDEMNITY PAYMENTS.— 
(1) PAYMENTS.—For fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary 
of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make 
livestock indemnity payments to eligible producers on farms 
that have incurred livestock death losses in excess of the normal 
mortality, as determined by the Secretary, due to— 
(A) attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by 
the Federal Government or protected by Federal law, 
including wolves and avian predators; or 
(B) adverse weather, as determined by the Secretary, 
during the calendar year, including losses due to hurri-
canes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat, 
and extreme cold. 
(2) PAYMENT RATES.—Indemnity payments to an eligible 
producer on a farm under paragraph (1) shall be made at 
a rate of 75 percent of the market value of the applicable 
livestock on the day before the date of death of the livestock, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR PAYMENTS MADE DUE TO DISEASE.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that payments made to an eligible 
producer under paragraph (1) are not made for the same live-
stock losses for which compensation is provided pursuant to 
section 10407(d) of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
8306(d)). 
(c) LIVESTOCK FORAGE DISASTER PROGRAM.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) COVERED LIVESTOCK.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii), 
the term ‘‘covered livestock’’ means livestock of an 
eligible livestock producer that, during the 60 days 
prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought 
or fire condition, as determined by the Secretary, the 
eligible livestock producer— 
(I) owned; 
(II) leased; 
(III) purchased; 
(IV) entered into a contract to purchase; 
(V) is a contract grower; or 
(VI) sold or otherwise disposed of due to quali-
fying drought conditions during— 
(aa) the current production year; or 
(bb) subject to paragraph (3)(B)(ii), 1 or 
both of the 2 production years immediately 
preceding the current production year. 
(ii) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘covered livestock’’ does 
not include livestock that were or would have been 
in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the qualifying 
drought or fire condition, as a part of the normal 
business operation of the eligible livestock producer, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(B) DROUGHT MONITOR.—The term ‘‘drought monitor’’ 
means a system for classifying drought severity according 
to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought, as 
defined by the Secretary. 
(C) ELIGIBLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCER.—
H. R. 2642—51 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible livestock pro-
ducer’’ means an eligible producer on a farm that— 
(I) is an owner, cash or share lessee, or con-
tract grower of covered livestock that provides the 
pastureland or grazing land, including cash-leased 
pastureland or grazing land, for the livestock; 
(II) provides the pastureland or grazing land 
for 
covered 
livestock, 
including 
cash-leased 
pastureland or grazing land that is physically 
located in a county affected by drought; 
(III) certifies grazing loss; and 
(IV) meets all other eligibility requirements 
established under this subsection. 
(ii) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘eligible livestock pro-
ducer’’ does not include an owner, cash or share lessee, 
or contract grower of livestock that rents or leases 
pastureland or grazing land owned by another person 
on a rate-of-gain basis. 
(D) NORMAL CARRYING CAPACITY.—The term ‘‘normal 
carrying capacity’’, with respect to each type of grazing 
land or pastureland in a county, means the normal carrying 
capacity, as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i), that 
would be expected from the grazing land or pastureland 
for livestock during the normal grazing period, in the 
absence of a drought or fire that diminishes the production 
of the grazing land or pastureland. 
(E) NORMAL
GRAZING
PERIOD.—The term ‘‘normal 
grazing period’’, with respect to a county, means the normal 
grazing period during the calendar year for the county, 
as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i). 
(2) PROGRAM.—For fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary 
of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide 
compensation for losses to eligible livestock producers due to 
grazing losses for covered livestock due to— 
(A) a drought condition, as described in paragraph 
(3); or 
(B) fire, as described in paragraph (4). 
(3) ASSISTANCE FOR LOSSES DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS.— 
(A) ELIGIBLE LOSSES.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible livestock producer 
may receive assistance under this subsection only for 
grazing losses for covered livestock that occur on land 
that— 
(I) is native or improved pastureland with 
permanent vegetative cover; or 
(II) is planted to a crop planted specifically 
for the purpose of providing grazing for covered 
livestock. 
(ii) EXCLUSIONS.—An eligible livestock producer 
may not receive assistance under this subsection for 
grazing losses that occur on land used for haying or 
grazing under the conservation reserve program estab-
lished under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3831 et seq.). 
(B) MONTHLY PAYMENT RATE.—
H. R. 2642—52 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii), 
the payment rate for assistance under this paragraph 
for 1 month shall, in the case of drought, be equal 
to 60 percent of the lesser of— 
(I) the monthly feed cost for all covered live-
stock owned or leased by the eligible livestock 
producer, as determined under subparagraph (C); 
or 
(II) the monthly feed cost calculated by using 
the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing 
land of the eligible livestock producer. 
(ii) PARTIAL
COMPENSATION.—In the case of an 
eligible livestock producer that sold or otherwise dis-
posed of covered livestock due to drought conditions 
in 1 or both of the 2 production years immediately 
preceding the current production year, as determined 
by the Secretary, the payment rate shall be 80 percent 
of the payment rate otherwise calculated in accordance 
with clause (i). 
(C) MONTHLY FEED COST.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The monthly feed cost shall equal 
the product obtained by multiplying— 
(I) 30 days; 
(II) a payment quantity that is equal to the 
feed grain equivalent, as determined under clause 
(ii); and 
(III) a payment rate that is equal to the corn 
price per pound, as determined under clause (iii). 
(ii) FEED
GRAIN
EQUIVALENT.—For purposes of 
clause (i)(II), the feed grain equivalent shall equal— 
(I) in the case of an adult beef cow, 15.7 
pounds of corn per day; or 
(II) in the case of any other type of weight 
of livestock, an amount determined by the Sec-
retary that represents the average number of 
pounds of corn per day necessary to feed the live-
stock. 
(iii) CORN
PRICE
PER
POUND.—For purposes of 
clause (i)(III), the corn price per pound shall equal 
the quotient obtained by dividing— 
(I) the higher of— 
(aa) the national average corn price per 
bushel for the 12-month period immediately 
preceding March 1 of the year for which the 
disaster assistance is calculated; or 
(bb) the national average corn price per 
bushel for the 24-month period immediately 
preceding that March 1; by 
(II) 56. 
(D) NORMAL GRAZING PERIOD AND DROUGHT MONITOR 
INTENSITY.— 
(i) FSA COUNTY COMMITTEE DETERMINATIONS.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall deter-
mine the normal carrying capacity and normal 
grazing period for each type of grazing land or 
pastureland in the county served by the applicable 
committee.
H. R. 2642—53 
(II) CHANGES.—No change to the normal car-
rying capacity or normal grazing period established 
for a county under subclause (I) shall be made 
unless the change is requested by the appropriate 
State and county Farm Service Agency committees. 
(ii) DROUGHT INTENSITY.— 
(I) D2.—An eligible livestock producer that 
owns or leases grazing land or pastureland that 
is physically located in a county that is rated by 
the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe 
drought) intensity in any area of the county for 
at least 8 consecutive weeks during the normal 
grazing period for the county, as determined by 
the Secretary, shall be eligible to receive assistance 
under this paragraph in an amount equal to 1 
monthly payment using the monthly payment rate 
determined under subparagraph (B). 
(II) D3.—An eligible livestock producer that 
owns or leases grazing land or pastureland that 
is physically located in a county that is rated by 
the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a 
D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the 
county at any time during the normal grazing 
period for the county, as determined by the Sec-
retary, shall be eligible to receive assistance under 
this paragraph— 
(aa) in an amount equal to 3 monthly 
payments using the monthly payment rate 
determined under subparagraph (B); 
(bb) if the county is rated as having a 
D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area 
of the county for at least 4 weeks during the 
normal grazing period for the county, or is 
rated as having a D4 (exceptional drought) 
intensity in any area of the county at any 
time during the normal grazing period, in an 
amount equal to 4 monthly payments using 
the monthly payment rate determined under 
subparagraph (B); or 
(cc) if the county is rated as having a 
D4 (exceptional drought) intensity in any area 
of the county for at least 4 weeks during the 
normal grazing period, in an amount equal 
to 5 monthly payments using the monthly rate 
determined under subparagraph (B). 
(4) ASSISTANCE FOR LOSSES DUE TO FIRE ON PUBLIC MAN-
AGED LAND.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible livestock producer may 
receive assistance under this paragraph only if— 
(i) the grazing losses occur on rangeland that is 
managed by a Federal agency; and 
(ii) the eligible livestock producer is prohibited 
by the Federal agency from grazing the normal per-
mitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to 
a fire. 
(B) PAYMENT RATE.—The payment rate for assistance 
under this paragraph shall be equal to 50 percent of the
H. R. 2642—54 
monthly feed cost for the total number of livestock covered 
by the Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer, 
as determined under paragraph (3)(C). 
(C) PAYMENT DURATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), an eligible 
livestock producer shall be eligible to receive assistance 
under this paragraph for the period— 
(I) beginning on the date on which the Federal 
agency excludes the eligible livestock producer 
from using the managed rangeland for grazing; 
and 
(II) ending on the last day of the Federal lease 
of the eligible livestock producer. 
(ii) LIMITATION.—An eligible livestock producer 
may only receive assistance under this paragraph for 
losses that occur on not more than 180 days per year. 
(5) NO DUPLICATIVE PAYMENTS.—An eligible livestock pro-
ducer may elect to receive assistance for grazing or pasture 
feed losses due to drought conditions under paragraph (3) or 
fire under paragraph (4), but not both for the same loss, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
(d) EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR LIVESTOCK, HONEY BEES, AND 
FARM-RAISED FISH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not more than $20,000,000 
of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide 
emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, 
and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due 
to disease (including cattle tick fever), adverse weather, or 
other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined 
by the Secretary, that are not covered under subsection (b) 
or (c). 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds made available under this sub-
section shall be used to reduce losses caused by feed or water 
shortages, disease, or other factors as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(3) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Any funds made available 
under this subsection shall remain available until expended. 
(e) TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 
ELIGIBLE
ORCHARDIST.—The 
term 
‘‘eligible 
orchardist’’ means a person that produces annual crops 
from trees for commercial purposes. 
(B) NATURAL DISASTER.—The term ‘‘natural disaster’’ 
means plant disease, insect infestation, drought, fire, 
freeze, flood, earthquake, lightning, or other occurrence, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(C) NURSERY TREE GROWER.—The term ‘‘nursery tree 
grower’’ means a person who produces nursery, ornamental, 
fruit, nut, or Christmas trees for commercial sale, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(D) TREE.—The term ‘‘tree’’ includes a tree, bush, and 
vine. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(A) LOSS.—Subject to subparagraph (B), for fiscal year 
2012 and each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall
H. R. 2642—55 
use such sums as are necessary of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation to provide assistance— 
(i) under paragraph (3) to eligible orchardists and 
nursery tree growers that planted trees for commercial 
purposes but lost the trees as a result of a natural 
disaster, as determined by the Secretary; and 
(ii) under paragraph (3)(B) to eligible orchardists 
and nursery tree growers that have a production his-
tory for commercial purposes on planted or existing 
trees but lost the trees as a result of a natural disaster, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(B) LIMITATION.—An eligible orchardist or nursery tree 
grower shall qualify for assistance under subparagraph 
(A) only if the tree mortality of the eligible orchardist 
or nursery tree grower, as a result of damaging weather 
or related condition, exceeds 15 percent (adjusted for 
normal mortality). 
(3) ASSISTANCE.—Subject to paragraph (4), the assistance 
provided by the Secretary to eligible orchardists and nursery 
tree growers for losses described in paragraph (2) shall consist 
of— 
(A)(i) reimbursement of 65 percent of the cost of 
replanting trees lost due to a natural disaster, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, in excess of 15 percent mortality 
(adjusted for normal mortality); or 
(ii) at the option of the Secretary, sufficient seedlings 
to reestablish a stand; and 
(B) reimbursement of 50 percent of the cost of pruning, 
removal, and other costs incurred by an eligible orchardist 
or nursery tree grower to salvage existing trees or, in 
the case of tree mortality, to prepare the land to replant 
trees as a result of damage or tree mortality due to a 
natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary, in excess 
of 15 percent damage or mortality (adjusted for normal 
tree damage and mortality). 
(4) LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) DEFINITIONS
OF
LEGAL
ENTITY
AND
PERSON.—In 
this paragraph, the terms ‘‘legal entity’’ and ‘‘person’’ have 
the meaning given those terms in section 1001(a) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)). 
(B) AMOUNT.—The total amount of payments received, 
directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (excluding 
a joint venture or general partnership) under this sub-
section may not exceed $125,000 for any crop year, or 
an equivalent value in tree seedlings. 
(C) ACRES.—The total quantity of acres planted to trees 
or tree seedlings for which a person or legal entity shall 
be entitled to receive payments under this subsection may 
not exceed 500 acres. 
(f) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS OF LEGAL ENTITY AND PERSON.—In this 
subsection, the terms ‘‘legal entity’’ and ‘‘person’’ have the 
meaning given those terms in section 1001(a) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)). 
(2) AMOUNT.—The total amount of disaster assistance pay-
ments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal 
entity (excluding a joint venture or general partnership) under
H. R. 2642—56 
this section (excluding payments received under subsection (e)) 
may not exceed $125,000 for any crop year. 
(3) DIRECT ATTRIBUTION.—Subsections (e) and (f) of section 
1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) or 
any successor provisions relating to direct attribution shall 
apply with respect to assistance provided under this section. 
Subtitle F—Administration 
SEC. 1601. ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY. 
(a) USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—The Secretary 
shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation to carry out this title. 
(b) DETERMINATIONS
BY SECRETARY.—A determination made 
by the Secretary under this title shall be final and conclusive. 
(c) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this sub-
section, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary and the Commodity Credit Corpora-
tion, as appropriate, shall promulgate such regulations as are 
necessary to implement this title and the amendments made 
by this title. 
(2) PROCEDURE.—The promulgation of the regulations and 
administration of this title and the amendments made by this 
title and sections 11003 and 11017 shall be made without 
regard to— 
(A) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 
of title 5, United States Code; 
(B) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act’’); and 
(C) the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agri-
culture effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804), 
relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and public 
participation in rulemaking. 
(3) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF AGENCY RULEMAKING.—In 
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall use the 
authority provided under section 808 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(d) ADJUSTMENT AUTHORITY RELATED TO TRADE AGREEMENTS 
COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) REQUIRED DETERMINATION; ADJUSTMENT.—If the Sec-
retary determines that expenditures under this title that are 
subject to the total allowable domestic support levels under 
the Uruguay Round Agreements (as defined in section 2 of 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501)) will 
exceed such allowable levels for any applicable reporting period, 
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, make 
adjustments in the amount of such expenditures during that 
period to ensure that such expenditures do not exceed the 
allowable levels. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL
NOTIFICATION.—Before making any 
adjustment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate a report describing the determination made under 
that paragraph and the extent of the adjustment to be made.
H. R. 2642—57 
SEC. 1602. SUSPENSION OF PERMANENT PRICE SUPPORT AUTHORITY. 
(a) AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1938.—The following 
provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 shall not 
be applicable to the 2014 through 2018 crops of covered commodities 
(as defined in section 1111), cotton, and sugar and shall not be 
applicable to milk during the period beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act through December 31, 2018: 
(1) Parts II through V of subtitle B of title III (7 U.S.C. 
1326 et seq.). 
(2) In the case of upland cotton, section 377 (7 U.S.C. 
1377). 
(3) Subtitle D of title III (7 U.S.C. 1379a et seq.). 
(4) Title IV (7 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.). 
(b) AGRICULTURAL ACT OF 1949.—The following provisions of 
the Agricultural Act of 1949 shall not be applicable to the 2014 
through 2018 crops of covered commodities (as defined in section 
1111), cotton, and sugar and shall not be applicable to milk during 
the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and 
through December 31, 2018: 
(1) Section 101 (7 U.S.C. 1441). 
(2) Section 103(a) (7 U.S.C. 1444(a)). 
(3) Section 105 (7 U.S.C. 1444b). 
(4) Section 107 (7 U.S.C. 1445a). 
(5) Section 110 (7 U.S.C. 1445e). 
(6) Section 112 (7 U.S.C. 1445g). 
(7) Section 115 (7 U.S.C. 1445k). 
(8) Section 201 (7 U.S.C. 1446). 
(9) Title III (7 U.S.C. 1447 et seq.). 
(10) Title IV (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), other than sections 
404, 412, and 416 (7 U.S.C. 1424, 1429, and 1431). 
(11) Title V (7 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.). 
(12) Title VI (7 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.). 
(c) SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN QUOTA PROVISIONS.—The joint reso-
lution entitled ‘‘A joint resolution relating to corn and wheat mar-
keting quotas under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as 
amended’’, approved May 26, 1941 (7 U.S.C. 1330 and 1340), shall 
not be applicable to the crops of wheat planted for harvest in 
the calendar years 2014 through 2018. 
SEC. 1603. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended by striking subsections (b) and 
(c) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION
ON PAYMENTS
FOR COVERED COMMODITIES 
(OTHER THAN PEANUTS).—The total amount of payments received, 
directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (except a joint 
venture or general partnership) for any crop year under sections 
1116 and 1117 and as marketing loan gains or loan deficiency 
payments under subtitle B of title I of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (other than for peanuts) may not exceed $125,000. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS FOR PEANUTS.—The total amount 
of payments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal 
entity (except a joint venture or general partnership) for any crop 
year under sections 1116 and 1117 and as marketing loan gains 
or loan deficiency payments under subtitle B of title I of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 for peanuts may not exceed $125,000.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
H. R. 2642—58 
(1) LIMITATION ON APPLICABILITY.—Section 1001(d) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(d)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘the marketing assistance loan program or the loan 
deficiency payment program under title I of the Food, Conserva-
tion, and Energy Act of 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘the forfeiture 
of a commodity pledged as collateral for a loan made available 
under subtitle B of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014’’. 
(2) TREATMENT OF FEDERAL AGENCIES AND STATE AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENTS.—Section 1001(f) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(f)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘or title XII’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or title 
XII’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ‘‘or title XII’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or title 
XII’’. 
(3) FOREIGN PERSONS INELIGIBLE.—Section 1001C(a) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3(a)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014,’’ after 
‘‘2008,’’. 
(c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this section shall 
apply beginning with the 2014 crop year. 
SEC. 1604. RULEMAKING RELATED TO SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION 
FOR ACTIVE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT. 
(a) REGULATIONS REQUIRED.—Within 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate, with 
an opportunity for notice and comment, regulations— 
(1) to define the term ‘‘significant contribution of active 
personal management’’ for purposes of section 1001A of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–1); and 
(2) if the Secretary determines it is appropriate, to establish 
limits for varying types of farming operations on the number 
of individuals who may be considered to be actively engaged 
in farming with respect to the farming operation when a signifi-
cant contribution of active personal management is the basis 
used to meet the requirement of being actively engaged in 
farming under section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(7 U.S.C. 1308–1) by an individual or entity. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the regulations required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— 
(1) the size, nature, and management requirements of each 
type of farming operation; 
(2) the changing nature of active personal management 
due to advancements of farming operations; and 
(3) the degree to which the regulations promulgated pursu-
ant to subsection (a) will adversely impact the long-term 
viability of the farming operation. 
(c) FAMILY FARMS.—The Secretary shall not apply the regula-
tions promulgated pursuant to subsection (a) to individuals or enti-
ties comprised solely of family members (as that term is defined 
in section 1001(a)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1308(a)(2))). 
(d) MONITORING.—The regulations promulgated pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall include a plan for monitoring the status of 
compliance reviews for whether a person or entity is in compliance 
with the regulations.
H. R. 2642—59 
(e) PAPERWORK REDUCTION.—In order to conserve Federal 
resources and prevent unnecessary paperwork burdens, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that any additional paperwork required as 
a result of the regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection 
(a) be limited to those persons who are subject to such regulations. 
(f) RELATION TO OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to authorize the Secretary to alter, directly 
or indirectly, existing regulations for other requirements in section 
1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–1). 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirements of any regulation 
promulgated pursuant to this section shall apply beginning with 
the 2015 crop year. 
SEC. 1605. ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME LIMITATION. 
(a) LIMITATIONS AND COVERED BENEFITS.—Section 1001D(b) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘LIMITATIONS’’ 
and inserting ‘‘LIMITATIONS ON COMMODITY AND CONSERVATION 
PROGRAMS’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, a person or legal entity shall not be eligible to receive 
any benefit described in paragraph (2) during a crop, fiscal, 
or program year, as appropriate, if the average adjusted gross 
income of the person or legal entity exceeds $900,000. 
‘‘(2) COVERED
BENEFITS.—Paragraph (1) applies with 
respect to the following: 
‘‘(A) A payment or benefit under subtitle A or E of 
title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
‘‘(B) A marketing loan gain or loan deficiency payment 
under subtitle B of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
‘‘(C) Starting with fiscal year 2015, a payment or ben-
efit under title II of the Agricultural Act of 2014, title 
II of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, 
title II of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 
or title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985. 
‘‘(D) A payment or benefit under section 524(b) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)). 
‘‘(E) A payment or benefit under section 196 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
(7 U.S.C. 7333).’’. 
(b) UPDATING DEFINITIONS.—Paragraph (1) of section 1001D(a) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(a)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) AVERAGE ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.—In this section, 
the term ‘average adjusted gross income’, with respect to a 
person or legal entity, means the average of the adjusted gross 
income or comparable measure of the person or legal entity 
over the 3 taxable years preceding the most immediately pre-
ceding complete taxable year, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) INCOME DETERMINATION.—Section 1001D of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (c); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as sub-
sections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.
H. R. 2642—60 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1001D of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A) or (B) of’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, the average adjusted gross farm 
income, and the average adjusted gross nonfarm income’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘, average adjusted 
gross farm income, and average adjusted gross nonfarm income’’ 
both places it appears; 
(3) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(2) 
of this section)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, average adjusted 
gross farm income, and average adjusted gross nonfarm 
income’’ both places it appears; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1)(C) 
and (2)(B) of subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(b)(2)’’; and 
(4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(2) 
of this section)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)(B) of sub-
section (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(2)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, average adjusted gross farm income, 
or average adjusted gross nonfarm income’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.—Subsection (e) of section 1001D of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a), as redesignated 
by subsection (c)(2) of this section, is repealed. 
(f) LIMITATION ON APPLICABILITY.—Section 1001(d) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended by inserting before 
the period at the end the following: ‘‘or title I of the Agricultural 
Act of 2014’’. 
(g) TRANSITION.—Section 1001D of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a), as in effect on the day before the date 
of the enactment of this Act, shall apply with respect to the 2013 
crop, fiscal, or program year, as appropriate, for each program 
described in paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)(B) of subsection (b) of that 
section (as so in effect on that day). 
SEC. 
1606. 
GEOGRAPHICALLY 
DISADVANTAGED 
FARMERS 
AND 
RANCHERS. 
Section 1621(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8792(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘each of fiscal 
years 2009 through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2009 and each 
succeeding fiscal year’’. 
SEC. 1607. PERSONAL LIABILITY OF PRODUCERS FOR DEFICIENCIES. 
Section 164 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7284) is amended by striking ‘‘and 
title I of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘title I of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8702 et seq.), and title I of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 1608. PREVENTION OF DECEASED INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING PAY-
MENTS UNDER FARM COMMODITY PROGRAMS. 
(a) RECONCILIATION.—At least twice each year, the Secretary 
shall reconcile Social Security numbers of all individuals who 
receive payments under this title, whether directly or indirectly,
H. R. 2642—61 
with the Commissioner of Social Security to determine if the individ-
uals are alive. 
(b) PRECLUSION.—The Secretary shall preclude the issuance 
of payments to, and on behalf of, deceased individuals that were 
not eligible for payments. 
SEC. 1609. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) MISSING PUNCTUATION.—Section 359f(c)(1)(B) of the Agricul-
tural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359ff(c)(1)(B)) is amended 
by adding a period at the end. 
(b) ERRONEOUS CROSS REFERENCE.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Section 1603(g) of the Food, Conserva-
tion, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 
1739) is amended in paragraphs (2) through (6) and the amend-
ments made by those paragraphs by striking ‘‘1703(a)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘1603(a)’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection and the amendments 
made by this subsection take effect as if included in the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246; 
122 Stat. 1651). 
(c) CONTINUED APPLICABILITY
OF APPROPRIATIONS GENERAL 
PROVISION.—Section 767 of division A of Public Law 108–7 (7 U.S.C. 
7911 note; 117 Stat. 48) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a)’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘sections 1101 and 1102 of Public Law 
107–171’’ and inserting ‘‘subtitle A of title I of the Agricultural 
Act of 2014’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘such section 1102’’ and inserting ‘‘such 
subtitle’’; and 
(4) by striking subsection (b). 
SEC. 1610. APPEALS. 
(a) DIRECTION, CONTROL, AND SUPPORT.—Section 272 of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6992) is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) DIRECTION, CONTROL, AND SUPPORT.— 
‘‘(1) DIRECTION AND CONTROL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), the Director shall be free from the direction and control 
of any person other than the Secretary or the Deputy 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Division shall not 
receive administrative support (except on a reimbursable 
basis) from any agency other than the Office of the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(C) PROHIBITION ON DELEGATION.—The Secretary may 
not delegate to any other officer or employee of the Depart-
ment, other than the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture or 
the Director, the authority of the Secretary with respect 
to the Division. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Assistant Secretary for Administra-
tion is authorized to investigate, enforce, and implement the 
provisions in law, Executive order, or regulations that relate 
in general to competitive and excepted service positions and 
employment within the Division, including the position of 
Director, and such authority may be further delegated to 
subordinate officials.’’.
H. R. 2642—62 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 296(b) of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
‘‘affect—’’ and inserting ‘‘affect:’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘the authority’’ each place it appears in 
paragraphs (1) through (7) and inserting ‘‘The authority’’; 
(3) by striking the semicolon at the end of each of para-
graphs (1) through (5) and inserting a period; 
(4) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking ‘‘; or’’ at the end and 
inserting a period; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) The authority of the Secretary to carry out amendments 
made to this title by the Agricultural Act of 2014.’’. 
SEC. 1611. ASSIGNMENT OF PAYMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of section 8(g) of the Soil 
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)), 
relating to assignment of payments, shall apply to payments made 
under this title. 
(b) NOTICE.—The producer making the assignment, or the 
assignee, shall provide the Secretary with notice, in such manner 
as the Secretary may require, of any assignment made under this 
section. 
SEC. 1612. TRACKING OF BENEFITS. 
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary may track the benefits provided, directly or 
indirectly, to individuals and entities under titles I and II and 
the amendments made by those titles. 
SEC. 1613. SIGNATURE AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this title and title II and 
amendments made by those titles, if the Secretary approves a 
document, the Secretary shall not subsequently determine the docu-
ment is inadequate or invalid because of the lack of authority 
of any person signing the document on behalf of the applicant 
or any other individual, entity, general partnership, or joint venture, 
or the documents relied upon were determined inadequate or 
invalid, unless the person signing the program document knowingly 
and willfully falsified the evidence of signature authority or a 
signature. 
(b) AFFIRMATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section prohibits the Sec-
retary from asking a proper party to affirm any document 
that otherwise would be considered approved under subsection 
(a). 
(2) NO RETROACTIVE EFFECT.—A denial of benefits based 
on a lack of affirmation under paragraph (1) shall not be 
retroactive with respect to third-party producers who were not 
the subject of the erroneous representation of authority, if 
the third-party producers— 
(A) relied on the prior approval by the Secretary of 
the documents in good faith; and 
(B) substantively complied with all program require-
ments.
H. R. 2642—63 
SEC. 1614. IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) MAINTENANCE OF BASE ACRES AND PAYMENT YIELDS.—The 
Secretary shall maintain, for each covered commodity and upland 
cotton, base acres and payment yields on a farm established under 
sections 1001 and 1301 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8702, 8751), as adjusted pursuant to sections 
1101, 1102, 1108, and 1302 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 8711, 8712, 
8718, 8752), as in effect on September 30, 2013. 
(b) STREAMLINING.—In implementing this title, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) reduce administrative burdens and costs to producers 
by streamlining and reducing paperwork, forms, and other 
administrative 
requirements, 
including 
through 
the 
implementation of the Acreage Crop Reporting and Stream-
lining Initiative that, in part, shall ensure that— 
(A) a producer (or an agent of a producer) may report 
information, electronically (including geospatial data) or 
conventionally, to the Department; and 
(B) upon the request of the producer (or agent thereof) 
the Department of Agriculture electronically shares with 
the producer (or agent) in real time and without cost to 
the producer (or agent) the common land unit data, related 
farm level data, and other information of the producer; 
(2) improve coordination, information sharing, and adminis-
trative work with the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management 
Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and 
(3) take advantage of new technologies to enhance efficiency 
and effectiveness of program delivery to producers. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make available to 
the Farm Service Agency to carry out this title $100,000,000. 
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDS.— 
(A) INITIAL
DETERMINATION.—If, by September 30, 
2014, the Secretary notifies the Committee on Agriculture 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate that 
the Farm Service Agency has made substantial progress 
toward implementing the requirements of subsection (b)(1), 
the Secretary shall make available to the Farm Service 
Agency to carry out this title $10,000,000 on October 1, 
2014. The amount made available under this subparagraph 
is in addition to the amount made available under para-
graph (1). 
(B) SUBSEQUENT
DETERMINATION.—If, by September 
30, 2015, the Secretary notifies the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate that 
the requirements of subsection (b)(1) have been fully imple-
mented and those Committees provide written concurrence 
to the Secretary, the Secretary shall make available to 
the Farm Service Agency to carry out this title $10,000,000 
on the date the written concurrence is provided or October 
1, 2015, whichever is later. The amount made available 
under this subparagraph is in addition to the amount made 
available under paragraph (1) and any amount made avail-
able under subparagraph (A). 
(3) PRODUCER EDUCATION.—
H. R. 2642—64 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds made available under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide $3,000,000 to 
State extension services for the purpose of educating 
farmers and ranchers on the options made available under 
subtitles A, D, and E of this title and under section 196 
of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333). 
(B) WEB-BASED DECISION AIDS.— 
(i) USE OF QUALIFIED UNIVERSITIES.—Of the funds 
made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall use $3,000,000 to support qualified universities 
(or university-based organizations) that represent a 
diversity of regions and commodities (including dairy), 
possess expertise regarding the programs authorized 
by this Act, have a history in the development of 
decision 
aids 
and 
producer 
outreach 
initiatives 
regarding farm risk management programs, and are 
able to meet the deadline established pursuant to 
clause (ii) to develop web-based decision aids to assist 
producers in understanding available options described 
in subparagraph (A) and to train producers to use 
these decision aids. 
(ii) DEADLINES.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall— 
(I) obligate the funds made available under 
clause (i) within 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act; and 
(II) require the products described in clause 
(i) to be made available to producers on the inter-
net within a reasonable period of time, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, after the implementation 
of the first rule implementing programs required 
under subtitle A of this title. 
(d) LOAN IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In any crop year in which an order is 
issued pursuant 2 U.S.C. 901(a), the Secretary shall use such 
sums as necessary of the funds of the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration for such crop year to fully restore the support, loan, 
or assistance that is otherwise required under subtitles B or 
C of this title or under the amendments made by subtitles 
B or C, except with respect to the assistance provided under 
sections 1207(c) and 1208. 
(2) REPAYMENT.—In carrying out this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that when a producer repays a loan at 
a rate equal to the loan rate plus interest in accordance with 
the repayment provisions of subtitles B or C that the repayment 
amount shall include the portion of the loan amount provided 
under paragraph (1), except that this paragraph shall not affect 
or reduce marketing loan gains, loan deficiency payments, or 
forfeiture benefits provided for under subtitles B or C and 
as supplemented in accordance with paragraph (1). 
SEC. 1615. RESEARCH OPTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 4(m) of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b(m)), funds 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation disbursed pursuant to the 
memorandum of understanding between the Government of the
H. R. 2642—65 
United States of America and the Government of the Federative 
Republic of Brazil regarding a fund for technical assistance and 
capacity building with respect to dispute WT/DS 267 in the World 
Trade Organization may, upon resolution of the dispute, be used 
for research consistent with the conditions imposed by subsection 
(b). 
(b) CONDITIONS.—Research authorized by subsection (a) must 
be conducted in collaboration with research agencies of the United 
States Department of Agriculture or with a college, university, 
or research foundation located in the United States. Such research 
and collaboration shall be subject to the agreement of the parties 
to the resolved dispute described in subsection (a). 
TITLE II—CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Conservation Reserve Program 
SEC. 2001. EXTENSION AND ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS OF CON-
SERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
(b) ELIGIBLE LAND.—Section 1231(b) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘the date of enactment 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 
2014’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph 
(3) as paragraph (2); 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (4) the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) grasslands that— 
‘‘(A) contain forbs or shrubland (including improved 
rangeland and pastureland) for which grazing is the 
predominant use; 
‘‘(B) are located in an area historically dominated by 
grasslands; and 
‘‘(C) could provide habitat for animal and plant popu-
lations of significant ecological value if the land is retained 
in its current use or restored to a natural condition;’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ‘‘filterstrips devoted 
to trees or shrubs’’ and inserting ‘‘filterstrips or riparian buffers 
devoted to trees, shrubs, or grasses’’; and 
(5) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) the portion of land in a field not enrolled in the 
conservation reserve in a case in which— 
‘‘(A) more than 50 percent of the land in the field 
is enrolled as a buffer or filterstrip, or more than 75 percent 
of the land in the field is enrolled as a conservation practice 
other than as a buffer or filterstrip; and 
‘‘(B) the remainder of the field is— 
‘‘(i) infeasible to farm; and 
‘‘(ii) enrolled at regular rental rates.’’.
H. R. 2642—66 
(c) PLANTING STATUS OF CERTAIN LAND.—Section 1231(c) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(c)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘if’’ and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘if, during the crop year, the land was devoted 
to a conserving use.’’. 
(d) ENROLLMENT.—Subsection (d) of section 1231 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) ENROLLMENT.— 
‘‘(1) MAXIMUM
ACREAGE
ENROLLED.—The Secretary may 
maintain in the conservation reserve at any one time during— 
‘‘(A) fiscal year 2014, no more than 27,500,000 acres; 
‘‘(B) fiscal year 2015, no more than 26,000,000 acres; 
‘‘(C) fiscal year 2016, no more than 25,000,000 acres; 
‘‘(D) fiscal year 2017, no more than 24,000,000 acres; 
and 
‘‘(E) fiscal year 2018, no more than 24,000,000 acres. 
‘‘(2) GRASSLANDS.— 
‘‘(A) LIMITATION.—For purposes of applying the limita-
tions in paragraph (1), no more than 2,000,000 acres of 
the land described in subsection (b)(3) may be enrolled 
in the program at any one time during the 2014 through 
2018 fiscal years. 
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—In enrolling acres under subparagraph 
(A), the Secretary may give priority to land with expiring 
conservation reserve program contracts. 
‘‘(C) METHOD
OF
ENROLLMENT.—In enrolling acres 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make the pro-
gram available to owners or operators of eligible land on 
a continuous enrollment basis with one or more ranking 
periods.’’. 
(e) DURATION OF CONTRACT.—Section 1231(e) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(e)) is amended by striking para-
graphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN LAND.—In the case of land 
devoted to hardwood trees, shelterbelts, windbreaks, or wildlife 
corridors under a contract entered into under this subchapter, 
the owner or operator of the land may, within the limitations 
prescribed under paragraph (1), specify the duration of the 
contract.’’. 
(f) CONSERVATION PRIORITY AREAS.—Section 1231(f) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘watershed areas of the 
Chesapeake Bay Region, the Great Lakes Region, the Long 
Island Sound Region, and other’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘WATERSHEDS.—Water-
sheds’’ and inserting ‘‘AREAS.—Areas’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘a watershed’s designa-
tion—’’ and all that follows through the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘an area’s designation if the Secretary finds that 
the area no longer contains actual and significant adverse 
water quality or habitat impacts related to agricultural produc-
tion activities.’’. 
SEC. 2002. FARMABLE WETLAND PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1231B(a)(1) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831b(a)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’; and
H. R. 2642—67 
(2) by striking ‘‘a program’’ and inserting ‘‘a farmable wet-
land program’’. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ACREAGE.—Section 1231B(b)(1)(B) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831b(b)(1)(B)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘flow from a row crop agriculture drainage system’’ and 
inserting ‘‘surface and subsurface flow from row crop agricultural 
production’’. 
(c) ACREAGE LIMITATION.—Section 1231B(c)(1)(B) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831b(c)(1)(B)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘1,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘750,000’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 1231B of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831b) is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the following: 
‘‘FARMABLE WETLAND PROGRAM’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ‘‘section 1234(c)(2)(B)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii)’’. 
SEC. 2003. DUTIES OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS. 
(a) LIMITATION ON HARVESTING, GRAZING, OR COMMERCIAL USE 
OF FORAGE.—Section 1232(a)(8) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3832(a)(8)) is amended by striking ‘‘except that’’ and 
all that follows through the semicolon at the end of the paragraph 
and inserting ‘‘except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of section 
1233;’’. 
(b) CONSERVATION PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—Subsection (b) of sec-
tion 1232 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) CONSERVATION PLANS.—The plan referred to in subsection 
(a)(1) shall set forth— 
‘‘(1) the conservation measures and practices to be carried 
out by the owner or operator during the term of the contract; 
and 
‘‘(2) the commercial use, if any, to be permitted on the 
land during the term.’’. 
(c) RENTAL PAYMENT REDUCTION.—Section 1232 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832) is amended by striking 
subsection (d). 
SEC. 2004. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
Section 1233 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1233. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
‘‘(a) COST-SHARE AND RENTAL PAYMENTS.—In return for a con-
tract entered into by an owner or operator under the conservation 
reserve program, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) share the cost of carrying out the conservation meas-
ures and practices set forth in the contract for which the 
Secretary determines that cost sharing is appropriate and in 
the public interest; and 
‘‘(2) for a period of years not in excess of the term of 
the contract, pay an annual rental payment in an amount 
necessary to compensate for— 
‘‘(A) the conversion of highly erodible cropland or other 
eligible lands normally devoted to the production of an 
agricultural commodity on a farm or ranch to a less inten-
sive use;
H. R. 2642—68 
‘‘(B) the retirement of any base history that the owner 
or operator agrees to retire permanently; and 
‘‘(C) the development and management of grasslands 
for 
multiple 
natural 
resource 
conservation 
benefits, 
including to soil, water, air, and wildlife. 
‘‘(b) SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES PERMITTED.—The Secretary shall 
permit certain activities or commercial uses of land that is subject 
to a contract under the conservation reserve program if those activi-
ties or uses are consistent with a plan approved by the Secretary 
and include— 
‘‘(1) harvesting, grazing, or other commercial use of the 
forage in response to a drought, flooding, or other emergency, 
without any reduction in the rental rate; 
‘‘(2) consistent with the conservation of soil, water quality, 
and wildlife habitat (including habitat during primary nesting 
seasons for birds in the area), and in exchange for a reduction 
of not less than 25 percent in the annual rental rate for the 
acres covered by the authorized activity, managed harvesting 
and other commercial use (including the managed harvesting 
of biomass), except that in permitting those activities, the Sec-
retary, in coordination with the State technical committee— 
‘‘(A) shall develop appropriate vegetation management 
requirements; and 
‘‘(B) shall identify periods during which the activities 
may be conducted, such that the frequency is at least 
every 5 but not more than once every 3 years; 
‘‘(3) subject to appropriate restrictions during the nesting 
season for birds in the local area that are economically signifi-
cant, in significant decline, or conserved in accordance with 
Federal or State law, as determined by the Secretary in con-
sultation with the State technical committee, and in exchange 
for a reduction of not less than 25 percent in the annual 
rental rate for the acres covered by the authorized activity— 
‘‘(A) prescribed grazing for the control of invasive spe-
cies, which may be conducted annually; 
‘‘(B) routine grazing, except that in permitting such 
routine grazing, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
State technical committee— 
‘‘(i) shall develop appropriate vegetation manage-
ment requirements and stocking rates for the land 
that are suitable for continued routine grazing; and 
‘‘(ii) shall identify the periods during which routine 
grazing may be conducted, such that the frequency 
is not more than once every 2 years, taking into consid-
eration regional differences such as— 
‘‘(I) climate, soil type, and natural resources; 
‘‘(II) the number of years that should be 
required between routine grazing activities; and 
‘‘(III) how often during a year in which routine 
grazing is permitted that routine grazing should 
be allowed to occur; and 
‘‘(C) the installation of wind turbines and associated 
access, except that in permitting the installation of wind 
turbines, the Secretary shall determine the number and 
location of wind turbines that may be installed, taking 
into account—
H. R. 2642—69 
‘‘(i) the location, size, and other physical character-
istics of the land; 
‘‘(ii) the extent to which the land contains threat-
ened or endangered wildlife and wildlife habitat; and 
‘‘(iii) the purposes of the conservation reserve pro-
gram under this subchapter; 
‘‘(4) the intermittent and seasonal use of vegetative buffer 
practices incidental to agricultural production on lands adjacent 
to the buffer such that the permitted use does not destroy 
the permanent vegetative cover; and 
‘‘(5) grazing by livestock of a beginning farmer or rancher 
without any reduction in the rental rate, if the grazing is— 
‘‘(A) consistent with the conservation of soil, water 
quality, and wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(B) subject to appropriate restrictions during the 
nesting season for birds in the local area that are economi-
cally significant, in significant decline, or conserved in 
accordance with Federal or State law, as determined by 
the Secretary in consultation with the State technical com-
mittee; and 
‘‘(C) described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph 
(3). 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES ON GRASSLANDS.—For eligible land 
described in section 1231(b)(3), the Secretary shall permit the fol-
lowing activities: 
‘‘(1) Common grazing practices, including maintenance and 
necessary cultural practices, on the land in a manner that 
is consistent with maintaining the viability of grassland, forb, 
and shrub species appropriate to that locality. 
‘‘(2) Haying, mowing, or harvesting for seed production, 
subject to appropriate restrictions during the nesting season 
for birds in the local area that are economically significant, 
in significant decline, or conserved in accordance with Federal 
or State law, as determined by the Secretary in consultation 
with the State technical committee. 
‘‘(3) Fire presuppression, fire-related rehabilitation, and 
construction of fire breaks. 
‘‘(4) Grazing-related activities, such as fencing and livestock 
watering. 
‘‘(d) RESOURCE CONSERVING USE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date that is 1 year 
before the date of termination of a contract under the program, 
the Secretary shall allow an owner or operator to make con-
servation and land improvements for economic use that facili-
tate maintaining protection of enrolled land after expiration 
of the contract. 
‘‘(2) CONSERVATION PLAN.—The Secretary shall require an 
owner or operator carrying out the activities described in para-
graph (1) to develop and implement a conservation plan. 
‘‘(3) RE-ENROLLMENT PROHIBITED.—Land improved under 
paragraph (1) may not be re-enrolled in the conservation reserve 
program for 5 years after the date of termination of the contract. 
‘‘(4) PAYMENT REDUCTION.—In the case of an activity car-
ried out under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reduce the 
payment otherwise payable under the contract by an amount 
commensurate with the economic value of the activity.’’.
H. R. 2642—70 
SEC. 2005. PAYMENTS. 
(a) TREES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERBELTS, AND WILDLIFE COR-
RIDORS.—Section 1234(b)(3)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3834(b)(3)(A)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) APPLICABILITY.—This paragraph applies to land 
devoted to the production of hardwood trees, windbreaks, 
shelterbelts, or wildlife corridors under a contract entered 
into under this subchapter after November 28, 1990.’’. 
(b) INCENTIVES FOR THINNING.—Section 1234 of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘FEDERAL PERCENTAGE 
OF’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or thinning’’; and 
(ii) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows: 
‘‘(ii) DURATION.—The Secretary shall make pay-
ments as described in clause (i) for a period of not 
less than 2 years, but not more than 4 years, beginning 
on the date of the planting of the trees or shrubs.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (g) as sub-
sections (d) through (h), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make incentive pay-
ments to an owner or operator of eligible land in an amount 
sufficient to encourage proper thinning and other practices 
to improve the condition of resources, promote forest manage-
ment, or enhance wildlife habitat on the land. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—A payment described in paragraph (1) 
may not exceed 150 percent of the total cost of thinning and 
other practices conducted by the owner or operator.’’. 
(c) ANNUAL RENTAL PAYMENTS.—Section 1234(d) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection (b)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or other eligible lands’’ 
after ‘‘highly erodible cropland’’ both places it appears; 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) METHODS OF DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The amounts payable to owners or 
operators in the form of rental payments under contracts 
entered into under this subchapter may be determined 
through— 
‘‘(i) the submission of bids for such contracts by 
owners and operators in such manner as the Secretary 
may prescribe; or 
‘‘(ii) such other means as the Secretary determines 
are appropriate. 
‘‘(B) GRASSLANDS.—In the case of eligible land 
described in section 1231(b)(3), the Secretary shall make 
annual payments in an amount that is not more than 
75 percent of the grazing value of the land covered by 
the contract.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (5)—
H. R. 2642—71 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘conduct an 
annual survey’’ and inserting ‘‘, not less frequently than 
once every other year, conduct a survey’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘annual’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) USE.—The Secretary may use the estimates 
derived from the survey conducted under subparagraph 
(A) relating to dryland cash rental rates as a factor in 
determining rental rates under this section in a manner 
determined appropriate by the Secretary.’’. 
(d) PAYMENT SCHEDULE.—Subsection (e) of section 1234 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection (b)(2)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) PAYMENT SCHEDULE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, payments under this subchapter shall be made in cash 
in such amount and on such time schedule as is agreed on 
and specified in the contract. 
‘‘(2) ADVANCE PAYMENT.—Payments under this subchapter 
may be made in advance of determination of performance.’’. 
(e) PAYMENT LIMITATION.—Section 1234(g) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection (b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, including rental pay-
ments made in the form of in-kind commodities,’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3); and 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2). 
SEC. 2006. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) EARLY TERMINATION
BY OWNER
OR OPERATOR.—Section 
1235(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(e)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘During 
fiscal year 2015, the Secretary’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘before January 1, 1995,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) Land devoted to hardwood trees. 
‘‘(D) Wildlife habitat, duck nesting habitat, pollinator 
habitat, upland bird habitat buffer, wildlife food plots, State 
acres for wildlife enhancement, shallow water areas for 
wildlife, and rare and declining habitat. 
‘‘(E) Farmable wetland and restored wetland. 
‘‘(F) Land that contains diversions, erosion control 
structures, flood control structures, contour grass strips, 
living snow fences, salinity reducing vegetation, cross wind 
trap strips, and sediment retention structures. 
‘‘(G) Land located within a federally designated well-
head protection area. 
‘‘(H) Land that is covered by an easement under the 
conservation reserve program. 
‘‘(I) Land located within an average width, according 
to the applicable Natural Resources Conservation Service 
field office technical guide, of a perennial stream or perma-
nent water body. 
‘‘(J) Land enrolled under the conservation reserve 
enhancement program.’’; and
H. R. 2642—72 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘60 days after the date 
on which the owner or operator submits the notice required 
under paragraph (1)(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘upon approval by the 
Secretary’’. 
(b) TRANSITION OPTION FOR CERTAIN FARMERS OR RANCHERS.— 
Section 1235(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(f)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘DUTIES’’ and all that follows through ‘‘a beginning 
farmer or rancher or’’ and inserting ‘‘TRANSITION TO COV-
ERED FARMER OR RANCHER.—In the case of a contract modi-
fication approved in order to facilitate the transfer of land 
subject to a contract from a retired farmer or rancher 
to a beginning farmer or rancher, a veteran farmer or 
rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(e))), or a’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting ‘‘, including 
preparing to plant an agricultural crop’’ after ‘‘improve-
ments’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘the farmer or 
rancher’’ and inserting ‘‘the covered farmer or rancher’’; 
and 
(D) 
in 
subparagraph 
(E), 
by 
striking 
‘‘section 
1001A(b)(3)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1001’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘requirement of section 
1231(h)(4)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘option pursuant to section 
1234(d)(2)(A)(ii)’’. 
(c) FINAL YEAR CONTRACT.—Section 1235 of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsections: 
‘‘(g) FINAL YEAR OF CONTRACT.—The Secretary shall not con-
sider an owner or operator to be in violation of a term or condition 
of the conservation reserve contract if— 
‘‘(1) during the year prior to expiration of the contract, 
the land is enrolled in the conservation stewardship program; 
and 
‘‘(2) the activity required under the conservation steward-
ship program pursuant to such enrollment is consistent with 
this subchapter. 
‘‘(h) LAND ENROLLED IN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASE-
MENT PROGRAM.—The Secretary may terminate or modify a contract 
entered into under this subchapter if eligible land that is subject 
to such contract is transferred into the agricultural conservation 
easement program under subtitle H.’’. 
SEC. 2007. CONVERSION OF LAND SUBJECT TO CONTRACT TO OTHER 
CONSERVING USES. 
Section 1235A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3835a) is repealed. 
SEC. 2008. EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
amendments made by this subtitle shall not affect the validity 
or terms of any contract entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture 
under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) before the
H. R. 2642—73 
date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any payments 
required to be made in connection with the contract. 
(b) UPDATING OF EXISTING CONTRACTS.—The Secretary shall 
permit an owner or operator of land subject to a contract entered 
into under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) before 
the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, to update 
the contract to reflect the activities and uses of land under contract 
permitted under the terms and conditions of section 1233(b) of 
that Act (as amended by section 2004), as determined appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
Subtitle B—Conservation Stewardship 
Program 
SEC. 2101. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) REVISION OF CURRENT PROGRAM.—Subchapter B of chapter 
2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838d et seq.) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘Subchapter B—Conservation Stewardship Program 
‘‘SEC. 1238D. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subchapter: 
‘‘(1) AGRICULTURAL
OPERATION.—The term ‘agricultural 
operation’ means all eligible land, whether or not contiguous, 
that is— 
‘‘(A) under the effective control of a producer at the 
time the producer enters into a contract under the program; 
and 
‘‘(B) operated with equipment, labor, management, and 
production or cultivation practices that are substantially 
separate from other agricultural operations, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘conservation activities’ 
means conservation systems, practices, or management 
measures. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘conservation activities’ 
includes— 
‘‘(i) structural measures, vegetative measures, and 
land management measures, including agriculture 
drainage management systems, as determined by the 
Secretary; and 
‘‘(ii) planning needed to address a priority resource 
concern. 
‘‘(3) CONSERVATION
STEWARDSHIP
PLAN.—The term ‘con-
servation stewardship plan’ means a plan that— 
‘‘(A) identifies and inventories priority resource con-
cerns; 
‘‘(B) establishes benchmark data and conservation 
objectives; 
‘‘(C) describes conservation activities to be imple-
mented, managed, or improved; and
H. R. 2642—74 
‘‘(D) includes a schedule and evaluation plan for the 
planning, installation, and management of the new and 
existing conservation activities. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE LAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible land’ means— 
‘‘(i) private or tribal land on which agricultural 
commodities, livestock, or forest-related products are 
produced; and 
‘‘(ii) lands associated with the land described in 
clause (i) on which priority resource concerns could 
be addressed through a contract under the program. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘eligible land’ includes— 
‘‘(i) cropland; 
‘‘(ii) grassland; 
‘‘(iii) rangeland; 
‘‘(iv) pasture land; 
‘‘(v) nonindustrial private forest land; and 
‘‘(vi) other land in agricultural areas (including 
cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used 
or capable of being used for the production of livestock), 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY
RESOURCE
CONCERN.—The term ‘priority 
resource concern’ means a natural resource concern or problem, 
as determined by the Secretary, that— 
‘‘(A) is identified at the national, State, or local level 
as a priority for a particular area of a State; 
‘‘(B) represents a significant concern in a State or 
region; and 
‘‘(C) is likely to be addressed successfully through the 
implementation of conservation activities under this pro-
gram. 
‘‘(6) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means the conservation 
stewardship program established by this subchapter. 
‘‘(7) STEWARDSHIP
THRESHOLD.—The term ‘stewardship 
threshold’ means the level of management required, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, to conserve and improve the quality 
and condition of a natural resource. 
‘‘SEC. 1238E. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—During each of fiscal years 
2014 through 2018, the Secretary shall carry out a conservation 
stewardship program to encourage producers to address priority 
resource concerns and improve and conserve the quality and condi-
tion of natural resources in a comprehensive manner— 
‘‘(1) by undertaking additional conservation activities; and 
‘‘(2) by improving, maintaining, and managing existing con-
servation activities. 
‘‘(b) EXCLUSIONS.— 
‘‘(1) LAND ENROLLED IN OTHER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.— 
Subject to paragraph (2), the following land (even if covered 
by the definition of eligible land) is not eligible for enrollment 
in the program: 
‘‘(A) Land enrolled in the conservation reserve program, 
unless— 
‘‘(i) the conservation reserve contract will expire 
at the end of the fiscal year in which the land is 
to be enrolled in the program; and
H. R. 2642—75 
‘‘(ii) conservation reserve program payments for 
land enrolled in the program cease before the first 
program payment is made to the applicant under this 
subchapter. 
‘‘(B) Land enrolled in a wetland reserve easement 
through the agricultural conservation easement program. 
‘‘(C) Land enrolled in the conservation security pro-
gram. 
‘‘(2) CONVERSION TO CROPLAND.—Eligible land used for crop 
production after the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014, that had not been planted, considered to be planted, 
or devoted to crop production for at least 4 of the 6 years 
preceding that date shall not be the basis for any payment 
under the program, unless the land does not meet such require-
ment because— 
‘‘(A) the land had previously been enrolled in the con-
servation reserve program; 
‘‘(B) the land has been maintained using long-term 
crop rotation practices, as determined by the Secretary; 
or 
‘‘(C) the land is incidental land needed for efficient 
operation of the farm or ranch, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘SEC. 1238F. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS. 
‘‘(a) SUBMISSION
OF CONTRACT OFFERS.—To be eligible to 
participate in the conservation stewardship program, a producer 
shall submit to the Secretary a contract offer for the agricultural 
operation that— 
‘‘(1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that 
the producer, at the time of the contract offer, meets or exceeds 
the stewardship threshold for at least 2 priority resource con-
cerns; and 
‘‘(2) would, at a minimum, meet or exceed the stewardship 
threshold for at least 1 additional priority resource concern 
by the end of the stewardship contract by— 
‘‘(A) installing and adopting additional conservation 
activities; and 
‘‘(B) improving, maintaining, and managing existing 
conservation activities across the entire agricultural oper-
ation in a manner that increases or extends the conserva-
tion benefits in place at the time the contract offer is 
accepted by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) EVALUATION OF CONTRACT OFFERS.— 
‘‘(1) RANKING
OF
APPLICATIONS.—In evaluating contract 
offers submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall rank 
applications based on— 
‘‘(A) the level of conservation treatment on all 
applicable priority resource concerns at the time of applica-
tion; 
‘‘(B) the degree to which the proposed conservation 
activities effectively increase conservation performance; 
‘‘(C) the number of applicable priority resource concerns 
proposed to be treated to meet or exceed the stewardship 
threshold by the end of the contract;
H. R. 2642—76 
‘‘(D) the extent to which other priority resource con-
cerns will be addressed to meet or exceed the stewardship 
threshold by the end of the contract period; 
‘‘(E) the extent to which the actual and anticipated 
conservation benefits from the contract are provided at 
the least cost relative to other similarly beneficial contract 
offers; and 
‘‘(F) the extent to which priority resource concerns 
will be addressed when transitioning from the conservation 
reserve program to agricultural production. 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary may not assign a higher 
priority to any application because the applicant is willing 
to accept a lower payment than the applicant would otherwise 
be eligible to receive. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.—The Secretary may develop and 
use such additional criteria that the Secretary determines are 
necessary to ensure that national, State, and local priority 
resource concerns are effectively addressed. 
‘‘(c) ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS.—After a determination that 
a producer is eligible for the program under subsection (a), and 
a determination that the contract offer ranks sufficiently high under 
the evaluation criteria under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
enter into a conservation stewardship contract with the producer 
to enroll the eligible land to be covered by the contract. 
‘‘(d) CONTRACT PROVISIONS.— 
‘‘(1) TERM.—A conservation stewardship contract shall be 
for a term of 5 years. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED PROVISIONS.—The conservation stewardship 
contract of a producer shall— 
‘‘(A) state the amount of the payment the Secretary 
agrees to make to the producer for each year of the con-
servation stewardship contract under section 1238G(d); 
‘‘(B) require the producer— 
‘‘(i) to implement a conservation stewardship plan 
that describes the program purposes to be achieved 
through 1 or more conservation activities; 
‘‘(ii) to maintain and supply information as 
required by the Secretary to determine compliance with 
the conservation stewardship plan and any other 
requirements of the program; and 
‘‘(iii) not to conduct any activities on the agricul-
tural operation that would tend to defeat the purposes 
of the program; 
‘‘(C) permit all economic uses of the eligible land that— 
‘‘(i) maintain the agricultural nature of the land; 
and 
‘‘(ii) are consistent with the conservation purposes 
of the conservation stewardship contract; 
‘‘(D) include a provision to ensure that a producer 
shall not be considered in violation of the contract for 
failure to comply with the contract due to circumstances 
beyond the control of the producer, including a disaster 
or related condition, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(E) include provisions requiring that upon the viola-
tion of a term or condition of the contract at any time 
the producer has control of the land—
H. R. 2642—77 
‘‘(i) if the Secretary determines that the violation 
warrants termination of the contract— 
‘‘(I) the producer shall forfeit all rights to 
receive payments under the contract; and 
‘‘(II) the producer shall refund all or a portion 
of the payments received by the producer under 
the contract, including any interest on the pay-
ments, as determined by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(ii) if the Secretary determines that the violation 
does not warrant termination of the contract, the pro-
ducer shall refund or accept adjustments to the pay-
ments provided to the producer, as the Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate; 
‘‘(F) include provisions in accordance with paragraphs 
(3) and (4); and 
‘‘(G) include any additional provisions the Secretary 
determines are necessary to carry out the program. 
‘‘(3) CHANGE
OF
INTEREST
IN
LAND
SUBJECT
TO
A
CON-
TRACT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—At the time of application, a pro-
ducer shall have control of the eligible land to be enrolled 
in the program. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
a change in the interest of a producer in eligible land 
covered by a contract under the program shall result in 
the termination of the contract with regard to that land. 
‘‘(B) TRANSFER OF DUTIES AND RIGHTS.—Subparagraph 
(A) shall not apply if— 
‘‘(i) within a reasonable period of time (as deter-
mined by the Secretary) after the date of the change 
in the interest in eligible land covered by a contract 
under the program, the transferee of the land provides 
written notice to the Secretary that all duties and 
rights under the contract have been transferred to, 
and assumed by, the transferee for the portion of the 
land transferred; 
‘‘(ii) the transferee meets the eligibility require-
ments of the program; and 
‘‘(iii) the Secretary approves the transfer of all 
duties and rights under the contract. 
‘‘(4) MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(A) VOLUNTARY MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION.—The 
Secretary may modify or terminate a contract with a pro-
ducer if— 
‘‘(i) the producer agrees to the modification or 
termination; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines that the modification 
or termination is in the public interest. 
‘‘(B) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION.—The Secretary may 
terminate a contract if the Secretary determines that the 
producer violated the contract. 
‘‘(5) REPAYMENT.—If a contract is terminated, the Secretary 
may, consistent with the purposes of the program— 
‘‘(A) allow the producer to retain payments already 
received under the contract; or 
‘‘(B) require repayment, in whole or in part, of pay-
ments received and assess liquidated damages.
H. R. 2642—78 
‘‘(e) CONTRACT RENEWAL.—At the end of the initial 5-year con-
tract period, the Secretary may allow the producer to renew the 
contract for 1 additional 5-year period if the producer— 
‘‘(1) demonstrates compliance with the terms of the initial 
contract; 
‘‘(2) agrees to adopt and continue to integrate conservation 
activities across the entire agricultural operation, as determined 
by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(3) agrees, by the end of the contract period— 
‘‘(A) to meet the stewardship threshold of at least 
2 additional priority resource concerns on the agricultural 
operation; or 
‘‘(B) to exceed the stewardship threshold of 2 existing 
priority resource concerns that are specified by the Sec-
retary in the initial contract. 
‘‘SEC. 1238G. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To achieve the conservation goals of a con-
tract under the conservation stewardship program, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) make the program available to eligible producers on 
a continuous enrollment basis with 1 or more ranking periods, 
1 of which shall occur in the first quarter of each fiscal year; 
‘‘(2) identify not less than 5 priority resource concerns 
in a particular watershed or other appropriate region or area 
within a State; and 
‘‘(3) establish a science-based stewardship threshold for 
each priority resource concern identified under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(b) ALLOCATION TO STATES.—The Secretary shall allocate acres 
to States for enrollment, based— 
‘‘(1) primarily on each State’s proportion of eligible land 
to the total acreage of eligible land in all States; and 
‘‘(2) also on consideration of— 
‘‘(A) the extent and magnitude of the conservation 
needs associated with agricultural production in each State; 
‘‘(B) the degree to which implementation of the pro-
gram in the State is, or will be, effective in helping pro-
ducers address those needs; and 
‘‘(C) 
other 
considerations 
to 
achieve 
equitable 
geographic distribution of funds, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(c) ACREAGE ENROLLMENT LIMITATION.—During the period 
beginning on the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 
2014, and ending on September 30, 2022, the Secretary shall, to 
the maximum extent practicable— 
‘‘(1) enroll in the program an additional 10,000,000 acres 
for each fiscal year; and 
‘‘(2) manage the program to achieve a national average 
rate of $18 per acre, which shall include the costs of all financial 
assistance, technical assistance, and any other expenses associ-
ated with enrollment or participation in the program. 
‘‘(d) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide annual payments under the program to compensate the 
producer for— 
‘‘(A) installing and adopting additional conservation 
activities; and
H. R. 2642—79 
‘‘(B) improving, maintaining, and managing conserva-
tion activities in place at the agricultural operation of 
the producer at the time the contract offer is accepted 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT AMOUNT.—The amount of the annual pay-
ment shall be determined by the Secretary and based, to the 
maximum extent practicable, on the following factors: 
‘‘(A) Costs incurred by the producer associated with 
planning, design, materials, installation, labor, manage-
ment, maintenance, or training. 
‘‘(B) Income forgone by the producer. 
‘‘(C) Expected conservation benefits. 
‘‘(D) The extent to which priority resource concerns 
will be addressed through the installation and adoption 
of conservation activities on the agricultural operation. 
‘‘(E) The level of stewardship in place at the time 
of application and maintained over the term of the contract. 
‘‘(F) The degree to which the conservation activities 
will be integrated across the entire agricultural operation 
for all applicable priority resource concerns over the term 
of the contract. 
‘‘(G) Such other factors as are determined appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) EXCLUSIONS.—A payment to a producer under this 
subsection shall not be provided for— 
‘‘(A) the design, construction, or maintenance of animal 
waste storage or treatment facilities or associated waste 
transport or transfer devices for animal feeding operations; 
or 
‘‘(B) conservation activities for which there is no cost 
incurred or income forgone to the producer. 
‘‘(4) DELIVERY OF PAYMENTS.—In making payments under 
this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(A) prorate conservation performance over the term 
of the contract so as to accommodate, to the extent prac-
ticable, producers earning equal annual payments in each 
fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) make such payments as soon as practicable after 
October 1 of each fiscal year for activities carried out in 
the previous fiscal year. 
‘‘(e) SUPPLEMENTAL
PAYMENTS
FOR
RESOURCE-CONSERVING 
CROP ROTATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide additional payments to producers that, in participating 
in the program, agree to adopt or improve resource-conserving 
crop rotations to achieve beneficial crop rotations as appropriate 
for the eligible land of the producers. 
‘‘(2) BENEFICIAL
CROP
ROTATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
determine whether a resource-conserving crop rotation is a 
beneficial crop rotation eligible for additional payments under 
paragraph (1) based on whether the resource-conserving crop 
rotation is designed to provide natural resource conservation 
and production benefits. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a payment 
described in paragraph (1), a producer shall agree to adopt 
and maintain beneficial resource-conserving crop rotations for 
the term of the contract.
H. R. 2642—80 
‘‘(4) RESOURCE-CONSERVING CROP ROTATION.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘resource-conserving crop rotation’ means a 
crop rotation that— 
‘‘(A) includes at least 1 resource-conserving crop (as 
defined by the Secretary); 
‘‘(B) reduces erosion; 
‘‘(C) improves soil fertility and tilth; 
‘‘(D) interrupts pest cycles; and 
‘‘(E) in applicable areas, reduces depletion of soil mois-
ture or otherwise reduces the need for irrigation. 
‘‘(f) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—A person or legal entity may not 
receive, directly or indirectly, payments under the program that, 
in the aggregate, exceed $200,000 under all contracts entered into 
during fiscal years 2014 through 2018, excluding funding arrange-
ments with Indian tribes, regardless of the number of contracts 
entered into under the program by the person or legal entity. 
‘‘(g) SPECIALTY CROP AND ORGANIC PRODUCERS.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that outreach and technical assistance are available, 
and program specifications are appropriate to enable specialty crop 
and organic producers to participate in the program. 
‘‘(h) COORDINATION WITH ORGANIC CERTIFICATION.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a transparent means by which producers 
may initiate organic certification under the Organic Foods Produc-
tion Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) while participating in 
a contract under the program. 
‘‘(i) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall promulgate regulations 
that— 
‘‘(1) prescribe such other rules as the Secretary determines 
to be necessary to ensure a fair and reasonable application 
of the limitations established under subsection (f); and 
‘‘(2) otherwise enable the Secretary to carry out the pro-
gram.’’. 
(b) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendment made by this section 
shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract entered 
into by the Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter B of 
chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838d et seq.) before the date of enactment 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any payments required 
to be made in connection with the contract. 
(2) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.—Funds made 
available under section 1241(a)(4) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(4)) (as amended by section 2601(a) 
of this title) may be used to administer and make payments 
to program participants that enrolled into contracts during 
any of fiscal years 2009 through 2013. 
Subtitle C—Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program 
SEC. 2201. PURPOSES. 
Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
H. R. 2642—81 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subpara-
graph (C) and, in such subparagraph, by inserting ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) developing and improving wildlife habitat; and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a period; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (5). 
SEC. 2202. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1240A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–1) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs 
(3) through (6) as paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
‘‘established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.)’’ after ‘‘national organic program’’. 
SEC. 2203. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–2) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘2018’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) TERM.—A contract under the program shall have a 
term that does not exceed 10 years.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
through (G) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) soil health; 
‘‘(B) water quality and quantity improvement; 
‘‘(C) nutrient management; 
‘‘(D) pest management; 
‘‘(E) air quality improvement; 
‘‘(F) wildlife habitat development, including pollinator 
habitat; or 
‘‘(G) invasive species management.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding 
clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, a veteran farmer or rancher 
(as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(e))),’’ before ‘‘or a beginning farmer or rancher’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) ADVANCE PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 50 percent of 
the amount determined under subparagraph (A) may 
be provided in advance for the purpose of purchasing 
materials or contracting. 
‘‘(ii) RETURN
OF
FUNDS.—If funds provided in 
advance are not expended during the 90-day period 
beginning on the date of receipt of the funds, the
H. R. 2642—82 
funds shall be returned within a reasonable timeframe, 
as determined by the Secretary.’’; 
(4) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(f) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) LIVESTOCK.—For each of fiscal years 2014 through 
2018, at least 60 percent of the funds made available for pay-
ments under the program shall be targeted at practices relating 
to livestock production. 
‘‘(2) WILDLIFE
HABITAT.—For each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018, at least 5 percent of the funds made available 
for payments under the program shall be targeted at practices 
benefitting wildlife habitat under subsection (g).’’; and 
(5) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(g) WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide payments 
under the environmental quality incentives program for con-
servation practices that support the restoration, development, 
protection, and improvement of wildlife habitat on eligible land, 
including— 
‘‘(A) upland wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(B) wetland wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(C) habitat for threatened and endangered species; 
‘‘(D) fish habitat; 
‘‘(E) habitat on pivot corners and other irregular areas 
of a field; and 
‘‘(F) other types of wildlife habitat, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) STATE
TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE.—In determining the 
practices eligible for payment under paragraph (1) and targeted 
for funding under subsection (f), the Secretary shall consult 
with the relevant State technical committee not less often than 
once each year.’’. 
SEC. 2204. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS. 
Section 1240C(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–3(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘environmental’’ and 
inserting ‘‘conservation’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘purpose of the environ-
mental quality incentives program specified in section 1240(1)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘purposes of the program’’. 
SEC. 2205. DUTIES OF PRODUCERS. 
Section 1240D(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–4(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘farm, ranch, or forest’’ and 
inserting ‘‘enrolled’’. 
SEC. 2206. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. 
Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–7) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1240G. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. 
‘‘A person or legal entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, 
cost-share or incentive payments under this chapter that, in aggre-
gate, exceed $450,000 for all contracts entered into under this 
chapter by the person or legal entity during the period of fiscal
H. R. 2642—83 
years 2014 through 2018, regardless of the number of contracts 
entered into under this chapter by the person or legal entity.’’. 
SEC. 2207. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAYMENTS. 
Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–8) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graphs: 
‘‘(E) facilitate on-farm conservation research and dem-
onstration activities; and 
‘‘(F) facilitate pilot testing of new technologies or 
innovative conservation practices.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$37,500,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$25,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) REPORTING.—Not later than December 31, 2014, and every 
two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report 
on the status of projects funded under this section, including— 
‘‘(1) funding awarded; 
‘‘(2) project results; and 
‘‘(3) incorporation of project findings, such as new tech-
nology and innovative approaches, into the conservation efforts 
implemented by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 2208. EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS. 
The amendments made by this subtitle shall not affect the 
validity or terms of any contract entered into by the Secretary 
of Agriculture under chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) before the 
date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any payments 
required to be made in connection with the contract. 
Subtitle D—Agricultural Conservation 
Easement Program 
SEC. 2301. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle H—Agricultural Conservation 
Easement Program 
‘‘SEC. 1265. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish an agricul-
tural conservation easement program for the conservation of eligible
H. R. 2642—84 
land and natural resources through easements or other interests 
in land. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program are to— 
‘‘(1) combine the purposes and coordinate the functions 
of the wetlands reserve program established under section 1237, 
the grassland reserve program established under section 1238N, 
and the farmland protection program established under section 
1238I, as such sections were in effect on the day before the 
date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014; 
‘‘(2) restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on eligible land; 
‘‘(3) protect the agricultural use and future viability, and 
related conservation values, of eligible land by limiting non-
agricultural uses of that land; and 
‘‘(4) protect grazing uses and related conservation values 
by restoring and conserving eligible land. 
‘‘SEC. 1265A. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENT.—The term ‘agricul-
tural land easement’ means an easement or other interest 
in eligible land that— 
‘‘(A) is conveyed for the purpose of protecting natural 
resources and the agricultural nature of the land; and 
‘‘(B) permits the landowner the right to continue agri-
cultural production and related uses subject to an agricul-
tural land easement plan, as approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible entity’ means— 
‘‘(A) an agency of State or local government or an 
Indian tribe (including a farmland protection board or land 
resource council established under State law); or 
‘‘(B) an organization that is— 
‘‘(i) organized for, and at all times since the forma-
tion of the organization has been operated principally 
for, 1 or more of the conservation purposes specified 
in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 170(h)(4)(A) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; 
‘‘(ii) an organization described in section 501(c)(3) 
of that Code that is exempt from taxation under section 
501(a) of that Code; or 
‘‘(iii) described in— 
‘‘(I) paragraph (1) or (2) of section 509(a) of 
that Code; or 
‘‘(II) section 509(a)(3) of that Code and is con-
trolled by an organization described in section 
509(a)(2) of that Code. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘eligible land’ means private 
or tribal land that is— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an agricultural land easement, agri-
cultural land, including land on a farm or ranch— 
‘‘(i) that is subject to a pending offer for purchase 
of an agricultural land easement from an eligible 
entity; 
‘‘(ii)(I) that has prime, unique, or other productive 
soil; 
‘‘(II) that contains historical or archaeological 
resources;
H. R. 2642—85 
‘‘(III) the enrollment of which would protect 
grazing uses and related conservation values by 
restoring and conserving land; or 
‘‘(IV) the protection of which will further a State 
or local policy consistent with the purposes of the pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(iii) that is— 
‘‘(I) cropland; 
‘‘(II) rangeland; 
‘‘(III) grassland or land that contains forbs, 
or shrubland for which grazing is the predominant 
use; 
‘‘(IV) located in an area that has been histori-
cally dominated by grassland, forbs, or shrubs and 
could provide habitat for animal or plant popu-
lations of significant ecological value; 
‘‘(V) pastureland; or 
‘‘(VI) nonindustrial private forest land that 
contributes to the economic viability of an offered 
parcel or serves as a buffer to protect such land 
from development; 
‘‘(B) in the case of a wetland reserve easement, a 
wetland or related area, including— 
‘‘(i) farmed or converted wetlands, together with 
adjacent land that is functionally dependent on that 
land, if the Secretary determines it— 
‘‘(I) is likely to be successfully restored in a 
cost-effective manner; and 
‘‘(II) will maximize the wildlife benefits and 
wetland functions and values, as determined by 
the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Interior at the local level; 
‘‘(ii) cropland or grassland that was used for agri-
cultural production prior to flooding from the natural 
overflow of— 
‘‘(I) a closed basin lake and adjacent land that 
is functionally dependent upon it, if the State or 
other entity is willing to provide 50 percent share 
of the cost of an easement; or 
‘‘(II) a pothole and adjacent land that is func-
tionally dependent on it; 
‘‘(iii) farmed wetlands and adjoining lands that— 
‘‘(I) are enrolled in the conservation reserve 
program; 
‘‘(II) have the highest wetland functions and 
values, as determined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(III) are likely to return to production after 
they leave the conservation reserve program; 
‘‘(iv) riparian areas that link wetlands that are 
protected by easements or some other device that 
achieves the same purpose as an easement; or 
‘‘(v) other wetlands of an owner that would not 
otherwise be eligible, if the Secretary determines that 
the inclusion of such wetlands in a wetland reserve 
easement would significantly add to the functional 
value of the easement; or
H. R. 2642—86 
‘‘(C) in the case of either an agricultural land easement 
or a wetland reserve easement, other land that is incidental 
to land described in subparagraph (A) or (B), if the Sec-
retary determines that it is necessary for the efficient 
administration of an easement under the program. 
‘‘(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means the agricultural 
conservation easement program established by this subtitle. 
‘‘(5) WETLAND
RESERVE
EASEMENT.—The term ‘wetland 
reserve easement’ means a reserved interest in eligible land 
that— 
‘‘(A) is defined and delineated in a deed; and 
‘‘(B) stipulates— 
‘‘(i) the rights, title, and interests in land conveyed 
to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(ii) the rights, title, and interests in land that 
are reserved to the landowner. 
‘‘SEC. 1265B. AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall facili-
tate and provide funding for— 
‘‘(1) the purchase by eligible entities of agricultural land 
easements in eligible land; and 
‘‘(2) technical assistance to provide for the conservation 
of natural resources pursuant to an agricultural land easement 
plan. 
‘‘(b) COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall protect the agricul-
tural use, including grazing, and related conservation values 
of eligible land through cost-share assistance to eligible entities 
for purchasing agricultural land easements. 
‘‘(2) SCOPE OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL SHARE.—An agreement described in para-
graph (4) shall provide for a Federal share determined 
by the Secretary of an amount not to exceed 50 percent 
of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement, 
as determined by the Secretary using— 
‘‘(i) 
the 
Uniform 
Standards 
of 
Professional 
Appraisal Practice; 
‘‘(ii) an areawide market analysis or survey; or 
‘‘(iii) another industry-approved method. 
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Under the agreement, the 
eligible entity shall provide a share that is at least 
equivalent to that provided by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) SOURCE OF CONTRIBUTION.—An eligible entity 
may include as part of its share under clause (i) a 
charitable donation or qualified conservation contribu-
tion (as defined by section 170(h) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986) from the private landowner if the 
eligible entity contributes its own cash resources in 
an amount that is at least 50 percent of the amount 
contributed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) EXCEPTION.— 
‘‘(i) GRASSLANDS.—In the case of grassland of spe-
cial environmental significance, as determined by the 
Secretary, the Secretary may provide an amount not
H. R. 2642—87 
to exceed 75 percent of the fair market value of the 
agricultural land easement. 
‘‘(ii) 
CASH
CONTRIBUTION.—For 
purposes 
of 
subparagraph (B)(ii), the Secretary may waive any por-
tion of the eligible entity cash contribution requirement 
for projects of special significance, subject to an 
increase in the private landowner donation that is 
equal to the amount of the waiver, if the donation 
is voluntary and the property is in active agricultural 
production. 
‘‘(3) EVALUATION AND RANKING OF APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall establish evalua-
tion and ranking criteria to maximize the benefit of Federal 
investment under the program. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing the criteria, the 
Secretary shall emphasize support for— 
‘‘(i) protecting agricultural uses and related con-
servation values of the land; and 
‘‘(ii) maximizing the protection of areas devoted 
to agricultural use. 
‘‘(C) BIDDING DOWN.—If the Secretary determines that 
2 or more applications for cost-share assistance are com-
parable in achieving the purpose of the program, the Sec-
retary shall not assign a higher priority to any of those 
applications solely on the basis of lesser cost to the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(4) AGREEMENTS WITH ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into agree-
ments with eligible entities to stipulate the terms and 
conditions under which the eligible entity is permitted to 
use cost-share assistance provided under this section. 
‘‘(B) LENGTH OF AGREEMENTS.—An agreement shall be 
for a term that is— 
‘‘(i) in the case of an eligible entity certified under 
the process described in paragraph (5), a minimum 
of five years; and 
‘‘(ii) for all other eligible entities, at least three, 
but not more than five years. 
‘‘(C) MINIMUM
TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—An eligible 
entity shall be authorized to use its own terms and condi-
tions for agricultural land easements so long as the Sec-
retary determines such terms and conditions— 
‘‘(i) are consistent with the purposes of the pro-
gram; 
‘‘(ii) permit effective enforcement of the conserva-
tion purposes of such easements; 
‘‘(iii) include a right of enforcement for the Sec-
retary, that may be used only if the terms of the 
easement are not enforced by the holder of the ease-
ment; 
‘‘(iv) subject the land in which an interest is pur-
chased to an agricultural land easement plan that— 
‘‘(I) describes the activities which promote the 
long-term viability of the land to meet the purposes 
for which the easement was acquired; 
‘‘(II) requires the management of grasslands 
according to a grasslands management plan; and
H. R. 2642—88 
‘‘(III) includes a conservation plan, where 
appropriate, and requires, at the option of the 
Secretary, the conversion of highly erodible crop-
land to less intensive uses; and 
‘‘(v) include a limit on the impervious surfaces 
to be allowed that is consistent with the agricultural 
activities to be conducted. 
‘‘(D) SUBSTITUTION OF QUALIFIED PROJECTS.—An agree-
ment shall allow, upon mutual agreement of the parties, 
substitution of qualified projects that are identified at the 
time of the proposed substitution. 
‘‘(E) EFFECT OF VIOLATION.—If a violation occurs of 
a term or condition of an agreement under this subsection— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary may terminate the agreement; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary may require the eligible entity 
to refund all or part of any payments received by 
the entity under the program, with interest on the 
payments as determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(5) CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) CERTIFICATION
PROCESS.—The Secretary shall 
establish a process under which the Secretary may— 
‘‘(i) directly certify eligible entities that meet estab-
lished criteria; 
‘‘(ii) enter into long-term agreements with certified 
eligible entities; and 
‘‘(iii) accept proposals for cost-share assistance for 
the purchase of agricultural land easements through-
out the duration of such agreements. 
‘‘(B) CERTIFICATION CRITERIA.—In order to be certified, 
an eligible entity shall demonstrate to the Secretary that 
the entity will maintain, at a minimum, for the duration 
of the agreement— 
‘‘(i) a plan for administering easements that is 
consistent with the purpose of the program; 
‘‘(ii) the capacity and resources to monitor and 
enforce agricultural land easements; and 
‘‘(iii) policies and procedures to ensure— 
‘‘(I) the long-term integrity of agricultural land 
easements on eligible land; 
‘‘(II) timely completion of acquisitions of such 
easements; and 
‘‘(III) timely and complete evaluation and 
reporting to the Secretary on the use of funds 
provided under the program. 
‘‘(C) REVIEW AND REVISION.— 
‘‘(i) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall conduct a review 
of eligible entities certified under subparagraph (A) 
every three years to ensure that such entities are 
meeting the criteria established under subparagraph 
(B). 
‘‘(ii) REVOCATION.—If the Secretary finds that a 
certified eligible entity no longer meets the criteria 
established under subparagraph (B), the Secretary 
may— 
‘‘(I) allow the certified eligible entity a speci-
fied period of time, at a minimum 180 days, in
H. R. 2642—89 
which to take such actions as may be necessary 
to meet the criteria; and 
‘‘(II) revoke the certification of the eligible 
entity, if, after the specified period of time, the 
certified eligible entity does not meet such criteria. 
‘‘(c) METHOD
OF ENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall enroll 
eligible land under this section through the use of— 
‘‘(1) permanent easements; or 
‘‘(2) easements for the maximum duration allowed under 
applicable State laws. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide tech-
nical assistance, if requested, to assist in— 
‘‘(1) compliance with the terms and conditions of easements; 
and 
‘‘(2) implementation of an agricultural land easement plan. 
‘‘SEC. 1265C. WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall provide 
assistance to owners of eligible land to restore, protect, and enhance 
wetlands through— 
‘‘(1) wetland reserve easements and related wetland reserve 
easement plans; and 
‘‘(2) technical assistance. 
‘‘(b) EASEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) METHOD OF ENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall enroll 
eligible land under this section through the use of— 
‘‘(A) 30-year easements; 
‘‘(B) permanent easements; 
‘‘(C) easements for the maximum duration allowed 
under applicable State laws; or 
‘‘(D) as an option for Indian tribes only, 30-year con-
tracts. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) INELIGIBLE LAND.—The Secretary may not acquire 
easements on— 
‘‘(i) land established to trees under the conserva-
tion reserve program, except in cases where the Sec-
retary determines it would further the purposes of 
this section; and 
‘‘(ii) farmed wetlands or converted wetlands where 
the conversion was not commenced prior to December 
23, 1985. 
‘‘(B) CHANGES
IN
OWNERSHIP.—No wetland reserve 
easement shall be created on land that has changed owner-
ship during the preceding 24-month period unless— 
‘‘(i) the new ownership was acquired by will or 
succession as a result of the death of the previous 
owner; 
‘‘(ii)(I) the ownership change occurred because of 
foreclosure on the land; and 
‘‘(II) immediately before the foreclosure, the owner 
of the land exercises a right of redemption from the 
mortgage holder in accordance with State law; or 
‘‘(iii) the Secretary determines that the land was 
acquired under circumstances that give adequate 
assurances that such land was not acquired for the 
purposes of placing it in the program.
H. R. 2642—90 
‘‘(3) EVALUATION AND RANKING OF OFFERS.— 
‘‘(A) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall establish evalua-
tion and ranking criteria for offers from landowners under 
this section to maximize the benefit of Federal investment 
under the program. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—When evaluating offers from 
landowners, the Secretary may consider— 
‘‘(i) the conservation benefits of obtaining a wet-
land reserve easement, including the potential environ-
mental benefits if the land was removed from agricul-
tural production; 
‘‘(ii) the cost effectiveness of each wetland reserve 
easement, so as to maximize the environmental bene-
fits per dollar expended; 
‘‘(iii) whether the landowner or another person 
is offering to contribute financially to the cost of the 
wetland reserve easement to leverage Federal funds; 
and 
‘‘(iv) such other factors as the Secretary determines 
are necessary to carry out the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(C) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority to 
acquiring wetland reserve easements based on the value 
of the wetland reserve easement for protecting and 
enhancing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. 
‘‘(4) AGREEMENT.—To be eligible to place eligible land into 
the program through a wetland reserve easement, the owner 
of such land shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary 
to— 
‘‘(A) grant an easement on such land to the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) authorize the implementation of a wetland reserve 
easement plan developed for the eligible land under sub-
section (f); 
‘‘(C) create and record an appropriate deed restriction 
in accordance with applicable State law to reflect the ease-
ment agreed to; 
‘‘(D) provide a written statement of consent to such 
easement signed by those holding a security interest in 
the land; 
‘‘(E) comply with the terms and conditions of the ease-
ment and any related agreements; and 
‘‘(F) permanently retire any existing base history for 
the land on which the easement has been obtained. 
‘‘(5) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EASEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A wetland reserve easement shall 
include terms and conditions that— 
‘‘(i) permit— 
‘‘(I) repairs, improvements, and inspections on 
the land that are necessary to maintain existing 
public drainage systems; and 
‘‘(II) owners to control public access on the 
easement areas while identifying access routes to 
be used for restoration activities and management 
and easement monitoring; 
‘‘(ii) prohibit— 
‘‘(I) the alteration of wildlife habitat and other 
natural features of such land, unless specifically 
authorized by the Secretary;
H. R. 2642—91 
‘‘(II) the spraying of such land with chemicals 
or the mowing of such land, except where such 
spraying or mowing is authorized by the Secretary 
or is necessary— 
‘‘(aa) to comply with Federal or State nox-
ious weed control laws; 
‘‘(bb) to comply with a Federal or State 
emergency pest treatment program; or 
‘‘(cc) to meet habitat needs of specific wild-
life species; 
‘‘(III) any activities to be carried out on the 
owner’s or successor’s land that is immediately 
adjacent to, and functionally related to, the land 
that is subject to the easement if such activities 
will alter, degrade, or otherwise diminish the func-
tional value of the eligible land; and 
‘‘(IV) the adoption of any other practice that 
would tend to defeat the purposes of the program, 
as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) provide for the efficient and effective 
establishment of wetland functions and values; and 
‘‘(iv) include such additional provisions as the Sec-
retary determines are desirable to carry out the pro-
gram or facilitate the practical administration thereof. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION.—On the violation of a term or condi-
tion of a wetland reserve easement, the wetland reserve 
easement shall remain in force and the Secretary may 
require the owner to refund all or part of any payments 
received by the owner under the program, with interest 
on the payments as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(C) COMPATIBLE
USES.—Land subject to a wetland 
reserve easement may be used for compatible economic 
uses, including such activities as hunting and fishing, man-
aged timber harvest, or periodic haying or grazing, if such 
use is specifically permitted by the wetland reserve ease-
ment plan developed for the land under subsection (f) and 
is consistent with the long-term protection and enhance-
ment of the wetland resources for which the easement 
was established. 
‘‘(D) RESERVATION OF GRAZING RIGHTS.—The Secretary 
may include in the terms and conditions of a wetland 
reserve easement a provision under which the owner 
reserves grazing rights if— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary determines that the reservation 
and use of the grazing rights— 
‘‘(I) is compatible with the land subject to the 
easement; 
‘‘(II) is consistent with the historical natural 
uses of the land and the long-term protection and 
enhancement goals for which the easement was 
established; and 
‘‘(III) complies with the wetland reserve ease-
ment plan developed for the land under subsection 
(f); and
H. R. 2642—92 
‘‘(ii) the agreement provides for a commensurate 
reduction in the easement payment to account for the 
grazing value, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(A) DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(i) PERMANENT EASEMENTS.—The Secretary shall 
pay as compensation for a permanent wetland reserve 
easement acquired under the program an amount nec-
essary to encourage enrollment in the program, based 
on the lowest of— 
‘‘(I) the fair market value of the land, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, using the Uniform Stand-
ards of Professional Appraisal Practice or an 
areawide market analysis or survey; 
‘‘(II) the amount corresponding to a geo-
graphical cap, as determined by the Secretary in 
regulations; or 
‘‘(III) the offer made by the landowner. 
‘‘(ii) OTHER.—Compensation for a 30-year contract 
or 30-year wetland reserve easement shall be not less 
than 50 percent, but not more than 75 percent, of 
the compensation that would be paid for a permanent 
wetland reserve easement. 
‘‘(B) FORM OF PAYMENT.—Compensation for a wetland 
reserve easement shall be provided by the Secretary in 
the form of a cash payment, in an amount determined 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) PAYMENT SCHEDULE.— 
‘‘(i) EASEMENTS VALUED AT $500,000 OR LESS.—For 
wetland reserve easements valued at $500,000 or less, 
the Secretary may provide payments in not more than 
10 annual payments. 
‘‘(ii) EASEMENTS VALUED AT MORE THAN $500,000.— 
For wetland reserve easements valued at more than 
$500,000, the Secretary may provide payments in at 
least 5, but not more than 10 annual payments, except 
that, if the Secretary determines it would further the 
purposes of the program, the Secretary may make a 
lump-sum payment for such an easement. 
‘‘(c) EASEMENT RESTORATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide financial 
assistance to owners of eligible land to carry out the establish-
ment of conservation measures and practices and protect wet-
land functions and values, including necessary maintenance 
activities, as set forth in a wetland reserve easement plan 
developed for the eligible land under subsection (f). 
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a permanent wetland reserve ease-
ment, pay an amount that is not less than 75 percent, 
but not more than 100 percent, of the eligible costs, as 
determined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a 30-year contract or 30-year wetland 
reserve easement, pay an amount that is not less than 
50 percent, but not more than 75 percent, of the eligible 
costs, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—
H. R. 2642—93 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall assist owners in 
complying with the terms and conditions of a wetland reserve 
easement. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACTS OR AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter 
into 1 or more contracts with private entities or agreements 
with a State, nongovernmental organization, or Indian tribe 
to carry out necessary restoration, enhancement, or mainte-
nance of a wetland reserve easement if the Secretary deter-
mines that the contract or agreement will advance the purposes 
of the program. 
‘‘(e) WETLAND RESERVE ENHANCEMENT OPTION.—The Secretary 
may enter into 1 or more agreements with a State (including 
a political subdivision or agency of a State), nongovernmental 
organization, or Indian tribe to carry out a special wetland reserve 
enhancement option that the Secretary determines would advance 
the purposes of program. 
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) WETLAND
RESERVE
EASEMENT
PLAN.—The Secretary 
shall develop a wetland reserve easement plan for any eligible 
land subject to a wetland reserve easement, which shall include 
practices and activities necessary to restore, protect, enhance, 
and maintain the enrolled land. 
‘‘(2) DELEGATION OF EASEMENT ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may delegate any 
of the management, monitoring, and enforcement respon-
sibilities of the Secretary under this section to other Fed-
eral or State agencies that have the appropriate authority, 
expertise, and resources necessary to carry out such dele-
gated responsibilities, or to conservation organizations if 
the Secretary determines the organization has similar 
expertise and resources. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not delegate any 
of the monitoring or enforcement responsibilities under 
this section to conservation organizations. 
‘‘(3) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) TIMING OF PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide payment for obligations incurred by the Secretary 
under this section— 
‘‘(i) with respect to any easement restoration 
obligation under subsection (c), as soon as possible 
after the obligation is incurred; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to any annual easement payment 
obligation incurred by the Secretary, as soon as pos-
sible after October 1 of each calendar year. 
‘‘(B) PAYMENTS TO OTHERS.—If an owner who is entitled 
to a payment under this section dies, becomes incompetent, 
is otherwise unable to receive such payment, or is suc-
ceeded by another person or entity who renders or com-
pletes the required performance, the Secretary shall make 
such payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary and without regard to any other provision 
of law, in such manner as the Secretary determines is 
fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances. 
‘‘(g) APPLICATION.—The relevant provisions of this section shall 
also apply to a 30-year contract.
H. R. 2642—94 
‘‘SEC. 1265D. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) INELIGIBLE LAND.—The Secretary may not use program 
funds for the purposes of acquiring an easement on— 
‘‘(1) lands owned by an agency of the United States, other 
than land held in trust for Indian tribes; 
‘‘(2) lands owned in fee title by a State, including an agency 
or a subdivision of a State, or a unit of local government; 
‘‘(3) land subject to an easement or deed restriction which, 
as determined by the Secretary, provides similar protection 
as would be provided by enrollment in the program; or 
‘‘(4) lands where the purposes of the program would be 
undermined due to on-site or off-site conditions, such as risk 
of hazardous substances, proposed or existing rights of way, 
infrastructure development, or adjacent land uses. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITY.—In evaluating applications under the program, 
the Secretary may give priority to land that is currently enrolled 
in the conservation reserve program in a contract that is set to 
expire within 1 year and— 
‘‘(1) in the case of an agricultural land easement, is grass-
land that would benefit from protection under a long-term 
easement; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of a wetland reserve easement, is a wetland 
or related area with the highest wetland functions and value 
and is likely to return to production after the land leaves 
the conservation reserve program. 
‘‘(c) SUBORDINATION, EXCHANGE, MODIFICATION, AND TERMI-
NATION.— 
‘‘(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary 
may 
subordinate, 
exchange, modify, or terminate any interest in land, or portion 
of such interest, administered by the Secretary, either directly 
or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation under the 
program if the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(A) it is in the Federal Government’s interest to 
subordinate, exchange, modify, or terminate the interest 
in land; 
‘‘(B) the subordination, exchange, modification, or 
termination action— 
‘‘(i) will address a compelling public need for which 
there is no practicable alternative; or 
‘‘(ii) such action will further the practical adminis-
tration of the program; and 
‘‘(C) the subordination, exchange, modification, or 
termination action will result in comparable conservation 
value and equivalent or greater economic value to the 
United States. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall work with the 
owner, and eligible entity if applicable, to address any subordi-
nation, exchange, modification, or termination of the interest, 
or portion of such interest, in land. 
‘‘(3) NOTICE.—At least 90 days before taking any termi-
nation action described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
provide written notice of such action to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. 
‘‘(d) LAND ENROLLED IN OTHER PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.—The Secretary may 
terminate or modify a contract entered into under section
H. R. 2642—95 
1231(a) if eligible land that is subject to such contract is trans-
ferred into the program. 
‘‘(2) OTHER.—In accordance with the provisions of subtitle 
H of title II of the Agricultural Act of 2014, land enrolled 
in the wetlands reserve program, grassland reserve program, 
or farmland protection program on the day before the date 
of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 shall be considered 
enrolled in the program. 
‘‘(e) COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may not provide assistance under this subtitle to an eligible 
entity or owner of eligible land unless the eligible entity or owner 
agrees, during the crop year for which the assistance is provided— 
‘‘(1) to comply with applicable conservation requirements 
under subtitle B; and 
‘‘(2) to comply with applicable wetland protection require-
ments under subtitle C.’’. 
(b) CROSS REFERENCE; CALCULATION.—Section 1244 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(A); 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(B); and 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) the agricultural conservation easement program estab-
lished under subtitle H; and’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘programs 
administered under subchapters B and C of chapter 
1 of subtitle D’’ and inserting ‘‘conservation reserve 
program established under subchapter B of chapter 
1 of subtitle D and wetland reserve easements under 
section 1265C’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘an easement 
acquired under subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle 
D’’ and inserting ‘‘a wetland reserve easement under 
section 1265C’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) EXCLUSIONS.— 
‘‘(A) SHELTERBELTS AND WINDBREAKS.—The limitations 
established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland 
that is subject to an easement under subchapter B of 
chapter 1 of subtitle D that is used for the establishment 
of shelterbelts and windbreaks. 
‘‘(B) WET
AND
SATURATED
SOILS.—For the purposes 
of enrolling land in a wetland reserve easement under 
section 1265C, the limitations established under paragraph 
(1) shall not apply to cropland designated by the Secretary 
with subclass w in the land capability classes IV through
H. R. 2642—96 
VIII because of severe use limitations due to soil saturation 
or inundation.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) 
CALCULATION.—In 
calculating 
the 
percentages 
described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include any 
acreage that was included in calculations of percentages made 
under such paragraph, as in effect on the day before the date 
of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, and that remains 
enrolled when the calculation is made after that date under 
paragraph (1).’’. 
Subtitle E—Regional Conservation 
Partnership Program 
SEC. 2401. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by 
inserting after subtitle H, as added by section 2301, the following 
new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle I—Regional Conservation 
Partnership Program 
‘‘SEC. 1271. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a regional 
conservation partnership program to implement eligible activities 
on eligible land through— 
‘‘(1) partnership agreements with eligible partners; and 
‘‘(2) contracts with producers. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program are as follows: 
‘‘(1) To use covered programs to accomplish purposes and 
functions similar to those of the following programs, as in 
effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014: 
‘‘(A) The agricultural water enhancement program 
established under section 1240I. 
‘‘(B) The Chesapeake Bay watershed program estab-
lished under section 1240Q. 
‘‘(C) The cooperative conservation partnership initiative 
established under section 1243. 
‘‘(D) The Great Lakes basin program for soil erosion 
and sediment control established under section 1240P. 
‘‘(2) To further the conservation, restoration, and sustain-
able use of soil, water, wildlife, and related natural resources 
on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale. 
‘‘(3) To encourage eligible partners to cooperate with pro-
ducers in— 
‘‘(A) meeting or avoiding the need for national, State, 
and local natural resource regulatory requirements related 
to production on eligible land; and 
‘‘(B) implementing projects that will result in the 
installation and maintenance of eligible activities that 
affect multiple agricultural or nonindustrial private forest 
operations on a local, regional, State, or multistate basis.
H. R. 2642—97 
‘‘SEC. 1271A. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) COVERED
PROGRAM.—The term ‘covered program’ 
means the following: 
‘‘(A) The agricultural conservation easement program. 
‘‘(B) The environmental quality incentives program. 
‘‘(C) The conservation stewardship program. 
‘‘(D) The healthy forests reserve program established 
under section 501 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY.—The term ‘eligible activity’ means 
a conservation activity for any of the following: 
‘‘(A) Water quality restoration or enhancement projects, 
including nutrient management and sediment reduction. 
‘‘(B) Water quantity conservation, restoration, or 
enhancement projects relating to surface water and ground-
water resources, including— 
‘‘(i) the conversion of irrigated cropland to the 
production 
of 
less 
water-intensive 
agricultural 
commodities or dryland farming; or 
‘‘(ii) irrigation system improvement and irrigation 
efficiency enhancement. 
‘‘(C) Drought mitigation. 
‘‘(D) Flood prevention. 
‘‘(E) Water retention. 
‘‘(F) Air quality improvement. 
‘‘(G) Habitat conservation, restoration, and enhance-
ment. 
‘‘(H) Erosion control and sediment reduction. 
‘‘(I) Forest restoration. 
‘‘(J) Other related activities that the Secretary deter-
mines will help achieve conservation benefits. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE LAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible land’ means— 
‘‘(i) land on which agricultural commodities, live-
stock, or forest-related products are produced; and 
‘‘(ii) lands associated with the lands described in 
clause (i). 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘eligible land’ includes— 
‘‘(i) cropland; 
‘‘(ii) grassland; 
‘‘(iii) rangeland; 
‘‘(iv) pastureland; 
‘‘(v) nonindustrial private forest land; and 
‘‘(vi) other land incidental to agricultural produc-
tion (including wetlands and riparian buffers) on which 
significant natural resource issues could be addressed 
under the program. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PARTNER.—The term ‘eligible partner’ means 
any of the following: 
‘‘(A) An agricultural or silvicultural producer associa-
tion or other group of producers. 
‘‘(B) A State or unit of local government. 
‘‘(C) An Indian tribe. 
‘‘(D) A farmer cooperative.
H. R. 2642—98 
‘‘(E) A water district, irrigation district, rural water 
district or association, or other organization with specific 
water delivery authority to producers on agricultural land. 
‘‘(F) A municipal water or wastewater treatment entity. 
‘‘(G) An institution of higher education. 
‘‘(H) An organization or entity with an established 
history of working cooperatively with producers on agricul-
tural land, as determined by the Secretary, to address— 
‘‘(i) local conservation priorities related to agricul-
tural production, wildlife habitat development, or non-
industrial private forest land management; or 
‘‘(ii) critical watershed-scale soil erosion, water 
quality, sediment reduction, or other natural resource 
issues. 
‘‘(5) PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.—The term ‘partnership 
agreement’ means an agreement entered into under section 
1271B between the Secretary and an eligible partner. 
‘‘(6) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means the regional 
conservation partnership program established by this subtitle. 
‘‘SEC. 1271B. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS. 
‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary 
may enter into a partnership agreement with an eligible partner 
to implement a project that will assist producers with installing 
and maintaining an eligible activity on eligible land. 
‘‘(b) LENGTH.—A partnership agreement shall be for a period 
not to exceed 5 years, except that the Secretary may extend the 
agreement one time for up to 12 months when an extension is 
necessary to meet the objectives of the program. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES OF PARTNERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Under a partnership agreement, the 
eligible partner shall— 
‘‘(A) define the scope of a project, including— 
‘‘(i) the eligible activities to be implemented; 
‘‘(ii) the potential agricultural or nonindustrial pri-
vate forest land operations affected; 
‘‘(iii) 
the 
local, 
State, 
multistate, 
or 
other 
geographic area covered; and 
‘‘(iv) the planning, outreach, implementation, and 
assessment to be conducted; 
‘‘(B) conduct outreach and education to producers for 
potential participation in the project; 
‘‘(C) at the request of a producer, act on behalf of 
a producer participating in the project in applying for 
assistance under section 1271C; 
‘‘(D) leverage financial or technical assistance provided 
by the Secretary with additional funds to help achieve 
the project objectives; 
‘‘(E) conduct an assessment of the project’s effects; 
and 
‘‘(F) at the conclusion of the project, report to the 
Secretary on its results and funds leveraged. 
‘‘(2) CONTRIBUTION.—An eligible partner shall provide a 
significant portion of the overall costs of the scope of the project 
that is the subject of the agreement entered into under sub-
section (a), as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.—
H. R. 2642—99 
‘‘(1) COMPETITIVE PROCESS.—The Secretary shall conduct 
a competitive process to select applications for partnership 
agreements and may assess and rank applications with similar 
conservation purposes as a group. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA USED.—In carrying out the process described 
in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make public the criteria 
used in evaluating applications. 
‘‘(3) CONTENT.—An application to the Secretary shall 
include a description of— 
‘‘(A) the scope of the project, as described in subsection 
(c)(1)(A); 
‘‘(B) the plan for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting 
on progress made toward achieving the project’s objectives; 
‘‘(C) the program resources requested for the project, 
including the covered programs to be used and estimated 
funding needed from the Secretary; 
‘‘(D) each eligible partner collaborating to achieve 
project objectives, including their roles, responsibilities, 
capabilities, and financial contribution; and 
‘‘(E) any other elements the Secretary considers nec-
essary to adequately evaluate and competitively select 
applications for funding under the program. 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY
TO
CERTAIN
APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary 
may give a higher priority to applications that— 
‘‘(A) assist producers in meeting or avoiding the need 
for a natural resource regulatory requirement; 
‘‘(B) have a high percentage of producers in the area 
to be covered by the agreement; 
‘‘(C) significantly leverage non-Federal financial and 
technical resources and coordinate with other local, State, 
or national efforts; 
‘‘(D) deliver high percentages of applied conservation 
to address conservation priorities or regional, State, or 
national conservation initiatives; 
‘‘(E) provide innovation in conservation methods and 
delivery, including outcome-based performance measures 
and methods; or 
‘‘(F) meet other factors that are important for achieving 
the purposes of the program, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘SEC. 1271C. ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into contracts 
with producers to provide financial and technical assistance to— 
‘‘(1) producers participating in a project with an eligible 
partner; or 
‘‘(2) producers that fit within the scope of a project 
described in section 1271B or a critical conservation area des-
ignated under section 1271F, but who are seeking to implement 
an eligible activity on eligible land independent of an eligible 
partner. 
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) CONSISTENCY WITH PROGRAM RULES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B) and paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ensure that 
the terms and conditions of a contract under this section 
are consistent with the applicable rules of the covered
H. R. 2642—100 
programs to be used as part of the partnership agreement, 
as 
described 
in 
the 
application 
under 
section 
1271B(d)(3)(C). 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may adjust the 
rules of a covered program, including— 
‘‘(I) operational guidance and requirements for 
a covered program at the discretion of the Sec-
retary so as to provide a simplified application 
and evaluation process; and 
‘‘(II) nonstatutory, regulatory rules or provi-
sions to better reflect unique local circumstances 
and purposes if the Secretary determines such 
adjustments are necessary to achieve the purposes 
of the covered program. 
‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not adjust 
the application of statutory requirements for a covered 
program, including requirements governing appeals, 
payment limits, and conservation compliance. 
‘‘(iii) IRRIGATION.—In States where irrigation has 
not been used significantly for agricultural purposes, 
as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary shall 
not limit eligibility under section 1271B or this section 
on the basis of prior irrigation history. 
‘‘(2) ALTERNATIVE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of providing assist-
ance for land described in subsection (a) and section 1271F, 
the Secretary may enter into alternative funding arrange-
ments with a multistate water resource agency or authority 
if— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary determines that the goals and 
objectives of the program will be met by the alternative 
funding arrangements; 
‘‘(ii) the agency or authority certifies that the 
limitations established under this section on agree-
ments with individual producers will not be exceeded; 
and 
‘‘(iii) all participating producers meet applicable 
payment eligibility provisions. 
‘‘(B) CONDITIONS.—As a condition of receiving funding 
under subparagraph (A), the multistate water resource 
agency or authority shall agree— 
‘‘(i) to submit an annual independent audit to the 
Secretary that describes the use of funds under this 
paragraph; 
‘‘(ii) to provide any data necessary for the Secretary 
to issue a report on the use of funds under this para-
graph; and 
‘‘(iii) not to use any of the funds provided pursuant 
to subparagraph (A) for administration or to provide 
for administrative costs through contracts with another 
entity. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may enter into not 
more than 20 alternative funding arrangements under this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.—
H. R. 2642—101 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with statutory require-
ments of the covered programs involved, the Secretary may 
make payments to a producer in an amount determined by 
the Secretary to be necessary to achieve the purposes of the 
program. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS
TO
CERTAIN
PRODUCERS.—The Secretary 
may provide payments for a period of 5 years— 
‘‘(A) to producers participating in a project that 
addresses water quantity concerns and in an amount suffi-
cient to encourage conversion from irrigated to dryland 
farming; and 
‘‘(B) to producers participating in a project that 
addresses water quality concerns and in an amount suffi-
cient to encourage adoption of conservation practices and 
systems that improve nutrient management. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—To assist in the implementation 
of the program, the Secretary may waive the applicability of 
the limitation in section 1001D(b)(2) of this Act for participating 
producers if the Secretary determines that the waiver is nec-
essary to fulfill the objectives of the program. 
‘‘SEC. 1271D. FUNDING. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—The Secretary shall use 
$100,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to carry out the program. 
‘‘(b) DURATION OF AVAILABILITY.—Funds made available under 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND ACRES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the funds made available 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall reserve 7 percent 
of the funds and acres made available for a covered program 
for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 in order to ensure 
additional resources are available to carry out this program. 
‘‘(2) UNUSED
FUNDS
AND
ACRES.—Any funds or acres 
reserved under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from a covered 
program that are not committed under this program by April 
1 of that fiscal year shall be returned for use under the covered 
program. 
‘‘(d) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—Of the funds and acres made 
available for the program under subsection (a) and reserved for 
the program under subsection (c), the Secretary shall allocate— 
‘‘(1) 25 percent of the funds and acres to projects based 
on a State competitive process administered by the State Con-
servationist, with the advice of the State technical committee 
established under subtitle G; 
‘‘(2) 40 percent of the funds and acres to projects based 
on a national competitive process to be established by the 
Secretary; and 
‘‘(3) 35 percent of the funds and acres to projects for critical 
conservation areas designated under section 1271F. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—None of the 
funds made available or reserved for the program may be used 
to pay for the administrative expenses of eligible partners. 
‘‘SEC. 1271E. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) DISCLOSURE.—In addition to the criteria used in evaluating 
applications as described in section 1271B(d)(2), the Secretary shall
H. R. 2642—102 
make publicly available information on projects selected through 
the competitive process described in section 1271B(d)(1). 
‘‘(b) REPORTING.—Not later than December 31, 2014, and every 
two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
on the status of projects funded under the program, including— 
‘‘(1) the number and types of eligible partners and pro-
ducers participating in the partnership agreements selected; 
‘‘(2) the number of producers receiving assistance; 
‘‘(3) total funding committed to projects, including from 
Federal and non-Federal resources; and 
‘‘(4) a description of how the funds under section 
1271C(b)(2) are being administered, including— 
‘‘(A) any oversight mechanisms that the Secretary has 
implemented; 
‘‘(B) the process through which the Secretary is 
resolving appeals by program participants; and 
‘‘(C) the means by which the Secretary is tracking 
adherence to any applicable provisions for payment eligi-
bility. 
‘‘SEC. 1271F. CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREAS. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—In administering funds under section 
1271D(d)(3), the Secretary shall select applications for partnership 
agreements and producer contracts within critical conservation 
areas designated under this section. 
‘‘(b) CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREA DESIGNATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PRIORITY.—In designating critical conservation areas 
under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to geo-
graphical areas based on the degree to which the geographical 
area— 
‘‘(A) includes multiple States with significant agricul-
tural production; 
‘‘(B) is covered by an existing regional, State, 
binational, or multistate agreement or plan that has estab-
lished objectives, goals, and work plans and is adopted 
by a Federal, State, or regional authority; 
‘‘(C) would benefit from water quality improvement, 
including through reducing erosion, promoting sediment 
control, and addressing nutrient management activities 
affecting large bodies of water of regional, national, or 
international significance; 
‘‘(D) would benefit from water quantity improvement, 
including improvement relating to— 
‘‘(i) groundwater, surface water, aquifer, or other 
water sources; or 
‘‘(ii) a need to promote water retention and flood 
prevention; or 
‘‘(E) contains producers that need assistance in meeting 
or avoiding the need for a natural resource regulatory 
requirement that could have a negative impact on the 
economic scope of the agricultural operations within the 
area. 
‘‘(2) EXPIRATION.—Critical conservation area designations 
under this section shall expire after 5 years, subject to
H. R. 2642—103 
redesignation, except that the Secretary may withdraw designa-
tion from an area if the Secretary finds the area no longer 
meets the conditions described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not designate more 
than 8 geographical areas as critical conservation areas under 
this section. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall administer any partnership agreement or 
producer contract under this section in a manner that is con-
sistent with the terms of the program. 
‘‘(2) RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ACTIVITY.—The Secretary 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that eligible 
activities carried out in critical conservation areas designated 
under this section complement and are consistent with other 
Federal and State programs and water quality and quantity 
strategies. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—For a critical conservation 
area described in subsection (b)(1)(D), the Secretary may use 
authorities under the Watershed Protection and Flood Preven-
tion Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), other than section 14 of 
such Act (16 U.S.C. 1012), to carry out projects for the purposes 
of this section.’’. 
Subtitle F—Other Conservation Programs 
SEC. 2501. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND. 
Section 1240M(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
SEC. 2502. GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
Section 1240O(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb–2(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—In addition to funds made 
available under paragraph (1), of the funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use $5,000,000, to 
remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 2503. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) FUNDING.—Section 1240R(f)(1) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5(f)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘FISCAL YEARS 2009 THROUGH 
2012’’ and inserting ‘‘MANDATORY FUNDING’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and $40,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018’’ before the period at the end. 
(b) REPORT ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness
H. R. 2642—104 
of the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program estab-
lished by section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb–5), including— 
(1) identifying cooperating agencies; 
(2) identifying the number of land holdings and total acres 
enrolled by State; 
(3) evaluating the extent of improved access on eligible 
land, improved wildlife habitat, and related economic benefits; 
and 
(4) any other relevant information and data relating to 
the program that would be helpful to such Committees. 
SEC. 2504. AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCED SERVICES 
PROGRAM. 
Subsection (c)(2) of section 1252 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3851) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION.—Funds made available to carry out the 
conservation reserve program may not be used to carry out 
the ACES program.’’. 
SEC. 2505. SMALL WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 14(h)(1) of the Watershed 
Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(h)(1)) is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(3) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(H) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014, to remain avail-
able until expended.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 14(h)(2)(E) of 
the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
1012(h)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
SEC. 2506. EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
2203) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Sec. 403. The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 403. EMERGENCY MEASURES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) FLOODPLAIN EASEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION.—The Secretary may 
modify or terminate a floodplain easement administered by 
the Secretary under this section if— 
‘‘(A) the current owner agrees to the modification or 
termination; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines that the modification 
or termination— 
‘‘(i) will address a compelling public need for which 
there is no practicable alternative; and 
‘‘(ii) is in the public interest. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATION.—
H. R. 2642—105 
‘‘(A) TERMINATION.—As consideration for termination 
of an easement and associated agreements under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall enter into compensatory 
arrangements as determined to be appropriate by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(B) MODIFICATION.—In the case of a modification 
under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) as a condition of the modification, the current 
owner shall enter into a compensatory arrangement 
(as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary) 
to incur the costs of modification; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary shall ensure that— 
‘‘(I) the modification will not adversely affect 
the floodplain functions and values for which the 
easement was acquired; 
‘‘(II) any adverse impacts will be mitigated 
by enrollment and restoration of other land that 
provides greater floodplain functions and values 
at no additional cost to the Federal Government; 
and 
‘‘(III) the modification will result in equal or 
greater environmental and economic values to the 
United States.’’. 
SEC. 2507. TERMINAL LAKES. 
Section 2507 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public Law 107–171) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2507. TERMINAL LAKES ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘eligible land’ means pri-
vately owned agricultural land (including land in which a State 
has a property interest as a result of State water law)— 
‘‘(A) that a landowner voluntarily agrees to sell to 
a State; and 
‘‘(B) which— 
‘‘(i)(I) is ineligible for enrollment as a wetland 
reserve easement established under the agricultural 
conservation easement program under subtitle H of 
the Food Security Act of 1985; 
‘‘(II) is flooded to— 
‘‘(aa) an average depth of at least 6.5 feet; 
or 
‘‘(bb) a level below which the State deter-
mines the management of the water level is 
beyond the control of the State or landowner; 
or 
‘‘(III) is inaccessible for agricultural use due 
to the flooding of adjoining property (such as 
islands of agricultural land created by flooding); 
‘‘(ii) is located within a watershed with water 
rights available for lease or purchase; and 
‘‘(iii) has been used during at least 5 of the imme-
diately preceding 30 years— 
‘‘(I) to produce crops or hay; or 
‘‘(II) as livestock pasture or grazing.
H. R. 2642—106 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means the voluntary 
land purchase program established under this section. 
‘‘(3) TERMINAL LAKE.—The term ‘terminal lake’ means a 
lake and its associated riparian and watershed resources that 
is— 
‘‘(A) considered flooded because there is no natural 
outlet for water accumulating in the lake or the associated 
riparian area such that the watershed and surrounding 
land is consistently flooded; or 
‘‘(B) considered terminal because it has no natural 
outlet and is at risk due to a history of consistent Federal 
assistance to address critical resource conditions, including 
insufficient water available to meet the needs of the lake, 
general uses, and water rights. 
‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) provide grants under subsection (c) for the purchase 
of eligible land impacted by a terminal lake described in sub-
section (a)(3)(A); and 
‘‘(2) provide funds to the Secretary of the Interior pursuant 
to subsection (e)(2) with assistance in accordance with sub-
section (d) for terminal lakes described in subsection (a)(3)(B). 
‘‘(c) LAND PURCHASE GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Using funds provided under subsection 
(e)(1), the Secretary shall make available land purchase grants 
to States for the purchase of eligible land in accordance with 
this subsection. 
‘‘(2) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(A) AMOUNT.—A land purchase grant shall be in an 
amount not to exceed the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) 50 percent of the total purchase price per acre 
of the eligible land; or 
‘‘(ii)(I) in the case of eligible land that was used 
to produce crops or hay, $400 per acre; and 
‘‘(II) in the case of eligible land that was pas-
ture or grazing land, $200 per acre. 
‘‘(B) DETERMINATION OF PURCHASE PRICE.—A State pur-
chasing eligible land with a land purchase grant shall 
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the pur-
chase price of such land reflects the value, if any, of other 
encumbrances on the eligible land to be purchased, 
including easements and mineral rights. 
‘‘(C) COST-SHARE REQUIRED.—To be eligible to receive 
a land purchase grant, a State shall provide matching 
non-Federal funds in an amount equal to 50 percent of 
the amount described in subparagraph (A), including addi-
tional non-Federal funds. 
‘‘(D) CONDITIONS.—To receive a land purchase grant, 
a State shall agree— 
‘‘(i) to ensure that any eligible land purchased 
is— 
‘‘(I) conveyed in fee simple to the State; and 
‘‘(II) free from mortgages or other liens at 
the time title is transferred; 
‘‘(ii) to maintain ownership of the eligible land 
in perpetuity; 
‘‘(iii) to pay (from funds other than grant dollars 
awarded) any costs associated with the purchase of
H. R. 2642—107 
eligible land under this section, including surveys and 
legal fees; and 
‘‘(iv) to keep eligible land in a conserving use, 
as defined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(E) LOSS OF FEDERAL BENEFITS.—Eligible land pur-
chased with a grant under this section shall lose eligibility 
for any benefits under other Federal programs, including— 
‘‘(i) benefits under title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.); 
‘‘(ii) benefits under the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.); and 
‘‘(iii) covered benefits described in section 1001D(b) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a). 
‘‘(F) PROHIBITION.—Any Federal rights or benefits asso-
ciated with eligible land prior to purchase by a State may 
not be transferred to any other land or person in anticipa-
tion of or as a result of such purchase. 
‘‘(d) WATER ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Commissioner of Reclamation, may use the funds 
described in subsection (e)(2) to administer and provide finan-
cial assistance to carry out this subsection to provide water 
and assistance to a terminal lake described in subsection 
(a)(3)(B) through willing sellers or willing participants only— 
‘‘(A) to lease water; 
‘‘(B) to purchase land, water appurtenant to the land, 
and related interests; and 
‘‘(C) to carry out research, support, and conservation 
activities for associated fish, wildlife, plant, and habitat 
resources. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior may not 
use this subsection to deliver assistance to the Great Salt 
Lake in Utah, lakes that are considered dry lakes, or other 
lakes that do not meet the purposes of this section, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Interior. 
‘‘(3) TRANSITIONAL PROVISION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of this section, any funds made available before the 
date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 under 
a provision of law described in subparagraph (B) shall 
remain available using the provisions of law (including 
regulations) in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of that Act. 
‘‘(B) DESCRIBED LAWS.—The provisions of law described 
in this section are— 
‘‘(i) section 2507 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 note; Public 
Law 107–171) (as in effect on the day before the date 
of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014); 
‘‘(ii) section 207 of the Energy and Water Develop-
ment Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108–7; 117 
Stat. 146); 
‘‘(iii) section 208 of the Energy and Water Develop-
ment Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–103; 
119 Stat. 2268, 123 Stat. 2856); and 
‘‘(iv) section 208 of the Energy and Water Develop-
ment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
H. R. 2642—108 
(Public Law 111–85; 123 Stat. 2858, 123 Stat. 2967, 
125 Stat. 867). 
‘‘(e) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection 
(c) $25,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(2) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—As soon as prac-
ticable after the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014, the Secretary shall transfer to the ‘Bureau of Reclama-
tion—Water and Related Resources’ account $150,000,000 from 
the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out 
subsection (d), to remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 2508. SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION. 
(a) CONGRESSIONAL POLICY AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE.— 
Section 4 of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 
1977 (16 U.S.C. 2003) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘and tribal’’ after ‘‘State’’ 
each place it appears; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘, tribal,’’ after ‘‘State’’. 
(b) CONTINUING APPRAISAL
OF SOIL, WATER, AND RELATED 
RESOURCES.—Section 5 of the Soil and Water Resources Conserva-
tion Act of 1977 (16 U.S.C. 2004) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ‘‘and State’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, State, and tribal’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘, tribal’’ after ‘‘State’’ 
each place it appears; and 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘State soil’’ and inserting ‘‘State and 
tribal soil’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘local’’ and inserting ‘‘local, tribal,’’. 
(c) SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM.—Section 6(a) 
of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (16 
U.S.C. 2005(a)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘, tribal,’’ after ‘‘State’’ the first place it 
appears; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, tribal’’ after ‘‘State’’ each other place 
it appears; and 
(3) by inserting ‘‘, tribal,’’ after ‘‘private’’. 
(d) UTILIZATION OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND DATA.—Sec-
tion 9 of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 
(16 U.S.C. 2008) is amended by inserting ‘‘, tribal’’ after ‘‘State’’. 
Subtitle G—Funding and Administration 
SEC. 2601. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended by striking subsection (a) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) ANNUAL FUNDING.—For each of fiscal years 2014 through 
2018, the Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the following 
programs under this title (including the provision of technical assist-
ance):
H. R. 2642—109 
‘‘(1) The conservation reserve program under subchapter 
B of chapter 1 of subtitle D, including, to the maximum extent 
practicable— 
‘‘(A) $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018 to provide payments under section 1234(c); 
and 
‘‘(B) $33,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018 to carry out section 1235(f) to facilitate the 
transfer of land subject to contracts from retired or retiring 
owners and operators to beginning farmers or ranchers 
and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(2) The agricultural conservation easement program under 
subtitle H using to the maximum extent practicable— 
‘‘(A) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; 
‘‘(B) $425,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(C) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
‘‘(D) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and 
‘‘(E) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. 
‘‘(3) The conservation security program under subchapter 
A of chapter 2 of subtitle D, using such sums as are necessary 
to administer contracts entered into before September 30, 2008. 
‘‘(4) The conservation stewardship program under sub-
chapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D. 
‘‘(5) The environmental quality incentives program under 
chapter 4 of subtitle D, using, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable— 
‘‘(A) $1,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; 
‘‘(B) $1,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(C) $1,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
‘‘(D) $1,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and 
‘‘(E) $1,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.’’. 
(b) GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 1241 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (h) as sub-
sections (c) through (i), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts made available by sub-
section (a) for fiscal years 2014 through 2018 shall be used by 
the Secretary to carry out the programs specified in such subsection 
and shall remain available until expended.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), 
by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’. 
SEC. 2602. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) 
is amended by striking subsection (c) (as redesignated by section 
2601(b)(1)) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY.—Commodity Credit Corporation funds 
made available for a fiscal year for each of the programs speci-
fied in subsection (a)— 
‘‘(A) shall be available for the provision of technical 
assistance for the programs for which funds are made 
available as necessary to implement the programs effec-
tively; 
‘‘(B) except for technical assistance for the conservation 
reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle
H. R. 2642—110 
D, shall be apportioned for the provision of technical assist-
ance in the amount determined by the Secretary, at the 
sole discretion of the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) shall not be available for the provision of technical 
assistance for conservation programs specified in subsection 
(a) other than the program for which the funds were made 
available. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the delivery of technical assist-
ance under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment 
Act (16 U.S.C. 590a et seq.), the Secretary shall give pri-
ority to producers who request technical assistance from 
the Secretary in order to comply for the first time with 
the requirements of subtitle B and subtitle C of this title 
as a result of the amendments made by section 2611 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
‘‘(B) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report regarding 
the extent to which the conservation compliance require-
ments contained in the amendments made by section 2611 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 apply to and impact spe-
cialty crop growers, including national analysis and surveys 
to determine the extent of specialty crop acreage that 
includes highly erodible land and wetlands. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 2014, the Sec-
retary shall submit (and update as necessary in subsequent 
years) to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report— 
‘‘(A) detailing the amount of technical assistance funds 
requested and apportioned in each program specified in 
subsection (a) during the preceding fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) any other data relating to this provision that 
would be helpful to such Committees. 
‘‘(4) COMPLIANCE REPORT.—Not later than November 1 of 
each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
that includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the extent to which the requests 
for highly erodible land conservation and wetland compli-
ance determinations are being addressed in a timely 
manner; 
‘‘(B) the total number of requests completed in the 
previous fiscal year; 
‘‘(C) the incomplete determinations on record; and 
‘‘(D) the number of requests that are still outstanding 
more than 1 year since the date on which the requests 
were received from the producer.’’. 
SEC. 2603. REGIONAL EQUITY. 
Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) 
is amended by striking subsection (e) (as redesignated by section 
2601(b)(1)) and inserting the following:
H. R. 2642—111 
‘‘(e) REGIONAL EQUITY.— 
‘‘(1) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—When determining funding 
allocations each fiscal year, the Secretary shall, after consid-
ering available funding and program demand in each State, 
provide a distribution of funds for conservation programs under 
subtitle D (excluding the conservation reserve program under 
subchapter B of chapter 1), subtitle H, and subtitle I to ensure 
equitable program participation proportional to historical 
funding allocations and usage by all States. 
‘‘(2) MINIMUM PERCENTAGE.—In determining the specific 
funding allocations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure that during the first quarter of each fiscal 
year each State has the opportunity to establish that the 
State can use an aggregate allocation amount of at least 
0.6 percent of the funds made available for those conserva-
tion programs; and 
‘‘(B) for each State that can so establish, provide an 
aggregate amount of at least 0.6 percent of the funds 
made available for those conservation programs.’’. 
SEC. 2604. RESERVATION OF FUNDS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO CER-
TAIN FARMERS OR RANCHERS FOR CONSERVATION 
ACCESS. 
Subsection (h) of section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) (as redesignated by section 2601(b)(1)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) PREFERENCE.—In providing assistance under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to a veteran 
farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(e))) that qualifies under subparagraph (A) or (B) of para-
graph (1).’’. 
SEC. 2605. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS AND ASSIST-
ANCE. 
Subsection (i) of section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3841) (as redesignated by section 2601(b)(1)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘wetlands reserve program’’ 
and inserting ‘‘agricultural conservation easement program’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and redesignating 
paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), 
respectively; 
(3) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘agricultural water enhancement pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘regional conservation partnership pro-
gram’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘1240I(g)’’ and inserting ‘‘1271C(c)(3)’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) Payments made under the conservation stewardship 
program. 
‘‘(6) Exceptions provided by the Secretary under section 
1265B(b)(2)(C).’’.
H. R. 2642—112 
SEC. 2606. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL 
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. 
Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) Veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 
2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))).’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘, H, and I’’ before the 
period at the end; 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘country’’ and 
inserting ‘‘county’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘subsection (c)(2)(B) 
or (f)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2)’’; 
(4) in subsection (h)(2), by inserting ‘‘, including, to the 
extent practicable, practices that maximize benefits for honey 
bees’’ after ‘‘pollinators’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsections: 
‘‘(j) IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY
AND EFFECTIVE-
NESS.—In administrating a conservation program under this title, 
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable— 
‘‘(1) seek to reduce administrative burdens and costs to 
producers by streamlining conservation planning and program 
resources; and 
‘‘(2) take advantage of new technologies to enhance effi-
ciency and effectiveness. 
‘‘(k) RELATION TO OTHER PAYMENTS.—Any payment received 
by an owner or operator under this title, including an easement 
payment or rental payment, shall be in addition to, and not affect, 
the total amount of payments that the owner or operator is other-
wise eligible to receive under any of the following: 
‘‘(1) This Act. 
‘‘(2) The Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.). 
‘‘(3) The Agricultural Act of 2014. 
‘‘(4) Any law that succeeds a law specified in paragraph 
(1), (2), or (3). 
‘‘(l) FUNDING FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—In carrying out the conserva-
tion stewardship program under subchapter B of chapter 2 of sub-
title D and the environmental quality incentives program under 
chapter 4 of subtitle D, the Secretary may enter into alternative 
funding arrangements with Indian tribes if the Secretary deter-
mines that the goals and objectives of the programs will be met 
by such arrangements, and that statutory limitations regarding 
contracts with individual producers will not be exceeded by any 
tribal member.’’. 
SEC. 2607. STANDARDS FOR STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES. 
Section 1261(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3861(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008, the Secretary shall develop’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary 
shall review and update as necessary’’.
H. R. 2642—113 
SEC. 2608. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. 
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1246. REGULATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall promulgate such regula-
tions as are necessary to implement programs under this title, 
including such regulations as the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary to ensure a fair and reasonable application of the limitations 
established under section 1244(f). 
‘‘(b) RULEMAKING PROCEDURE.—The promulgation of regula-
tions and administration of programs under this title— 
‘‘(1) shall be carried out without regard to chapter 35 
of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paper-
work Reduction Act); and 
‘‘(2) shall be made as an interim rule effective on publica-
tion with an opportunity for notice and comment. 
‘‘(c) CONGRESSIONAL
REVIEW
OF
AGENCY
RULEMAKING.—In 
promulgating regulations under this section, the Secretary shall 
use the authority provided under section 808 of title 5, United 
States Code.’’. 
SEC. 2609. WETLANDS MITIGATION. 
Section 1222(k) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3822(k)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(k) MITIGATION BANKING.— 
‘‘(1) MITIGATION BANKING PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Using authorities available to the 
Secretary, the Secretary shall operate a program or work 
with third parties to establish mitigation banks to assist 
persons in complying with the provisions of this section 
while mitigating any loss of wetland values and functions. 
‘‘(B) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, the Secretary shall use $10,000,000, to remain 
available until expended, to carry out this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (f)(2)(C) shall not apply 
to this subsection. 
‘‘(3) POLICY AND CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall develop 
the appropriate policy and criteria that will allow willing per-
sons to access existing mitigation banks, under this section 
or any other authority, that will serve the purposes of this 
section without requiring the Secretary to hold an easement, 
in whole or in part, in a mitigation bank.’’. 
SEC. 2610. LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN CONSERVATION REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate a report containing the results of a review and analysis 
of each of the activities (including those administered by the Sec-
retary) that pertain to the conservation of the lesser prairie-chicken, 
including the conservation reserve program, the environmental 
quality incentives program, the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative, 
the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Candidate 
Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Oil and Gas, and
H. R. 2642—114 
the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Lesser 
Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The Secretary shall include in the report 
required by this section, at a minimum— 
(1) with respect to each activity described in subsection 
(a) as it relates to the conservation of the lesser prairie-chicken, 
findings regarding— 
(A) the cost of the activity to the Federal Government, 
impacted State governments, and the private sector; 
(B) the conservation effectiveness of the activity; and 
(C) the cost effectiveness of the activity; and 
(2) a ranking of the activities described in subsection (a) 
based on their relative cost effectiveness. 
SEC. 2611. HIGHLY ERODIBLE LAND AND WETLAND CONSERVATION 
FOR CROP INSURANCE. 
(a) HIGHLY ERODIBLE LAND PROGRAM INELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1211(a)(1) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811(a)(1)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by adding ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) any portion of the premium paid by the Federal 
Crop Insurance Corporation for a policy or plan of insur-
ance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.), on the condition that if a person is determined 
to have committed a violation under this subsection during 
a crop year, ineligibility under this subparagraph shall— 
‘‘(i) only apply to reinsurance years subsequent 
to the date of final determination of a violation, 
including all administrative appeals; and 
‘‘(ii) not apply to the existing reinsurance year 
or any reinsurance year prior to the date of final deter-
mination;’’. 
(2) EXEMPTIONS.—Section 1212(a)(2) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812(a)(2)) is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘(2) If,’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY BASED ON COMPLIANCE WITH CONSERVATION 
PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If,’’; 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘In carrying’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) MINIMIZATION OF DOCUMENTATION.—In carrying’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) CROP INSURANCE.— 
‘‘(i) OPERATIONS NEW TO COMPLIANCE.—Notwith-
standing section 1211(a), in the case of a person that 
is subject to section 1211 for the first time solely due 
to the amendment made by section 2611(a) of the Agri-
cultural Act of 2014, any person who produces an 
agricultural commodity on the land that is the basis 
of the payments described in section 1211(a)(1)(E) shall 
have 5 reinsurance years after the date on which such 
payments become subject to section 1211 to develop
H. R. 2642—115 
and comply with an approved conservation plan so 
as to maintain eligibility for such payments. 
‘‘(ii) EXISTING
OPERATIONS
WITH
PRIOR
VIOLA-
TIONS.—Notwithstanding section 1211(a), in the case 
of a person that the Secretary determines would have 
been in violation of section 1211(a) if the person had 
continued participation in the programs requiring 
compliance at any time after the date of enactment 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 and is currently in 
violation of section 1211(a), the person shall have 2 
reinsurance years after the date on which the pay-
ments described in section 1211(a)(1)(E) become subject 
to section 1211 to develop and comply with an approved 
conservation plan, as determined by the Secretary, so 
as to maintain eligibility for such payments. 
‘‘(iii) APPLICABLE REINSURANCE YEAR.—Ineligibility 
for the payment described in section 1211(a)(1)(E) for 
a violation under this subparagraph during a crop 
year shall— 
‘‘(I) only apply to reinsurance years subsequent 
to the date of a final determination of a violation, 
including all administrative appeals; and 
‘‘(II) not apply to the existing reinsurance year 
or any reinsurance year prior to the date of the 
final determination.’’. 
(3) CROP INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE.—Section 1213(d) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812a(d)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) CROP INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE.—For the pur-
pose of determining the eligibility of a person for the payment 
described in section 1211(a)(1)(E), the Secretary shall apply 
the procedures described in section 1221(c)(3)(E) and coordinate 
the certification process so as to avoid duplication or unneces-
sary paperwork.’’. 
(b) WETLAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM INELIGIBILITY.—Section 
1221 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3821) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as sub-
sections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) INELIGIBILITY
FOR
CROP
INSURANCE
PREMIUM
ASSIST-
ANCE.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a person is determined to have 
committed a violation under subsection (a) or (d) during 
a crop year, the person shall be ineligible to receive any 
payment of any portion of premium paid by the Federal 
Crop Insurance Corporation for a plan or policy of insur-
ance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.) pursuant to this subsection. 
‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY.—Ineligibility under this subsection 
shall— 
‘‘(i) only apply to reinsurance years subsequent 
to the date of a final determination of a violation, 
including all administrative appeals; and 
‘‘(ii) not apply to the existing reinsurance year 
or any reinsurance year prior to the date of the final 
determination.
H. R. 2642—116 
‘‘(2) CONVERSIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
ineligibility for crop insurance premium assistance shall 
apply in accordance with this paragraph. 
‘‘(B) NEW CONVERSIONS.—In the case of a wetland that 
the Secretary determines was converted after the date of 
enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014— 
‘‘(i) the person shall be ineligible to receive crop 
insurance premium subsidies in subsequent reinsur-
ance years unless the Secretary determines that an 
exemption pursuant to section 1222 applies; or 
‘‘(ii) for any violation that the Secretary determines 
impacts less than 5 acres of an entire farm, the person 
may pay a contribution in an amount equal to 150 
percent of the cost of mitigation, as determined by 
the Secretary, to the fund described in section 1241(f) 
for wetland restoration in lieu of ineligibility to receive 
crop insurance premium assistance. 
‘‘(C) PRIOR CONVERSIONS.—In the case of a wetland 
that the Secretary determines was converted prior to the 
date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, ineligi-
bility under this subsection shall not apply. 
‘‘(D) CONVERSIONS
AND
NEW
POLICIES
OR
PLANS
OF 
INSURANCE.—In the case of an agricultural commodity for 
which an individual policy or plan of insurance is available 
for the first time to the person after the date of enactment 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014— 
‘‘(i) ineligibility shall apply only to conversions that 
take place after the date on which the policy or plan 
of insurance first becomes available to the person; and 
‘‘(ii) the person shall take such steps as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate to mitigate any prior 
conversion in a timely manner but not to exceed 2 
reinsurance years. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) MITIGATION REQUIRED.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this paragraph, a person subject to a final deter-
mination, including all administrative appeals, of a viola-
tion described in subsection (d) shall have 1 reinsurance 
year to initiate a mitigation plan to remedy the violation, 
as determined by the Secretary, before becoming ineligible 
under this subsection in the following reinsurance year 
to receive any payment of any portion of the premium 
paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for a policy 
or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) PERSONS COVERED FOR THE FIRST TIME.—Notwith-
standing the requirements of paragraph (1), in the case 
of a person that is subject to this subsection for the first 
time solely due to the amendment made by section 2611(b) 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014, the person shall have 
2 reinsurance years after the reinsurance year in which 
a final determination is made, including all administrative 
appeals, of a violation described in this subsection to take 
such steps as the Secretary determines appropriate to 
remedy or mitigate the violation in accordance with this 
subsection.
H. R. 2642—117 
‘‘(C) GOOD FAITH.—If the Secretary determines that 
a person subject to a final determination, including all 
administrative appeals, of a violation described in this sub-
section acted in good faith and without intent to commit 
a violation described in this subsection as described in 
section 1222(h), the person shall have 2 reinsurance years 
to take such steps as the Secretary determines appropriate 
to remedy or mitigate the violation in accordance with 
this subsection. 
‘‘(D) TENANT RELIEF.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If a tenant is determined to be 
ineligible for payments and other benefits under this 
subsection, the Secretary may limit the ineligibility 
only to the farm that is the basis for the ineligibility 
determination if the tenant has established, to the 
satisfaction of the Secretary that— 
‘‘(I) the tenant has made a good faith effort 
to meet the requirements of this section, including 
enlisting the assistance of the Secretary to obtain 
a reasonable plan for restoration or mitigation for 
the farm; 
‘‘(II) the landlord on the farm refuses to comply 
with the plan on the farm; and 
‘‘(III) the Secretary determines that the lack 
of compliance is not a part of a scheme or device 
to avoid the compliance. 
‘‘(ii) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate an annual report concerning 
the ineligibility determinations limited during the pre-
vious 12-month period under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(E) CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Beginning with the first full 
reinsurance year immediately following the date of 
enactment of this paragraph, all persons seeking eligi-
bility for the payment of a portion of the premium 
paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for 
a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) shall provide 
certification of compliance with this section as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) TIMELY
EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall 
evaluate the certification in a timely manner and— 
‘‘(I) a person who has properly complied with 
certification shall be held harmless with regard 
to eligibility during the period of evaluation; and 
‘‘(II) if the Secretary fails to evaluate the cer-
tification in a timely manner and the person is 
subsequently found to be in violation of this sub-
section, ineligibility shall not apply to the person 
for that violation. 
‘‘(iii) EQUITABLE CONTRIBUTION.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—If a person fails to notify 
the Secretary as required and is subsequently 
found to be in violation of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall—
H. R. 2642—118 
‘‘(aa) determine the amount of an equi-
table contribution to conservation by the per-
son for the violation; and 
‘‘(bb) deposit the contribution in the fund 
described in section 1241(f). 
‘‘(II) LIMITATION.—The contribution shall not 
exceed the total of the portion of the premium 
paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 
for a policy or plan of insurance for all years 
the person is determined to have been in violation 
subsequent to the date on which certification was 
first required under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(4) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this subsection, the 
Secretary shall use existing processes and procedures for 
certifying compliance. 
‘‘(B) RESPONSIBILITY.—The Secretary, acting through 
the agencies of the Department of Agriculture, shall be 
solely responsible for determining whether a producer is 
eligible to receive crop insurance premium subsidies in 
accordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that no 
agent, approved insurance provider, or employee or con-
tractor of an agency or approved insurance provider, bears 
responsibility or liability for the eligibility of an insured 
producer under this subsection, other than in cases of 
misrepresentation, fraud, or scheme and device.’’. 
Subtitle H—Repeal of Superseded Program 
Authorities and Transitional Provisions; 
Technical Amendments 
SEC. 2701. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION ENHANCEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1230 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830) 
is repealed. 
SEC. 2702. EMERGENCY FORESTRY CONSERVATION RESERVE PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), section 
1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is 
repealed. 
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS.— 
The amendment made by this section shall not affect the 
validity or terms of any contract or agreement entered into 
by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1231A of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) before the date 
of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any payments 
required to be made in connection with the contract or agree-
ment. 
(2) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use funds made available 
to carry out the conservation reserve program under subchapter 
B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) to continue to carry out
H. R. 2642—119 
contracts or agreements referred to in paragraph (1) using 
the provisions of law and regulation applicable to such contracts 
or agreements as in existence on the day before the date of 
enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
SEC. 2703. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), subchapter 
C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et seq.) is repealed. 
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, AND 
EASEMENTS.—The amendment made by this section shall not 
affect the validity or terms of any contract, agreement, or 
easement entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under 
subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et seq.) before 
the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any 
payments required to be made in connection with the contract, 
agreement, or easement. 
(2) FUNDING.— 
(A) USE OF PRIOR YEAR FUNDS.—Notwithstanding the 
repeal of subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 
et seq.), any funds made available from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation to carry out the wetlands reserve pro-
gram under that subchapter for fiscal years 2009 through 
2013 shall be made available to carry out contracts, agree-
ments, or easements referred to in paragraph (1) that were 
entered into prior to the date of enactment of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (including the provision of technical 
assistance), provided that no such contract, agreement, or 
easement is modified so as to increase the amount of the 
payment received. 
(B) OTHER.—The Secretary may use funds made avail-
able to carry out the agricultural conservation easement 
program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985, as added by section 2301, to continue to 
carry out contracts, agreements, and easements referred 
to in paragraph (1) using the provisions of law and regula-
tion applicable to such contracts, agreements, and ease-
ments as in existence on the day before the date of enact-
ment of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
SEC. 2704. FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FARM VIABILITY 
PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), subchapter 
C of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h et seq.) is repealed. 
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT ON EXISTING AGREEMENTS AND EASEMENTS.— 
The amendment made by this section shall not affect the 
validity or terms of any agreement or easement entered into 
by the Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter C of chapter 
2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3838h et seq.) before the date of enactment of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014, or any payments required to be made 
in connection with the agreement or easement. 
(2) FUNDING.—
H. R. 2642—120 
(A) USE OF PRIOR YEAR FUNDS.—Notwithstanding the 
repeal of subchapter C of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h 
et seq.), any funds made available from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation to carry out the farmland protection 
program under that subchapter for fiscal years 2009 
through 2013 shall be made available to carry out agree-
ments and easements referred to in paragraph (1) that 
were entered into prior to the date of enactment of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (including the provision of tech-
nical assistance). 
(B) OTHER.—On exhaustion of funds made available 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may use funds made 
available to carry out the agricultural conservation ease-
ment program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, as added by section 2301, to continue 
to carry out agreements and easements referred to in para-
graph (1) using the provisions of law and regulation 
applicable to such agreements and easements as in exist-
ence on the day before the date of enactment of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014. 
SEC. 2705. GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), subchapter 
D of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n et seq.) is repealed. 
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, AND 
EASEMENTS.—The amendment made by this section shall not 
affect the validity or terms of any contract, agreement, or 
easement entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture under 
subchapter D of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n et seq.) before 
the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any 
payments required to be made in connection with the contract, 
agreement, or easement. 
(2) FUNDING.— 
(A) USE OF PRIOR YEAR FUNDS.—Notwithstanding the 
repeal of subchapter D of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n 
et seq.), any funds made available from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation to carry out the grassland reserve pro-
gram under that subchapter for fiscal years 2009 through 
2013 shall be made available to carry out contracts, agree-
ments, or easements referred to in paragraph (1) that were 
entered into prior to the date of enactment of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (including the provision of technical 
assistance), provided that no such contract, agreement, or 
easement is modified so as to increase the amount of the 
payment received. 
(B) OTHER.—The Secretary may use funds made avail-
able to carry out the agricultural conservation easement 
program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985, as added by section 2301, to continue to 
carry out contracts, agreements, and easements referred