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the project successfully in a timely
manner with high quality;
‘‘(III) the proposal is in the inter-
ests of producers and can reasonably be
expected to be actuarially appropriate
and function as intended;
‘‘(IV) the Board determines that
the Corporation has sufficient available
funding to award the FCIC reimburse-
ment grant; and
‘‘(V) the proposed budget and
timetable are reasonable.
‘‘(D) PARTICIPATION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In reviewing pro-
posals under this paragraph, the Board
may use the services of persons that the
Board determines appropriate to carry out
expert review in accordance with section
508(h).
‘‘(ii) CONFIDENTIALITY.—All proposals
submitted under this paragraph shall be
treated as confidential in accordance with
section 508(h)(4).
‘‘(E) ENTERING INTO AGREEMENT.—Upon
approval of an application, the Board shall offer
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to enter into an agreement with the submitter for
the development of a formal submission that
meets the requirements for a complete submission
established by the Board under section 508(h).
‘‘(F) FEASIBILITY STUDIES.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—In appropriate
cases, the Corporation may structure the
FCIC reimbursement grant to require, as
an initial step within the overall process,
the submitter to complete a feasibility
study, and report the results of the study to
the Corporation, prior to proceeding with
further development.
‘‘(ii) MONITORING.—The Corporation
may require such other reports as the Cor-
poration determines necessary to monitor
the development efforts.
‘‘(G) RATES.—Payment for work performed
by the submitter under this paragraph shall be
based on rates determined by the Corporation for
products—
‘‘(i) submitted under section 508(h); or
‘‘(ii) contracted by the Corporation
under subsection (c).
‘‘(H) TERMINATION.—
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Corporation or
the submitter may terminate any FCIC re-
imbursement grant at any time for just
cause.
‘‘(ii) REIMBURSEMENT.—If the Cor-
poration or the submitter terminates the
FCIC reimbursement grant before final ap-
proval of the product covered by the grant,
the submitter shall be entitled to—
‘‘(I) reimbursement of all eligible
costs incurred to that point; or
‘‘(II) in the case of a fixed rate
agreement, payment of an appropriate
percentage, as determined by the Cor-
poration.
‘‘(iii) DENIAL.—If the submitter termi-
nates development without just cause, the
Corporation may deny reimbursement or
recover any reimbursement already made.
‘‘(I) CONSIDERATION
OF
PRODUCTS.—The
Board shall consider any product developed
under this paragraph and submitted to the
Board under the rules the Board has established
for products submitted under section 508(h).’’.
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(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 523(b)(10) of
the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1523(b)(10)) is
amended by striking ‘‘(other than research and development
costs covered by section 522)’’.
SEC. 1919. FUNDING FROM INSURANCE FUND.
Section 522(e) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1522(e)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$10,000,000’’
and all that follows through the end of the paragraph
and inserting ‘‘$7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 and
each subsequent fiscal year’’;
(2) 
in 
paragraph 
(2)(A), 
by 
striking
‘‘$20,000,000 for’’ and all that follows through ‘‘year
2004’’ and inserting ‘‘$12,500,000 for fiscal year
2008’’; and
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘the Corpora-
tion may use’’ and all that follows through the end
of the paragraph and inserting ‘‘the Corporation may
use—
‘‘(A) not more than $5,000,000 for each fis-
cal year to improve program integrity, including
by—
‘‘(i) 
increasing 
compliance-related
training;
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‘‘(ii) improving analysis tools and
technology regarding compliance;
‘‘(iii) use of information technology, as
determined by the Corporation;
‘‘(iv) identifying and using innovative
compliance strategies; and
‘‘(B) any excess amounts to carry out other
activities authorized under this section.’’.
SEC. 1920. CAMELINA PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 523 of the Federal Crop In-
surance Act (7 U.S.C. 1523) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(f) CAMELINA PILOT PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Beginning with the 2008
crop year, the Corporation shall establish a pilot pro-
gram under which producers or processors of
camelina may propose for approval by the Board
policies or plans of insurance for camelina, in accord-
ance with section 508(h).
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION
BY
BOARD.—The Board
shall approve a policy or plan of insurance proposed
under paragraph (1) if, as determined by the Board,
the policy or plan of insurance—
‘‘(A) protects the interests of producers;
‘‘(B) is actuarially sound; and
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‘‘(C) meets the requirements of this title.’’.
(b) NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 196(a)(2) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(a)(2)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) CAMELINA.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—For each of crop
years 2008 through 2011, the Secretary
shall consider camelina to be an eligible
crop for purposes of the noninsured crop
disaster assistance program under this sec-
tion.
‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—Producers that are
eligible to purchase camelina crop insur-
ance, including camelina crop insurance
under a pilot program, shall not be eligible
for assistance under this section.’’.
SEC. 1921. SESAME INSURANCE PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 523 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1523) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(g) SESAME INSURANCE PILOT PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture
shall establish and carry out a pilot program under
which a producer of non-dehiscent sesame under con-
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tract may elect to obtain multi-peril crop insurance,
as determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The multi-peril
crop insurance offered under the sesame insurance
pilot program shall—
‘‘(A) be offered through reinsurance ar-
rangements with private insurance companies;
‘‘(B) be actuarially sound; and
‘‘(C) require the payment of premiums and
administrative fees by a producer obtaining the
insurance.
‘‘(3) LOCATION.—The sesame insurance pilot
program shall be carried out only in the State of
Texas.
‘‘(4) Relation to Prohibition on Research and
Development by Corporation-Section 522(e)(4) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(e)(4))
shall apply with respect to the sesame insurance pilot
program.
‘‘(5) DURATION.—The Secretary shall commence
the sesame insurance pilot program as soon as prac-
ticable after the date of the enactment of this Act and
continue the program through the 2012 crop year.’’
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SEC. 1922. RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR BEGINNING
FARMERS OR RANCHERS.
Section 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1524(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘paragraph
(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (5)’’;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (5); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pro-
grams established under paragraphs (2) and (3), the
Secretary shall place special emphasis on risk man-
agement strategies, education, and outreach specifi-
cally targeted at—
‘‘(A) beginning farmers or ranchers;
‘‘(B) immigrant farmers or ranchers that
are attempting to become established producers
in the United States;
‘‘(C) socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers;
‘‘(D) farmers or ranchers that—
‘‘(i) are preparing to retire; and
‘‘(ii) are using transition strategies to
help new farmers or ranchers get started;
and
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‘‘(E) new or established farmers or ranchers
that are converting production and marketing
systems to pursue new markets.’’.
SEC. 1923. AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE.
Section 524(b)(4) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act
(7 U.S.C. 1524(b)(4)) is amended by adding at end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(C) COST-SHARING.—The Secretary may
provide matching funds to any State described
in paragraph (1) that appropriates a portion of
the budget of the State to provide financial as-
sistance for producer-paid premiums for crop in-
surance policies reinsured by the Corporation.’’.
SEC. 1924. CROP INSURANCE MEDIATION.
Section 275 of the Department of Agriculture Reorga-
nization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6995) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘If an officer’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If an officer’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘With respect to’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(b) FARM SERVICE AGENCY.—With respect to’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘If a mediation’’; and inserting
the following:
‘‘(c) MEDIATION.—If a mediation’’; and
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(4) in subsection (c) (as so designated)—
(A) by striking ‘‘participant shall be of-
fered’’ and inserting ‘‘participant shall—
‘‘(1) be offered’’; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and
inserting the following: ‘‘; and
‘‘(2) to the maximum extent practicable, be al-
lowed to use both informal agency review and medi-
ation to resolve disputes under that title.’’.
SEC. 
1925. 
DROUGHT 
COVERAGE 
FOR 
AQUACULTURE
UNDER NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM.
Section 196(c)(2) of the Federal Agriculture Improve-
ment and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(c)(2)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘On making’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—On making’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B) 
AQUACULTURE
PRODUCERS.—On
making a determination described in subsection
(a)(3) for aquaculture producers, the Secretary
shall provide assistance under this section to
aquaculture producers from all losses related to
drought.’’.
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SEC. 1926. INCREASE IN SERVICE FEES FOR NONINSURED
CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 196(k)(1) of the Federal Agriculture Improve-
ment and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(k)(1)) is
amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘$100’’ and
inserting ‘‘$200’’; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)—
(A) by striking ‘‘$300’’ and inserting
‘‘$600’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘$900’’ and inserting
‘‘$1,500’’.
SEC. 1927. DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN SWEET POTATO
PRODUCTION.
Section 9001(d) of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’
Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appro-
priations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110–28; 121 Stat. 211)
is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (8) as para-
graph (9); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(8) SWEET POTATOES.—
‘‘(A) DATA.—In the case of sweet potatoes,
any data obtained under a pilot program car-
ried out by the Risk Management Agency shall
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not be considered for the purpose of determining
the quantity of production under the crop dis-
aster assistance program established under this
section.
‘‘(B) EXTENSION
OF
DEADLINE.—If this
paragraph is not implemented before the sign-up
deadline for the crop disaster assistance program
established under this section, the Secretary shall
extend the deadline for producers of sweet pota-
toes to permit sign-up for the program in ac-
cordance with this paragraph.’’.
SEC. 1928. PERENNIAL CROP REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
a report containing details about activities and administra-
tive options of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and
Risk Management Agency that address issues relating to—
(1) declining yields on the actual production his-
tories of producers; and
(2) declining and variable yields for perennial
crops, including pecans.
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SEC. 1929. MALTING BARLEY.
Section 508(m) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1508(m)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(5) SPECIAL
PROVISIONS
FOR
MALTING
BAR-
LEY.—The Corporation shall promulgate special pro-
visions under this subsection specific to malting bar-
ley, taking into consideration any changes in quality
factors, as required by applicable market conditions.’’.
SEC. 1930. DEFINITION OF BASIC UNIT.
The Secretary shall not modify the definition of ‘‘basic
unit’’ in accordance with the proposed regulations entitled
‘‘Common Crop Insurance Regulations’’ (72 Fed. Reg.
28895; relating to common crop insurance regulations) or
any successor regulation.
TITLE II—CONSERVATION
Subtitle A—Definitions
SEC. 2001. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through
(11), (12), (13) through (15), and (16), (17), and (18)
as paragraphs (3) through (12), (14), (16) through
(18), and (20), (22), and (23), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘(2) BEGINNING
FARMER
OR
RANCHER.—The
term ‘beginning farmer or rancher’ has, to the max-
imum extent practicable, the meaning given the term
in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)), except that the
Secretary may include in the definition of the term—
‘‘(A) a fair and reasonable test of net worth;
and
‘‘(B) such other criteria as the Secretary de-
termines to be appropriate.’’;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (12) (as redes-
ignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(13) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).’’.
(4) by inserting after paragraph (14) (as redes-
ignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(15) NONINDUSTRIAL PRIVATE FOREST LAND.—
The term ‘nonindustrial private forest land’ means
rural land, as determined by the Secretary, that—
‘‘(A) has existing tree cover or is suitable
for growing trees; and
‘‘(B) is owned by any nonindustrial private
individual, group, association, corporation, In-
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dian tribe, or other private legal entity that has
definitive decisionmaking authority over the
land.’’;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (18) (as redes-
ignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(19) SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMER
OR
RANCHER.—The term ‘socially disadvantaged farmer
or rancher’ has the meaning given the term in section
355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)).’’; and
(6) by inserting after paragraph (20) (as redes-
ignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(21) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘technical as-
sistance’ means technical expertise, information,
and tools necessary for the conservation of nat-
ural resources on land active in agricultural, for-
estry, or related uses.
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘technical as-
sistance’ includes—
‘‘(i) technical services provided directly
to farmers, ranchers, and other eligible enti-
ties, such as conservation planning, tech-
nical consultation, and assistance with de-
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sign and implementation of conservation
practices; and
‘‘(ii) technical infrastructure, includ-
ing activities, processes, tools, and agency
functions needed to support delivery of tech-
nical services, such as technical standards,
resource inventories, training, data, tech-
nology, monitoring, and effects analyses.’’.
Subtitle B—Highly Erodible Land
Conservation
SEC. 2101. REVIEW OF GOOD FAITH DETERMINATIONS; EX-
EMPTIONS.
Section 1212 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3812) is amended by striking subsection (f) and in-
serting the following:
‘‘(f) GRADUATED PENALTIES.—
‘‘(1) INELIGIBILITY.—No person shall become in-
eligible under section 1211 for program loans, pay-
ments, and benefits as a result of the failure of the
person to actively apply a conservation plan, if the
Secretary determines that the person has acted in
good faith and without an intent to violate this sub-
title.
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‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE REVIEWERS.—A determination of
the Secretary, or a designee of the Secretary, under
paragraph (1) shall be reviewed by the applicable—
‘‘(A) State Executive Director, with the
technical concurrence of the State Conserva-
tionist; or
‘‘(B) district director, with the technical
concurrence of the area conservationist.
‘‘(3) PERIOD FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—A person
who meets the requirements of paragraph (1) shall be
allowed a reasonable period of time, as determined by
the Secretary, but not to exceed 1 year, during which
to implement the measures and practices necessary to
be considered to be actively applying the conservation
plan of the person.
‘‘(4) PENALTIES.—
‘‘(A) APPLICATION.—This paragraph ap-
plies if the Secretary determines that—
‘‘(i) a person who has failed to comply
with section 1211 with respect to highly
erodible cropland, and has acted in good
faith and without an intent to violate sec-
tion 1211; or
‘‘(ii) the violation—
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‘‘(I) is technical and minor in na-
ture; and
‘‘(II) has a minimal effect on the
erosion control purposes of the con-
servation plan applicable to the land
on which the violation has occurred.
‘‘(B) REDUCTION.—If this paragraph ap-
plies under subparagraph (A), the Secretary
shall, in lieu of applying the ineligibility provi-
sions of section 1211, reduce program benefits de-
scribed in section 1211 that the producer would
otherwise be eligible to receive in a crop year by
an amount commensurate with the seriousness of
the violation, as determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(5) SUBSEQUENT
CROP
YEARS.—Any person
whose benefits are reduced for any crop year under
this subsection shall continue to be eligible for all of
the benefits described in section 1211 for any subse-
quent crop year if, prior to the beginning of the subse-
quent crop year, the Secretary determines that the
person is actively applying a conservation plan ac-
cording to the schedule specified in the plan.’’.
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Subtitle C—Wetland Conservation
SEC. 2201. REVIEW OF GOOD FAITH DETERMINATIONS.
Section 1222(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3822(h)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3);
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE REVIEWERS.—A determination of
the Secretary, or a designee of the Secretary, under
paragraph (1) shall be reviewed by the applicable—
‘‘(A) State Executive Director, with the
technical concurrence of the State Conserva-
tionist; or
‘‘(B) district director, with the technical
concurrence of the area conservationist.’’; and
(3) in paragraph (3) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1)), by inserting ‘‘be’’ before ‘‘actively’’.
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Subtitle D—Agricultural Resources
Conservation Program
CHAPTER 1—COMPREHENSIVE
CONSERVATION ENHANCEMENT
Subchapter A—Comprehensive Conservation
Enhancement Program
SEC. 2301. REAUTHORIZATION AND EXPANSION OF PRO-
GRAMS COVERED.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1230 of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 1230. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION ENHANCE-
MENT PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—During the 1996 through
2012 fiscal years, the Secretary shall establish a com-
prehensive conservation enhancement program (re-
ferred to in this section as ‘CCEP’) to be implemented
through contracts and the acquisition of easements to
assist owners and operators of farms, ranches, and
nonindustrial private forestland to conserve and en-
hance soil, water, and related natural resources, in-
cluding grazing land, wetland, and wildlife habitat.
‘‘(2) MEANS.—The Secretary shall carry out the
CCEP by—
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‘‘(A) providing for the long-term protection
of environmentally-sensitive land; and
‘‘(B) providing technical and financial as-
sistance to farmers, ranchers, and nonindustrial
private forest landowners—
‘‘(i) to improve the management and
operation of the farms, ranches, and private
nonindustrial forest land; and
‘‘(ii) to reconcile productivity and
profitability with protection and enhance-
ment of the environment;
‘‘(C) reducing administrative burdens and
streamlining application and planning proce-
dures to encourage producer participation; and
‘‘(D) providing opportunities to leverage
Federal conservation investments through inno-
vative partnerships with governmental agencies,
education institutions, producer groups, and
other nongovernmental organizations.
‘‘(3) PROGRAMS.—The CCEP shall consist of—
‘‘(A) the conservation reserve program es-
tablished under subchapter B;
‘‘(B) the wetlands reserve program estab-
lished under subchapter C; and
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‘‘(C) the healthy forests reserve program es-
tablished under subchapter D.
‘‘(b) CONTRACTS AND ENROLLMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the CCEP,
the Secretary shall enter into contracts with owners
and operators and acquire interests in land through
easements from owners, as provided in this chapter.
‘‘(2) PRIOR ENROLLMENTS.—Acreage enrolled in
the conservation reserve program, wetlands reserve
program, or healthy forests reserve program prior to
the date of enactment of the Food and Energy Secu-
rity Act of 2007 shall be considered to be placed into
the CCEP.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—
‘‘(1) LIMITATIONS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not
enroll more than 25 percent of the cropland in
any county in the programs administered under
subchapters B and C of this chapter.
‘‘(B) EASEMENTS.—Within the limit de-
scribed in subparagraph (A), not more than 10
percent of the land described in that subpara-
graph may be subject to an easement acquired
under subchapter C of this chapter.
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‘‘(C) EXCLUSION.—Subparagraphs (A) and
(B) shall not apply to acres enrolled in the spe-
cial conservation reserve enhancement program
described in section 1234(f)(3).
‘‘(D) EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary may ex-
ceed the limitation in subparagraph (A) if the
Secretary determines that—
‘‘(i)(I) the action would not adversely
affect the local economy of a county; and
‘‘(II) operators in the county are hav-
ing difficulties complying with conservation
plans implemented under section 1212;
‘‘(ii)(I) the acreage to be enrolled could
not be used for an agricultural purpose or
is precluded from planting as a result of a
State or local law, order, or regulation pro-
hibiting water use for agricultural produc-
tion; and
‘‘(II) enrollment in the program would
benefit the acreage enrolled or land adjacent
to the acreage enrolled; or
‘‘(iii) with respect to cropland in coun-
ties in the State of Washington that exceed
the limitation described in subparagraph
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(A) as of the date of enrollment in the
program—
‘‘(I) the acreage to be enrolled is
considered to be essential by Federal or
State plans for a sustainable wildlife
habitat; and
‘‘(II) enrollment in the program
would assist the producer in meeting
environmental goals in the Federal or
State plans.’’.
‘‘(E) SHELTERBELTS AND WINDBREAKS.—
The limitations established under this paragraph
shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an
easement under chapter 1 or 3 that is used for
the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.
‘‘(F) ENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall
enroll acreage described in subparagraph (D)(ii)
not later than 180 days after the date of a re-
quest by a landowner to enroll the acreage.
‘‘(G) PAYMENTS.—Rental payments for
acreage described in subparagraph (D)(ii) shall
be based on the cash rent market value prior to
the application of a State or local law, order, or
regulation prohibiting water use for agricultural
production.