In the Senate of the United States, 
June 28, 2018. 
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 2) entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the reform and 
continuation of agricultural and other programs of the De-
partment of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, and for 
other purposes.’’, do pass with the following 
AMENDMENT: 
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ag-
riculture Improvement Act of 2018’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary. 
TITLE I—COMMODITIES 
Subtitle A—Commodity Policy 
Sec. 1101. Payment acres. 
Sec. 1102. Producer election. 
Sec. 1103. Price loss coverage.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 1104. Agriculture risk coverage. 
Sec. 1105. Repeal of transition assistance for producers of upland cotton. 
Sec. 1106. Option to change producer election. 
Subtitle B—Marketing Loans 
Sec. 1201. Extensions. 
Sec. 1202. Repeal; unshorn pelts. 
Sec. 1203. Economic adjustment assistance for upland cotton users. 
Subtitle C—Sugar 
Sec. 1301. Sugar program. 
Subtitle D—Dairy 
PART I—DAIRY RISK COVERAGE 
Sec. 1401. Dairy risk coverage. 
PART II—REAUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER DAIRY-RELATED PROVISIONS 
Sec. 1411. Reauthorizations. 
Sec. 1412. Class I skim milk price. 
Sec. 1413. Milk donation program. 
Subtitle E—Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance 
Sec. 1501. Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance. 
Sec. 1502. Loss of peach and blueberry crops due to extreme cold. 
Subtitle F—Noninsured Crop Assistance 
Sec. 1601. Noninsured crop assistance program. 
Sec. 1602. Additional assistance for certain producers. 
Subtitle G—Administration 
Sec. 1701. Regulations. 
Sec. 1702. Suspension of permanent price support authority. 
Sec. 1703. Implementation. 
Sec. 1704. Definition of significant contribution of active personal management. 
Sec. 1705. Actively engaged in farming requirement. 
Sec. 1706. Adjusted gross income limitation. 
Sec. 1707. Base acres review. 
Sec. 1708. Farm Service Agency accountability. 
Sec. 1709. Technical corrections. 
TITLE II—CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Conservation Reserve Program 
Sec. 2101. Extension and enrollment requirements of conservation reserve pro-
gram. 
Sec. 2102. Farmable wetland program. 
Sec. 2103. Duties of the Secretary. 
Sec. 2104. Payments. 
Sec. 2105. Conservation reserve enhancement program. 
Sec. 2106. Contracts.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 2107. Conservation reserve easements. 
Sec. 2108. Eligible land; State law requirements. 
Subtitle B—Conservation Stewardship Program 
Sec. 2201. Definitions. 
Sec. 2202. Establishment. 
Sec. 2203. Stewardship contracts. 
Sec. 2204. Duties of Secretary. 
Subtitle C—Environmental Quality Incentives Program 
Sec. 2301. Purposes. 
Sec. 2302. Definitions. 
Sec. 2303. Establishment and administration. 
Sec. 2304. Evaluation of applications. 
Sec. 2305. Duties of the Secretary. 
Sec. 2306. Environmental quality incentives program plan. 
Sec. 2307. Limitation on payments. 
Sec. 2308. Conservation innovation grants and payments. 
Sec. 2309. Soil health demonstration pilot project. 
Subtitle D—Other Conservation Programs 
Sec. 2401. Wetland conservation. 
Sec. 2402. Conservation security program. 
Sec. 2403. Conservation of private grazing land. 
Sec. 2404. Soil health and income protection program. 
Sec. 2405. Grassroots source water protection program. 
Sec. 2406. Soil testing and remediation assistance. 
Sec. 2407. Voluntary public access and habitat incentive program. 
Sec. 2408. Agriculture conservation experienced services program. 
Sec. 2409. Remote telemetry data system. 
Sec. 2410. Agricultural conservation easement program. 
Sec. 2411. Regional conservation partnership program. 
Sec. 2412. Wetland conversion. 
Sec. 2413. Delineation of wetlands. 
Sec. 2414. Emergency conservation program. 
Sec. 2415. Watershed protection and flood prevention. 
Sec. 2416. Small watershed rehabilitation program. 
Sec. 2417. Repeal of Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program. 
Sec. 2418. Repeal of cranberry acreage reserve program. 
Sec. 2419. Repeal of National Natural Resources Foundation. 
Sec. 2420. Repeal of flood risk reduction. 
Sec. 2421. Repeal of study of land use for expiring contracts and extension of au-
thority. 
Sec. 2422. Repeal of Integrated Farm Management Program Option. 
Sec. 2423. Repeal of clarification of definition of agricultural lands. 
Sec. 2424. Resource conservation and development program. 
Sec. 2425. Wildlife management. 
Sec. 2426. Healthy forests reserve program. 
Sec. 2427. Watershed protection. 
Sec. 2428. Sense of Congress relating to increased watershed-based collaboration. 
Sec. 2429. Modifications to conservation easement program.
† HR 2 EAS 
Subtitle E—Funding and Administration 
Sec. 2501. Funding. 
Sec. 2502. Delivery of technical assistance. 
Sec. 2503. Administrative requirements for conservation programs. 
Sec. 2504. Definition of acequia. 
Sec. 2505. Authorization of appropriations for water bank program. 
Sec. 2506. Report on land access, tenure, and transition. 
Sec. 2507. Report on small wetlands. 
Sec. 2508. State technical committees. 
Subtitle F—Technical Corrections 
Sec. 2601. Farmable wetland program. 
Sec. 2602. Report on program enrollments and assistance. 
Sec. 2603. Delivery of technical assistance. 
Sec. 2604. State technical committees. 
TITLE III—TRADE 
Subtitle A—Food for Peace Act 
Sec. 3101. Food aid quality. 
Sec. 3102. Generation and use of currencies by private voluntary organizations 
and cooperatives. 
Sec. 3103. Minimum levels of assistance. 
Sec. 3104. Food Aid Consultative Group. 
Sec. 3105. Oversight, monitoring, and evaluation. 
Sec. 3106. Assistance for stockpiling and rapid transportation, delivery, and dis-
tribution of shelf-stable prepackaged foods. 
Sec. 3107. Allowance of distribution costs. 
Sec. 3108. Prepositioning of agricultural commodities. 
Sec. 3109. Annual report regarding food aid programs and activities. 
Sec. 3110. Deadline for agreements to finance sales or to provide other assistance. 
Sec. 3111. Nonemergency food assistance. 
Sec. 3112. Micronutrient fortification programs. 
Sec. 3113. John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program. 
Subtitle B—Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 
Sec. 3201. Priority trade promotion, development, and assistance. 
Subtitle C—Other Agricultural Trade Laws 
Sec. 3301. Food for Progress Act of 1985. 
Sec. 3302. Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act. 
Sec. 3303. Promotion of agricultural exports to emerging markets. 
Sec. 3304. Cochran emerging market fellowship program. 
Sec. 3305. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship 
Program. 
Sec. 3306. International food security technical assistance. 
Sec. 3307. McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition 
Program. 
Sec. 3308. Global Crop Diversity Trust. 
Sec. 3309. Local and regional food aid procurement projects. 
Sec. 3310. Foreign trade missions.
† HR 2 EAS 
TITLE IV—NUTRITION 
Subtitle A—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
Sec. 4101. Definition of certification period. 
Sec. 4102. Food distribution program on Indian reservations. 
Sec. 4103. Work requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program. 
Sec. 4104. Improvements to electronic benefit transfer system. 
Sec. 4105. Retail incentives. 
Sec. 4106. Required action on data match information. 
Sec. 4107. Income verification. 
Sec. 4108. Pilot projects to improve healthy dietary patterns related to fluid milk 
in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 
Sec. 4109. Interstate data matching to prevent multiple issuances. 
Sec. 4110. Quality control. 
Sec. 4111. Requirement of live-production environments for certain pilot projects 
relating to cost sharing for computerization. 
Sec. 4112. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 4113. Assistance for community food projects. 
Sec. 4114. Nutrition education State plans. 
Sec. 4115. Emergency food assistance program. 
Sec. 4116. Technical and conforming amendments. 
Subtitle B—Commodity Distribution Programs 
Sec. 4201. Commodity distribution program. 
Sec. 4202. Commodity supplemental food program. 
Sec. 4203. Distribution of surplus commodities; special nutrition projects. 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 4301. Purchase of specialty crops. 
Sec. 4302. Seniors farmers’ market nutrition program. 
Sec. 4303. The Gus Schumacher food insecurity nutrition incentive. 
Sec. 4304. Harvesting health pilot projects. 
TITLE V—CREDIT 
Subtitle A—Farm Ownership Loans 
Sec. 5101. Modification of the 3-year experience requirement for purposes of eligi-
bility for farm ownership loans. 
Sec. 5102. Conservation loan and loan guarantee program. 
Sec. 5103. Limitations on amount of farm ownership loans. 
Subtitle B—Operating Loans 
Sec. 5201. Limitations on amount of operating loans. 
Sec. 5202. Cooperative lending pilot projects. 
Subtitle C—Administrative Provisions 
Sec. 5301. Beginning farmer and rancher individual development accounts pilot 
program. 
Sec. 5302. Loan authorization levels. 
Sec. 5303. Loan fund set-asides. 
Sec. 5304. Equitable relief.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 5305. Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; qualified beginning 
farmers and ranchers. 
Sec. 5306. Emergency loan eligibility. 
Subtitle D—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 5401. State agricultural mediation programs. 
Sec. 5402. Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. 
Sec. 5403. Sharing of privileged and confidential information. 
Sec. 5404. Removal and prohibition authority; industry-wide prohibition. 
Sec. 5405. Jurisdiction over institution-affiliated parties. 
Sec. 5406. Definition of institution-affiliated party. 
Sec. 5407. Repeal of obsolete provisions; technical corrections. 
Sec. 5408. Corporation as conservator or receiver; certain other powers. 
Sec. 5409. Reporting. 
Sec. 5410. Sense of the Senate. 
TITLE VI—RURAL DEVELOPMENT 
Subtitle A—Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
Sec. 6101. Water, waste disposal, and wastewater facility grants. 
Sec. 6102. Rural water and wastewater technical assistance and training pro-
grams. 
Sec. 6103. Rural water and wastewater circuit rider program. 
Sec. 6104. Tribal college and university essential community facilities. 
Sec. 6105. Community facilities direct loans and grants for substance use dis-
order treatment services. 
Sec. 6106. Emergency and imminent community water assistance grant program. 
Sec. 6107. Water systems for rural and native villages in Alaska. 
Sec. 6108. Rural decentralized water systems. 
Sec. 6109. Solid waste management grants. 
Sec. 6110. Rural business development grants. 
Sec. 6111. Rural cooperative development grants. 
Sec. 6112. Locally or regionally produced agricultural food products. 
Sec. 6113. Appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program. 
Sec. 6114. Rural economic area partnership zones. 
Sec. 6115. Intemediary relending program. 
Sec. 6116. Single application for broadband. 
Sec. 6117. Loan guarantee loan fees. 
Sec. 6118. Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs technical assistance and 
training. 
Sec. 6119. National rural development partnership. 
Sec. 6120. Grants for NOAA weather radio transmitters. 
Sec. 6121. Rural microentrepreneur assistance program. 
Sec. 6122. Health care services. 
Sec. 6123. Strategic economic and community development. 
Sec. 6124. Delta Regional Authority. 
Sec. 6125. Rural business investment program. 
Subtitle B—Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
Sec. 6201. Electric loan refinancing. 
Sec. 6202. Technical assistance for rural electrification loans. 
Sec. 6203. Loans for telephone service. 
Sec. 6204. Cushion of credit payments program.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 6205. Guarantees for bonds and notes issued for electrification or telephone 
purposes. 
Sec. 6206. Access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas. 
Sec. 6207. Community Connect Grant Program. 
Sec. 6208. Transparency in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Pro-
gram. 
Sec. 6209. Refinancing of broadband and telephone loans. 
Sec. 6210. Cybersecurity and grid security improvements. 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 6301. Distance learning and telemedicine. 
Sec. 6302. Rural energy savings program. 
Sec. 6303. Rural health and safety education programs. 
Sec. 6304. Northern Border Regional Commission reauthorization. 
Sec. 6305. Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development. 
TITLE VII—RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND RELATED MATTERS 
Subtitle A—National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 
Sec. 7101. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education. 
Sec. 7102. Matters relating to certain school designations and declarations. 
Sec. 7103. National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board. 
Sec. 7104. Citrus disease subcommittee of specialty crop committee. 
Sec. 7105. Veterinary services grant program. 
Sec. 7106. Grants and fellowships for food and agriculture sciences education. 
Sec. 7107. Research equipment grants. 
Sec. 7108. Agricultural and food policy research centers. 
Sec. 7109. Education grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and Native 
Hawaiian serving institutions. 
Sec. 7110. Next generation agriculture technology challenge. 
Sec. 7111. Nutrition education program. 
Sec. 7112. Authorization for appropriations for Federal agricultural research fa-
cilities. 
Sec. 7113. Continuing animal health and disease research programs. 
Sec. 7114. Extension at 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University; 
report. 
Sec. 7115. Report on agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges, including 
Tuskegee University. 
Sec. 7116. Grants to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities at 1890 
land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University. 
Sec. 7117. Grants to upgrade agriculture and food sciences facilities and equip-
ment at insular area land-grant institutions. 
Sec. 7118. New Beginning for Tribal Students. 
Sec. 7119. Hispanic-serving institutions. 
Sec. 7120. Binational agricultural research and development. 
Sec. 7121. Partnerships to build capacity in international agricultural research, 
extension, and teaching. 
Sec. 7122. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and edu-
cation programs. 
Sec. 7123. University research. 
Sec. 7124. Extension service. 
Sec. 7125. Supplemental and alternative crops; hemp.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 7126. New Era Rural Technology program. 
Sec. 7127. Capacity building grants for NLGCA institutions. 
Sec. 7128. Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority pilot. 
Sec. 7129. Aquaculture assistance programs. 
Sec. 7130. Repeal of rangeland research programs. 
Sec. 7131. Special authorization for biosecurity planning and response. 
Sec. 7132. Distance education and resident instruction grants program for insu-
lar area institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 7133. Limitation on designation of entities eligible to receive funds under a 
capacity program. 
Sec. 7134. Scholarship program for students attending 1890 Institutions. 
Subtitle B—Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
Sec. 7201. Best utilization of biological applications. 
Sec. 7202. Integrated management systems. 
Sec. 7203. Sustainable agriculture technology development and transfer program. 
Sec. 7204. National training program. 
Sec. 7205. National strategic germplasm and cultivar collection assessment and 
utilization plan. 
Sec. 7206. National Genetics Resources Program. 
Sec. 7207. National Agricultural Weather Information System. 
Sec. 7208. Agricultural genome to phenome initiative. 
Sec. 7209. High-priority research and extension initiatives. 
Sec. 7210. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative. 
Sec. 7211. Farm business management. 
Sec. 7212. Urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production research, 
education, and extension initiative. 
Sec. 7213. Centers of excellence at 1890 Institutions. 
Sec. 7214. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities. 
Sec. 7215. National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse. 
Subtitle C—Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 
Sec. 7301. National food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and tech-
nical assistance program. 
Sec. 7302. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants pro-
gram. 
Sec. 7303. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat, triticale, and barley 
caused by Fusarium graminearum or by Tilletia indica. 
Sec. 7304. Grants for youth organizations. 
Sec. 7305. Specialty crop research initiative. 
Sec. 7306. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program. 
Sec. 7307. Office of Pest Management Policy. 
Sec. 7308. Forestry products advanced utilization research. 
Subtitle D—Other Laws 
Sec. 7401. Critical Agricultural Materials Act. 
Sec. 7402. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. 
Sec. 7403. Research Facilities Act. 
Sec. 7404. Agricultural and food research initiative. 
Sec. 7405. Extension design and demonstration initiative. 
Sec. 7406. Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978. 
Sec. 7407. National Aquaculture Act of 1980.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 7408. Repeal of review of Agricultural Research Service. 
Sec. 7409. Biomass research and development. 
Sec. 7410. Reinstatement of matching requirement for Federal funds used in ex-
tension work at the University of the District of Columbia. 
Sec. 7411. Enhanced use lease authority pilot program. 
Sec. 7412. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction over portion of Henry A. Wal-
lace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Mary-
land. 
Sec. 7413. Foundation for food and agriculture research. 
Sec. 7414. Assistance for forestry research under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative 
Forestry Act. 
Sec. 7415. Legitimacy of industrial hemp research. 
Sec. 7416. Collection of data relating to barley area planted and harvested. 
Sec. 7417. Collection of data relating to the size and location of dairy farms. 
Sec. 7418. Agriculture innovation center demonstration program. 
Sec. 7419. Smith-Lever community extension program. 
Subtitle E—Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
PART I—AGRICULTURAL SECURITY 
Sec. 7501. Agricultural biosecurity communication center. 
Sec. 7502. Assistance to build local capacity in agricultural biosecurity planning, 
preparation, and response. 
Sec. 7503. Research and development of agricultural countermeasures. 
Sec. 7504. Agricultural biosecurity grant program. 
PART II—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 7511. Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. 
Sec. 7512. Natural products research program. 
Sec. 7513. Sun grant program. 
Sec. 7514. Mechanization and automation for specialty crops. 
Subtitle F—Matching Funds Requirement 
Sec. 7601. Matching funds requirement. 
Sec. 7602. Extension and agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges, in-
cluding Tuskegee University. 
TITLE VIII—FORESTRY 
Subtitle A—Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 
Sec. 8101. State and private forest landscape-scale restoration program. 
Subtitle B—Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 
Sec. 8201. Repeal of recycling research. 
Sec. 8202. Repeal of forestry student grant program. 
Subtitle C—Global Climate Change Prevention Act of 1990 
Sec. 8301. Repeals. 
Subtitle D—Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
Sec. 8401. Promoting cross-boundary wildfire mitigation.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 8402. Authorization of appropriations for hazardous fuel reduction on Fed-
eral land. 
Sec. 8403. Repeal of biomass commercial utilization grant program. 
Sec. 8404. Water Source Protection Program. 
Sec. 8405. Watershed Condition Framework. 
Sec. 8406. Authorization of appropriations to combat insect infestations and re-
lated diseases. 
Sec. 8407. Healthy Forests Reserve Program reauthorization. 
Sec. 8408. Authorization of appropriations for designation of treatment areas. 
Sec. 8409. Administrative review of collaborative restoration projects. 
Subtitle E—Repeal or Reauthorization of Miscellaneous Forestry Programs 
Sec. 8501. Repeal of revision of strategic plan for forest inventory and analysis. 
Sec. 8502. Semiarid agroforestry research center. 
Sec. 8503. National Forest Foundation Act. 
Sec. 8504. Conveyance of Forest Service administrative sites. 
Subtitle F—Forest Management 
Sec. 8601. Definitions. 
PART I—EXPEDITED ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND AVAILABILITY OF 
CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS TO EXPEDITE FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 8611. Categorical exclusion for greater sage-grouse and mule deer habitat. 
PART II—MISCELLANEOUS FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 8621. Additional authority for sale or exchange of small parcels of National 
Forest System land. 
Sec. 8622. Forest Service participation in ACES program. 
Sec. 8623. Authorization for lease of Forest Service sites. 
Sec. 8624. Good neighbor authority. 
Sec. 8625. Wildland-urban interface. 
Sec. 8626. Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest land adjustment. 
Sec. 8627. Tennessee wilderness. 
Sec. 8628. Additions to Rough Mountain and Rich Hole Wildernesses. 
Sec. 8629. Kisatchie National Forest land conveyance. 
Sec. 8630. Purchase of Natural Resources Conservation Service property, River-
side County, California. 
Sec. 8631. Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. 
Sec. 8632. Utility infrastructure rights-of-way vegetation management pilot pro-
gram. 
Sec. 8633. Okhissa Lake rural economic development land conveyance. 
Sec. 8634. Prairie dogs. 
PART III—TIMBER INNOVATION 
Sec. 8641. Definitions. 
Sec. 8642. Clarification of research and development program for wood building 
construction. 
Sec. 8643. Wood innovation grant program. 
TITLE IX—ENERGY 
Sec. 9101. Definitions. 
Sec. 9102. Biobased markets program.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 9103. Biorefinery assistance. 
Sec. 9104. Repowering assistance program. 
Sec. 9105. Bioenergy program for advanced biofuel. 
Sec. 9106. Biodiesel fuel education program. 
Sec. 9107. Rural Energy for America Program. 
Sec. 9108. Rural energy self-sufficiency initiative. 
Sec. 9109. Feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers. 
Sec. 9110. Biomass Crop Assistance Program. 
Sec. 9111. Biogas research and adoption of biogas systems. 
Sec. 9112. Community Wood Energy Program. 
Sec. 9113. Carbon utilization education program. 
TITLE X—HORTICULTURE 
Sec. 10101. Specialty crops market news allocation. 
Sec. 10102. Local Agriculture Market Program. 
Sec. 10103. Organic production and market data initiatives. 
Sec. 10104. Organic certification. 
Sec. 10105. National organic certification cost-share program. 
Sec. 10106. Food safety education initiatives. 
Sec. 10107. Specialty crop block grants. 
Sec. 10108. Plant variety protection. 
Sec. 10109. Multiple crop and pesticide use survey. 
Sec. 10110. Clarification of use of funds for technical assistance. 
Sec. 10111. Hemp production. 
Sec. 10112. Rule of construction. 
TITLE XI—CROP INSURANCE 
Sec. 11101. Definitions. 
Sec. 11102. Data collection. 
Sec. 11103. Sharing of records. 
Sec. 11104. Use of resources. 
Sec. 11105. Specialty crops. 
Sec. 11106. Insurance period. 
Sec. 11107. Cover crops. 
Sec. 11108. Underserved producers. 
Sec. 11109. Expansion of performance-based discount. 
Sec. 11110. Enterprise units. 
Sec. 11111. Pasture, rangeland, and forage policy for members of Indian tribes. 
Sec. 11112. Submission of policies and materials to board. 
Sec. 11113. Whole farm revenue agent incentives. 
Sec. 11114. Crop production on native sod. 
Sec. 11115. Use of national agricultural statistics service data to combat waste, 
fraud, and abuse. 
Sec. 11116. Submission of information to corporation. 
Sec. 11117. Acreage report streamlining initiative. 
Sec. 11118. Continuing education for loss adjusters and agents. 
Sec. 11119. Funding for information technology. 
Sec. 11120. Agricultural commodity. 
Sec. 11121. Reimbursement of research, development, and maintenance costs. 
Sec. 11122. Research and development authority. 
Sec. 11123. Education assistance. 
Sec. 11124. Cropland report annual updates.
† HR 2 EAS 
TITLE XII—MISCELLANEOUS 
Subtitle A—Livestock 
Sec. 12101. Sheep production and marketing grant program. 
Sec. 12102. National animal health laboratory network. 
Sec. 12103. National Animal Disease Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Pro-
gram; National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Counter-
measures Bank. 
Sec. 12104. Study on livestock dealer statutory trust. 
Sec. 12105. Definition of livestock. 
Subtitle B—Agriculture and Food Defense 
Sec. 12201. Repeal of Office of Homeland Security. 
Sec. 12202. Office of Homeland Security. 
Sec. 12203. Agriculture and food defense. 
Sec. 12204. Biological agents and toxins list. 
Sec. 12205. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle C—Historically Underserved Producers 
Sec. 12301. Farming opportunities training and outreach. 
Sec. 12302. Urban agriculture. 
Sec. 12303. Office of Advocacy and Outreach. 
Sec. 12304. Tribal Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 12305. Experienced services program. 
Sec. 12306. Youth outreach and beginning farmer coordination. 
Sec. 12307. Availability of Department of Agriculture programs for veteran farm-
ers and ranchers. 
Subtitle D—Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 
Amendments 
Sec. 12401. Office of Congressional Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs. 
Sec. 12402. Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison. 
Sec. 12403. Civil rights analyses. 
Sec. 12404. Farm Service Agency. 
Sec. 12405. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conserva-
tion. 
Sec. 12406. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. 
Sec. 12407. Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service. 
Sec. 12408. Rural Health Liaison. 
Sec. 12409. Healthy Food Financing Initiative. 
Sec. 12410. Natural Resources Conservation Service. 
Sec. 12411. Office of the Chief Scientist. 
Sec. 12412. Trade and foreign agricultural affairs. 
Sec. 12413. Repeals. 
Sec. 12414. Technical corrections. 
Sec. 12415. Effect of subtitle. 
Sec. 12416. Termination of authority. 
Subtitle E—Other Miscellaneous Provisions 
Sec. 12501. Acer access and development program. 
Sec. 12502. South Carolina inclusion in Virginia/Carolina peanut producing re-
gion.
† HR 2 EAS 
Sec. 12503. Pet and Women Safety. 
Sec. 12504. Data on conservation practices. 
Sec. 12505. Marketing orders. 
Sec. 12506. Study on food waste. 
Sec. 12507. Report on business centers. 
Sec. 12508. Information technology modernization. 
Sec. 12509. Report on personnel. 
Sec. 12510. Report on absent landlords. 
Sec. 12511. Restriction on use of certain poisons for predator control. 
Sec. 12512. Century farms program. 
Sec. 12513. Report on the importation of live dogs. 
Sec. 12514. Establishment of technical assistance program. 
Sec. 12515. Promise Zones. 
Sec. 12516. Precision agriculture connectivity. 
Sec. 12517. Improved soil moisture and precipitation monitoring. 
Sec. 12518. Study of marketplace fraud of traditional foods and Tribal seeds. 
Sec. 12519. Dairy business innovation initiatives. 
Sec. 12520. Report on funding for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture 
and other extension programs. 
Sec. 12521. Prohibition on slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. 
Subtitle F—General Provisions 
Sec. 12601. Expedited exportation of certain species. 
Sec. 12602. Baiting of migratory game birds. 
Sec. 12603. Pima agriculture cotton trust fund. 
Sec. 12604. Agriculture wool apparel manufacturers trust fund. 
Sec. 12605. Wool research and promotion. 
Sec. 12606. Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund. 
Sec. 12607. Extension of merchandise processing fees. 
Sec. 12608. Conforming changes to Controlled Substances Act. 
Sec. 12609. National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization. 
Sec. 12610. Emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish. 
Sec. 12611. Administrative units. 
Sec. 12612. Drought and water conservation agreements. 
Sec. 12613. Encouragement of pollinator habitat development and protection. 
Sec. 12614. Repair or replacement of fencing; cost share payments. 
Sec. 12615. Food donation standards. 
Sec. 12616. Micro-grants for food security. 
Sec. 12617. Use of additional Commodity Credit Corporation funds for direct op-
erating microloans under certain conditions. 
Sec. 12618. Business and innovation services essential community facilities. 
Sec. 12619. Rural innovation stronger economy grant program. 
Sec. 12620. Dryland farming agricultural systems. 
Sec. 12621. Remote sensing technologies. 
Sec. 12622. Buy American requirements. 
Sec. 12623. Eligibility for operators on heirs property land to obtain a farm 
number. 
Sec. 12624. Loans to purchasers of land with undivided interest and no adminis-
trative authority. 
Sec. 12625. Farmland ownership data collection. 
Sec. 12626. Rural business investment program. 
Sec. 12627. National Oilheat Research Alliance. 
Sec. 12628. Reauthorization of rural emergency medical services training and 
equipment assistance program.
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Agriculture. 
TITLE I—COMMODITIES 
Subtitle A—Commodity Policy 
SEC. 1101. PAYMENT ACRES. 
Section 1114(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 9014(e)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) RECALCULATION OF BASE ACRES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary recal-
culates base acres for a farm while a farm is en-
gaged in planting and production of fruits, vege-
tables, or wild rice on base acres for which a re-
duction in payment acres was made under this 
subsection, that planting and production shall be 
considered to be the same as the planting and 
production of a covered commodity. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—Nothing in this para-
graph provides authority for the Secretary to re-
calculate base acres for a farm.’’. 
SEC. 1102. PRODUCER ELECTION. 
Section 1115 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9015) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Except as provided in
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subsection (g), for the 2014 through 2018 crop years’’ 
and inserting ‘‘For the 2014 through 2018 crop years 
(except as provided in subsection (g)) and for the 
2019 through 2023 crop years’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by inserting ‘‘or the 2019 crop year, as applica-
ble’’ after ‘‘2014 crop year’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or the 
2019 crop year, as applicable,’’ after ‘‘2014 crop 
year’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘elected price’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘elected, as applica-
ble— 
‘‘(A) price’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A) (as so des-
ignated), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting the following: ‘‘; and 
‘‘(B) county coverage for all covered com-
modities on the farm for the 2020 through 2023 
crop years.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ‘‘for the 
2018 crop year,’’ before ‘‘all of the producers’’.
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SEC. 1103. PRICE LOSS COVERAGE. 
Section 1116 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9016) is amended— 
(1) in subsections (a) and (d) by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘The pay-
ment’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The payment’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) ANNOUNCEMENT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the end of each applicable 12-month marketing 
year for each covered commodity, the Secretary shall 
publish the payment rate determined under para-
graph (1).’’. 
SEC. 1104. AGRICULTURE RISK COVERAGE. 
Section 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9017) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1)—
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(A) by inserting ‘‘(beginning with the 2019 
crop year, based on the physical location of the 
farm)’’ after ‘‘payments’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or the 2019 through 2023 
crop years, as applicable’’ after ‘‘2014 through 
2018 crop years’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (4)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs 
(4) and (5)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(6)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(6)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘If’’ and inserting ‘‘Ef-
fective for the 2019 through 2023 crop 
years, if’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘70 percent’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’;
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(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) TREND-ADJUSTED
YIELD.—The Secretary 
shall calculate and use a trend-adjusted yield factor 
to adjust the yield determined under paragraph 
(2)(A) and subsection (b)(1)(A), taking into consider-
ation, but not exceeding, the trend-adjusted yield fac-
tor that is used to increase yield history under the en-
dorsement under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) for that crop and county.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by redesignating sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately; 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(C) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘The pay-
ment’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The payment’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(2) ANNOUNCEMENT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the end of each applicable 12-month marketing 
year for each covered commodity, the Secretary shall 
publish the payment rate determined under para-
graph (1) for each county.’’; 
(4) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(5) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘in ac-
cordance with subsection (h),’’ before ‘‘to the 
maximum extent practicable’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘effective for the 
2014 through 2018 crop years,’’ before ‘‘in 
the case of’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) effective for the 2019 through 2023 crop 
years, in the case of county coverage—
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‘‘(A) effective beginning with actual county 
yields for the 2019 crop year, assign an actual 
county yield for each planted acre for the crop 
year for the covered commodity by giving pri-
ority to— 
‘‘(i) the use of actual county yields in, 
to the maximum extent practicable, a single 
source of data that provides the greatest na-
tional coverage of county-level data; 
‘‘(ii) the use of a source of data that 
may be used to determine an average actual 
county yield under subsection (b)(1)(A) and 
an average historical county yield under 
subsection (c)(2)(A) for the same county; 
and 
‘‘(iii) in the case of a county not in-
cluded in any source of data described in 
clauses (i) and (ii), the use of— 
‘‘(I) other sources of county yield 
information; or 
‘‘(II) the yield history of rep-
resentative farms in the State, region, 
or crop reporting district, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; and
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‘‘(B) in the case of a farm that has a tract 
with base acres and that tract crosses a county 
boundary— 
‘‘(i) prorate the base acres based on the 
quantity of cropland of the tract in each 
county; and 
‘‘(ii) calculate any crop revenue on the 
basis described in clause (i).’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) CALCULATION OF SEPARATE ACTUAL CROP REV-
ENUE AND AGRICULTURE RISK COVERAGE GUARANTEE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On request of a county Farm 
Service Agency committee, in coordination with a 
Farm Service Agency State committee, the Secretary 
shall consider a 1-time request to calculate a separate 
actual crop revenue and agriculture risk coverage 
guarantee for irrigated and nonirrigated covered com-
modities under subsection (g)(2) in a county if, dur-
ing the 2014 through 2018 crop years— 
‘‘(A) an average of not less than 5 percent 
of the planted and considered planted acreage of 
a covered commodity in the county was irri-
gated; and 
‘‘(B) an average of not less than 5 percent 
of the planted and considered planted acreage of
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the covered commodity in the county was non-
irrigated. 
‘‘(2) SOURCE OF INFORMATION.—In considering 
a request described in paragraph (1) and calculating 
a separate actual crop revenue and agriculture risk 
coverage guarantee for irrigated and nonirrigated 
covered commodities in a county, the Secretary may 
use other sources of yield information, including the 
yield history of representative farms in the State, re-
gion, or crop reporting district, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(i) PUBLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COUNTY GUARANTEE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For each crop year for 
a covered commodity, the Secretary shall publish 
information describing, for that crop year for the 
covered commodity in each county— 
‘‘(i) the agriculture risk coverage guar-
antee for county coverage determined under 
subsection (c)(1); 
‘‘(ii) the average historical county 
yield determined under subsection (c)(2)(A); 
and 
‘‘(iii) the national average market 
price determined under subsection (c)(2)(B).
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‘‘(B) TIMING.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clauses (ii) and (iii), not later than 30 
days after the end of each applicable 12- 
month marketing year, the Secretary shall 
publish the information described in sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(ii) INSUFFICIENT DATA.—In the case 
of a covered commodity, such as temperate 
japonica rice, for which the Secretary can-
not determine the national average market 
price for the most recent 12-month mar-
keting year by the date described in clause 
(i) due to insufficient reporting of timely 
pricing data by 1 or more nongovernmental 
entities, including a marketing cooperative 
for the covered commodity, as soon as prac-
ticable after the pricing data is made avail-
able, the Secretary shall publish informa-
tion describing— 
‘‘(I) the agriculture risk coverage 
guarantee under subparagraph (A)(i); 
and 
‘‘(II) the national average market 
price under subparagraph (A)(iii).
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‘‘(iii) TRANSITION.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018, the Sec-
retary shall publish the information de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) for the 2018 
crop year. 
‘‘(2) ACTUAL AVERAGE COUNTY YIELD.—As soon 
as practicable after each crop year, the Secretary 
shall determine and publish each actual average coun-
ty yield for each covered commodity, as determined 
under subsection (b)(1)(A). 
‘‘(3) DATA SOURCES FOR COUNTY YIELDS.—For 
the 2018 crop year and each crop year thereafter, the 
Secretary shall make publicly available information 
describing, for the most recent crop year— 
‘‘(A) the sources of data used to calculate 
county yields under subsection (c)(2)(A) for each 
covered commodity— 
‘‘(i) by county; and 
‘‘(ii) nationally; and 
‘‘(B) the number and outcome of occurrences 
in which the Farm Service Agency reviewed, 
changed, or determined not to change a source of 
data used to calculate county yields under sub-
section (c)(2)(A).’’.
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 1105. REPEAL OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR PRO-
DUCERS OF UPLAND COTTON. 
Section 1119 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9019) is repealed. 
SEC. 1106. OPTION TO CHANGE PRODUCER ELECTION. 
Section 1115 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9015) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) OPTION TO CHANGE PRODUCER ELECTION.—Not-
withstanding subsection (a), for the 2021 crop year, all of 
the producers on a farm may make a 1-time, irrevocable 
election to change the election applicable to the producers 
on the farm under that subsection or subsection (c), as ap-
plicable, to price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage, 
as applicable, which shall apply to the producers on the 
farm for each of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 crop years.’’. 
Subtitle B—Marketing Loans 
SEC. 1201. EXTENSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1201(b)(1) of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9031(b)(1)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(b) LOAN RATES.—Section 1202(a) of the Agricultural 
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9032(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(c) REPAYMENT.—Section 1204 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034) is amended—
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(1) in subsection (e)(2)(B), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘2019’’and inserting 
‘‘2024’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
(d) LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS.— 
(1) EXTENSION.—Section 1205(a)(2)(B) of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9035(a)(2)(B)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(2) PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF LDPS.—Section 1206 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9036) is 
amended in subsections (a) and (d) by striking 
‘‘2018’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(3) SPECIAL COMPETITIVE PROVISIONS.—Section 
1208(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9038(a)) is amended in the matter preceding para-
graph (1) by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting ‘‘2024’’. 
(4) AVAILABILITY
OF
RECOURSE
LOANS.—Sec-
tion 1209 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9039) is amended in subsections (a)(2) and (b) by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 1202. REPEAL; UNSHORN PELTS. 
Section 1205 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9035) is amended—
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(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘UNSHORN PELTS, HAY,’’ and inserting ‘‘HAY’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘non-
graded wool in the form of unshorn pelts and’’; 
and 
(C) in subparagraph (B) (as amended by 
section 1201(d)(1)), by striking ‘‘unshorn pelts 
or’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2). 
SEC. 1203. ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR UP-
LAND COTTON USERS. 
(a) 2008 AUTHORITY.—Section 1207 of the Food, Con-
servation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8737) is 
amended by striking subsection (c). 
(b) 2014 AUTHORITY.—Section 1207(c) of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9037(c)) is amended by striking 
paragraph (2) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) VALUE OF ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.—During the pe-
riod beginning on August 1, 2013, and ending 
on July 31, 2021, the value of the assistance pro-
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vided under paragraph (1) shall be 3 cents per 
pound. 
‘‘(B) SUBSEQUENT PERIOD.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the 
first day after the end of the period de-
scribed in subparagraph (A), and subject to 
the availability of appropriations under 
clause (ii), the value of the assistance pro-
vided under paragraph (1) shall be 3 cents 
per pound. 
‘‘(ii) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as are necessary to carry 
out clause (i).’’. 
Subtitle C—Sugar 
SEC. 1301. SUGAR PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 156 of the Federal Agri-
culture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
7272) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(3) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’.
† HR 2 EAS 
(b) ALLOTMENTS.— 
(1) ESTIMATES.—Section 359b(a)(1) of the Agri-
cultural 
Adjustment 
Act 
of 
1938 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1359bb(a)(1)) is amended in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.—Section 359l(a) of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 
1359ll(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2023’’. 
Subtitle D—Dairy 
PART I—DAIRY RISK COVERAGE 
SEC. 1401. DAIRY RISK COVERAGE. 
(a) DAIRY RISK COVERAGE.—Part I of subtitle D of 
title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9051 et 
seq.) is amended in the part heading by striking ‘‘MARGIN 
PROTECTION PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘DAIRY RISK 
COVERAGE’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1401 of the Agricultural 
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9051) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (10) 
as paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘(4) CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE.—The term ‘cat-
astrophic coverage’ means coverage under section 
1406(a)(2)(B).’’; 
(3) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM’’ and inserting 
‘‘DAIRY RISK COVERAGE’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘margin protection pro-
gram’’ the first place it appears and inserting 
‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘the margin protection pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; 
(4) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM’’ and inserting 
‘‘DAIRY RISK COVERAGE’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘margin protection pro-
gram’’ the first place it appears and inserting 
‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘the margin protection pro-
gram pursuant to’’; and 
(5) in paragraphs (8) and (9) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘the margin protection program’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘dairy risk cov-
erage’’.
† HR 2 EAS 
(c) CALCULATION
OF ACTUAL DAIRY PRODUCTION 
MARGIN.—Section 1402(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9052(b)(1)) is amended in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘the margin protec-
tion program’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’. 
(d) DAIRY RISK COVERAGE ADMINISTRATION.—Sec-
tion 1403 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9053) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1403. DAIRY RISK COVERAGE ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with the 2019 calendar 
year, the Secretary shall administer dairy risk coverage 
under which participating dairy operations are paid a 
dairy risk coverage payment when actual dairy production 
margins are less than the threshold levels for a dairy risk 
coverage payment. 
‘‘(b) REGULATIONS.—Subpart A of part 1430 of title 
7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018), 
shall remain in effect for dairy risk coverage beginning with 
the 2019 calendar year, except to the extent that the regula-
tions are inconsistent with any provision of this Act.’’. 
(e) PARTICIPATION OF DAIRY OPERATIONS IN DAIRY 
RISK COVERAGE.—Section 1404 of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9054) is amended—
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(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘MARGIN 
PROTECTION
PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘DAIRY 
RISK COVERAGE’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘the margin’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘payments’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘dairy risk coverage to receive dairy risk coverage 
payments’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (4), 
by striking ‘‘the margin protection program’’ 
and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) 
CATASTROPHIC
COVERAGE.—A 
partici-
pating dairy operation may elect to receive cata-
strophic coverage instead of paying a premium under 
section 1407.’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraphs (1)(A) and (3), by strik-
ing ‘‘the margin protection program’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘of the 
margin protection program’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The administrative’’ 
and inserting the following:
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The administrative’’; 
and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE.—In addi-
tion to the administrative fee under subpara-
graph (A), a participating dairy operation that 
elects to receive catastrophic coverage shall pay 
an additional administrative fee of $100.’’; and 
(5) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘the margin 
protection program’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk cov-
erage’’. 
(f) PRODUCTION HISTORY OF PARTICIPATING DAIRY 
OPERATIONS.—Section 1405 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(7 U.S.C. 9055) is amended— 
(1) in subsections (a) and (c), by striking ‘‘the 
margin protection program’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘In subse-
quent years’’ and inserting ‘‘During each of the 2014 
through 2019 calendar years’’. 
(g) DAIRY RISK COVERAGE PAYMENTS.—Section 1406 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9056) is amend-
ed—
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(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘MARGIN 
PROTECTION’’ and inserting ‘‘DAIRY RISK COV-
ERAGE’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘margin protection’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; 
(3) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘to $4.00’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘$5.50’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘to— 
‘‘(A) in the case of catastrophic coverage, 
$5.00; 
‘‘(B) $5.50’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) in the case of production subject to 
premiums under section 1407(b), any amount 
described in subparagraph (B), $8.50, or $9.00; 
and’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(2) a percentage’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(2)(A) a percentage’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A) (as so des-
ignated)—
† HR 2 EAS 
(I) by striking ‘‘beginning with 25 
percent and not exceeding’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘that does not exceed’’; and 
(II) by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) in the case of catastrophic coverage, a cov-
erage level of 40 percent of the production history of 
the participating dairy operation.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (c), in the subsection heading, 
by striking ‘‘MARGIN PROTECTION’’ and inserting 
‘‘DAIRY RISK COVERAGE’’. 
(h) PREMIUMS FOR DAIRY RISK COVERAGE.—Section 
1407 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9057) is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘MARGIN 
PROTECTION
PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘DAIRY 
RISK COVERAGE’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the margin protection 
program’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)—
† HR 2 EAS 
(i) by striking ‘‘Except as’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘the’’ and inserting 
‘‘The’’; 
(ii) by striking the rows relating to the 
$4.00, $4.50, and $5.00 coverage levels; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘$0.009’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$0.02’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘$0.016’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.04’’; 
(v) by striking ‘‘$0.040’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.07’’; 
(vi) by striking ‘‘$0.063’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.10’’; 
(vii) by striking ‘‘$0.087’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$0.12’’; 
(viii) by striking ‘‘$0.142’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$0.14’’; and 
(ix) by adding at the end of the table 
the following: 
‘‘$8.50 
$0.16 
$9.00 
$0.18’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3); 
(4) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) by striking the rows relating to the 
$4.00, $4.50, and $5.00 coverage levels;
† HR 2 EAS 
(B) by striking ‘‘$0.100’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.144’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘$0.155’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.24’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘$0.290’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.42’’; 
(E) by striking ‘‘$0.830’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1.08’’; 
(F) by striking ‘‘$1.060’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1.32’’; and 
(G) by striking ‘‘$1.360’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1.68’’; 
(5) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the mar-
gin protection program’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy 
risk coverage’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘A par-
ticipating dairy operation in the margin protec-
tion program’’ and inserting ‘‘A dairy operation 
participating in dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) SMALL AND MEDIUM FARM DISCOUNT.—The pre-
mium per hundredweight specified in the tables contained 
in subsections (b) and (c) for each coverage level shall be 
reduced by—
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) 50 percent for a participating dairy oper-
ation with a production history that is less than 
2,000,000 pounds; and 
‘‘(2) 25 percent for a participating dairy oper-
ation with a production history that is not less than 
2,000,000 pounds and not greater than 10,000,000 
pounds. 
‘‘(g) REPAYMENT OF PREMIUMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall repay 
each dairy operation that participated in the margin 
protection program, as in effect for each of calendar 
years 2014 through 2017, an amount equal to the dif-
ference between— 
‘‘(A) the total amount of premiums paid by 
the participating dairy operation under this sec-
tion for the applicable calendar year; and 
‘‘(B) the total amount of payments made to 
the participating dairy operation under section 
1406 for that calendar year. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.—Paragraph (1) shall only 
apply to a calendar year for which the amount de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) of that paragraph is 
greater than the amount described in subparagraph 
(B) of that paragraph.’’.
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(i) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO PAY ADMINISTRATIVE 
FEES OR PREMIUMS.—Section 1408 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9058) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘margin 
protection’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘the margin 
protection program’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk cov-
erage’’. 
(j) DURATION.—Section 1409 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9059) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The margin protection pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘Dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(k) ADMINISTRATION
AND ENFORCEMENT.—Section 
1410 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9060) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsections (a) and (c), by striking ‘‘the 
margin protection program’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘margin protec-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘dairy risk coverage’’.
† HR 2 EAS 
PART II—REAUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER 
DAIRY-RELATED PROVISIONS 
SEC. 1411. REAUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) FORWARD PRICING.—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 ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2021’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2026’’. 
(b) INDEMNITY PROGRAM.—Section 3 of Public Law 
90–484 (7 U.S.C. 4553) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(c) PROMOTION AND RESEARCH.—Section 113(e)(2) of 
the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 
4504(e)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 1412. CLASS I SKIM MILK PRICE. 
(a) CLASS I SKIM MILK PRICE.—Section 8c(5)(A) of 
the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(5)(A)), re-
enacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937, is amended by striking ‘‘Through-
out’’ in the third sentence and all that follows through the 
period at the end of the fourth sentence and inserting 
‘‘Throughout the 2-year period beginning on the effective 
date of this sentence (and subsequent to such 2-year period
† HR 2 EAS 
unless modified by amendment to the order involved), for 
purposes of determining prices for milk of the highest use 
classification, the Class I skim milk price per hundred-
weight specified in section 1000.50(b) of title 7, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or successor regulations), shall be the sum 
of the adjusted Class I differential specified in section 
1000.52 of such title 7 (or successor regulations), plus the 
adjustment to Class I prices specified in sections 
1005.51(b), 1006.51(b), and 1007.51(b) of such title 7 (or 
successor regulations), plus the simple average of the ad-
vanced pricing factors computed in sections 1000.50(q)(1) 
and 1000.50(q)(2) of such title 7 (or successor regulations), 
plus $0.74.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE AND IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the 
first month beginning more than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Implementation of the 
amendment made by subsection (a) shall not be sub-
ject to any of the following: 
(A) The notice and comment provisions of 
section 553 of title 5, United States Code. 
(B) The notice and hearing requirements of 
section 8c(3) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act
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(7 U.S.C. 608c(3)), reenacted with amendments 
by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 
1937. 
(C) The order amendment requirements of 
section 8c(17) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(17)). 
(D) A referendum under section 8c(19) of 
that Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(19)). 
SEC. 1413. MILK DONATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part III of subtitle D of title I of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9071) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘PART III—MILK DONATION PROGRAM 
‘‘SEC. 1431. MILK DONATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE DAIRY ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘eligible dairy organization’ means a dairy farmer 
(either individually or as part of a cooperative), or 
a dairy processor, who— 
‘‘(A) accounts to a Federal milk marketing 
order marketwide pool; and 
‘‘(B) incurs qualified expenses under sub-
section (e). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE DISTRIBUTOR.—The term ‘eligible 
distributor’ means a public or private nonprofit orga-
nization that distributes donated eligible milk.
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‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE MILK.—The term ‘eligible milk’ 
means Class I fluid milk products produced and proc-
essed in the United States. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘eligi-
ble partnership’ means a partnership between an eli-
gible dairy organization and an eligible distributor. 
‘‘(5) PARTICIPATING
PARTNERSHIP.—The term 
‘participating partnership’ means an eligible partner-
ship for which the Secretary has approved a donation 
and distribution plan for eligible milk under sub-
section (c)(2). 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM REQUIRED; PURPOSES.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary shall establish and 
administer a milk donation program for the purposes of— 
‘‘(1) encouraging the donation of eligible milk; 
‘‘(2) providing nutrition assistance to individ-
uals in low-income groups; and 
‘‘(3) reducing food waste. 
‘‘(c) DONATION AND DISTRIBUTION PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive re-
imbursement under subsection (d), an eligible part-
nership shall submit to the Secretary a donation and 
distribution plan that—
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‘‘(A) describes the process that the eligible 
partnership will use for the donation, processing, 
transportation, temporary storage, and distribu-
tion of eligible milk; 
‘‘(B) includes an estimate of the quantity of 
eligible milk that the eligible partnership will do-
nate each year, based on— 
‘‘(i) preplanned donations; and 
‘‘(ii) contingency plans to address un-
anticipated donations; and 
‘‘(C) describes the rate at which the eligible 
partnership will be reimbursed, which shall be 
based on a percentage of the limitation described 
in subsection (e)(2). 
‘‘(2) REVIEW
AND
APPROVAL.—Not less fre-
quently than annually, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) review donation and distribution 
plans submitted under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) determine whether to approve or dis-
approve each of those donation and distribution 
plans. 
‘‘(d) REIMBURSEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On receipt of appropriate 
documentation under paragraph (2), the Secretary 
shall reimburse an eligible dairy organization that is
† HR 2 EAS 
a member of a participating partnership on a regular 
basis for qualified expenses described in subsection 
(e). 
‘‘(2) DOCUMENTATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible dairy orga-
nization shall submit to the Secretary such docu-
mentation as the Secretary may require to dem-
onstrate the qualified expenses described in sub-
section (e) of the eligible dairy organization. 
‘‘(B) VERIFICATION.—The Secretary may 
verify the accuracy of documentation submitted 
under subparagraph (A) by spot checks and au-
dits. 
‘‘(3) RETROACTIVE
REIMBURSEMENT.—In pro-
viding reimbursements under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary may provide reimbursements for qualified ex-
penses incurred before the date on which the donation 
and distribution plan for the applicable participating 
partnership was approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(e) QUALIFIED EXPENSES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The amount of a reimburse-
ment under subsection (d) shall be an amount equal 
to the product of— 
‘‘(A) the quantity of eligible milk donated 
by the eligible dairy organization under a dona-
† HR 2 EAS 
tion and distribution plan approved by the Sec-
retary under subsection (c); and 
‘‘(B) subject to the limitation under para-
graph (2), the rate described in that donation 
and distribution plan under subsection (c)(1)(C). 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Expenses eligible for reim-
bursement under subsection (d) shall not exceed the 
value that an eligible dairy organization incurred by 
accounting to the Federal milk marketing order pool 
at the difference in the Class I milk value and the 
lowest classified price for the applicable month (either 
Class III milk or Class IV milk). 
‘‘(f) PREAPPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) establish a process for an eligible part-
nership to apply for preapproval of donation 
and distribution plans under subsection (c); and 
‘‘(B) not less frequently than annually, 
preapprove an amount for qualified expenses de-
scribed in subsection (e) that the Secretary will 
allocate for reimbursement under each donation 
and distribution plan preapproved under sub-
paragraph (A), based on an assessment of— 
‘‘(i) the feasibility of the plan; and
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) the extent to which the plan ad-
vances the purposes described in subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(2) PREFERENCE.—In preapproving amounts 
for reimbursement under paragraph (1)(B), the Sec-
retary shall give preference to eligible partnerships 
that will provide funding and in-kind contributions 
in addition to the reimbursements. 
‘‘(3) ADJUSTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ad-
just or increase amounts preapproved for reim-
bursement under paragraph (1)(B) based on per-
formance and demand. 
‘‘(B) REQUESTS FOR INCREASE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish a procedure for a participating 
partnership to request an increase in the 
amount preapproved for reimbursement 
under paragraph (1)(B) based on changes 
in conditions. 
‘‘(ii) 
INTERIM
APPROVAL; 
INCRE-
MENTAL
INCREASE.—The Secretary may 
provide an interim approval of an increase 
requested under clause (i) and an incre-
mental increase in the amount of reim-
† HR 2 EAS 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1401 of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9051) is amended, in 
the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and part 
III’’. 
Subtitle E—Supplemental 
Agricultural Disaster Assistance 
SEC. 1501. SUPPLEMENTAL AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AS-
SISTANCE. 
(a) 
MEMBERS
OF
INDIAN
TRIBES.—Section 
1501(a)(1)(B) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9081(a)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as 
clauses (iv) and (v), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) an Indian tribe or tribal organi-
zation (as those terms are defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education 
Assistance 
Act 
(25 
U.S.C. 
5304));’’. 
(b) 
LIVESTOCK
INDEMNITY
PROGRAM.—Section 
1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘cold.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘cold, on the condition that in the case of 
the death loss of unweaned livestock due to that ad-
† HR 2 EAS 
verse weather, the Secretary may disregard any man-
agement practice, vaccination protocol, or lack of vac-
cination by the eligible producer on a farm.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) SHARING OF BISON MARKET VALUE DATA.— 
To ensure that payments made under this subsection 
relating to bison are consistent with the market value 
of bison, the Secretary shall annually seek input and 
data from the bison industry (including bison pro-
ducer groups) relating to the market value of bison.’’. 
(c) TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—Section 1501(e) of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘paragraph (4)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraphs (4) and (5)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) PAYMENT RATE FOR BEGINNING AND VET-
ERAN PRODUCERS.—Subject to paragraph (4), in the 
case of a beginning farmer or rancher or a veteran 
farmer or rancher (as those terms are defined in sec-
tion 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)) that is eli-
gible to receive assistance under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall provide reimbursement of 75 percent
† HR 2 EAS 
of the costs under subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of 
paragraph (3).’’. 
SEC. 1502. LOSS OF PEACH AND BLUEBERRY CROPS DUE TO 
EXTREME COLD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide com-
pensation for expenses relating to losses of peach and blue-
berry crops that occurred— 
(1) during calendar year 2017; and 
(2) due to extreme cold, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this sec-
tion $18,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
Subtitle F—Noninsured Crop 
Assistance 
SEC. 1601. NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(C) DATA
COLLECTION
AND
SHARING.— 
The Secretary shall coordinate with the Adminis-
trator of the Risk Management Agency on the
† HR 2 EAS 
type and format of data received under the non-
insured crop disaster assistance program that— 
‘‘(i) best facilitates the use of that data 
in developing policies or plans of insurance 
offered under the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.); and 
‘‘(ii) ensures the availability of that 
data on a regular basis. 
‘‘(D) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall 
coordinate between the agencies of the Depart-
ment that provide programs or services to farm-
ers and ranchers that are potentially eligible for 
the noninsured crop disaster assistance program 
under this section— 
‘‘(i) 
to 
make 
available 
coverage 
under— 
‘‘(I) the fee waiver under sub-
section (k)(2); or 
‘‘(II) the premium discount under 
subsection (l)(3); and 
‘‘(ii) to share eligibility information to 
reduce paperwork and avoid duplication.’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (4)—
† HR 2 EAS 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
clause (i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(I) 
AGRICULTURAL
ACT
OF 
2014.—As determined by the Secretary, 
native sod acreage that has been tilled 
for the production of a covered crop 
during the period beginning on Feb-
ruary 8, 2014, and ending on the date 
of enactment of the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018 shall be subject 
to 4 cumulative years of a reduction in 
benefits under this section as described 
in this subparagraph. 
‘‘(II) SUBSEQUENT YEARS.— 
‘‘(aa) NON-HAY
AND
NON- 
FORAGE CROPS.—During the first 
4 crop years of planting, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, native 
sod acreage that has been tilled for 
the production of a covered crop 
other than a hay or forage crop 
after the date of enactment of the 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 
2018 shall be subject to 4 cumu-
† HR 2 EAS 
lative years of a reduction in ben-
efits under this section as de-
scribed in this subparagraph. 
‘‘(bb) 
HAY
AND
FORAGE 
CROPS.—During each crop year of 
planting, as determined by the 
Secretary, native sod acreage that 
has been tilled for the production 
of a hay or forage crop after the 
date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018 
shall be subject to 4 cumulative 
years of a reduction in benefits 
under this section as described in 
this subparagraph.’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) 
as subparagraph (D); 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(B) the following: 
‘‘(C) NATIVE
SOD
CONVERSION
CERTIFI-
CATION.— 
‘‘(i) CERTIFICATION.—As a condition 
on the receipt of benefits under this section, 
a producer that has tilled native sod acre-
age for the production of an insurable crop
† HR 2 EAS 
as described in subparagraph (B)(i) shall 
certify to the Secretary that acreage using— 
‘‘(I) an acreage report form of the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA–578 or 
any successor form); and 
‘‘(II) 1 or more maps. 
‘‘(ii) CORRECTIONS.—Beginning on the 
date on which a producer submits a certifi-
cation under clause (i), as soon as prac-
ticable after the producer discovers a change 
in tilled native sod acreage described in 
that clause, the producer shall submit to the 
Secretary any appropriate corrections to a 
form or map described in subclause (I) or 
(II) of that clause. 
‘‘(iii) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—Not later 
than January 1, 2019, and each January 1 
thereafter through January 1, 2023, the 
Secretary 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 
that describes the tilled native sod acreage 
that has been certified under clause (i) in
† HR 2 EAS 
each county and State as of the date of sub-
mission of the report.’’; and 
(iv) in subparagraph (D) (as so redes-
ignated)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘This paragraph’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), this paragraph’’; and 
(II) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) ELECTION.—A governor of a 
State other than a State described in clause 
(i) may elect to have this paragraph apply 
to the State.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘not later 
than 30 days’’ and inserting ‘‘by an appropriate 
deadline’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) STREAMLINED SUBMISSION PROCESS.—The 
Secretary shall establish a streamlined process for the 
submission of records and acreage reports under 
paragraphs (2) and (3) for— 
‘‘(A) diverse production systems such as 
those typical of urban production systems, other
† HR 2 EAS 
small-scale production systems, and direct-to- 
consumer production systems; and 
‘‘(B) additional coverage under subsection 
(l)— 
‘‘(i) for maximum liabilities not great-
er than $100,000; and 
‘‘(ii) that is equivalent to the process 
described in the regulations for microloan 
operating loans under parts 761 and 764 of 
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in 
effect on the date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018).’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), 
and (3) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respec-
tively; 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(1) the producer’s share of the total acres de-
voted to the eligible crop; by’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘established yield for the crop’’ and 
inserting ‘‘approved yield for the crop, as deter-
mined by the Secretary’’; 
(4) in subsection (e)—
† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘farm’’ 
and inserting ‘‘approved’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the second sentence— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘approved’’ before 
‘‘yield’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘Subject’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(B) CALCULATION.—Subject’’; and 
(ii) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (B) (as so designated)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘yield coverage’’ 
and inserting ‘‘an approved yield’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘transi-
tional yield of the producer’’ and inserting 
‘‘county expected yield’’; 
(5) in subsection (i)(2), by striking ‘‘exceed 
$125,000’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘exceed— 
‘‘(A) in the case of catastrophic coverage 
under subsection (c), $125,000; and
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) in the case of additional coverage 
under subsection (l), $300,000’’; 
(6) in subsection (k)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘$250’’ and inserting ‘‘$325’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘$750’’ and inserting 
‘‘$825’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘$1,875’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1,950’’; and 
(7) in subsection (l)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A), (B), and (C) as subparagraphs (B), 
(C), and (D), respectively; 
(ii) by inserting before subparagraph 
(B) (as so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(A) the producer’s share of the total acres 
devoted to the crop;’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so redes-
ignated), by inserting ‘‘, contract price, or 
other premium price (such as a local, or-
ganic, or direct market price, as elected by 
the producer)’’ after ‘‘price’’; 
(B) by striking paragraphs (3) and (5); and
† HR 2 EAS 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
paragraph (3). 
SEC. 1602. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PRO-
DUCERS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF QUALIFYING NATURAL DISASTER 
DECLARATION.—In this section, the term ‘‘qualifying nat-
ural disaster declaration’’ means— 
(1) a natural disaster declared by the Secretary 
under section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a)); or 
(2) a major disaster or emergency designated by 
the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 
et seq.). 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.—As 
soon as practicable after October 1, 2018, the Secretary 
shall make available assistance under section 196 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
(7 U.S.C. 7333) to producers of an eligible crop (as defined 
in subsection (a)(2) of that section) that suffered losses in 
a county covered by a qualifying natural disaster declara-
tion for production losses due to volcanic activity. 
(c) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall make assistance 
available under subsection (b) in an amount equal to the 
amount of assistance determined under section 196(d) of the
† HR 2 EAS 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
(7 U.S.C. 7333(d)), less any fees that are owed by producers 
under section 196(k) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 7333(k)). 
Subtitle G—Administration 
SEC. 1701. REGULATIONS. 
Section 1601(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 9091(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘title and sections 11003 and 11017’’ and 
inserting ‘‘title, sections 11003 and 11017, title I of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and the 
amendments made by that title, and section 10109 of 
that Act’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(4) by striking subparagraph (C). 
SEC. 1702. SUSPENSION OF PERMANENT PRICE SUPPORT 
AUTHORITY. 
Section 1602 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9092) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 1703. IMPLEMENTATION. 
Section 1614 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9097) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(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, includ-
ing through the implementation of the Acreage Crop 
Reporting and Streamlining 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 Depart-
ment of Agriculture; 
‘‘(B) the Department of Agriculture collects 
and collates producer information that allows 
cross-agency collation, including by— 
‘‘(i) using farm numbers, common- 
land-unit identifiers, or other common iden-
tifiers to enable data across the farm pro-
duction and conservation mission area to be 
collated by farm, field, and operator or 
owner;
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) recording and making available 
data at the smallest possible unit, such as 
field-level; and 
‘‘(iii) harmonizing methods for deter-
mining yields and property descriptions; 
and 
‘‘(C) on 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, conservation practices and other in-
formation of the producer through a single De-
partment-wide login; 
‘‘(2) improve coordination, information sharing, 
and administrative work with the Farm Service 
Agency, the Risk Management Agency, the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, and other agencies, 
as determined appropriate by the Secretary, includ-
ing by— 
‘‘(A) streamlining processes and reducing 
paperwork for cross-agency interactions, such as 
acreage reports and conservation compliance de-
terminations; and
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) utilizing common acreage reporting 
processes to collect relevant field-level data such 
that a producer— 
‘‘(i) has the option to report— 
‘‘(I) to any of those agencies; and 
‘‘(II) electronically; and 
‘‘(ii) does not need to report duplica-
tive information; and 
‘‘(3) take advantage of new technologies to en-
hance the efficiency and effectiveness of program de-
livery to producers, including by— 
‘‘(A) providing an option, as practicable, 
for uploading other farm- or field-level data that 
is unrelated to program requirements, such as 
input costs or field characteristics, such as soil 
test results; 
‘‘(B) maintaining historical information 
and allowing users to examine trends on a field- 
or farm-level; 
‘‘(C) providing access to agency tools, such 
as farm- or field-level estimates of benefits of ex-
isting or prospective conservation practices; 
‘‘(D) developing data standards and secu-
rity procedures to allow optional precision agri-
culture or other third-party providers to develop
† HR 2 EAS 
applications to use or feed into the datasets and 
analysis; and 
‘‘(E) developing methods to summarize the 
improved yield or reduced risk relating to con-
servation best practices through cooperative ex-
tension services or other similar means, while en-
suring the privacy of individual producers.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) DEOBLIGATION
OF
UNLIQUIDATED
OBLIGA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
any payment obligated or otherwise made available 
by the Secretary under this title on or after the date 
of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
2018 that is not disbursed to the recipient by the date 
that is 5 years after the date on which the payment 
is obligated or otherwise made available shall— 
‘‘(A) be deobligated; and 
‘‘(B) revert to the Treasury. 
‘‘(2) OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph 
(3), any payment obligated or otherwise made 
available by the Farm Service Agency (or any 
predecessor agency of the Department of Agri-
† HR 2 EAS 
culture) under the laws described in subpara-
graph (B) before the date of enactment of the Ag-
riculture Improvement Act of 2018, that is not 
disbursed by the date that is 5 years after the 
date on which the payment is obligated or other-
wise made available shall— 
‘‘(i) be deobligated; and 
‘‘(ii) revert to the Treasury. 
‘‘(B) LAWS DESCRIBED.—The laws referred 
to in subparagraph (A) are any of the following: 
‘‘(i) This title. 
‘‘(ii) Title I of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8702 et 
seq.). 
‘‘(iii) Title I of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
7901 et seq.). 
‘‘(iv) The Agricultural Market Transi-
tion Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.). 
‘‘(v) Titles I through XI of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 (Public Law 101–624; 104 Stat. 3374) 
and the amendments made by those titles. 
‘‘(vi) Titles I through X of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–198;
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99 Stat. 1362) and the amendments made 
by those titles. 
‘‘(vii) Titles I through XI of the Agri-
culture and Food Act of 1981 (Public Law 
97–98; 95 Stat. 1218) and the amendments 
made by those titles. 
‘‘(viii) Titles I through X of the Food 
and Agriculture Act of 1977 (Public Law 
95–113; 91 Stat. 917) and the amendments 
made by those titles. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may delay the 
date of the deobligation and reversion under para-
graph (1) or (2) of any payment— 
‘‘(A) that is the subject of— 
‘‘(i) ongoing administrative review or 
appeal; 
‘‘(ii) litigation; or 
‘‘(iii) the settlement of an estate; or 
‘‘(B) for which the Secretary otherwise de-
termines that the circumstances are such that the 
delay is equitable.’’.
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SEC. 1704. DEFINITION OF SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION OF 
ACTIVE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT. 
Section 1001(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 
U.S.C. 1308(a)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(6) SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTION
OF
ACTIVE 
PERSONAL MANAGEMENT.—The term ‘significant con-
tribution of active personal management’ means ac-
tive personal management activities performed by a 
person with a direct or indirect ownership interest in 
the farming operation on a regular, continuous, and 
substantial basis to the farming operation, and that 
meet at least one of the following to be considered sig-
nificant: 
‘‘(A) Are performed for at least 25 percent 
of the total management hours required for the 
farming operation on an annual basis. 
‘‘(B) Are performed for at least 500 hours 
annually for the farming operation.’’. 
SEC. 1705. ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN FARMING REQUIREMENT. 
Section 1001A(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 
U.S.C. 1308–1(b)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN FARMING REQUIRE-
MENT.—
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this section, section 1001, and 
sections 1001B through 1001F, and any regula-
tions to implement those provisions or sections, 
the Secretary shall consider not more than 1 per-
son or legal entity per farming operation to be 
actively engaged in farming using active per-
sonal management. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may 
only consider a person or legal entity to be ac-
tively engaged in farming using active personal 
management under subparagraph (A) if the per-
son or legal entity— 
‘‘(i) together with other persons or legal 
entities in the farming operation qualifying 
as actively engaged in farming under para-
graph (2), does not collectively receive, di-
rectly or indirectly, an amount equal to 
more than the limitation under section 
1001(b); 
‘‘(ii) does not use the active manage-
ment contribution allowed under this sec-
tion to qualify as actively engaged in farm-
ing in more than 1 farming operation; and
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‘‘(iii) manages a farming operation 
that does not substantially share equipment, 
labor, or management with persons or legal 
entities that, together with the person or 
legal entity, collectively receive, directly or 
indirectly, an amount equal to more than 
the limitation under section 1001(b).’’. 
SEC. 1706. ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME LIMITATION. 
Section 1001D(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)(1)) is amended by striking 
‘‘$900,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$700,000’’. 
SEC. 1707. BASE ACRES REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review the es-
tablishment, calculation, reallocation, adjustment, and re-
duction of base acres under part II of subtitle A of title 
I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011 et seq.). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, 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 describing the results of the review 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1708. FARM SERVICE AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with
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the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture, 
shall establish policies, procedures, and plans to improve 
program accountability and integrity through targeted and 
coordinated activities, including utilizing data mining to 
identify and reduce errors, waste, fraud, and abuse in pro-
grams administered by the Farm Service Agency. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 
fiscal year 2023, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate a report describing a summary of— 
(1) the existing efforts of the Department of Agri-
culture to eliminate errors, waste, fraud, and abuse, 
including efforts that involve coordination with other 
departments or agencies; 
(2) identified weaknesses or program integrity 
issues that contribute to errors, waste, fraud, and 
abuse in Farm Service Agency programs and plans 
for actions to be taken to address and reduce those 
weaknesses or program integrity issues; 
(3) the existing and planned data sampling and 
mining activities of the Farm Service Agency; 
(4) errors, waste, fraud, or abuse identified 
through activities under subsection (a); and
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(5) any plans for administrative actions or rec-
ommendations for legislative changes relating to re-
ducing errors, waste, fraud, and abuse in programs of 
the Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 1709. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) Section 1112(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(7 U.S.C. 9012(c)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph 
(A) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) Any acreage on the farm enrolled in— 
‘‘(i) the conservation reserve program 
established under subchapter B of chapter 1 
of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.); 
or 
‘‘(ii) a wetland reserve easement under 
section 1265C of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c).’’. 
(b) Section 1614(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 9097(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘pursuant 2 
U.S.C. 901(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘pursuant to section 
251(a) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(a))’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘subtitles B’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘subtitle B’’.
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TITLE II—CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Conservation Reserve 
Program 
SEC. 2101. EXTENSION AND ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS 
OF CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM. 
Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3831) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end and inserting ‘‘and’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘Ag-
ricultural Act of 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘(F) each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, 
not more than 25,000,000 acres.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘limitations’’ and 
inserting ‘‘limitation’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘may’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘shall’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘land with expir-
ing’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘land, as determined by the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) with expiring’’; 
(III) in clause (i) (as so des-
ignated), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(IV) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) at risk of conversion or develop-
ment; or 
‘‘(iii) of ecological significance, includ-
ing land that—
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(I) may assist in the restoration 
of threatened or endangered species 
under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
‘‘(II) may assist in preventing a 
species from being listed as a threat-
ened or endangered species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or 
‘‘(III) improves or creates wildlife 
habitat corridors.’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘the Secretary 
shall make’’ and inserting ‘‘the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(i) make’’; 
(II) in clause (i) (as so des-
ignated), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) offer enrollment under subpara-
graph (A) during any period that any other 
land may be enrolled in the conservation re-
serve.’’; and
† HR 2 EAS 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE.— 
‘‘(A) GRASSLANDS AND CONTINUOUS SIGN- 
UP.—With respect to enrollment in the conserva-
tion reserve program using continuous sign-up 
under section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii) or of grassland 
described in subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall 
allow producers to submit applications for en-
rollment on a continuous basis. 
‘‘(B) ANNUAL ENROLLMENT.—Subject to the 
availability of acreage for enrollment in the con-
servation reserve program for a fiscal year in ac-
cordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
enter into contracts under the conservation re-
serve program for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(4) STATE
ACRES
FOR
WILDLIFE
ENHANCE-
MENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of ap-
plying the limitations in paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall give priority to land— 
‘‘(i) enrolled in the conservation reserve 
program using continuous sign-up under 
section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii); and 
‘‘(ii) on which practices to maintain, 
enhance, or restore wildlife habitat on land
† HR 2 EAS 
designated as a State acres for wildlife en-
hancement area under subsection (j)(1) shall 
be conducted. 
‘‘(B) ACREAGE.—Of the acres maintained 
in the conservation reserve in accordance with 
paragraph (1), to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, not less than 30 percent of acres enrolled 
in the conservation reserve using continuous 
sign-up under section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii) shall be 
of land described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(5) ENROLLMENT
OF
WATER
QUALITY
PRAC-
TICES
TO
FOSTER
CLEAN
LAKES, ESTUARIES, AND 
RIVERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of apply-
ing the limitation in paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall give priority to the enrollment in the 
conservation reserve program under this sub-
chapter of land that, as determined by the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) will have a positive impact on 
water quality; and 
‘‘(ii)(I) will be devoted to— 
‘‘(aa) a grass sod waterway; 
‘‘(bb) a contour grass sod strip; 
‘‘(cc) a prairie strip;
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‘‘(dd) a filterstrip; 
‘‘(ee) a riparian buffer; 
‘‘(ff) a wetland or a wetland buff-
er; 
‘‘(gg) a saturated buffer; 
‘‘(hh) a bioreactor; or 
‘‘(ii) another similar water qual-
ity practice, as determined by the Sec-
retary; or 
‘‘(II) will be enrolled in the conserva-
tion reserve program using continuous sign- 
up under section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii). 
‘‘(B) SEDIMENT
AND
NUTRIENT
LOAD-
INGS.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall consider land that— 
‘‘(i) is located in a watershed impacted 
by sediment and nutrient; and 
‘‘(ii) if enrolled, will reduce sediment 
loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful 
algal blooms, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(C) ACREAGE.—Of the acres maintained 
in the conservation reserve in accordance with 
paragraph (1), to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, not less than 40 percent of acres enrolled
† HR 2 EAS 
in the conservation reserve using continuous 
sign-up under section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii) shall be 
of land described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(D) REPORT.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) in the monthly publication of the 
Secretary describing conservation reserve 
program statistics, include a description of 
enrollments through the priority under this 
paragraph; and 
‘‘(ii) publish on the website of the 
Farm Service Agency an annual report de-
scribing a summary of, with respect to the 
enrollment priority under this paragraph— 
‘‘(I) new enrollments; 
‘‘(II) expirations; 
‘‘(III) 
geographic 
distribution; 
and 
‘‘(IV) estimated water quality 
benefits.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe, in 
consultation with the applicable State technical com-
mittee established under section 1261(a), may submit 
to the Secretary a request to designate within the
† HR 2 EAS 
State or territory of the Indian Tribe a State acres 
for wildlife enhancement area (referred to in this sub-
section as a ‘SAFE area’) in accordance with this 
subsection. 
‘‘(2) REQUESTS.—A request submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) include a description of— 
‘‘(i) the specific wildlife species that 
would benefit from the creation of the habi-
tat; 
‘‘(ii) the number of acres requested for 
enrollment; 
‘‘(iii) the geographic area where the 
habitat would be created; and 
‘‘(iv) the 1 or more specific practices to 
be conducted for the benefit of the wildlife 
species described in clause (i); 
‘‘(B) be in accordance with State or na-
tional wildlife habitat plans or goals; and 
‘‘(C) include a wildlife monitoring and 
evaluation plan. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—The Secretary may give pri-
ority to requests submitted under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) that cover an area—
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) on which the habitat for a par-
ticular species may be declining or in dan-
ger of declining; 
‘‘(ii) the designation of which would 
help— 
‘‘(I) to prevent the listing of a 
species as a threatened species or an 
endangered species under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.); or 
‘‘(II) to remove a species from the 
list of threatened species or endangered 
species under that Act; 
‘‘(iii) that is adjacent to other con-
servation land, including to establish wild-
life corridors and large blocks of conserva-
tion land; or 
‘‘(iv) that provides economic or social 
value to the local community for outdoor 
recreation activities; or 
‘‘(B) that include a commitment of funds 
from which to pay for incentive payments to an 
agricultural producer that enrolls land in the 
conservation reserve program within a SAFE 
area.
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(4) REGIONAL BALANCE.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable, the Secretary shall maintain a re-
gional balance in the designation of SAFE areas. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) in the monthly publication of the Sec-
retary describing conservation reserve program 
statistics, include a description of enrollments in 
SAFE areas; and 
‘‘(B) publish on the website of the Farm 
Service Agency an annual report describing a 
summary of, with respect to SAFE areas— 
‘‘(i) new enrollments; 
‘‘(ii) expirations; 
‘‘(iii) geographic distribution; and 
‘‘(iv) estimated wildlife benefits.’’. 
SEC. 2102. FARMABLE WETLAND PROGRAM. 
Section 1231B(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3831b(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 2103. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
(a) COST-SHARE AND RENTAL PAYMENTS.—Section 
1233(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3833(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including the cost 
of fencing and other water distribution practices, if appli-
cable’’ after ‘‘interest’’.
† HR 2 EAS 
(b) SPECIFIED
ACTIVITIES
PERMITTED.—Section 
1233(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3833(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (5); 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as subpara-
graph (C) and indenting appropriately; 
(3) by inserting before subparagraph (C) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(B) harvesting, grazing, or other commer-
cial use of the forage, without any reduction in 
the rental rate, in response to— 
‘‘(i) drought; 
‘‘(ii) flooding; 
‘‘(iii) a state of emergency caused by 
drought or wildfire— 
‘‘(I) that is declared by the Gov-
ernor, in consultation with the State 
Committee of the Farm Service Agen-
cy, of the State in which the land that 
is subject to a contract under the con-
servation reserve program is located; 
‘‘(II) that covers any part of the 
State or the entire State; and 
‘‘(III) the declaration of which 
under subclause (I) is not objected to
† HR 2 EAS 
by the Secretary during the 5 business 
days after the date of declaration; or 
‘‘(iv) any other emergency, as deter-
mined by the Secretary;’’; 
(4) in the matter preceding subparagraph (B) 
(as so designated), by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; 
(5) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)— 
(A) by inserting before subparagraph (B) 
(as so designated) the following: 
‘‘(A) consistent with the conservation of soil, 
water quality, and wildlife habitat— 
‘‘(i) managed harvesting and other 
commercial use (including the managed 
harvesting of biomass), in exchange for a re-
duction in the annual rental rate of 25 per-
cent for the acres covered by the activity, ex-
cept that in permitting those activities, the 
Secretary, in consultation with the State 
technical committee established under sec-
tion 1261(a) for the applicable State, 
shall— 
‘‘(I) develop appropriate vegeta-
tion management requirements;
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(II) subject harvesting to restric-
tions during the primary nesting sea-
son for birds in the area, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the State technical com-
mittee; 
‘‘(III) not allow harvesting to 
occur more frequently than once every 
3 years on the same land; and 
‘‘(IV) not allow more than 1⁄3 of 
the acres covered by all of the conserva-
tion reserve program contracts of the 
owner or operator to be harvested dur-
ing any year; and 
‘‘(ii) grazing, in exchange for a reduc-
tion in the annual rental rate of 25 percent 
for the acres covered by the activity, except 
that in permitting that grazing, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the State tech-
nical committee established under section 
1261(a) for the applicable State, shall— 
‘‘(I) develop appropriate vegeta-
tion management requirements and 
stocking rates, based on stocking rates 
under the livestock forage disaster pro-
† HR 2 EAS 
gram established under section 1501(c) 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 9081(c)) (referred to in this 
subsection as the ‘livestock forage dis-
aster program’), for the land that are 
suitable for continued grazing; 
‘‘(II) identify the periods during 
which grazing may be conducted, tak-
ing into consideration regional dif-
ferences, such as— 
‘‘(aa) climate, soil type, and 
natural resources; 
‘‘(bb) the appropriate fre-
quency and duration of grazing 
activities; and 
‘‘(cc) how often during a 
year in which grazing is per-
mitted that grazing should be al-
lowed to occur; 
‘‘(III) not allow grazing to occur 
more frequently than once every 3 
years on the same land; 
‘‘(IV)(aa) in the case of a con-
servation reserve program contract that 
covers more than 20 acres, not allow
† HR 2 EAS 
more than 1⁄3 of the acres covered by 
all of the conservation reserve program 
contracts of the owner or operator to be 
grazed during any year; or 
‘‘(bb) in the case of a con-
servation reserve program con-
tract that covers less than or equal 
to 20 acres, allow grazing on all 
of the land covered by the contract 
at 25 percent of the stocking rate 
permitted under the livestock for-
age disaster program; and 
‘‘(V) allow a veteran or beginning 
farmer or rancher to graze livestock 
without any reduction in the rental 
rate; and’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a pe-
riod; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTIONS
AND
CONDITIONS.—Para-
graph (1)(A) shall be subject to the following restric-
tions and conditions: 
‘‘(A) 
SEVERE
OR
HIGHER
INTENSITY 
DROUGHT.—Land located in a county that has
† HR 2 EAS 
retary or established under section 1231(j) 
through the duration of that contract, if grazing 
or harvesting is specifically permitted under the 
applicable State acres for wildlife enhancement 
program agreement for that contract. 
‘‘(D) CONSERVATION
RESERVE
ENHANCE-
MENT PROGRAM.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the State technical committee established 
under section 1261(a) for the applicable State, 
may allow grazing or harvesting under para-
graph (1)(A) to be conducted on land covered by 
a contract enrolled under the conservation re-
serve enhancement program established by the 
Secretary under this subchapter or under section 
1231A, if grazing or harvesting is specifically 
permitted under the applicable conservation re-
serve enhancement program agreement for that 
contract.’’. 
(c) HARVESTING AND GRAZING.—Section 1233 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) HARVESTING AND GRAZING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the State technical committee established 
under section 1261(a) for the applicable State, may
† HR 2 EAS 
permit harvesting and grazing in accordance with 
subsection (b) on any land subject to a contract under 
the conservation reserve program. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the applicable State technical committee es-
tablished under section 1261(a), may determine for 
any year that harvesting or grazing described in 
paragraph (1) shall not be permitted on land subject 
to a contract under the conservation reserve program 
in a particular county, or under a particular prac-
tice, if harvesting or grazing for that year in that 
county or under that practice, as applicable, would 
cause long-term damage to vegetative cover on that 
land.’’. 
SEC. 2104. PAYMENTS. 
Section 1234 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3834) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (A) 
(as so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(1) SIGNING
AND
PRACTICE
INCENTIVE
PAY-
MENTS.—
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a contin-
uous enrollment contract, the Secretary may 
make an incentive payment to an owner or oper-
ator of eligible land in an amount sufficient to 
encourage participation in the program estab-
lished under this subchapter. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON MAKING PAYMENTS.— 
The Secretary may only make an incentive pay-
ment under subparagraph (A) if the national av-
erage market price received by producers during 
the previous 12-month marketing year for major 
covered commodities is greater than the national 
average market price received by producers dur-
ing the most recent 10 marketing years for major 
covered commodities. 
‘‘(2) TREE THINNING AND OTHER PRACTICES.— 
’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)(B) (as so designated), 
by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
paragraph (A)’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Secretary may’’ and 
inserting the following: ‘‘Secretary— 
‘‘(i) may’’;
† HR 2 EAS 
(ii) in clause (i) (as so designated), by 
striking the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) shall prioritize the enrollment of 
marginal and environmentally sensitive 
land that is the subject of the contract 
offer.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘other’’ before ‘‘year,’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘The Secretary 
may use’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to 
paragraph (3)(A)(ii), with respect to’’; 
and 
(II) by striking ‘‘rental rates’’ the 
first place it appears and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘rental 
rates, 
the 
Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) shall apply the limitation de-
scribed in subsection (g)(1); and 
‘‘(ii) may use the estimates’’; and
† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) RENTAL
RATE
LIMITATION.—Except 
in the case of an incentive payment under sub-
section (c), a payment under this subchapter 
shall not exceed 88.5 percent of the estimated 
rental rate determined under subparagraph 
(A).’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The 
total’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), the total’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) WELLHEAD
PROTECTION.—Paragraph (1) 
and section 1001D(b) shall not apply to rental pay-
ments received by a rural water district or associa-
tion for land that is enrolled under this subchapter 
for the purpose of protecting a wellhead.’’. 
SEC. 2105. CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter B of chapter 1 of sub-
title D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is 
amended by inserting after section 1231 (16 U.S.C. 3831) 
the following:
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‘‘SEC. 1231A. CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘eligible land’ 
means land that is eligible to be included in the pro-
gram established under this subchapter. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
PARTNER.—The term ‘eligible 
partner’ means— 
‘‘(A) a State; 
‘‘(B) a political subdivision of a State; 
‘‘(C) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); 
‘‘(D) a nongovernmental organization; 
‘‘(E) an institution of higher education (as 
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))); 
‘‘(F) a State cooperative extension service; 
‘‘(G) a research institute; and 
‘‘(H) any other entity, as determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) MANAGEMENT.—The term ‘management’ 
means an activity conducted by an owner or operator 
under a contract entered into under this subchapter 
after the establishment of a conservation practice on 
eligible land, to regularly maintain or enhance the
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vegetative cover established by the conservation prac-
tice— 
‘‘(A) throughout the term of the contract; 
and 
‘‘(B) consistent with the conservation plan 
that covers the eligible land. 
‘‘(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means a 
conservation reserve enhancement program carried 
out under an agreement under subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into an agreement with an eligible partner to carry 
out a conservation reserve enhancement program— 
‘‘(A) to assist in enrolling eligible land in 
the program established under this subchapter; 
and 
‘‘(B) that the Secretary determines will ad-
vance the purposes of this subchapter. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—An agreement entered into 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) describe— 
‘‘(i) 1 or more specific State or nation-
ally significant conservation concerns to be 
addressed by the agreement;
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‘‘(ii) quantifiable environmental goals 
for addressing the concerns under clause (i); 
‘‘(iii) a suitable acreage goal for enroll-
ment of eligible land under the agreement, 
as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(iv) the location of eligible land to be 
enrolled in the project area identified under 
the agreement; 
‘‘(v) the payments to be offered by the 
Secretary and eligible partner to an owner 
or operator; and 
‘‘(vi) an appropriate list of conserva-
tion reserve program conservation practice 
standards, including any modifications to 
the practice standards, that are appropriate 
to meeting the concerns described under 
clause (i), as determined by the Secretary 
in consultation with eligible partners; and 
‘‘(B) require the eligible partner to provide 
funds. 
‘‘(3) EFFECT ON EXISTING AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), an agreement under this subsection 
shall not affect, modify, or interfere with existing 
agreements under this subchapter.
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‘‘(B) MODIFICATION OF EXISTING AGREE-
MENTS.—To implement this section, the signato-
ries to an agreement under this subsection may 
mutually agree to a modification of an agree-
ment entered into before the date of enactment of 
this section under the Conservation Reserve En-
hancement Program established by the Secretary 
under this subchapter. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) FUNDING REQUIREMENT.—Funds provided 
by an eligible partner may be in cash, in-kind con-
tributions, or technical assistance. 
‘‘(2) MARGINAL PASTURELAND COST-SHARE PAY-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that cost-share 
payments to an owner or operator to install stream 
fencing, crossings, and alternative water development 
on marginal pastureland under a program reflect the 
fair market value of the cost of installation. 
‘‘(3) COST-SHARE AND PRACTICE INCENTIVE PAY-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—On request of an owner 
or operator, the Secretary shall provide cost- 
share payments when a major conservation prac-
tice component is completed under a program, as 
determined by the Secretary.
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‘‘(B) ASSIGNMENT
TO
ELIGIBLE
PART-
NER.—An owner or operator may assign cost- 
share and practice incentive payments to an eli-
gible partner if the eligible partner installs the 
conservation practice or conducts the ongoing 
management of the conservation practice on be-
half of the owner or operator. 
‘‘(4) RIPARIAN
BUFFER
MANAGEMENT
PAY-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an agree-
ment under subsection (b)(1) that includes ripar-
ian buffers as an eligible practice, the Secretary 
shall make cost-share payments to encourage the 
regular management of the riparian buffer 
throughout the term of the agreement, consistent 
with the conservation plan that covers the eligi-
ble land. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The amount of pay-
ments received by an owner or operator under 
subparagraph (A) shall not be greater than 100 
percent of the normal and customary projected 
management cost, as determined by the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the applicable State 
technical committee established under section 
1261(a).
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‘‘(d) FORESTED RIPARIAN BUFFER PRACTICE.— 
‘‘(1) FOOD-PRODUCING WOODY PLANTS.—In the 
case of an agreement under subsection (b)(1) that in-
cludes forested riparian buffers as an eligible practice, 
the Secretary shall allow an owner or operator— 
‘‘(A) to plant food-producing woody plants 
in the forested riparian buffers, on the conditions 
that— 
‘‘(i) the plants shall contribute to the 
conservation of soil, water quality, and 
wildlife habitat; and 
‘‘(ii) the planting shall be consistent 
with— 
‘‘(I) recommendations of the ap-
plicable State technical committee es-
tablished under section 1261(a); and 
‘‘(II) technical guide standards of 
the applicable field office of the Nat-
ural Resources Conservation Service; 
and 
‘‘(B) to harvest from plants described in 
subparagraph (A), on the conditions that— 
‘‘(i) the harvesting shall not damage 
the conserving cover or otherwise have a
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† HR 2 EAS 
negative impact on the conservation con-
cerns targeted by the program; and 
‘‘(ii) only native plant species appro-
priate to the region shall be used within 35 
feet of the watercourse. 
‘‘(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—For the purpose 
of enrolling forested riparian buffers in a program, 
the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, in 
consultation with the Chief of the Forest Service— 
‘‘(A) shall provide funds for technical assist-
ance directly to a State forestry agency; and 
‘‘(B) is encouraged to partner with a non-
governmental organization— 
‘‘(i) to make recommendations for con-
servation practices under the program; 
‘‘(ii) to provide technical assistance 
necessary to carry out the conservation 
practices recommended under clause (i); 
and 
‘‘(iii) to implement riparian buffers 
by— 
‘‘(I) pooling and submitting ap-
plications on behalf of owners and op-
erators in a specific watershed; and
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‘‘(II) carrying out management 
activities for the duration of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(e) ACREAGE.—Of the acres of land maintained in 
the conservation reserve in accordance with section 
1231(d)(1), to the maximum extent practicable, not less 
than 20 percent of the acres enrolled in the conservation 
reserve program using continuous sign-up under section 
1234(d)(2)(A)(ii) shall be enrolled under an agreement 
under subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(f) STATUS REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report that describes, with respect to each agree-
ment entered into under subsection (b)(1)— 
‘‘(1) the status of the agreement; 
‘‘(2) the purposes and objectives of the agreement; 
‘‘(3) the Federal and eligible partner commit-
ments made under the agreement; and 
‘‘(4) the progress made in fulfilling those com-
mitments.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1240R(c)(3) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5(c)(3)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘a special conservation reserve enhancement 
program described in section 1234(f)(4)’’ and insert-
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† HR 2 EAS 
ing ‘‘the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program 
under section 1231A’’. 
(2) Section 1244(f)(3) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(f)(3)) is amended by striking 
‘‘subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2) of section 1234’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 1231A or 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii)’’. 
SEC. 2106. CONTRACTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1235 of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (e); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (f) through (h) 
as subsections (e) through (g), respectively; 
(3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘retired farmer or 
rancher’’ and inserting ‘‘contract holder’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘retired or retiring 
owner or operator’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘contract holder’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A), in the mat-
ter preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘1 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘2 years’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘purchase, including a lease with a term of
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† HR 2 EAS 
less than 5 years and an option to’’ before 
‘‘purchase)’’; 
(v) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(vi) by redesignating subparagraph 
(E) as subparagraph (F); and 
(vii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D) the following: 
‘‘(E) give priority to the enrollment of the 
land in— 
‘‘(i) the conservation stewardship pro-
gram established under subchapter B of 
chapter 2; 
‘‘(ii) the environmental quality incen-
tives program established under chapter 4; 
or 
‘‘(iii) the agricultural conservation 
easement program established under subtitle 
H; and’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking 
‘‘under 
the’’ 
and 
inserting 
the 
following: 
‘‘under— 
‘‘(i) the conservation reserve program 
for 
grasslands 
described 
in 
section 
1231(b)(3); or
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) the’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) OWNER OR OPERATOR ELECTION RELATING TO 
CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION
OF
COVERED
CONTRACT.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘covered contract’ means a 
contract entered into under this subchapter— 
‘‘(A) during the period beginning on the 
date of enactment of this subsection and ending 
on September 30, 2023; and 
‘‘(B) that covers land enrolled in the con-
servation reserve program— 
‘‘(i) under the clean lakes, estuaries, 
and rivers priority described in section 
1231(d)(5); or 
‘‘(ii) that is located in a State acres 
for wildlife enhancement area under section 
1231(j). 
‘‘(2) ELECTION.—On the expiration of a covered 
contract, an owner or operator party to the covered 
contract shall elect— 
‘‘(A) not to reenroll the land under the con-
tract; 
‘‘(B) to reenroll the land under the contract, 
on the conditions that—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) the annual rental payment shall 
be decreased by 40 percent; and 
‘‘(ii) no incentive payments shall be 
provided under the contract; or 
‘‘(C) not to reenroll the land under the con-
tract and to enroll the land under the contract 
in a conservation reserve easement under section 
1231C. 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—On the expiration of a cov-
ered contract, if land enrolled in the conservation re-
serve program under that contract is determined by 
the Secretary to not be suitable for permanent protec-
tion through a conservation reserve easement under 
section 1231C, notwithstanding paragraph (2)(B), the 
Secretary shall allow the land to be reenrolled under 
the terms of the conservation reserve program in effect 
on the date of expiration.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1241(a)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3841(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘1235(f)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘1235(e)’’. 
SEC. 2107. CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENTS. 
Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting 
after section 1231B (16 U.S.C. 3831b) the following:
106 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘SEC. 1231C. CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) ENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall offer to 
enroll land in the conservation reserve program 
through a conservation reserve easement in accord-
ance with this section. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION OF ACREAGE LIMITATION.—For 
purposes of applying the limitations in section 
1231(d)(1), the Secretary shall not count acres of land 
enrolled under this section. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE LAND.—Only land subject to an ex-
pired covered contract (as defined in section 1235(h)(1)) 
shall be eligible for enrollment through a conservation re-
serve easement under this section. 
‘‘(c) TERM.—The term of a conservation reserve ease-
ment shall be— 
‘‘(1) permanent; or 
‘‘(2) the maximum period allowed by State law. 
‘‘(d) AGREEMENTS.—To be eligible to enroll land in 
the conservation reserve program through a conservation re-
serve easement, the owner of the land shall enter into an 
agreement with the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) to grant an easement on the land to the Sec-
retary;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) to implement a conservation reserve ease-
ment plan developed for the land under subsection 
(h)(1); 
‘‘(3) to create and record an appropriate deed re-
striction in accordance with applicable State law to 
reflect the easement; 
‘‘(4) to provide a written statement of consent to 
the easement signed by any person holding a security 
interest in the land; 
‘‘(5) to comply with the terms and conditions of 
the easement and any related agreements; and 
‘‘(6) to permanently retire any existing base his-
tory for the land covered by the easement. 
‘‘(e) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EASEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A conservation reserve ease-
ment shall include terms and conditions that— 
‘‘(A) permit— 
‘‘(i) repairs, improvements, and in-
spections on the land that are necessary to 
maintain existing public drainage systems; 
and 
‘‘(ii) owners to control public access on 
the land while identifying access routes to 
be used for restoration activities and man-
agement and easement monitoring;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) prohibit— 
‘‘(i) the alteration of wildlife habitat 
and other natural features of the land, un-
less specifically authorized by the Secretary 
as part of the conservation reserve easement 
plan; 
‘‘(ii) the spraying of the land with 
chemicals or the mowing of the land, except 
where the spraying or mowing is authorized 
by the Secretary or is necessary— 
‘‘(I) to comply with Federal or 
State noxious weed control laws; 
‘‘(II) to comply with a Federal or 
State emergency pest treatment pro-
gram; or 
‘‘(III) to meet habitat needs of 
specific wildlife species; 
‘‘(iii) any activity to be carried out on 
the land of the owner or successor that is 
immediately adjacent to, and functionally 
related to, the land that is subject to the 
easement if the activity will alter, degrade, 
or otherwise diminish the functional value 
of the land; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(iv) the adoption of any other prac-
tice that would tend to defeat the purposes 
of the conservation reserve program, as de-
termined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) include any additional provision that 
the Secretary determines is appropriate to carry 
out this section or facilitate the practical admin-
istration of this section. 
‘‘(2) VIOLATION.—On the violation of a term or 
condition of a conservation reserve easement— 
‘‘(A) the conservation reserve easement shall 
remain in force; and 
‘‘(B) 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 Secretary. 
‘‘(3) COMPATIBLE USES.—Land subject to a con-
servation reserve easement may be used for compatible 
economic uses, including hunting and fishing, man-
aged timber harvest, or periodic haying or grazing, if 
the use— 
‘‘(A) is specifically permitted by the con-
servation reserve easement plan developed for the 
land; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) is consistent with the long-term protec-
tion and enhancement of the conservation re-
sources for which the easement was established. 
‘‘(f) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(A) PERMANENT
EASEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall pay as compensation for a perma-
nent conservation reserve easement acquired 
under this section an amount necessary to en-
courage enrollment of land in such a conserva-
tion reserve easement, based on the lowest of— 
‘‘(i) the fair market value of the land, 
as determined by the Secretary, using the 
Uniform Standards of Professional Ap-
praisal Practice or an areawide market 
analysis or survey; 
‘‘(ii) the amount corresponding to a 
geographical limitation, as determined by 
the Secretary in regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary; or 
‘‘(iii) the offer made by the landowner. 
‘‘(B) OTHER.—Compensation for a con-
servation reserve easement that is not permanent 
due to a restriction in applicable State law shall 
be not less than 50 percent, but not more than
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† HR 2 EAS 
75 percent, of the compensation that would be 
paid for a permanent conservation reserve ease-
ment. 
‘‘(2) FORM OF PAYMENT.—Compensation for a 
conservation reserve easement shall be provided by the 
Secretary in the form of a cash payment, in an 
amount determined under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PAYMENTS.—The Secretary may provide 
payment under this paragraph to a landowner 
using— 
‘‘(A) 10 annual payments; or 
‘‘(B) 1 payment. 
‘‘(4) TIMING.—The Secretary shall provide any 
annual easement payment obligation under para-
graph (3)(A) as early as practicable in each fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(5) PAYMENTS
TO
OTHERS.—The Secretary 
shall make a payment, in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary, in a manner as the Sec-
retary determines is fair and reasonable under the 
circumstances, if an owner who is entitled to a pay-
ment under this section— 
‘‘(A) dies; 
‘‘(B) becomes incompetent;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(C) is succeeded by another person or enti-
ty who renders or completes the required per-
formance; or 
‘‘(D) is otherwise unable to receive the pay-
ment. 
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall assist 
owners in complying with the terms and conditions 
of a conservation reserve easement. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACTS
OR
AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may enter into 1 or more contracts with pri-
vate entities or agreements with a State, nongovern-
mental organization, or Indian Tribe to carry out 
necessary maintenance of a conservation reserve ease-
ment if the Secretary determines that the contract or 
agreement will advance the purposes of the conserva-
tion reserve program. 
‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) 
CONSERVATION
RESERVE
EASEMENT 
PLAN.—The Secretary shall develop a conservation re-
serve easement plan for any land subject to a con-
servation reserve easement, which shall include prac-
tices and activities necessary to maintain, protect, 
and enhance the conservation value of the enrolled 
land.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) DELEGATION
OF
EASEMENT
ADMINISTRA-
TION.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERN-
MENT AGENCIES.—The Secretary may delegate 
any of the management, monitoring, and en-
forcement responsibilities of the Secretary under 
this section to other Federal, State, or local gov-
ernment agencies that have the appropriate au-
thority, expertise, and resources necessary to 
carry out those delegated responsibilities. 
‘‘(B) CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS.—The 
Secretary may delegate any management respon-
sibilities of the Secretary under this section to 
conservation organizations if the Secretary deter-
mines the conservation organization has similar 
expertise and resources.’’. 
SEC. 2108. ELIGIBLE LAND; STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS. 
The Secretary shall revise paragraph (4) of section 
1410.6(d) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, to provide 
that land shall not be ineligible for enrollment in the con-
servation reserve program established 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.) under that paragraph 
if the Deputy Administrator (as defined in section 
1410.2(b) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc-
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† HR 2 EAS 
cessor regulations)), in consultation with the applicable 
State technical committee established under section 1261(a) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(a)) deter-
mines, under such terms and conditions as the Deputy Ad-
ministrator, in consultation with the State technical com-
mittee, determines to be appropriate, that making that land 
eligible for enrollment in that program is in the best inter-
ests of that program. 
Subtitle B—Conservation 
Stewardship Program 
SEC. 2201. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1238D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838d) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) development of a comprehensive 
conservation plan, as defined in section 
1238G(f)(1); 
‘‘(iv) soil health planning, including 
planning to increase soil organic matter; 
and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(v) activities that will assist a pro-
ducer to adapt to, or mitigate against, in-
creasing weather volatility.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting the following: ‘‘through the use 
of— 
‘‘(A) quality criteria under a resource man-
agement system; 
‘‘(B) predictive analytics tools or models de-
veloped or approved by the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; 
‘‘(C) data from past and current enrollment 
in the program; and 
‘‘(D) other methods that measure conserva-
tion and improvement in priority resource con-
cerns, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 2202. ESTABLISHMENT. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1238E(a) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838e(a)) is amended in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
(b) EXCLUSIONS.—Section 1238E(b)(2) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838e(b)(2)) is amended 
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘the Ag-
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† HR 2 EAS 
ricultural Act of 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2203. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS. 
Section 1238F of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838f) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) RANKING OF APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In evaluating contract 
offers submitted under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall rank applications based on— 
‘‘(i) the natural resource conservation 
and environmental benefits that result from 
the conservation treatment on all applicable 
priority resource concerns at the time of 
submission of the application; 
‘‘(ii) the degree to which the proposed 
conservation activities increase natural re-
source conservation and environmental ben-
efits; and 
‘‘(iii) other consistent criteria, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL CRITERION.—If 2 or more 
applications receive the same ranking under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall rank those
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† HR 2 EAS 
contracts based on the extent to which the actual 
and anticipated conservation benefits from each 
contract are provided at the lowest cost relative 
to other similarly beneficial contract offers.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘new or improved’’ 
after ‘‘integrate’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘demonstrating con-
tinued improvement during the additional 
5-year period,’’ after ‘‘operation,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘to ex-
ceed the stewardship threshold of’’ and inserting 
‘‘to adopt or improve conservation activities, as 
determined by the Secretary, to achieve higher 
levels of performance with respect to not less 
than’’. 
SEC. 2204. DUTIES OF SECRETARY. 
Section 1238G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838g) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(i) by striking ‘‘Agricultural Act of 
2014, and ending on September 30, 2022’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Agriculture Improvement 
Act of 2018, and ending on September 30, 
2028’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘to the maximum ex-
tent practicable,’’ before ‘‘enroll’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘10,000,000’’ and in-
serting ‘‘8,797,000’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘notwithstanding any 
other provision of this subchapter,’’ before 
‘‘manage’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘all financial’’ and all 
that follows through the period at the end 
and inserting the following: ‘‘all— 
‘‘(A) financial assistance, including pay-
ments made under subsections (d)(5), (e), and 
(f); 
‘‘(B) technical assistance; and 
‘‘(C) any other expenses associated with en-
rollment or participation in the program.’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5) PAYMENT FOR COVER CROP ACTIVITIES.— 
Subject to the restriction under subsection (c)(2), the 
amount of a payment under this subsection for cover 
crop activities shall be not less than 125 percent of 
the annual payment amount determined by the Sec-
retary under paragraph (2).’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT’’ after 
‘‘ROTATIONS’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(4) as paragraphs (2) and (1), respectively, and 
moving the paragraphs so as to appear in nu-
merical order; 
(D) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
through (D) and (E) as clauses (i) through 
(iv) and (vi), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; 
(ii) by striking the paragraph designa-
tion and all that follows through ‘‘the term’’
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in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so re-
designated) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT.— 
The term ‘advanced grazing management’ means 
the use of a combination of grazing practices (as 
determined by the Secretary), which may include 
management-intensive rotational grazing, that 
provide for— 
‘‘(i) improved soil health and carbon 
sequestration; 
‘‘(ii) drought resilience; 
‘‘(iii) wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(iv) wildfire mitigation; 
‘‘(v) control of invasive plants; and 
‘‘(vi) water quality improvement. 
‘‘(B) MANAGEMENT-INTENSIVE ROTATIONAL 
GRAZING.—The term ‘management-intensive ro-
tational grazing’ means a strategic, adaptively 
managed multipasture grazing system in which 
animals are regularly and systematically moved 
to fresh pasture in a manner that— 
‘‘(i) maximizes the quantity and qual-
ity of forage growth;
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‘‘(ii) improves manure distribution 
and nutrient cycling; 
‘‘(iii) increases carbon sequestration 
from greater forage harvest; 
‘‘(iv) improves the quality and quan-
tity of cover for wildlife; 
‘‘(v) provides permanent cover to pro-
tect the soil from erosion; and 
‘‘(vi) improves water quality. 
‘‘(C) RESOURCE-CONSERVING
CROP
ROTA-
TION.—The term’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so des-
ignated)— 
(I) in clause (iv) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
and 
(II) by inserting after clause (iv) 
(as so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(v) builds soil organic matter; and’’; 
(E) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘improve resource-conserving’’ and 
all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting the following: ‘‘improve, manage, and 
maintain— 
‘‘(A) resource-conserving crop rotations; or
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† HR 2 EAS 
each priority resource concern identified by the Sec-
retary under subsection (a)(2). 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVA-
TION
PLAN.—Subject to the restriction under sub-
section (c)(2), the Secretary shall provide a 1-time 
payment to a producer that develops and implements 
a comprehensive conservation plan. 
‘‘(3) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The Secretary shall 
determine the amount of payment under paragraph 
(2) based on— 
‘‘(A) the number of priority resource con-
cerns addressed in the comprehensive conserva-
tion plan; and 
‘‘(B) the number of types of land uses in-
cluded in the comprehensive conservation plan.’’; 
(6) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or acequias’’ after ‘‘In-
dian tribes’’; and 
(7) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation 
and heading and all that follows through ‘‘The 
Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) ORGANIC CERTIFICATION.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) COORDINATION.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Using funds made 
available for the program for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023, the Secretary shall allocate 
funding to States to support organic production 
and transition to organic production through 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) DETERMINATION.—The Secretary shall 
determine the allocation to a State under sub-
paragraph (A) based on— 
‘‘(i) the certified and transitioning or-
ganic operations of the State; and 
‘‘(ii) the organic acreage of the State.’’; 
(8) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘subsection (f)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(g)’’; and 
(9) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) STREAMLINING
AND
COORDINATION.—To the 
maximum extent feasible, the Secretary shall provide for 
streamlined and coordinated procedures for the program 
and the environmental quality incentives program under 
chapter 4, including applications, contracting, conservation
125 
† HR 2 EAS 
planning, conservation practices, and related administra-
tive procedures. 
‘‘(l) SOIL HEALTH.—To the maximum extent feasible, 
the Secretary shall manage the program to enhance soil 
health. 
‘‘(m) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each fiscal year, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report de-
scribing— 
‘‘(1) the national average rate of funding per 
acre for the program for that fiscal year, including a 
description of whether the program is managed in ac-
cordance with the restriction under subsection (c)(2); 
and 
‘‘(2) the payment rates for conservation activities 
offered to producers under the program and an anal-
ysis of whether payment rates can be reduced for the 
most expensive conservation activities.’’. 
Subtitle C—Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program 
SEC. 2301. PURPOSES. 
Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)—
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(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) adapting to, and mitigating against, 
increasing weather volatility; and’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘to make beneficial, cost ef-
fective changes to production systems (including 
conservation practices related to organic produc-
tion)’’ and inserting ‘‘to address identified, new, 
or expected resource concerns associated with 
changes to production systems, including con-
servation practices related to organic produc-
tion’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘livestock, pest or irrigation 
management’’ and inserting ‘‘crops and live-
stock, pest management, irrigation management, 
drought resiliency measures’’. 
SEC. 2302. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1240A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–1) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) 
and (5) as paragraphs (2) through (5) and (7), re-
spectively;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(1) CONSERVATION
PLANNING
SURVEY.—The 
term ‘conservation planning survey’ means a plan 
that— 
‘‘(A) is developed by— 
‘‘(i) a State or unit of local govern-
ment (including a conservation district); 
‘‘(ii) a Federal agency; or 
‘‘(iii) a third-party provider certified 
under section 1242(e) (including a certified 
rangeland professional); 
‘‘(B) assesses rangeland or cropland func-
tion and describes conservation activities to en-
hance the economic and ecological management 
of that land; 
‘‘(C) can be incorporated into a comprehen-
sive planning document required by the Sec-
retary for enrollment in a conservation program 
of the Department of Agriculture; and 
‘‘(D) provides recommendations for enroll-
ment in the program or other conservation pro-
grams of the Department of Agriculture.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), in 
subparagraph (B)—
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(A) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause 
(vii); 
(B) by inserting after clause (v) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(vi) Land that facilitates the avoid-
ance of crossing an environmentally sen-
sitive area, as determined by the Sec-
retary.’’; and 
(C) in clause (vii) (as so redesignated), by 
inserting ‘‘identified or expected’’ before ‘‘re-
source concerns’’; 
(4) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) by redesignating clause (v) as 
clause (vii); and 
(iii) by inserting after clause (iv) the 
following: 
‘‘(v) soil tests for— 
‘‘(I) heavy metals, volatile organic 
compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydro-
carbons, and other contaminants; and 
‘‘(II) biological and physical soil 
health;
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‘‘(vi) scientifically based soil remedi-
ation practices to be carried out by the pro-
ducer, as determined by the Secretary; 
and’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as 
clause (v); and 
(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the 
following: 
‘‘(ii) resource-conserving crop rotation 
planning; 
‘‘(iii) soil health planning, including 
planning to increase soil organic matter; 
‘‘(iv) a conservation planning survey; 
and’’; and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as so redes-
ignated) the following: 
‘‘(6) PRODUCER.—The term ‘producer’ includes 
an acequia.’’. 
SEC. 2303. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2) is amended—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A contract’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A contract’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) WILDLIFE PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a 
contract under the program entered into 
solely for the establishment of 1 or more an-
nual management practices for the benefit 
of wildlife, notwithstanding any maximum 
contract term established by the Secretary, 
the contract shall have a term that does not 
exceed 10 years. 
‘‘(ii) INCLUSIONS.—A contract under 
the program may include a practice that 
provides incentives to producers to— 
‘‘(I) carry out postharvest flooding 
to provide seasonal wetland habitat for 
waterfowl and migratory birds during 
the fall and winter months; and 
‘‘(II) maintain the hydrology of 
temporary and seasonal wetlands of
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† HR 2 EAS 
not more than 2 acres in order to 
maintain waterfowl and migratory 
bird habitat on working cropland.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (4)(B)— 
(i) in clause (i)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘Not more than’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall 
provide at least’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘may be pro-
vided’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘the purpose of’’ 
and inserting ‘‘all costs related to’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘90-day’’ 
and inserting ‘‘180-day’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) OPTION TO OPT OUT.—A pro-
ducer described in subparagraph (A) shall 
be given the opportunity to opt out of the 
advance payments under clause (i).’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) REVIEW AND GUIDANCE FOR COST SHARE 
RATES.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 365 
days after the date of enactment of this para-
graph, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) review the cost share rates of pay-
ments made to producers for practices on el-
igible land under this section; and 
‘‘(ii) evaluate whether those rates are 
the least costly rates of payment that— 
‘‘(I) encourage participation in 
the program; and 
‘‘(II) encourage implementation of 
the most effective practices to address 
local natural resource concerns on eli-
gible land. 
‘‘(B) GUIDANCE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
issue guidance to States to consider the use 
of the least costly rate of payment to pro-
ducers for practices. 
‘‘(ii) 
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
deter-
mining the least costly rate of payment to 
producers under clause (i), the Secretary 
shall consider the rate of payment that— 
‘‘(I) encourages participation in 
the program; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(II) most effectively addresses 
local natural resource concerns on eli-
gible land. 
‘‘(8) 
REVIEW
OF
CONSERVATION
PRACTICE 
STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) REVIEW.—Not later than 365 days 
after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
Secretary shall review conservation practice 
standards under the program to evaluate oppor-
tunities to increase flexibility within conserva-
tion practice standards while ensuring equiva-
lent natural resource benefits. 
‘‘(B) GUIDANCE.—If the Secretary identifies 
under subparagraph (A) a conservation practice 
standard that can be modified to provide more 
flexibility without compromising natural re-
source benefits, the Secretary shall issue guidance 
for revising the applicable conservation practice 
standard. 
‘‘(9) INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR HIGH-PRIORITY 
PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(A) STATE DETERMINATION.—Each State, 
in consultation with the State technical com-
mittee established under section 1261(a) for the 
State, may designate 10 practices to be eligible
134 
† HR 2 EAS 
for increased payments under subparagraph (B), 
on the condition that the practice, as determined 
by the Secretary— 
‘‘(i) has received a high Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service evaluation 
score for addressing specific causes of im-
pairment relating to excessive nutrients in 
groundwater or surface water or for ad-
dressing the conservation of water to ad-
vance drought mitigation; 
‘‘(ii) meets other environmental prior-
ities; and 
‘‘(iii) is geographically targeted to ad-
dress a natural resource concern in a spe-
cific watershed. 
‘‘(B) 
INCREASED
PAYMENTS.—Notwith-
standing paragraph (2), the Secretary may in-
crease the amount that would otherwise be pro-
vided for a practice under this subsection to not 
more than 90 percent of the costs associated with 
planning, design, materials, equipment, installa-
tion, labor, management, maintenance, or train-
ing.’’; 
(4) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(i) by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘60’’ and inserting 
‘‘50’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘production.’’ and in-
serting 
‘‘production, 
including 
grazing 
management practices.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘For each’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(A) FISCAL YEARS 2014 THROUGH 2018.— 
For each’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 2023.— 
For each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, at 
least 10 percent of the funds made available for 
payments under the program shall be targeted at 
practices benefitting wildlife habitat under sub-
section (g).’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) REVIEW OF PROCESS FOR DETERMINING AN-
NUAL FUNDING ALLOCATIONS TO STATES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 365 
days after the date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary
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† HR 2 EAS 
shall review the process for determining annual 
funding allocations to States under the program. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the 
review under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
shall consider— 
‘‘(i) the roles of, in determining annual 
funding allocations to States— 
‘‘(I) relevant data on local nat-
ural resource concerns, including the 
outcomes of the Conservation Effects 
Assessment Project carried out by the 
Natural Resources Conservation Serv-
ice; and 
‘‘(II) 
the 
recommendations 
of 
State technical committees established 
under section 1261(a) and other local 
stakeholder input; 
‘‘(ii) how to utilize the data and local 
input described in subclauses (I) and (II) of 
clause (i) such that, to the maximum extent 
practicable, consideration of local natural 
resource concerns is a leading factor when 
determining annual funding allocations to 
States; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(iii) the process used at the national 
level to evaluate State budget proposals and 
allocate funds to achieve priority natural 
resource objectives, including the factors 
considered in ranking State proposals.’’; 
(5) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY
OF
PAYMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may provide water conservation and system ef-
ficiency payments under this subsection to an entity 
described in paragraph (2) or a producer for— 
‘‘(A) water conservation scheduling, water 
distribution efficiency, soil moisture monitoring, 
or an appropriate combination thereof; 
‘‘(B) irrigation-related structural or other 
measures that conserve surface water or ground-
water, including managed aquifer recovery prac-
tices; or 
‘‘(C) a transition to water-conserving crops, 
water-conserving crop rotations, or deficit irriga-
tion.’’; 
(B) by redesigning paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3);
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† HR 2 EAS 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 1001(f)(6), the Secretary may enter into a 
contract under this subsection with a State, irri-
gation district, groundwater management dis-
trict, acequia, or similar entity under a stream-
lined contracting process to implement water 
conservation or irrigation practices under a wa-
tershed-wide project that will effectively conserve 
water, provide fish and wildlife habitat, or pro-
vide for drought-related environmental mitiga-
tion, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—Water conserva-
tion or irrigation practices that are the subject 
of a contract entered into under subparagraph 
(A) shall be implemented on— 
‘‘(i) eligible land of a producer; or 
‘‘(ii) land that is under the control of 
an irrigation district, a groundwater man-
agement district, an acequia, or a similar 
entity. 
‘‘(C) WAIVER
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary 
may waive the applicability of the limitations in
139 
† HR 2 EAS 
section 1001D(b) or section 1240G for a pay-
ment made under a contract entered into under 
this paragraph if the Secretary determines that 
the waiver is necessary to fulfill the objectives of 
the project.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘to a producer’’ and 
inserting ‘‘under this subsection’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘the eligible land of the producer is located, 
there is a reduction in water use in the op-
eration of the producer’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
land on which the practices will be imple-
mented is located, there is a reduction in 
water use in the operation on that land’’; 
and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘except in the case of an application under 
paragraph 
(2),’’ 
before 
‘‘the 
producer 
agrees’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section author-
izes the Secretary to modify the process for deter-
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† HR 2 EAS 
mining the annual allocation of funding to States 
under the program.’’; 
(6) in subsection (i)(3), by striking ‘‘$20,000 per 
year or $80,000 during any 6-year period’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$160,000 during the period of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023’’; and 
(7) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) MICRO-EQIP PILOT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—On request of not more than 
10 States, the Secretary may establish under the envi-
ronmental quality incentives program a pilot pro-
gram in that State under which the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) provide financial and technical assist-
ance to small-scale agricultural producers, in-
cluding beginning farmers and ranchers and 
limited resource producers, that enter into con-
tracts with the Secretary under the pilot pro-
gram to address natural resource concerns relat-
ing to production on small-scale agricultural op-
erations; and 
‘‘(B) conduct outreach to small-scale agri-
cultural producers to increase participation in 
the pilot program. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall de-
termine whether a small-scale agricultural pro-
ducer is eligible to receive payments under this 
subsection— 
‘‘(i) on a State-by-State basis; 
‘‘(ii) in consultation with the technical 
committee established under section 1261(a) 
of the State in which the small-scale agri-
cultural producer is located; and 
‘‘(iii) based on factors that may in-
clude— 
‘‘(I) the operations of a small- 
scale agricultural producer, including 
with respect to adjusted gross income 
and gross sales; 
‘‘(II) demographic data relating 
to small-scale agricultural producers 
compiled by the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service; and 
‘‘(III) other relevant information, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall provide 
payments under this subsection to a producer 
that is eligible for the payments under subpara-
graph (A) in an amount that the Secretary de-
142 
† HR 2 EAS 
termines is necessary to achieve the purpose de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(A). 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive 
financial and technical assistance under this 
subsection, a producer that is eligible for the as-
sistance under paragraph (2)(A) shall submit to 
the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATION.—To the maximum 
extent practicable, the Secretary shall limit the 
administrative burdens, and the regulatory bar-
riers that contribute to administrative burdens, 
on producers applying for payments under this 
subsection, including by streamlining the appli-
cation and approval processes for payments. 
‘‘(4) PILOT PROGRAM COORDINATOR.—The Sec-
retary may designate a pilot program coordinator in 
each State who— 
‘‘(A) at the time of designation is an em-
ployee of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service in that State; and 
‘‘(B) shall be responsible for—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) public outreach relating to the 
pilot program under this subsection; 
‘‘(ii) assisting producers in the submis-
sion of applications under the pilot pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(iii) distributing financial and tech-
nical assistance under this subsection in 
that State. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2022, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate a report describing the results of the pilot pro-
gram under this subsection, including— 
‘‘(A) steps taken under paragraph (3)(B) to 
limit administrative burdens and regulatory 
barriers; and 
‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable, 
demographic information about each small-scale 
agricultural producer participating in the pilot 
program.’’. 
SEC. 2304. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS. 
Section 1240C(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–3(a)) is amended—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(1) by striking ‘‘that will ensure’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘that shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) give priority to the consideration of the 
most effective practices to address natural resource 
concerns on eligible land.’’. 
SEC. 2305. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
Section 1240F of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–6) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘To the extent appropriate,’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS.—To the extent ap-
propriate,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) STREAMLINING
AND
COORDINATION.—To the 
maximum extent feasible, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) provide for streamlined and coordinated 
procedures for the program and the conservation stew-
ardship program under subchapter B of chapter 2, in-
cluding applications, contracting, conservation plan-
ning, conservation practices, and related administra-
tive procedures; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) coordinate management of the program and 
the conservation stewardship program under sub-
chapter B of chapter 2 to facilitate the ability of a 
participant in the program to enroll in the conserva-
tion stewardship program after meeting the steward-
ship threshold (as defined in section 1238D) for not 
less than 2 priority resource concerns under that pro-
gram. 
‘‘(c) SOIL HEALTH.—To the maximum extent feasible, 
the Secretary shall manage the program to enhance soil 
health.’’. 
SEC. 2306. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
GRAM PLAN. 
Section 1240E(a)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–5(a)(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘pro-
gressive’’ before ‘‘implementation’’. 
SEC. 2307. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. 
Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–7) is amended by striking ‘‘2014 through 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 2308. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
MENTS. 
Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–8) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respec-
tively; 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
following: 
‘‘(E) partner with farmers to develop inno-
vative conservation practices for urban, indoor, 
or other emerging agricultural practices to in-
crease— 
‘‘(i) green space; 
‘‘(ii) pollinator habitat; 
‘‘(iii) stormwater management; 
‘‘(iv) carbon sequestration; and 
‘‘(v) access to agricultural production 
sites through land tenure agreements and 
other contracts;’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (F) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(D) in subparagraph (G) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking the period at the end and in-
serting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(H) utilize edge-of-field and other moni-
toring practices on farms—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) to quantify the impacts of con-
servation practices utilized under the pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(ii) to assist producers in making the 
best conservation investments for their oper-
ation.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 2309. SOIL HEALTH DEMONSTRATION PILOT PROJECT. 
Chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 
1240I. 
SOIL 
HEALTH 
DEMONSTRATION 
PILOT 
PROJECT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
pilot project that provides financial incentives, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, to producers to adopt practices de-
signed to improve soil health, including by increasing car-
bon levels in soil (or ‘soil carbon levels’). 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing the pilot project 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) identify geographic regions of the United 
States, including not less than 1 drought prone re-
gion, based on factors such as soil type, cropping his-
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tory, and water availability, in which to establish the 
pilot project; 
‘‘(2) establish payments to provide an incentive 
for the use of practices approved under the pilot 
project that— 
‘‘(A) improve soil health; 
‘‘(B) increase carbon levels in the soil; or 
‘‘(C) meet the goals described in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B); and 
‘‘(3) establish protocols for measuring carbon lev-
els in soil to measure gains in soil health as a result 
of the practices used in the pilot project. 
‘‘(c) STUDY; REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(1) STUDY.—Not later than September 30, 
2022, the Secretary shall conduct a study regarding 
changes in soil health, and, if feasible, economic out-
comes, as a result of the practices used in the pilot 
project established under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 
September 30, 2023, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report describing and analyzing the re-
sults of the study conducted under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available to carry 
out this chapter, the Secretary may use to carry out the
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pilot project under subsection (a) $15,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
Subtitle D—Other Conservation 
Programs 
SEC. 2401. WETLAND CONSERVATION. 
Section 1222(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3822(c)) is amended by inserting before the period 
at the end the following: ‘‘in the presence of the affected 
person, as long as the affected person makes themselves 
available for the on-site visit’’. 
SEC. 2402. CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM. 
Subchapter A of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.) 
is repealed. 
SEC. 2403. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND. 
Section 1240M of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(C) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out the 
program under this section, the Secretary shall 
provide 
education 
and 
outreach 
activities 
through partnerships with— 
‘‘(i) land-grant colleges and univer-
sities (as defined in section 1404 of the Na-
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† HR 2 EAS 
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103)); and 
‘‘(ii) nongovernmental organizations.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 2404. SOIL HEALTH AND INCOME PROTECTION PRO-
GRAM. 
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240M 
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240N. SOIL HEALTH AND INCOME PROTECTION PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE LAND.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible land’ 
means land that— 
‘‘(A) is selected by the owner or operator of 
the land for proposed enrollment in the program 
under this section; and 
‘‘(B) as determined by the Secretary— 
‘‘(i) had a cropping history or was 
considered to be planted during the 3 crop 
years preceding the crop year described in 
subsection (b)(2); and
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‘‘(ii) is verified to be less-productive 
land, as compared to other land on the ap-
plicable farm. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘eligible land’ does 
not include any land covered by a conservation re-
serve program contract under subchapter B of chapter 
1 that expires during the crop year described in sub-
section (b)(2). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a voluntary soil health and income protection pro-
gram under which eligible land is enrolled through 
the use of agreements to assist owners and operators 
of eligible land to conserve and improve the soil, 
water, and wildlife resources of the eligible land. 
‘‘(2) DEADLINE
FOR
PARTICIPATION.—Eligible 
land may be enrolled in the program under this sec-
tion only during the first crop year beginning after 
the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement 
Act of 2018. 
‘‘(c) AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement described 
in subsection (b) shall—
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‘‘(d) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as are necessary to carry out this sec-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 2405. GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1240O of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb–2) is amended by striking subsection (b) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 2406. SOIL TESTING AND REMEDIATION ASSISTANCE. 
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240O 
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb–2) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240P. SOIL TESTING AND REMEDIATION ASSIST-
ANCE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF PRODUCER.—In this section, the 
term ‘producer’ includes a small-scale producer of food. 
‘‘(b) SOIL HEALTH AND QUALITY.—To improve the 
health and quality of the soil used for agricultural produc-
tion, the Secretary shall work with producers to mitigate 
the presence of contaminants in soil, including by carrying 
out subsections (c), (d), and (e). 
‘‘(c) SOIL TESTING PROTOCOL.—
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, shall establish a coordinated soil 
testing protocol to simplify the process used by pro-
ducers to evaluate soil health, including testing for— 
‘‘(A) the optimal level of constituents in and 
characteristics of the soil, such as organic mat-
ter, nutrients, and the potential presence of soil 
contamination from heavy metals, volatile or-
ganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydro-
carbons, or other contaminants; and 
‘‘(B) biological and physical characteristics 
indicative of proper soil functioning. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall 
make the soil testing protocol established under para-
graph (1) available to the public. 
‘‘(d) SOIL ASSESSMENT
AND REMEDIATION TECH-
NICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance to a producer carrying out a soil 
assessment or soil remediation practice that shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) an overall review of the health of the 
soil used by the producer for agricultural pro-
duction;
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‘‘(B) testing of the soil, if applicable, to de-
termine the suitability of the soil for agricultural 
production; 
‘‘(C) based on the results of the soil tested 
under subparagraph (B), a consultation with the 
producer and a determination of the quality, 
health, and level of contamination of the soil 
adequate— 
‘‘(i) to protect against a health risk to 
producers; 
‘‘(ii) to limit contaminants from enter-
ing agricultural products for human con-
sumption; and 
‘‘(iii) to regenerate and sustain the 
soil; and 
‘‘(D) recommendations on methods to con-
duct remediation or soil building efforts to im-
prove soils and ensure that the producers— 
‘‘(i) are not growing products in soils 
with high levels of heavy metals, volatile or-
ganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hy-
drocarbons, or other contaminants; 
‘‘(ii) have appropriate information re-
garding financial resources and conserva-
tion practices available to keep soil healthy,
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† HR 2 EAS 
including practices, as defined in section 
1240A; and 
‘‘(iii) are given information about ex-
perts, including experts outside of the Nat-
ural Resources Conservation Service, that 
may provide assistance to producers to over-
see and monitor soil under remediation or 
regeneration to ensure soils are suitable for 
agricultural production in the future. 
‘‘(2) EDUCATION
AND
OUTREACH.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct education and outreach to pro-
ducers regarding the uses of soil and methods of ad-
dressing soil contamination and soil health degrada-
tion. 
‘‘(e) REFERRAL.—On the request of a producer, where 
soil is found to pose an imminent hazard to human health, 
the Secretary may refer the producer to the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency for additional as-
sistance for remediation under section 104(k) of the Com-
prehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)).’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 2407. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT IN-
CENTIVE PROGRAM. 
(a) CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
MENTS.—Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8) is amended— 
(1) 
in 
the 
section 
heading, 
by 
striking 
‘‘GRANTS’’ and inserting ‘‘GRANTS, VOLUNTARY 
PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE PRO-
GRAM,’’; and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(d). 
(b) MODIFICATIONS AND MERGING OF PROVISIONS.— 
Section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb–5) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by redesignating sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately; and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(2) in subsection (c), by redesignating para-
graphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through 
(E), respectively, and indenting appropriately; 
(3) in subsection (d)—
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(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘section’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection’’; and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(4) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘section’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection’’; 
(5) by striking subsection (f); 
(6) by redesignating subsections (a) through (e) 
as paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively, and in-
denting appropriately; 
(7) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available to 
carry out this chapter, the Secretary shall use to 
carry out this subsection $40,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’; 
(8) by striking the section designation and head-
ing and all that follows through ‘‘The Secretary shall 
establish a voluntary public access program’’ in para-
graph (1) (as so redesignated) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT IN-
CENTIVE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Out of the funds made avail-
able to carry out this chapter, the Secretary shall
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† HR 2 EAS 
carry out a voluntary public access program (referred 
to in this subsection as the ‘program’)’’; and 
(9) by moving subsection (c) (as so amended and 
redesignated) so as to appear after subsection (b) of 
section 1240H (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8) (as amended by 
subsection (a)(2)). 
SEC. 2408. AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCED 
SERVICES PROGRAM. 
Section 1252 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3851) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.—The author-
ity provided by this section terminates effective October 1, 
2023.’’. 
SEC. 2409. REMOTE TELEMETRY DATA SYSTEM. 
The Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting 
after section 1252 (16 U.S.C. 3851) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1253. REMOTE TELEMETRY DATA SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that a remote telemetry 
data system, as used for irrigation scheduling— 
‘‘(1) combines the use of field, weather, crop, soil, 
and irrigation data to ensure that the precise quan-
tity of necessary water is applied to crops; and 
‘‘(2) saves water and energy while sustaining or 
increasing crop yields.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(b) BEST PRACTICE.—In carrying out the environ-
mental quality incentives program established under chap-
ter 4 of subtitle D, the Secretary shall encourage as a best 
management practice the use of remote telemetry data sys-
tems for irrigation scheduling.’’. 
SEC. 2410. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PURPOSES.—Section 1265(b)(3) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865(b))(3) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘that may negatively impact the agricultural uses 
and conservation values’’ before ‘‘; and’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1265A of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865a) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘subject to 
an agricultural land easement plan, as approved by 
the Secretary’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘govern-
ment or an Indian tribe’’ and inserting ‘‘government, 
an Indian tribe, or an acequia’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
‘‘entity;’’ and inserting ‘‘entity, unless the land 
will be enrolled in an agricultural land easement 
under subparagraph (B);’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec-
tively; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
following: 
‘‘(B) in the case of an agricultural land 
easement, agricultural land that meets the condi-
tions described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of sub-
paragraph (A) that is owned by an organization 
described in paragraph (2)(B), on the conditions 
that— 
‘‘(i) if the organization that owns the 
land is also the eligible entity that would 
hold the agricultural land easement, the or-
ganization that owns the land shall certify 
to the Secretary on submission of the appli-
cation that the land will be owned by a 
farmer or rancher that is not an organiza-
tion described in paragraph (2)(B) on ac-
quisition of the agricultural land easement; 
‘‘(ii) if the organization that owns the 
land is not the eligible entity that would 
hold the agricultural land easement, the or-
ganization that owns the land shall certify, 
through an agreement, contract, or guar-
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† HR 2 EAS 
antee with the Secretary on submission of 
the application, that the organization will 
identify a farmer or rancher that is not an 
organization described in paragraph (2)(B) 
and effect the timely subsequent transfer of 
the ownership of the land to that farmer or 
rancher after the date of acquisition of the 
agricultural land easement; and 
‘‘(iii) if the organization that certified 
the timely subsequent transfer of the owner-
ship of the land under clause (ii) breaches 
the agreement, contract, or guarantee with-
out justification and without a plan to ef-
fect the timely transfer of the land, that or-
ganization shall reimburse the Secretary for 
the entire amount of the Federal share of 
cost of each applicable agricultural land 
easement.’’. 
(c) 
AGRICULTURAL
LAND
EASEMENTS.—Section 
1265B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘provide’’ 
and all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘implement the program, including tech-
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† HR 2 EAS 
nical assistance with the development of a conserva-
tion plan under subsection (b)(3).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter 
preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘paragraph 
(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (5)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
clause (ii) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non- 
Federal share provided by an eligible entity 
under clause (i) may comprise— 
‘‘(I) a charitable donation or 
qualified conservation contribution (as 
defined in section 170(h) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986) from the 
private landowner from which the ag-
ricultural land easement will be pur-
chased; 
‘‘(II) costs associated with secur-
ing a deed to the agricultural land 
easement, including the cost of ap-
praisal, survey, inspection, and title; 
and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(III) other costs, as determined 
by the Secretary.’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(3) 
through (5) as paragraphs (4) through (6), re-
spectively; 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) CONDITION
ON
ASSISTANCE.—An eligible 
entity applying for cost-share assistance under this 
subsection shall develop an agricultural land easement 
plan— 
‘‘(A) with the landowner of the eligible land 
subject to the agricultural land easement; and 
‘‘(B) that— 
‘‘(i) describes the natural resource con-
cerns on the eligible land subject to the agri-
cultural land easement; 
‘‘(ii) describes the conservation meas-
ures and practices that the landowner of the 
eligible land subject to the agricultural land 
easement may employ to address the con-
cerns under clause (i); 
‘‘(iii) in the case of grasslands of spe-
cial environmental significance, requires the
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† HR 2 EAS 
management of grasslands according to a 
grasslands management plan; and 
‘‘(iv) in the case of highly erodible 
cropland, requires the implementation of a 
conservation plan that includes, at the op-
tion of the Secretary, the conversion of high-
ly erodible cropland to less intensive uses.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) consultation with the appro-
priate State technical committee established 
under section 1261 to adjust evaluation and 
ranking criteria to account for geographic 
nuances if those adjustments— 
‘‘(I) meet the purposes of the pro-
gram; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(II) continue to maximize the 
benefits of Federal investment under 
the program.’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) PRIORITY.—In evaluating applica-
tions under the program, the Secretary may give 
priority to an application for the purchase of an 
agricultural land easement that, as determined 
by the Secretary, maintains agricultural viabil-
ity.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (5)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(6)’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) in clause (i), by inserting 
‘‘and the agricultural activities to be 
conducted on the eligible land’’ after 
‘‘program’’; and 
(II) by striking clause (iv) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(iv) exclude a right of inspection, un-
less the eligible entity fails to provide moni-
toring reports to the Secretary;’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), 
respectively; and 
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following: 
‘‘(D) ADDITIONAL PERMITTED TERMS AND 
CONDITIONS.—An eligible entity may include 
terms and conditions for an agricultural land 
easement that— 
‘‘(i) are intended to keep the land sub-
ject to the agricultural land easement in 
farmer ownership, as determined by the 
Secretary; and 
‘‘(ii) include other relevant activities 
relating to the agricultural land easement, 
as determined by the Secretary.’’; and 
(F) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (iii), by redesig-
nating subclauses (I) through (III) as 
items (aa) through (cc), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(II) by redesignating clauses (i) 
through (iii) as subclauses (I) through
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† HR 2 EAS 
(III), respectively, and indenting ap-
propriately; 
(III) in the matter preceding sub-
clause (I) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘entity will’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘eligible entity— 
‘‘(i) will’’; 
(IV) in clause (i)(III)(cc) (as so 
redesignated), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(V) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) has— 
‘‘(I) been accredited by the Land 
Trust Accreditation Commission, or by 
an equivalent accrediting body, as de-
termined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(II) acquired not fewer than 10 
agricultural land easements under the 
program; and 
‘‘(III) successfully met the respon-
sibilities of the eligible entity under the 
applicable agreements with the Sec-
retary, as determined by the Secretary, 
relating to agricultural land easements
172 
† HR 2 EAS 
that the eligible entity has acquired 
under the program; or 
‘‘(iii) is a State department of agri-
culture or other State agency with statutory 
authority for farm and ranchland protec-
tion that has— 
‘‘(I) acquired not fewer than 10 
agricultural land easements under the 
program; and 
‘‘(II) successfully met the respon-
sibilities of the eligible entity under the 
applicable agreements with the Sec-
retary, as determined by the Secretary, 
relating to agricultural land easements 
that the eligible entity has acquired 
under the program.’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) 
as subparagraph (D); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(B) the following: 
‘‘(C) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—Notwith-
standing paragraph (5)(C), to account for geo-
graphic and other differences among States and 
regions, an eligible entity certified under sub-
paragraph (A) may use terms and conditions es-
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† HR 2 EAS 
tablished by the eligible entity for agricultural 
land easements, on the condition that those terms 
and conditions shall be consistent with the pur-
poses of the program.’’. 
(d) WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS.—Section 1265C 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting ‘‘and 
acequias’’ after ‘‘Indian tribes’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (iii), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(II) by redesignating clause (iv) 
as clause (v); and 
(III) by inserting after clause (iii) 
the following: 
‘‘(iv) the ability of the land to sequester 
carbon; and’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘and improving water quality’’ before the 
period at the end; 
(2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ‘‘or Indian 
tribe’’ and inserting ‘‘Indian tribe, or acequia’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘or Indian 
tribe’’ and inserting ‘‘Indian tribe, or acequia’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) NATIVE VEGETATION.—The Secretary may 
allow the establishment or restoration of an alter-
native vegetative community on the entirety of the eli-
gible land subject to a wetland reserve easement if 
that alternative vegetative community— 
‘‘(A) will substantially support or benefit 
migratory waterfowl or other wetland wildlife; or 
‘‘(B) will meet local resource concerns or 
needs (including as an element of a regional, 
State, or local wildlife initiative or plan).’’. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—Section 1265D of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘subject 
to paragraph (2),’’ before ‘‘lands owned’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1) 
through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(C) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) LAND
OWNED
BY
ACEQUIAS.—Notwith-
standing paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may use 
program funds for the purpose of acquiring an ease-
ment on land owned by an acequia.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘trans-
ferred into the program’’ and inserting ‘‘enrolled 
in an easement under section 1265C(b)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) 
AGRICULTURAL
LAND
EASEMENTS.—A 
farmer or rancher who owns eligible land subject to 
an agricultural land easement may enter into a con-
tract under subchapter B of chapter 1.’’. 
SEC. 2411. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES.—Section 1271 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, in-
cluding 
grant 
agreements 
under 
section 
1271C(d),’’ after ‘‘partnership agreements’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘con-
tracts with producers’’ and inserting ‘‘program 
contracts with eligible producers’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘use cov-
ered programs’’ and inserting ‘‘carry out con-
servation activities’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) To further the conservation, protection, res-
toration, and sustainable use of soil, water (including 
sources of drinking water), wildlife, agricultural land, 
and related natural resources on eligible land on a re-
gional or watershed scale.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘eligible’’ before 
‘‘producers’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘installation’’ and inserting ‘‘adoption, in-
stallation,’’; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) To encourage the flexible and streamlined 
delivery of conservation assistance to eligible pro-
ducers through partnership agreements. 
‘‘(5) To encourage alignment of partnership 
projects with other Federal, State, and local agencies 
and programs addressing similar natural resource or 
environmental concerns in a coordinated manner. 
‘‘(6) To engage eligible producers in conservation 
projects to achieve greater conservation outcomes and 
benefits for eligible producers than would otherwise be 
achieved. 
‘‘(7) To advance conservation and rural commu-
nity development goals simultaneously.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1271A of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871a) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by inserting ‘‘a purpose, activity, or agree-
ment under any of’’ after ‘‘means’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) The conservation reserve program es-
tablished under subchapter B of chapter 1 of sub-
title D.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(F) The program established by the Sec-
retary to carry out the Watershed Protection and 
Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), 
except for any program established by the Sec-
retary to carry out section 14 (16 U.S.C. 1012) 
of that Act.’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY.—The term ‘eligible ac-
tivity’ means— 
‘‘(A) an eligible activity under the statutory 
authority for a covered program; and 
‘‘(B) any other related activity that an eli-
gible partner determines will help address nat-
ural resource concerns, subject to the approval of 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘eligible land’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) eligible land under the statutory au-
thority for a covered program; and 
‘‘(B) any other agricultural or nonindus-
trial private forest land or associated land on 
which the Secretary determines an eligible activ-
ity would help address natural resource con-
cerns.’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(3) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (E), by inserting 
‘‘acequia,’’ after ‘‘irrigation district,’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(I) An organization described in clause (i), 
(ii), or (iii) of section 1265A(2)(B). 
‘‘(J) A conservation district.’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as 
paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE PRODUCER.—The term ‘eligible 
producer’ means a person, legal entity, or Indian 
tribe that is an owner or operator on eligible land.’’; 
and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) PROGRAM CONTRACT.—The term ‘program 
contract’ means the contract established by the Sec-
retary under section 1271C(b)(1).’’. 
(c) REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS.—Sec-
tion 1271B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘eligible’’ be-
fore ‘‘producers’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM LENGTH.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the term of a partnership agreement shall 
not be longer than 5 years. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) CONCURRENT PROGRAM DEADLINE.— 
Subject to approval by the Secretary, the term of 
a partnership agreement may be longer than 5 
years if the longer period is concurrent with a 
deadline established under a State or Federal 
program that relates specifically to the project. 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.—In the 
case of special circumstances outside the control 
of an eligible partner (as determined by the Sec-
retary) that have created a delay in the imple-
mentation of a project of the eligible partner, the 
eligible partner may request an extension of the 
term of the partnership agreement. 
‘‘(3) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT RENEWALS.—If 
an eligible partner demonstrates to the satisfaction of 
the Secretary that the eligible partner has made 
progress in addressing 1 or more natural resource 
concerns defined in the partnership agreement, not
181 
† HR 2 EAS 
earlier than 1 year before the date of expiration of the 
partnership agreement, the eligible partner may re-
quest from the Secretary a renewal of the partnership 
agreement, including a renewal of funding, through 
an expedited approval process— 
‘‘(A) to continue to implement the partner-
ship agreement; 
‘‘(B) to expand the scope of the partnership 
agreement; 
‘‘(C) to enroll additional eligible producers; 
or 
‘‘(D) to carry out other conservation activi-
ties relating to the project, including the assess-
ment of the project under subsection (c)(1)(E), as 
mutually agreed by the Secretary and the eligible 
partner.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by redesignating clauses (iii) 
and (iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), respec-
tively; and 
(II) by striking clauses (i) and 
(ii) and inserting the following:
182 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) 1 or more natural resource con-
cerns that the project shall address; 
‘‘(ii) the eligible activities on eligible 
land to be conducted under the project to 
address the natural resource concerns; 
‘‘(iii) the implementation timeline for 
carrying out the project, including any in-
terim milestones;’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘eligible’’ before ‘‘producers’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘a producer’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘an eligible producer’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
‘‘or in-kind contributions’’ after ‘‘additional 
funds’’; and 
(v) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘of the project’s effects; and’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘of— 
‘‘(i) the progress made by the project in 
addressing each natural resource concern 
defined in the partnership agreement, in-
cluding in a quantified form; and
183 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) as appropriate, other environ-
mental, economic, or social outcomes of the 
project; and’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘An eligible’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) FORM.—A contribution of an eligible 
partner under this paragraph may be in the 
form of— 
‘‘(i) direct funding; 
‘‘(ii) in-kind support; or 
‘‘(iii) a combination of direct funding 
and in-kind support. 
‘‘(C) TREATMENT.—Any amounts expended 
during the period beginning on the date on 
which the Secretary announces the approval of 
an application under subsection (e) and ending 
on the day before the effective date of the part-
nership agreement by an eligible partner for staff 
salaries or development of the partnership agree-
ment shall be considered to be a part of the con-
tribution of the eligible partner under this para-
graph.’’;
184 
† HR 2 EAS 
(4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(e); 
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a timeline for carrying out the du-
ties of the Secretary under a partnership agreement, 
including— 
‘‘(A) entering into contracts with eligible 
producers; 
‘‘(B) providing financial assistance to eligi-
ble producers; and 
‘‘(C) in the case of a partnership agreement 
that is a grant agreement under section 
1271C(d), providing the grant amounts to the el-
igible partner; 
‘‘(2) establish in each State a program coordi-
nator for the State, who shall be responsible solely for 
providing assistance to eligible partners and eligible 
producers under the program; 
‘‘(3) establish guidance to assist eligible partners 
with carrying out the assessment required under sub-
section (c)(1)(E); 
‘‘(4) provide to each eligible partner that has en-
tered into a partnership agreement—
185 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) a semiannual report describing the 
status of each pending and obligated contract 
under the project of the eligible partner; and 
‘‘(B) an annual report describing how the 
Secretary used amounts reserved by the Sec-
retary for that year for technical assistance 
under section 1271D(f); 
‘‘(5) allow an eligible partner to use a new or 
modified conservation practice standard under a 
partnership agreement, if the Secretary ensures that 
the new or modified conservation practice standard— 
‘‘(A) is based on the best available science; 
‘‘(B) is implemented after consultation with 
the Secretary at the local level to assess the an-
ticipated effectiveness of the new or modified con-
servation practice standard; and 
‘‘(C) effectively addresses natural resource 
concerns; and 
‘‘(6) ensure that any eligible activity effectively 
addresses natural resource concerns.’’; and 
(6) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4))— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following:
186 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA USED.—In carrying out the proc-
ess described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) make public the criteria used in evalu-
ating applications; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of an application sub-
mitted by a lead eligible partner that identifies 
a local conservation district as another eligible 
partner for the project, evaluate the engagement 
of the lead eligible partner with the local con-
servation district to ensure local input.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking the paragraph designa-
tion and heading and all that follows 
through ‘‘description of—’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—The Secretary shall develop a 
simplified application process that requires each ap-
plication submitted under this subsection to include a 
description of—’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘, including the covered programs to be 
used’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
‘‘or in-kind’’ after ‘‘financial’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)—
187 
† HR 2 EAS 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall’’; 
(ii) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by 
inserting ‘‘eligible’’ before ‘‘producers’’ each 
place it appears; 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (D); 
(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(E) and (F) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), 
respectively; and 
(v) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following: 
‘‘(D) build new partnerships at the local, 
State, and corporate levels or include a diversity 
of stakeholders in the project; 
‘‘(E) deliver a high percentage of applied 
conservation— 
‘‘(i) to address the identified natural 
resource concerns; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a project in a crit-
ical conservation area under section 1271F, 
to address the critical conservation condi-
tion for that critical conservation area;
188 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(F)(i) develop and implement new water-
shed or habitat plans to address 1 or more nat-
ural resource concerns; or 
‘‘(ii) implement the project consistent with 
existing watershed restoration plans;’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) REVIEW.—To the extent practicable, after 
receipt of an application under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall provide to each applicant information 
and feedback (including written information and 
feedback, as the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate) throughout the annual program application 
process for any improvements that could be made to 
the application.’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE PRODUCERS.—Section 
1271C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871c) 
is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘ELIGI-
BLE’’ before ‘‘PRODUCERS’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible producer may receive 
financial or technical assistance to conduct eligible activi-
ties on eligible land through a program contract entered 
into with the Secretary.
189 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program contract to be entered into with an eligible 
producer to conduct eligible activities on eligible land, 
subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
may establish. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION BUNDLES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible partner 
may submit to the Secretary, on behalf of eligible 
producers, a bundle of applications for assistance 
under the program through program contracts to 
address a substantial portion of a natural re-
source concern defined in the partnership agree-
ment. 
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give 
priority to applications described in subpara-
graph (A).’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘In ac-
cordance with statutory requirements of the cov-
ered programs involved, the Secretary may make 
payments to a producer’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject 
to section 1271D, the Secretary may make pay-
ments to an eligible producer’’;
190 
† HR 2 EAS 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘eligi-
ble’’ before ‘‘producers’’ each place it appears; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘partici-
pating’’ and inserting ‘‘eligible’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) FUNDING
ARRANGEMENTS
THROUGH
GRANT 
AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A partnership agreement 
may be a grant agreement entered into with an eligi-
ble partner in accordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Under a grant agreement 
under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) using amounts made available to 
carry out this subtitle, the Secretary shall pro-
vide to the eligible partner a grant; 
‘‘(B) the eligible partner shall carry out eli-
gible activities on eligible land (including by 
contracting with 1 or more producers, if the eli-
gible partner determines the contracting to be 
appropriate), on the condition that the eligible 
activities directly or indirectly benefit agricul-
tural producers (including forestry producers), to 
address natural resource concerns on a regional 
or watershed scale, such as—
191 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) infrastructure investments relating 
to agricultural or nonindustrial private for-
est production that would benefit multiple 
producers, such as a multiproducer irriga-
tion water delivery system, including in-
vestments to address drought; 
‘‘(ii) projects addressing water quality 
or quantity concerns (including drought) in 
coordination with producers, including the 
development and implementation of water-
shed plans; 
‘‘(iii) projects that use innovative ap-
proaches to leveraging the Federal invest-
ment in conservation with private financial 
mechanisms, in conjunction with agricul-
tural production or forest resource manage-
ment, such as— 
‘‘(I) the provision of performance- 
based payments to eligible producers; 
and 
‘‘(II) support for an environ-
mental market; 
‘‘(iv) projects that facilitate pilot test-
ing of new conservation practices, tech-
nologies, or activities;
192 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(v) projects that promote the long- 
term viability and sustainability of agricul-
tural land through innovative agricultural 
land and water protection strategies and 
mechanisms, including projects that support 
the transfer of land to beginning farmers 
and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranch-
ers, and limited resource farmers and 
ranchers; and 
‘‘(vi) other projects for which the Sec-
retary determines that the goals and objec-
tives of the program would be easier to 
achieve through the grant agreement; and 
‘‘(C) the Secretary may provide technical 
and administrative assistance, as mutually 
agreed by the parties. 
‘‘(3) NONAPPLICABILITY OF ADJUSTED GROSS IN-
COME LIMITATION.—The adjusted gross income limi-
tation described in section 1001D(b)(1) shall not 
apply to the receipt by an eligible partner of a grant 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not use 
more than 30 percent of funding made available to 
carry out the program for grant agreements.
193 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(5) REPORTS.—An eligible partner that enters 
into a grant agreement under this subsection shall 
submit to the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) any information that the Secretary re-
quires to prepare the report under section 
1271E(b); and 
‘‘(B) an annual report that describes the 
status of the project carried out by the eligible 
partner, including a description of— 
‘‘(i) the use of the grant funds; 
‘‘(ii) any subcontracts awarded using 
grant funds; 
‘‘(iii) the eligible producers receiving 
funding using the grant funds; 
‘‘(iv)(I) the progress made by the 
project in addressing each natural resource 
concern defined in the grant agreement, in-
cluding in a quantified form; and 
‘‘(II) as appropriate, other environ-
mental, economic, or social outcomes of the 
project; and 
‘‘(v) any other reporting data the Sec-
retary determines are necessary to ensure 
compliance with the program rules.’’.