I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7567 
To provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs 
of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2031, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2026 
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural 
and other programs of the Department of Agriculture 
through fiscal year 2031, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—COMMODITIES 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 1001. Suspension of permanent price support authority. 
Sec. 1002. Tree assistance program. 
Sec. 1003. Specialty crop emergency assistance framework. 
Sec. 1004. Assistance in the form of block grants. 
Sec. 1005. Dairy-related extensions. 
Sec. 1006. Mandatory reporting of dairy product processing costs. 
Sec. 1007. Dairy reports. 
Sec. 1008. Processing of certain loans. 
Sec. 1009. Storage facility loans. 
Sec. 1010. Strengthening domestic food production supply chains. 
Sec. 1011. Regulations. 
TITLE II—CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Definitions 
Sec. 2001. Definitions. 
Sec. 2002. Mitigation banking. 
Subtitle B—Conservation Reserve Program 
Sec. 2101. Conservation reserve. 
Sec. 2102. Farmable wetland program. 
Subtitle C—Environmental Quality Incentives Program 
Sec. 2201. Definitions. 
Sec. 2202. Establishment and administration. 
Sec. 2203. Limitation on payments. 
Sec. 2204. Conservation innovation grants and payments. 
Subtitle D—Conservation Stewardship Program 
Sec. 2301. Duties of the Secretary. 
Sec. 2302. State assistance for soil health. 
Subtitle E—Other Conservation Programs 
Sec. 2401. Conservation of private grazing land. 
Sec. 2402. Feral swine eradication and control program. 
Sec. 2403. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. 
Sec. 2404. Emergency conservation program. 
Sec. 2405. Emergency watershed program. 
Sec. 2406. National agriculture flood vulnerability study. 
Subtitle F—Funding and Administration 
Sec. 2501. Commodity Credit Corporation. 
Sec. 2502. Delivery of technical assistance. 
Sec. 2503. Administrative requirements for conservation programs. 
Subtitle G—Agricultural Conservation Easement Program 
Sec. 2601. Definitions. 
Sec. 2602. Agricultural land easements. 
Sec. 2603. Wetland reserve easements. 
Sec. 2604. Administration. 
Subtitle H—Forest Conservation Easement Program 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 2701. Forest conservation easement program. 
Sec. 2702. Healthy Forests Reserve Program. 
Subtitle I—Regional Conservation Partnership Program 
Sec. 2801. Establishment and purposes. 
Sec. 2802. Definitions. 
Sec. 2803. Regional conservation partnerships. 
Sec. 2804. Assistance to producers. 
Sec. 2805. Funding. 
Sec. 2806. Administration. 
Sec. 2807. Critical conservation areas. 
TITLE III—TRADE 
Subtitle A—Food for Peace Act 
Sec. 3101. Transfer of authorities to the Secretary of Agriculture. 
Sec. 3102. Food aid quality assurance. 
Sec. 3103. Repeal of minimum levels of assistance. 
Sec. 3104. Food aid consultative group. 
Sec. 3105. Issuance of regulations; oversight, monitoring, and evaluation. 
Sec. 3106. International food relief partnership. 
Sec. 3107. Use of commodity credit corporation. 
Sec. 3108. Pre-positioning of agricultural commodities and annual report re-
garding food aid programs and activities. 
Sec. 3109. Deadline for agreements to finance sales or to provide other assist-
ance. 
Sec. 3110. Minimum level of nonemergency food assistance. 
Sec. 3111. Termination date for micronutrient fortification programs. 
Sec. 3112. John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter farmer-to-farmer program. 
Sec. 3113. Food for Peace Act administration. 
Subtitle B—Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 
Sec. 3201. Agricultural trade promotion and facilitation. 
Sec. 3202. Preserving foreign markets for goods using common names. 
Sec. 3203. Interagency seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetable working 
group. 
Subtitle C—Other Agricultural Trade Laws 
Sec. 3301. Growing American food exports. 
Sec. 3302. Food for Progress Act of 1985. 
Sec. 3303. Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act. 
Sec. 3304. Promotion of agricultural exports to emerging markets. 
Sec. 3305. International agricultural education fellowship program. 
Sec. 3306. International agriculture cultural immersion and exchange program. 
Sec. 3307. International food security technical assistance. 
Sec. 3308. McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutri-
tion Program. 
Sec. 3309. Global crop diversity trust. 
Sec. 3310. Local and regional food aid procurement projects. 
Sec. 3311. Agricultural trade enforcement task force. 
Sec. 3312. Report on international shrimp trade. 
TITLE IV—NUTRITION 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Subtitle A—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
Sec. 4101. Declaration of policy. 
Sec. 4102. Prohibited fees. 
Sec. 4103. SNAP staffing flexibility. 
Sec. 4104. Updates to administrative processes for SNAP retailers. 
Sec. 4105. Report On All Identified Payment Errors. 
Sec. 4106. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 4107. Retail food store and recipient trafficking. 
Sec. 4108. EBT card security regulations. 
Sec. 4109. Report on SNAP administrative expenses. 
Sec. 4110. Animal protein an eligible incentive food. 
Sec. 4111. Permanent authority for supplemental nutrition assistance program 
online purchasing. 
Sec. 4112. Emergency food assistance programs. 
Sec. 4113. Food distribution program on Indian reservations. 
Subtitle B—Commodity Distribution Programs 
Sec. 4201. Commodity distribution program. 
Sec. 4202. Commodity supplemental food program. 
Sec. 4203. Distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition projects. 
Sec. 4204. Commodity supplemental food program demonstration project for 
tribal organizations. 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 4301. Purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to schools 
and service institutions. 
Sec. 4302. Buy American requirements for certain school meals. 
Sec. 4303. Reauthorization of the Gus Schumacher nutrition incentive program. 
Sec. 4304. Food loss and waste reduction liaison annual report. 
Sec. 4305. Dairy nutrition incentives projects. 
Sec. 4306. Local farmers feeding our communities program. 
Sec. 4307. Healthy food financing initiative. 
Sec. 4308. Dietary Guidelines. 
TITLE V—CREDIT 
Subtitle A—Farm Ownership Loans 
Sec. 5101. Persons eligible for real estate loans. 
Sec. 5102. Experience requirements. 
Sec. 5103. Refinancing of indebtedness into direct loans. 
Sec. 5104. Conservation loan and loan guarantee program. 
Sec. 5105. Limitations on amount of farm ownership loans. 
Sec. 5106. Inflation percentage. 
Sec. 5107. Authority of Farm Credit System institutions to provide financial 
support for essential rural community facilities projects. 
Sec. 5108. Down payment loan program. 
Sec. 5109. Heirs property. 
Sec. 5110. Prompt approval of loans and loan guarantees. 
Sec. 5111. Expedited approval pilot program. 
Subtitle B—Operating Loans 
Sec. 5201. Persons eligible for operating loans. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 5202. Limitations on amount of operating loans. 
Sec. 5203. Limitation on microloan amounts. 
Sec. 5204. Cooperative lending pilot projects. 
Subtitle C—Emergency Loans 
Sec. 5301. Persons eligible for emergency loans. 
Subtitle D—Administrative Provisions 
Sec. 5401. Beginning farmer and rancher individual development accounts pilot 
program. 
Sec. 5402. Loan authorization levels. 
Sec. 5403. Loan fund set-asides. 
Sec. 5404. Use of additional funds for direct operating microloans under cer-
tain conditions. 
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 5501. Extension of credit to businesses providing services to producers or 
harvesters of aquatic products. 
Sec. 5502. Export finance authority. 
Sec. 5503. Support for rural water and waste systems. 
Sec. 5504. Farm credit system regulation. 
Sec. 5505. Loan guarantees. 
Sec. 5506. Standards for qualified loans. 
Sec. 5507. State agricultural mediation programs. 
Sec. 5508. Technical corrections. 
TITLE VI—RURAL DEVELOPMENT 
Subtitle A—Improving Health Outcomes in Rural America 
Sec. 6101. Prioritizations for distance learning and telemedicine and commu-
nity facilities program. 
Sec. 6102. Distance learning and telemedicine loans and grants. 
Subtitle B—Connecting Rural Americans to High Speed Broadband 
Sec. 6201. Rural broadband program loans and grants. 
Sec. 6202. Expansion of middle mile infrastructure into rural areas. 
Sec. 6203. Innovative broadband advancement program. 
Sec. 6204. Community connect grants. 
Sec. 6205. Rate regulation. 
Sec. 6206. Public notice, assessments, technical assistance, and reporting re-
quirements. 
Sec. 6207. Limitation on overbuilding. 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 6301. Rural energy savings program. 
Sec. 6302. Promoting precision agriculture. 
Sec. 6303. Food supply chain guaranteed loans. 
Sec. 6304. New, mobile, and expanded meat processing and rendering grants. 
Sec. 6305. Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative. 
Sec. 6306. Technical assistance for geographically underserved and distressed 
areas. 
Sec. 6307. Establishment of the Rural Development Innovation Center. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 6308. Rural Health Liaison report. 
Subtitle D—Additional Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act 
Sec. 6401. Water, waste disposal, and wastewater facility grants. 
Sec. 6402. Rural water and wastewater circuit rider program. 
Sec. 6403. Zero and low interest loans for distressed water systems. 
Sec. 6404. Tribal college and university essential community facilities. 
Sec. 6405. Emergency and imminent community water assistance grant pro-
gram. 
Sec. 6406. Water systems for rural and native villages in Alaska. 
Sec. 6407. Rural decentralized water systems. 
Sec. 6408. Assistance to rural entities. 
Sec. 6409. Solid waste management grants. 
Sec. 6410. Rural business development grants. 
Sec. 6411. Rural cooperative development grants. 
Sec. 6412. Lender fees in guaranteed loan programs. 
Sec. 6413. Locally or regionally produced agricultural food products. 
Sec. 6414. Appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program. 
Sec. 6415. Rural economic area partnership zones. 
Sec. 6416. Intermediary relending program. 
Sec. 6417. Rural health care facility assistance. 
Sec. 6418. Elimination of prohibition on use of loan for certain purposes. 
Sec. 6419. Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs technical assistance 
and training. 
Sec. 6420. National Rural Development Partnership. 
Sec. 6421. Grants for NOAA weather radio transmitters. 
Sec. 6422. Rural microentrepreneur assistance program. 
Sec. 6423. Health care services. 
Sec. 6424. Strategic economic and community development. 
Sec. 6425. Rural innovation stronger economy grant program. 
Sec. 6426. Limitation on rural business investment companies controlled by 
Farm Credit System institutions. 
Sec. 6427. Rural business investment program. 
Sec. 6428. Technical corrections. 
Sec. 6429. Rural water and wastewater technical assistance and training pro-
grams. 
Subtitle E—Additional Amendments to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
Sec. 6501. Guarantees for bonds and notes issued for utility infrastructure pur-
poses. 
Sec. 6502. Extension of the rural economic development loan and grant pro-
gram. 
Sec. 6503. Expansion of 911 access. 
TITLE VII—RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND RELATED MATTERS 
Subtitle A—National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 
Sec. 7101. National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Econom-
ics Advisory Board. 
Sec. 7102. Specialty crop committee. 
Sec. 7103. Veterinary medicine loan repayment. 
Sec. 7104. Veterinary services grant program. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 7105. Grants and fellowships for food and agriculture sciences education. 
Sec. 7106. Agricultural and food policy research centers. 
Sec. 7107. Education grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and Native 
Hawaiian serving institutions. 
Sec. 7108. Nutrition education program. 
Sec. 7109. Continuing animal health and disease research programs. 
Sec. 7110. Extension and agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges, in-
cluding Tuskegee University. 
Sec. 7111. Scholarships for students at 1890 Institutions. 
Sec. 7112. Grants to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities at 1890 
land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University. 
Sec. 7113. Grants to upgrade agriculture and food sciences facilities and equip-
ment and support tropical and subtropical agricultural research 
at insular area land-grant colleges and universities. 
Sec. 7114. Matching funds requirement for research and extension activities at 
eligible institutions. 
Sec. 7115. New Beginning for Tribal Students. 
Sec. 7116. Education grants programs for Hispanic-serving institutions. 
Sec. 7117. Binational agricultural research and development. 
Sec. 7118. Grants and partnerships for international agricultural research, ex-
tension, and education. 
Sec. 7119. Research equipment grants. 
Sec. 7120. University research. 
Sec. 7121. Extension service. 
Sec. 7122. Supplemental and alternative crops. 
Sec. 7123. Grants for community college agriculture and natural resources pro-
grams. 
Sec. 7124. Capacity building grants for NLGCA institutions. 
Sec. 7125. Agriculture advanced research and development authority. 
Sec. 7126. Aquaculture assistance programs. 
Sec. 7127. Special authorization for biosecurity planning and response. 
Sec. 7128. Agriculture and food protection grant program. 
Sec. 7129. Distance education grants for insular areas. 
Sec. 7130. Resident instruction grants for insular areas. 
Sec. 7131. Repeals. 
Subtitle B—Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
Sec. 7201. Sustainable agriculture research and education. 
Sec. 7202. National Genetics Resources Program. 
Sec. 7203. Agricultural genome to phenome initiative. 
Sec. 7204. High-priority research and extension initiatives. 
Sec. 7205. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative. 
Sec. 7206. Farm business management. 
Sec. 7207. Urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production research, 
education, and extension initiative. 
Sec. 7208. Centers of excellence. 
Sec. 7209. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities. 
Sec. 7210. Farming opportunities training and outreach. 
Sec. 7211. National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse. 
Sec. 7212. Repeal. 
Subtitle C—Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 7301. National food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and 
technical assistance program. 
Sec. 7302. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants 
program. 
Sec. 7303. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat, triticale, and bar-
ley caused by fusarium graminearum or by tilletia indica. 
Sec. 7304. Grants for youth organizations. 
Sec. 7305. Specialty crop research initiative. 
Sec. 7306. Agriculture grants for veteran education and training services. 
Sec. 7307. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program. 
Sec. 7308. Office of Pest Management Policy. 
Sec. 7309. Forestry products advanced utilization research. 
Sec. 7310. Repeals. 
Subtitle D—Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
Sec. 7401. Grazinglands research laboratory. 
Sec. 7402. Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. 
Sec. 7403. Sun grant program. 
Sec. 7404. Repeals. 
Subtitle E—Amendments to Other Laws 
Sec. 7501. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. 
Sec. 7502. Research Facilities Act. 
Sec. 7503. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. 
Sec. 7504. Extension design and demonstration initiative. 
Sec. 7505. Biomass research and development. 
Sec. 7506. Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978. 
Sec. 7507. National Aquaculture Act of 1980. 
Sec. 7508. Reports on disbursement of funds for agricultural research and ex-
tension at 1862 and 1890 land-grant colleges, including 
Tuskegee University. 
Sec. 7509. Repeal. 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
Sec. 7601. Foundation for food and agriculture research. 
Sec. 7602. Agriculture innovation center demonstration program. 
Sec. 7603. Livestock insects laboratory. 
Sec. 7604. U.S. Abit Massey National Poultry Research Center. 
Sec. 7605. Hatch Act of 1887. 
Sec. 7606. Commission on national agricultural statistics service modernization. 
Sec. 7607. Restoration of 4–H name and emblem authority. 
Sec. 7608. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Eco-
nomics. 
Sec. 7609. Agricultural Innovation Corps. 
TITLE VIII—FORESTRY 
Subtitle A—Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 
Sec. 8101. Support for State assessments and strategies for forest resources. 
Sec. 8102. Forest legacy program technical correction. 
Sec. 8103. State and private forest landscape-scale restoration program. 
Subtitle B—Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 8201. Promoting cross-boundary wildfire mitigation. 
Sec. 8202. Authorization of appropriations for hazardous fuel reduction on 
Federal land. 
Sec. 8203. Water source protection program. 
Sec. 8204. Watershed condition framework technical corrections. 
Sec. 8205. Authorization of appropriations to combat insect infestations and re-
lated diseases. 
Sec. 8206. Insect and disease infestation. 
Sec. 8207. Stewardship end result contracting projects. 
Subtitle C—Other Forestry Programs 
Sec. 8301. National and regional agroforestry centers. 
Sec. 8302. National forest foundation act. 
Sec. 8303. Conveyances and leases of forest service administrative sites. 
Sec. 8304. Forest inventory and analysis. 
Sec. 8305. Reforestation, nursery, and seed orchard support. 
Subtitle D—Forest Management 
PART I—NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM MANAGEMENT 
Sec. 8401. Categorical exclusion for high priority hazard trees. 
Sec. 8402. Collaborative restoration projects. 
Sec. 8403. Wildfire resilience project size. 
Sec. 8404. Fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation. 
Sec. 8405. Greater sage-grouse and mule deer habitat. 
Sec. 8406. Categorical exclusion for electric utility lines rights-of-way. 
Sec. 8407. Forest management activities on National Forest System lands. 
Sec. 8408. Suppression of wildfires. 
PART II—FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 8411. No additional consultation required. 
Sec. 8412. Good neighbor authority. 
Sec. 8413. Collaborative forest landscape restoration program. 
Sec. 8414. Public-private wildfire technology deployment and testbed partner-
ship. 
Sec. 8415. Forest service participation in experienced services program. 
Sec. 8416. Timber sales on National Forest System land. 
Sec. 8417. Permits and agreements with electrical utilities. 
Sec. 8418. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction. 
Sec. 8419. Joint chiefs landscape restoration partnership program. 
Sec. 8420. Tribal forest management program technical correction. 
PART III—TIMBER INNOVATION 
Sec. 8431. Community wood facilities program. 
Sec. 8432. Wood innovation grant program. 
Sec. 8433. Forest and wood products data tracker. 
Sec. 8434. Biochar application demonstration project. 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
Sec. 8501. Rural revitalization technologies. 
Sec. 8502. Resource advisory committees. 
Sec. 8503. Accurate hazardous fuels reduction reports. 
Sec. 8504. Special use authorization rental fee waiver. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 8505. Charges and fees for harvest of forest botanical products. 
Sec. 8506. Forest service legacy road and trail remediation program trans-
parency. 
Sec. 8507. Direct hire authority. 
Sec. 8508. Improving the emergency forest restoration program. 
Sec. 8509. Exemption for previously analyzed areas of National Forest System 
Lands. 
Sec. 8510. Release of reversionary interest in Black River State Forest. 
TITLE IX—ENERGY 
Sec. 9001. Definition of advanced biofuel. 
Sec. 9002. Biobased markets program. 
Sec. 9003. Biorefinery assistance. 
Sec. 9004. Bioproduct labeling terminology. 
Sec. 9005. Bioenergy program for advanced biofuels. 
Sec. 9006. Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. 
Sec. 9007. Rural Energy for America Program. 
Sec. 9008. Feedstock flexibility. 
Sec. 9009. Biomass Crop Assistance Program. 
Sec. 9010. Carbon utilization and biogas education program. 
Sec. 9011. Study on effects of solar panel installations on covered farmland. 
Sec. 9012. Limitation on USDA funding for ground mounted solar systems. 
Sec. 9013. Sustainable aviation fuels strategy. 
TITLE X—HORTICULTURE, MARKETING, AND REGULATORY 
REFORM 
Subtitle A—Horticulture 
Sec. 10001. Specialty crop block grants. 
Sec. 10002. Specialty crops market news allocation. 
Sec. 10003. Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. 
Sec. 10004. National Plant Diagnostics Network. 
Sec. 10005. Hemp production. 
Sec. 10006. Pilot program for the intra-organizational movement of genetically 
engineered microorganisms by certain authorized parties. 
Subtitle B—Marketing 
Sec. 10101. Marketing orders. 
Sec. 10102. Local agriculture market program. 
Sec. 10103. Acer access and development program. 
Sec. 10104. Organic production and market data initiative. 
Sec. 10105. Organic certification. 
Sec. 10106. Report on procurement. 
Subtitle C—Regulatory Reform 
PART I—FEDERAL INSECTICIDE, FUNGICIDE, AND RODENTICIDE ACT 
Sec. 10201. Exclusion of certain substances. 
Sec. 10202. Coordination. 
Sec. 10203. Interagency working group. 
Sec. 10204. Registration review. 
Sec. 10205. Uniformity of pesticide labeling requirements. 
Sec. 10206. Authority of States. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 10207. Lawful use of authorized pesticides. 
PART II—OTHER REGULATORY REFORM PROVISIONS 
Sec. 10211. Multiple crop and pesticide use survey. 
Sec. 10212. Safe harbor for certain discharges of wildland fire chemicals. 
Sec. 10213. Office of Biotechnology Policy. 
TITLE XI—CROP INSURANCE 
Sec. 11001. Specialty crop advisory committee. 
Sec. 11002. Identification of holders of substantial interests. 
Sec. 11003. Actuarial soundness of certain new products. 
Sec. 11004. Coverage of revenue losses. 
Sec. 11005. Limitation on farm program participation. 
Sec. 11006. Limitation on interest accrual. 
Sec. 11007. Crop insurance support for beginning and veteran farmers and 
ranchers. 
Sec. 11008. Marketability. 
Sec. 11009. Reimbursement rates for administrative and operating costs. 
Sec. 11010. Quality loss adjustment coverage. 
Sec. 11011. Pilot program to review effectiveness of coverage penalty. 
Sec. 11012. Whole farm improvements. 
Sec. 11013. Program compliance and integrity. 
Sec. 11014. Research and development priorities. 
Sec. 11015. Report on Standard Reinsurance Agreement. 
Sec. 11016. Hurricane insurance protection-wind index report. 
TITLE XII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—Livestock and Other Animals 
PART I—ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION 
Sec. 12001. Animal disease prevention and management. 
Sec. 12002. Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program review and report. 
Sec. 12003. Additional training facilities for National Detector Dog Training 
Center. 
Sec. 12004. Regionalization, zoning, and compartmentalization agreements. 
Sec. 12005. Importation of live dogs. 
Sec. 12006. Ensuring the free movement of livestock-derived products in inter-
state commerce. 
Sec. 12007. Report on support for livestock and poultry producers during a for-
eign animal disease outbreak. 
PART II—MEAT AND POULTRY PROCESSING AND INSPECTION 
Sec. 12111. Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A– 
PLUS). 
Sec. 12112. Hazard analysis and critical control point guidance and resources 
for small and very small poultry and meat establishments. 
Sec. 12113. Outreach on cooperative interstate shipment. 
Sec. 12114. Pilot program to support custom slaughter establishments. 
Subtitle B—Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 
Sec. 12201. Office of Homeland Security. 
Sec. 12202. Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Sec. 12203. Burden of proof for national appeals division hearings. 
Sec. 12204. Termination of authority. 
Sec. 12205. Functions of the Office of Tribal Relations. 
Sec. 12206. Office of the Ombudsman. 
Subtitle C—National Security 
Sec. 12301. Agricultural foreign investment disclosure improvements. 
Sec. 12302. Report on agricultural land purchasing activities in the United 
States by countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism 
and certain other countries. 
Sec. 12303. Investigative actions. 
Sec. 12304. Digitization and consolidation of foreign land ownership data col-
lection and publication. 
Sec. 12305. CFIUS consideration of certain agricultural land transactions. 
Subtitle D—Other Miscellaneous Provisions 
Sec. 12401. Commission on Farm Transitions—Needs for 2050. 
Sec. 12402. Report on personnel. 
Sec. 12403. Improvements to United States Drought Monitor. 
Sec. 12404. Reports on land access and farmland ownership data collection. 
Sec. 12405. Increasing transparency regarding detention of imported plants. 
Sec. 12406. Enhancement of pet protections. 
Sec. 12407. Protecting animals with shelter. 
Sec. 12408. Report on available assistance to agricultural producers in the 
State of Texas that have suffered economic losses due to the 
failure of Mexico to deliver water. 
Sec. 12409. Commodity Futures Trading Commission whistleblower program. 
Sec. 12410. Qualified renewable biomass. 
Sec. 12411. Whole milk under the school breakfast program. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Agriculture. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
TITLE I—COMMODITIES 
SEC. 1001. SUSPENSION OF PERMANENT PRICE SUPPORT 
AUTHORITY. 
Section 1602 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 9092) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 1002. TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1501(e)(1) of the Agri-
cultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or bien-
nial’’ after ‘‘annual’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘or pest’’ 
after ‘‘insect’’. 
(b) ECONOMIC VIABILITY.—Section 1501(e)(2)(A) of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(2)(A)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking clauses (i) and (ii); and 
(2) by striking ‘‘to provide assistance—’’ and 
inserting ‘‘to provide assistance under subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) to eligible or-
chardists and nursery tree growers that planted 
trees for commercial purposes but lost the trees or 
the trees no longer produce an economically viable 
crop as a result of a natural disaster, as determined 
by the Secretary.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(c) ASSISTANCE.—Section 1501(e)(3) of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(3)) is amended in 
the matter before subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘and (5)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, (5), (6), and (7)’’. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT
TO ASSIST-
ANCE.—Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(6) TIMING REQUIREMENTS.—An eligible or-
chardist or nursery tree grower shall agree, as a 
condition on receipt of assistance under this sub-
section, to carry out any replacement and rehabilita-
tion activities for which such assistance is provided 
not later than— 
‘‘(A) 2 years after the application for such 
assistance is approved; or 
‘‘(B) if the period specified in subpara-
graph (A) is not adequate for tree survival, at 
such time as is necessary to ensure tree sur-
vival. 
‘‘(7) ALTERNATIVES USED IN REPLANTING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible orchardist 
or nursery tree grower receiving assistance 
under this subsection with respect to tree loss 
may use such assistance to replant using— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) an alternative variety from the 
variety used prior to the loss; 
‘‘(ii) an alternative stand density from 
the stand density used prior to the loss; 
and 
‘‘(iii) an alternative location than was 
used prior to the loss. 
‘‘(B) COST SHARE LIMITATIONS WITH RE-
SPECT TO ALTERNATIVES.—The assistance pro-
vided by the Secretary to eligible orchardists 
and nursery tree growers— 
‘‘(i) for losses described in subpara-
graph (A)(i), shall be an amount that is 
not greater than the amount the eligible 
orchardist or nursery tree grower would re-
ceive if the eligible orchardist or nursery 
tree grower planted the variety lost; 
‘‘(ii) for losses described in subpara-
graph (A)(ii) shall be an amount that is 
not greater than the amount the eligible 
orchardist or nursery tree grower would re-
ceive if the eligible orchardist or nursery 
tree grower planted the stand density lost; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iii) for losses described in subpara-
graph (A)(iii), shall be an amount that is 
not greater than the amount the eligible 
orchardist or nursery tree grower would re-
ceive if the eligible orchardist or nursery 
tree grower planted the location in which 
the loss occurred.’’. 
(e) DEADLINE FOR NOTICE REGARDING APPLICA-
TION STATUS.—Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9801(e)) is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) DEADLINE FOR NOTICE REGARDING AP-
PLICATION STATUS.—Not later than 120 days after 
receiving an application for assistance under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) approve or deny such application; and 
‘‘(B) notify the applicant of such approval 
or denial.’’. 
(f) INITIAL PAYMENTS UNDER TREE ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.—Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(9) INITIAL PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible orchardist 
or nursery tree grower may opt to receive an 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
initial assistance payment with respect to losses 
described in paragraph (2) before incurring the 
costs described in paragraph (3) relating to 
such losses. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNT.—An initial assistance pay-
ment under subparagraph (A) shall be in an 
amount that is equal to the fair market value 
of the estimated costs described in paragraph 
(3) that the eligible orchardist or nursery tree 
grower is likely to incur with respect to losses 
described in paragraph (2), as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) SUBSEQUENT PAYMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an 
eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower 
that opts to receive an initial payment 
under subparagraph (A) with respect to 
losses described in paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary shall, as soon as practicable after 
providing such initial payment, provide a 
subsequent payment to the eligible or-
chardist or nursery tree grower in an 
amount equal to— 
‘‘(I) the payment amount the eli-
gible orchardist or nursery tree grow-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
er would have received with respect to 
such losses under paragraph (3) or 
pursuant to paragraph (5); minus 
‘‘(II) the initial payment amount 
provided to such eligible orchardist or 
nursery tree grower under subpara-
graph (B) with respect to such losses. 
‘‘(ii) OVERPAYMENT.—If an initial 
payment under subparagraph (B) with re-
spect to losses described in paragraph (2) 
is greater than the amount an eligible or-
chardist or nursery tree grower would have 
received under paragraph (3) or pursuant 
to paragraph (5) for such losses, such eli-
gible orchardist or nursery tree grower 
shall repay the Secretary the excess 
amount. 
‘‘(D) SUNSET.—The authority to make 
payments under this paragraph shall terminate 
on September 30, 2035.’’. 
SEC. 1003. SPECIALTY CROP EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 
FRAMEWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Agriculture Improve-
ment and Reform Act of 1996 is amended by inserting 
after section 196 (7 U.S.C. 7333) the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 196A. SPECIALTY CROP EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 
FRAMEWORK. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
framework to provide direct assistance to producers of 
specialty crops the production of which was impacted by 
an adverse event (including an economic crisis or market 
disruption), as determined by the Secretary, in accordance 
with this section. 
‘‘(b) PAYMENT CALCULATION.—In determining a 
payment calculation for purposes of direct assistance to 
a producer of specialty crops under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall calculate payments based on— 
‘‘(1) the producer’s sales of specialty crops for 
a calendar year that precedes the year in which the 
adverse event described in such subsection occurred; 
multiplied by 
‘‘(2) a payment factor the Secretary deter-
mines, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
to address losses of such specialty crops from such 
adverse event. 
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULES.—Subject to subsection (d), in 
providing direct assistance pursuant to this section, the 
Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the higher value of specialty crops; 
‘‘(2) the greater input costs required to grow 
specialty crops; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) diverse types of legal entities and struc-
tures used by specialty crop producers. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) TOTAL AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the total amount of pay-
ments received, directly or indirectly, by a per-
son or legal entity (except a qualified pass- 
through entity) (as such terms are defined in 
section 1001(a) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)) for any crop year 
under this section may not exceed the amount 
specified in subsection (b) of section 1001 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308), 
as adjusted pursuant to subsection (i) of such 
section 1001. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—In the case of a person 
or legal entity with an average gross income (as 
calculated under section 1001D(b)(4)(B) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308– 
3a(b)(4)(B))) for which greater than or equal 
to 75 percent of the average derives from farm-
ing, ranching, or silviculture activities— 
‘‘(i) subparagraph (A) shall not apply; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) the total maximum amount of 
payments received, directly or indirectly, 
by such person or legal entity for any crop 
year under this section shall be set by the 
Secretary, except such amount may not be 
less than $900,000. 
‘‘(2) NOTIFICATION
OF
INTERESTS; 
ELIGI-
BILITY; DENIALS.—Sections 1001A(a), 1001B, and 
1001C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1308–1(a); 1308–2; 1308–3) shall apply to a pro-
ducer of a specialty crop under this section in the 
same manner as such sections apply to a person or 
legal entity with respect to a covered commodity, ex-
cept to the extent such sections relate to the applica-
tion of subsections (b) through (d) of section 
1001A.’’. 
(b) PAYMENT LIMITATION CONFORMING AMEND-
MENT.—Section 1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(E), by inserting ‘‘or 
196A’’ after ‘‘section 196’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(II), by inserting ‘‘or 
196A’’ after ‘‘section 196’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 1004. ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF BLOCK GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1502. ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF BLOCK GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case additional funds 
made available after the date of the enactment of this sec-
tion for covered losses, the Secretary may make assistance 
for such losses available in the form of block grants. 
‘‘(b) COVERED LOSSES.—In this section, the term 
‘covered losses’ means losses— 
‘‘(1) of revenue, quality, or production of crops, 
trees, bushes, vines, poultry or livestock as a con-
sequence of a natural disaster (as determined by the 
Secretary); and 
‘‘(2) for which assistance is not available pursu-
ant to any other Federal law.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1501 the following: 
‘‘1502. Assistance in the form of block grants.’’. 
SEC. 1005. DAIRY-RELATED EXTENSIONS. 
(a) FORWARD PRICING.—Section 1502 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8772) 
is amended by striking subsection (e). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(b) INDEMNITY PROGRAM.—Section 3 of Public Law 
90–484 (7 U.S.C. 4553) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
(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 ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 1006. MANDATORY REPORTING OF DAIRY PRODUCT 
PROCESSING COSTS. 
Section 273 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1637b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) for each manufacturer required to re-
port under subparagraph (A) for any product, 
require that manufacturer to report production 
cost and product yield information, as deter-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
mined by the Secretary, for all products proc-
essed in the same facility or facilities.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
‘‘products and’’ after ‘‘those’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(3)(B), by inserting ‘‘, sub-
ject to subsection (b)(1),’’ after ‘‘information’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘ELECTRONIC REPORTING’’ and inserting ‘‘RE-
PORTING’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘ELEC-
TRONIC
REPORTING’’ and inserting ‘‘RE-
PORTING’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘this section’’ and in-
serting in its place ‘‘subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) of subsection (b)(1)’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘this sec-
tion’’ and inserting in its place ‘‘subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1)’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DAIRY PRODUCT PROCESSING COSTS.—Not 
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this paragraph, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
Secretary shall publish a report containing the infor-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
mation obtained under subparagraph (C) of sub-
section (b)(1), subject to the conditions described in 
subsection (b)(2).’’. 
SEC. 1007. DAIRY REPORTS. 
Paragraph (4) of section 301 of the Dairy Production 
Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4514) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Not later’’ and all that follows through ‘‘an an-
nual report’’ and inserting ‘‘With respect to each calendar 
year beginning after the date of the enactment of the 
Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a report 
(which shall be submitted not later than 18 months after 
the last day of such calendar year)’’. 
SEC. 1008. PROCESSING OF CERTAIN LOANS. 
(a) MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS.—Section 1204 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) EFFECT OF LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS.—The 
servicing of a marketing assistance loan under section 
1201 by an officer or employee of the Department shall 
be deemed, for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, serv-
ices for emergencies involving the safety of human life or 
the protection of property.’’. 
(b) LOANS
UNDER
SUGAR
PROGRAM.—Section 
156(d) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
form Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(d)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) EFFECT OF LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS.— 
The servicing of a loan under this section by an offi-
cer or employee of the Department shall be deemed, 
for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, services for 
emergencies involving the safety of human life or the 
protection of property.’’. 
SEC. 1009. STORAGE FACILITY LOANS. 
Section 1614(a) of the Food, Conservation, and En-
ergy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8789(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘funds for producers’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘funds for— 
‘‘(1) producers’’; and 
(2) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) producers to construct or upgrade storage 
facilities for propane that is primarily used for agri-
cultural production (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 4279.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations 
(as in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
paragraph)).’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 1010. STRENGTHENING DOMESTIC FOOD PRODUCTION 
SUPPLY CHAINS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title I of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–79) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1302. STRENGTHENING DOMESTIC FOOD PRODUC-
TION SUPPLY CHAINS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—With respect to any Federal pol-
icy that would impact the administration of the programs 
described in this subtitle or any rule, policy, or guidance 
issued pursuant to such programs, the preservation and 
strengthening of the domestic production described in sub-
section (b) shall be a priority objective of the President. 
‘‘(b) DOMESTIC PRODUCTION DESCRIBED.—The do-
mestic production described in this subsection is the pro-
duction of an agricultural commodity— 
‘‘(1) described in this subtitle; and 
‘‘(2) from which a food ingredient that serves 
an important function throughout the domestic food 
production supply chain is derived.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1301 the following: 
‘‘1302. Strengthening domestic food production supply chains.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 1011. REGULATIONS. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.—Section 1601(c) of the Agri-
cultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9091(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘this title, sec-
tions 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’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a covered provision of law’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) COVERED PROVISION OF LAW DEFINED.— 
In this subsection, the term ‘covered provision of 
law’ means— 
‘‘(A) this title and sections 11003 and 
11017; 
‘‘(B) title I of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018 and the amendments made 
by that title, and section 10109 of that Act; 
and 
‘‘(C) title I of the Farm Food and Na-
tional Security Act of 2026 and the amend-
ments made by that title.’’. 
(b) LOAN IMPLEMENTATION.—Section 1614(d) of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9097(d)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subtitle B’’ 
the first place it appears and all that follows 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘a cov-
ered provision of law.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘of subtitles B or C’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘under subtitles B or C’’ 
and inserting ‘‘under the repayment provi-
sions’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) COVERED PROVISION OF LAW.—The 
term ‘covered provision of law’ means— 
‘‘(i) subtitle B or C or the amend-
ments made by subtitle B or C; 
‘‘(ii) the amendments made by sub-
title B or C of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018, except with respect to 
the assistance provided under sections 
1207(c) and 1208; and 
‘‘(iii) section 156 of the Federal Agri-
cultural Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272). 
‘‘(B) REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.—The term 
‘repayment provisions’ means the repayment re-
quirements under— 
‘‘(i) subtitle B or C; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) section 156 of the Federal Agri-
cultural Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272).’’. 
TITLE II—CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Definitions 
SEC. 2001. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘subtitles A through I:’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
titles A through J:’’; 
(2) in paragraph (14), by striking ‘‘term ‘In-
dian tribe’ has the meaning given the term’’ and in-
serting ‘‘terms ‘Indian tribe’ and ‘Indian Tribe’ have 
the meaning given those terms’’; 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (20) through 
(27) as paragraphs (22) through (29), respectively; 
and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (19) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(20) PRECISION
AGRICULTURE.—The term 
‘precision agriculture’ means managing, tracking, or 
reducing crop or livestock production inputs, includ-
ing seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time, 
at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granu-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
larity and biological targeting to improve efficiencies, 
reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality. 
‘‘(21) 
PRECISION
AGRICULTURE
TECH-
NOLOGY.—The term ‘precision agriculture tech-
nology’ means any technology (including targeted in-
puts and the equipment that is necessary for the de-
ployment of such technology) that directly contrib-
utes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, in-
puts used in crop or livestock production, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(A) Global Positioning System-based or 
geospatial mapping technology; 
‘‘(B) satellite or aerial imagery technology; 
‘‘(C) yield monitors; 
‘‘(D) soil mapping technology; 
‘‘(E) sensors for gathering data on crop, 
soil, or livestock conditions; 
‘‘(F) Internet of Things and telematics 
technologies; 
‘‘(G) data management software and ad-
vanced analytics; 
‘‘(H) network connectivity products and 
solutions; 
‘‘(I) Global Positioning System guidance or 
auto-steer systems; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(J) variable rate technology for applying 
inputs, such as section control; and 
‘‘(K) any other technology, as determined 
by the Secretary, that directly contributes to a 
reduction in, or improved efficiency of, the use 
of crop or livestock production inputs, which 
may include seed, feed, fertilizer, soil amend-
ments, chemicals, water, and time.’’. 
SEC. 2002. MITIGATION BANKING. 
Section 1222(k)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822(k)(1)(B)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to carry out this paragraph 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 
through 2031.’’. 
Subtitle B—Conservation Reserve 
Program 
SEC. 2101. CONSERVATION RESERVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1231(a) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
(b) ELIGIBLE LAND.—Section 1231(b) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘the date 
of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘the date of enactment of the 
Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2017, or September 30, 2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘September 30, 2025, or September 30, 
2026’’. 
(c) ENROLLMENT.— 
(1) MAXIMUM
ACREAGE
ENROLLED.—Section 
1231(d)(1)(E) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3831(d)(1)(E)) is amended by striking ‘‘fis-
cal year 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 
2023 through 2031’’. 
(2) 
GRASSLANDS.—Section 
1231(d)(2)(A)(ii)(III) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(2)(A)(ii)(III)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
(3) 
STATE
ENROLLMENT
RATES.—Section 
1231(d)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3831(d)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘2019 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2026 through 2031’’ 
each place it appears. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(4) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE.— 
Section 1231(d)(6)(B) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(6)(B)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—For purposes of apply-
ing the limitations in paragraph (a), the Sec-
retary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
enroll and maintain not fewer than 8,600,000 
acres of land under subparagraph (A) by Sep-
tember 30, 2031.’’. 
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 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
Subtitle C—Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program 
SEC. 2201. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1240A(6)(B)(v) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1(6)(B)(v)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘(including the adoption of precision agriculture 
practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture tech-
nology)’’ after ‘‘planning’’. 
SEC. 2202. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) PAYMENTS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) OTHER
PAYMENTS.—Section 1240B(d)(6) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–2(d)(6)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A producer shall’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(A) PAYMENTS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.— 
A producer shall’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) CONSERVATION
LOAN
AND
LOAN 
GUARANTEE PROGRAM PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A producer receiv-
ing payments for practices on eligible land 
under the program may also receive a loan 
or loan guarantee under section 304 of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act to cover costs for the same prac-
tices on the same land. 
‘‘(ii) NOTICE
TO
PRODUCER.—The 
Secretary shall inform a producer partici-
pating in the program in writing that they 
may apply to receive a loan or loan guar-
antee under section 304 of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act as 
it relates to costs of implementing prac-
tices under this program.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR HIGH-PRIORITY 
PRACTICES.—Section 1240B(d)(7) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(7)) is 
amended— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting 
‘‘STATE-DETERMINED’’ 
before 
‘‘HIGH-PRI-
ORITY’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (iv), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(v) increases carbon sequestration or 
reduces greenhouse gas emissions, includ-
ing emissions of methane and nitrous 
oxide.’’. 
(3) INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR PRECISION AG-
RICULTURE.—Section 1240B(d) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR PRECISION AG-
RICULTURE
PRACTICES.—Notwithstanding 
para-
graph (2), the Secretary may increase the amount 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
that would otherwise be provided for a practice 
under this subsection to not more than 90 percent 
of the costs associated with adopting precision agri-
culture practices and acquiring precision agriculture 
technology for the purpose of implementing con-
servation practices.’’. 
(b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—Section 1240B(f)(1) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa– 
2(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2031’’. 
(c) WATER CONSERVATION OR IRRIGATION EFFI-
CIENCY PRACTICE.—Section 1240B(h)(1) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) the adoption of precision agriculture 
practices or the acquisition of precision agri-
culture technology to achieve water conservation 
and energy efficiency.’’. 
(d) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICE RE-
LATED
TO
ORGANIC
PRODUCTION.—Section 
1240B(i)(3)(A)(ii) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘2019 through 2023, $140,000’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031, $200,000’’. 
(e) CONSERVATION INCENTIVE CONTRACTS.—Sec-
tion 1240B(j)(2)(A)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(j)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘(which may include the adoption of precision agriculture 
practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture tech-
nology)’’ after ‘‘incentive practices’’. 
(f) SOUTHERN BORDER INITIATIVE.—Section 1240B 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) SOUTHERN BORDER INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
payments under the program to producers to imple-
ment conservation practices on covered lands of such 
producers that address and repair covered damage 
that may contribute to a natural resource concern or 
problem. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACT TERM.—In the case of a con-
tract under the program entered into for the imple-
mentation of practices described in paragraph (1), 
such contract shall have a term of 1 year. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) COVERED DAMAGE.—The term ‘cov-
ered damage’ means damage to agricultural 
land or farming infrastructure. 
‘‘(B) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘covered 
land’ means eligible land in a county at or near 
the southern border of the United States, as de-
termined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 2203. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. 
Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–7) is amended by striking ‘‘2019 through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 2204. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
MENTS. 
(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE CON-
SERVATION APPROACHES.—Section 1240H(a) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—Out of the funds made available 
to carry out this subchapter, the Secretary may 
award competitive grants that are intended to stimu-
late development and evaluation of new and innova-
tive approaches to leveraging the Federal investment 
in environmental enhancement and protection, in 
conjunction with agricultural production or forest re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
source management, through the program, including 
grants for the development and evaluation of new 
and innovative technologies that may be incor-
porated into conservation practice standards.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(H), by inserting before the 
period ‘‘(including precision agriculture practices 
and precision agriculture technologies)’’. 
(b) 
ON-FARM
CONSERVATION
INNOVATION 
TRIALS.—Section 1240H(c)(1)(B)(i) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c)(1)(B)(i)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subclause (VI), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(2) by inserting after subclause (VII) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(VIII) perennial production sys-
tems, including agroforestry and pe-
rennial forages and grain crops; and’’. 
(c) 
REPORTING
AND
DATABASE.—Section 
1240H(d)(2)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–8(d)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, including both manage-
ment and structural conservation practices,’’ 
after ‘‘conservation practices’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); 
(3) by inserting after clause (i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) data that may be used to evalu-
ate new and emerging technologies and 
recommendations for State and regional 
applications of such new and emerging 
technologies; and’’; and 
(4) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by insert-
ing ‘‘for consideration under the streamlined process 
developed under section 1242(h)(3)’’ before the pe-
riod at the end. 
Subtitle D—Conservation 
Stewardship Program 
SEC. 2301. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
(a) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PAYMENTS.—Sec-
tion 1240L(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–24(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting before the 
period ‘‘(including increased costs associated with 
planning and adopting precision agriculture con-
servation activities and acquiring precision agri-
culture technology)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(6) MINIMUM PAYMENT.—The amount of an 
annual payment under the program shall be not less 
than $4,000.’’. 
(b) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS
FOR RESOURCE- 
CONSERVING CROP ROTATIONS AND ADVANCED GRAZING 
MANAGEMENT.—Section 1240L(d) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT’’ and inserting 
‘‘, ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT, AND PRECI-
SION AGRICULTURE’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; 
or’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) precision agriculture conservation ac-
tivities.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘or advanced 
grazing management’’ and inserting ‘‘, advanced 
grazing management, or precision agriculture con-
servation activities’’. 
(c) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—Section 1240L(f) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(f)) 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
is amended by striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2027 through 2031’’. 
SEC. 2302. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH. 
Subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240L–2. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘eligi-
ble Indian Tribe’ means an Indian Tribe that is— 
‘‘(A) implementing a soil health program 
for the area over which the Indian Tribe has ju-
risdiction; and 
‘‘(B) meeting or exceeding performance 
measures established by the Indian Tribe for 
the soil health program. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
STATE.—The term ‘eligible 
State’ means a State that is— 
‘‘(A) implementing a soil health program 
for the State; and 
‘‘(B) meeting or exceeding performance 
measures established by the State for the soil 
health program. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) SOIL HEALTH PROGRAM.—The term ‘soil 
health program’ means a program to improve soil 
health on agricultural land that— 
‘‘(A) is broadly consistent with the soil 
health principles of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service, as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(B) may include— 
‘‘(i) technical assistance; 
‘‘(ii) financial assistance; 
‘‘(iii) on-farm research and dem-
onstration; 
‘‘(iv) education, outreach, and train-
ing; 
‘‘(v) monitoring and evaluation; or 
‘‘(vi) such other components as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY AND PURPOSE OF GRANTS.—For 
fiscal years 2027 through 2031, the Secretary shall make 
grants to eligible States and eligible Indian Tribes for the 
purpose of improving soil health on agricultural lands 
through the implementation of State and Tribal soil health 
programs. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To receive a grant under 
this section, an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such a manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary shall require, which shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) a description of performance meas-
ures to be used to evaluate the State or Tribal 
soil health program and the results of any ac-
tivities carried out using grant funds received 
under this section; and 
‘‘(B) an assurance that grant funds re-
ceived under this section will supplement the 
expenditure of State or Tribal funds in support 
of soil health, rather than replace such funds. 
‘‘(2) TRIBAL OPTION.—An Indian Tribe shall 
have the option, at the sole discretion of the Indian 
Tribe, to be incorporated into the application of an 
eligible State. 
‘‘(d) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant to an 
eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe under this sec-
tion for a fiscal year may not exceed the lower of— 
‘‘(A) $5,000,000; or 
‘‘(B) as applicable— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) 50 percent of the cost of imple-
menting the State soil health program in 
the fiscal year; or 
‘‘(ii) 75 percent of the cost of imple-
menting the Tribal soil health program in 
the fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) TERM.—A grant under this section shall 
be for 1 year, and may be renewed annually. 
‘‘(e) AUDITS AND REVIEWS.—An eligible State or eli-
gible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section 
shall submit to the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) for each year for which the State or Indian 
Tribe receives such a grant, the results of an audit 
of the expenditures of the grant funds; and 
‘‘(2) at such intervals as the Secretary shall es-
tablish, a review and evaluation of the State or Trib-
al soil health program. 
‘‘(f) EFFECT OF NONCOMPLIANCE.—If the Secretary, 
after reasonable notice to an eligible State or eligible In-
dian Tribe receiving a grant under this section, finds that 
the State or Indian Tribe has failed to comply with the 
terms of the grant, the Secretary may disqualify, for 1 
or more years, the State or Indian Tribe from receipt of 
future grants under this section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(g) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available to 
carry out this subchapter, $100,000,000 shall be available 
in each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out 
this section. 
‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) DEPARTMENT.—The Secretary may not 
use more than 3 percent of the funds made available 
to carry out this section for a fiscal year for admin-
istrative expenses. 
‘‘(2) STATES OR INDIAN TRIBES.—An eligible 
State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant 
under this section may not use more than 7 percent 
of the granted funds for a fiscal year for administra-
tive expenses.’’. 
Subtitle E—Other Conservation 
Programs 
SEC. 2401. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND. 
Section 1240M(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 2402. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PRO-
GRAM.—Chapter 5 of subtitle D of the Food Security Act 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by insert-
ing after section 1240M the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1240N. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
feral swine eradication and control program (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘program’) to respond to the threat 
feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and 
human and animal health. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In carrying out 
the program, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) study and assess the nature and extent of 
damage to the threatened areas caused by feral 
swine; 
‘‘(2) develop methods to eradicate or control 
feral swine in the threatened areas; 
‘‘(3) develop methods to restore damage caused 
by feral swine; and 
‘‘(4) provide financial assistance to agricultural 
producers in threatened areas. 
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide finan-
cial assistance to agricultural producers under the pro-
gram to implement methods to— 
‘‘(1) eradicate or control feral swine in the 
threatened areas; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) restore damage caused by feral swine. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service coordinate for 
purposes of this section through State technical commit-
tees established under section 1261(a). 
‘‘(e) COST SHARING.— 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the costs of activities under the program may not 
exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such activi-
ties. 
‘‘(2) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The non-Fed-
eral share of the costs of activities under the pro-
gram may be provided in the form of in-kind con-
tributions of materials or services. 
‘‘(f) THREATENED AREA DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘threatened area’ means an area of a State in 
which feral swine have been identified as a threat to agri-
culture, native ecosystems, or human and animal health, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(g) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall use to carry out this section $75,000,000 for 
the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, and $150,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2031. 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds 
made available under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) 40 percent shall be allocated to the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service to 
carry out the program, including the provision 
of financial assistance to producers for on-farm 
trapping and technology related to capturing 
and confining feral swine; and 
‘‘(B) 60 percent shall be allocated to the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to 
carry out the program, including the use of es-
tablished, and testing of innovative, population 
reduction methods. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION
ON
ADMINISTRATIVE
EX-
PENSES.—Not more than 10 percent of funds made 
available under this section may be used for admin-
istrative expenses of the program. 
‘‘(h) COORDINATION
AND COOPERATION WITH
A 
LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall direct 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to enter 
into a contract with 1 or more land-grant colleges or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
universities to assist with the program in achieving 
its goals. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
LAND-GRANT
COLLEGES
AND 
UNIVERSITIES.—A land-grant college or university is 
eligible to enter into a contract under paragraph (1) 
if such college or university— 
‘‘(A) has developed and implemented a sys-
tem of evaluating damages from feral swine and 
effectiveness of control efforts in response to 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub-
lic Law 115–334); 
‘‘(B) shows evidence of a strong working 
relationship with Wildlife Services in the Ani-
mal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and 
‘‘(C) has maintained a State-funded, non- 
Federal Wildlife Services program that has an 
active cooperative agreement with Wildlife Serv-
ices in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service within the structure of the Land Grant 
University System. 
‘‘(3) ROLE OF THE LAND-GRANT COLLEGE OR 
UNIVERSITY.—A land-grant college or university 
that enters into a contract under paragraph (1) 
shall, as a condition on entering into such a con-
tract, assist the program by acting as a strategic, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
neutral entity that is able to advance the program 
beyond the expertise of the Department to achieve 
the stated goals of the program by— 
‘‘(A) identifying and carrying out research 
on novel methods of feral swine control and 
land remediation; 
‘‘(B) assisting in establishing strategic 
areas for feral swine control based on data col-
lected in response to the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018; 
‘‘(C) coordinating and collaborating be-
tween field staff, programmatic staff, and re-
search staff within the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service and the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service; and 
‘‘(D) establishing and consulting with the 
Department on research goals and priorities in 
the program. 
‘‘(4) FUNDING.—Funding made available under 
(g)(2) shall be available to fund activities under this 
subsection, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(5) LAND-GRANT
COLLEGE
OR
UNIVERSITY 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘land-grant 
college or university’ has the meaning given the term 
‘land-grant colleges and universities’ in section 1404 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 2408 of the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note) is repealed. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
2018 is amended by striking the item relating to section 
2408. 
SEC. 2403. WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVEN-
TION ACT. 
(a) ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3(a) of the Water-
shed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 
U.S.C. 1003(a)) is amended by redesignating para-
graph (6) as paragraph (7) and inserting after para-
graph (5) the following: 
‘‘(6) to provide technical and financial assist-
ance for remedial actions in accordance with sub-
section (c); and’’. 
(2) ASSISTANCE
FOR
REMEDIAL
ACTIONS; 
STREAMLINING.—Section 3 of the Watershed Pro-
tection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE FOR REMEDIAL ACTIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 
(a)(6), the Secretary may provide technical and fi-
nancial assistance to local organizations for remedial 
actions for a completed work of improvement in-
stalled under this Act with respect to which— 
‘‘(A) deterioration of a structural compo-
nent of the work of improvement is occurring at 
an abnormal rate, including situations in which 
such deterioration is due to a design deficiency 
or to site conditions that were unknown at the 
time of installation of the work of improvement; 
‘‘(B) the planned service life of the work of 
improvement exceeds the service life of a struc-
tural component of such work of improvement; 
or 
‘‘(C) structural damage to such work of 
improvement, or to a structural component of 
such work of improvement, was caused by a 
storm event that exceeded the maximum storm 
event for which the work of improvement was 
designed. 
‘‘(2) COST SHARE.—Financial assistance pro-
vided under this subsection shall be provided in ac-
cordance with the cost-share rate established in the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
agreement with the local organization for the work 
of improvement. 
‘‘(d) STREAMLINING.—The Secretary shall, on an on-
going basis— 
‘‘(1) engage with relevant Federal agencies to 
reduce or eliminate regulatory, policy, or procedural 
barriers to timely provision of assistance under this 
Act; 
‘‘(2) provide for streamlined procedures relating 
to coordination with other Federal or State agencies 
for required reviews and permitting of projects pur-
suant to this Act, and ensure such procedures are 
commensurate with the size and scale of the 
projects; 
‘‘(3) conduct an assessment of internal Depart-
ment of Agriculture planning, technical support, and 
approvals to determine best practices to be used for 
the purpose of maximizing the decisionmaking au-
thority of State conservationists with respect to ap-
provals required for projects under this Act; and 
‘‘(4) prioritize the use of agreements and con-
tracting authorities under this Act to provide fund-
ing to local organizations for the planning, design, 
and construction of works of improvement.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(b) DATA.—Section 13 of the Watershed Protection 
and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1010) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 13. DATA. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall collect and 
maintain, and make publicly available— 
‘‘(1) data, on a national and State-by-State 
basis, concerning— 
‘‘(A) expenditures for the individual flood 
control and conservation measures for which as-
sistance is provided under this Act; and 
‘‘(B) the expected flood control or environ-
mental (including soil erosion) benefits that will 
result from the implementation of such meas-
ures; and 
‘‘(2) data, with respect to each project for 
which assistance is provided under this Act, con-
cerning— 
‘‘(A) total allocated and expended funds 
for planning, design, construction, remedial ac-
tions, and rehabilitation; and 
‘‘(B) contracts and agreements entered 
into by the Secretary with a local organization 
to provide services, including— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) the services provided through 
such contracts and agreements; 
‘‘(ii) the total funds allocated to such 
contracts and agreements; and 
‘‘(iii) any modifications or adjust-
ments made to such contracts and agree-
ments. 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary may not make 
publicly available under this section an agreement entered 
into with an individual landowner, operator, or occupier 
under this Act, or any disaggregated information that 
identifies such individual landowner, operator, or occu-
pier.’’. 
(c) REHABILITATION
OF STRUCTURAL MEASURES 
NEAR, AT, OR PAST THEIR EVALUATED LIFE EXPECT-
ANCY.— 
(1) COST SHARE ASSISTANCE FOR REHABILITA-
TION.—Section 14(b) of the Watershed Protection 
and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(b)) is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘65 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘90 percent’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) RELATION
TO
REQUIREMENTS
OF
AU-
THORIZED PROJECTS.—A rehabilitation project for 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
which assistance is provided under this section shall 
not be subject to— 
‘‘(A) the requirement under section 2 that 
a project contain benefits directly related to ag-
riculture, including rural communities, that ac-
count for at least 20 percent of the total bene-
fits of the project; or 
‘‘(B) section 4(5).’’. 
(2) FUNDING.—Section 14(h)(2)(E) of the Wa-
tershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 
U.S.C. 1012(h)(2)(E)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2031’’. 
SEC. 2404. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2201) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND
OTHER
EMERGENCY
CONSERVATION 
MEASURES’’ after ‘‘FENCING’’; and 
(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a payment 
to an agricultural producer under subsection (a) for 
the repair or replacement of fencing, or for other 
emergency measures to rehabilitate farmland or to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
repair or replace a farmland or conservation struc-
ture, the Secretary shall give the agricultural pro-
ducer the option of receiving— 
‘‘(A) before carrying out such replacement 
or rehabilitation, not more than 75 percent of 
the payment for such replacement or rehabilita-
tion, which shall be based on the fair market 
value of the replacement or rehabilitation, as 
determined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) before carrying out such repair, not 
more than 50 percent of the payment for such 
repair, which shall be based on the fair market 
value of the repair, as determined by the Sec-
retary.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) WILDFIRES.—A wildfire that causes damage 
with respect to which a payment may be made under sub-
section (a) includes any wildfire that is not caused natu-
rally, including a wildfire that is caused by the Federal 
Government, if the damage is caused by the spread of the 
fire due to natural causes.’’. 
SEC. 2405. EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROGRAM. 
(a) FLOODPLAIN EASEMENTS.—Section 403(b) of 
the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203(b)) 
is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after the subsection header the 
following: 
‘‘(1) EASEMENT RESTORATION.—The Secretary 
is authorized to restore appropriate vegetative cover, 
hydrological functions, and other functions and val-
ues of the land subject to a floodplain easement ac-
quired under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) EASEMENT
MAINTENANCE.—The Sec-
retary is authorized to monitor, maintain, and en-
hance appropriate vegetative cover, hydrological res-
toration measures, and other restoration measures 
on land subject to a floodplain easement acquired 
under subsection (a). 
‘‘(3) CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS.—In car-
rying out paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary 
may— 
‘‘(A) enter into contracts with landowners; 
and 
‘‘(B) enter into agreements with States, 
nongovernmental organizations, and Indian 
Tribes. 
‘‘(4) COMPATIBLE USE AUTHORITY.—The Sec-
retary may authorize a landowner to carry out ac-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
tivities on land subject to a floodplain easement ac-
quired under subsection (a) that are— 
‘‘(A) compatible uses necessary to carry 
out paragraph (1) or (2); or 
‘‘(B) compatible economic uses (including 
such activities as hunting and fishing, managed 
timber harvest, water management, or periodic 
haying or grazing) if such uses are consistent 
with the long-term protection of the floodplain 
functions and values for which the easement 
was acquired.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(5)’’ each place it appears. 
(b) LEVEL OF RESTORATION.—Section 403 of the 
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) LEVEL OF RESTORATION.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary may undertake measures that in-
crease the level of protection above that which would be 
necessary to address the immediate impairment of the wa-
tershed if the Secretary determines that such restoration 
is in the best interest of the long-term health of the water-
shed and the long-term protection of the watershed from 
repetitive impairments.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2406. NATIONAL AGRICULTURE FLOOD VULNER-
ABILITY STUDY. 
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 national agriculture flood vulnerability report 
containing the results of a Conservation Effects Assess-
ment Project assessment of flood risk on agricultural 
lands, including— 
(1) an analysis of economic losses of crops and 
livestock resulting from flooding under different re-
currence scenarios; 
(2) an analysis of the downstream effects of 
mitigation activities carried out as part of a water-
shed management approach; 
(3) an analysis of available Federal and State 
data relating to flood risk, as applicable to agricul-
tural land, including data relating to riverine flood-
ing, coastal flooding, storm surge, extreme precipita-
tion, and flash flooding; and 
(4) a description of ongoing producer-level con-
servation practices and broader government initia-
tives to manage the effects of flooding and flood risk 
within and across watersheds, and recommendations 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
for additional practices and initiatives to further ad-
dress such effects and risk. 
Subtitle F—Funding and 
Administration 
SEC. 2501. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION. 
(a) ANNUAL FUNDING.—Section 1241(a) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking clauses (i) 
through (vi) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) $2,530,000,000 for fiscal year 
2027; 
‘‘(ii) $2,730,000,000 for fiscal year 
2028; 
‘‘(iii) $3,130,000,000 for fiscal year 
2029; 
‘‘(iv) $3,175,000,000 for fiscal year 
2030; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(v) $3,255,000,000 for fiscal year 
2031; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) The forest conservation easement program 
under subtitle I, using, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable— 
‘‘(A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
‘‘(B) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; 
‘‘(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; 
‘‘(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; 
and 
‘‘(E) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2031. 
‘‘(6) The regional conservation partnership pro-
gram under subtitle J, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable— 
‘‘(A) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
‘‘(B) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; 
‘‘(C) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; 
‘‘(D) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; 
and 
‘‘(E) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.’’. 
(b) REGIONAL EQUITY.—Section 1241(e)(1) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(e)(1)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘subtitle I’’ and inserting ‘‘subtitle 
J’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(c) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.—Section 1241(f) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(f)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (6)(A)(ii), by inserting ‘‘of’’ 
before ‘‘any terms’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (9)— 
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) subtitle D (except for subchapter B 
of chapter 1 of such subtitle), subtitle H, sub-
title I, or subtitle J;’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
semicolon and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by striking subparagraph (C). 
(d) REPORT ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS AND AS-
SISTANCE.—Section 1241(i) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(i)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2027 
through 2031’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ‘‘section 
1265B(b)(2)(B)(ii)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘section 
1265B(b)(2)(A)(iii)’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2502. DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1242(a) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(a)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL CERTIFYING ENTITY.—The 
term ‘non-Federal certifying entity’ means a non- 
Federal entity, an Indian Tribe, or a State agency 
described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of sub-
section (e)(4) that has entered into an agreement 
under subsection (e)(5)(D).’’. 
(b) PURPOSE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 
1242(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3842(b)) is amended by inserting ‘‘timely,’’ after ‘‘con-
sistent,’’. 
(c) NON-FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 1242(d) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(d)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(including private sector entities)’’ 
after ‘‘Department or non-Federal entities’’. 
(d) CERTIFICATION OF THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS.— 
Section 1242(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3842(e)) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Food, Con-
servation, and Energy Act of 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (3)(A) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(A) ensure that persons (including com-
mercial entities, nonprofit entities, State or 
local governments or agencies, and other Fed-
eral agencies) with expertise in the technical as-
pects of conservation planning, watershed plan-
ning, environmental engineering, conservation 
practice design, implementation, and evaluation, 
and any other technical skills determined appro-
priate by the Secretary, are eligible to become 
approved providers of the technical assistance;’’; 
and 
(3) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(4) CERTIFICATION.—A third-party provider 
may be certified to provide technical assistance 
under this section only— 
‘‘(A) through a certification process admin-
istered by the Secretary, acting through the 
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) by a non-Federal entity (other than 
a State agency or an Indian Tribe) approved by 
the Secretary under paragraph (5) to certify a 
third-party provider; 
‘‘(C) by an Indian Tribe approved by the 
Secretary under paragraph (5) to certify a 
third-party provider; or 
‘‘(D) by a State agency that— 
‘‘(i) has statutory authority to certify, 
administer, or license professionals in one 
or more fields of natural resources, agri-
culture, or engineering; and 
‘‘(ii) is approved by the Secretary 
under paragraph (5) to certify a third- 
party provider. 
‘‘(5) NON-FEDERAL CERTIFYING ENTITY.— 
‘‘(A) 
ESTABLISHMENT
OF
APPROVAL 
PROCESS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and Na-
tional Security Act of 2026, the Secretary shall 
establish a process to approve a non-Federal 
entity (including a State agency and an Indian 
Tribe), to become a non-Federal certifying enti-
ty. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) APPROVAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Secretary receives 
an application by a non-Federal entity to certify 
third-party providers under this section, the 
Secretary shall make a decision on whether to 
approve such application. 
‘‘(C) ELIGIBILITY.—In carrying out sub-
paragraph (B), the Secretary shall take into 
consideration— 
‘‘(i) the ability of the applicable non- 
Federal entity to assess the qualifications 
of a third-party provider and to certify 
third-party providers at scale; 
‘‘(ii) the experience of the applicable 
non-Federal entity in working with third- 
party providers and eligible participants; 
‘‘(iii) the expertise of the applicable 
non-Federal entity in the technical skills 
described in paragraph (3)(A); and 
‘‘(iv) such other qualifications as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(D) AGREEMENT.—Upon approving an 
application under this paragraph, the Secretary 
shall enter into an agreement with the non-Fed-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
eral entity to become a non-Federal certifying 
entity. 
‘‘(E) DUTIES
OF
NON-FEDERAL
CERTI-
FYING ENTITIES.—In certifying third-party pro-
viders under this section, a non-Federal certi-
fying entity shall— 
‘‘(i) assess the ability of a third-party 
provider to appropriately provide technical 
assistance to eligible participants for speci-
fied practices and conservation activities; 
‘‘(ii) provide training to ensure that a 
third-party provider is qualified to provide 
technical assistance upon certification by 
the non-Federal certifying entity; and 
‘‘(iii) submit to the Secretary, in a 
timely manner, information on— 
‘‘(I) each third-party provider 
certified by the non-Federal certifying 
entity, for inclusion on the registry of 
certified third-party providers main-
tained by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(II) each third-party provider 
the certification of which is withdrawn 
by the non-Federal certifying entity. 
‘‘(6) TIMELY DECISIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) CERTIFICATION BY SECRETARY.—Not 
later than 30 days after the date on which the 
Secretary receives an application from a third- 
party provider to be certified under the process 
described in paragraph (4)(A) for particular 
practices and conservation activities, the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(i) make a final decision with respect 
to such application; and 
‘‘(ii) if the final decision is to certify 
the third-party provider, include the name 
of the certified third-party provider on the 
registry of certified third-party providers 
maintained by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) CERTIFICATION
BY
NON-FEDERAL 
CERTIFYING ENTITY.—Not later than 10 days 
after the date on which the Secretary receives 
a notification from a non-Federal certifying en-
tity that a third-party provider was certified, 
pursuant to subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of 
paragraph (4), for particular practices and con-
servation activities, the Secretary shall include 
the name of the certified third-party provider 
on the registry of certified third-party providers 
maintained by the Secretary. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(7) STREAMLINED CERTIFICATION.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 
Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the 
Secretary shall establish a streamlined process for 
the Secretary and non-Federal certifying entities to 
use to certify under this section a third-party pro-
vider that has a relevant professional certification 
for particular practices and conservation activities, 
as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—Section 1242(f) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘each of the 
programs specified in section 1241’’ and inserting 
‘‘conservation programs administered by the Sec-
retary’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or a non-Federal 
certifying entity’’ before ‘‘under this section’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) UPDATE OF CERTIFICATION PROCESS BY 
THE SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National 
Security Act of 2026, and periodically thereafter, the 
Secretary shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) review the certification processes 
under paragraphs (4)(A) and (7) of subsection 
(e); 
‘‘(B) make any adjustments considered 
necessary by the Secretary to— 
‘‘(i) increase the number of third- 
party providers delivering technical assist-
ance; and 
‘‘(ii) improve the quality of technical 
assistance delivered by third-party pro-
viders; 
‘‘(C) conduct outreach to, and receive 
input on the barriers for third-party providers 
to become certified under this section from— 
‘‘(i) third-party providers that are, or 
have been, certified under this section; and 
‘‘(ii) other interested parties associ-
ated with eligible participants; and 
‘‘(D) set a target rate of utilization of 
third-party providers to deliver technical assist-
ance across all conservation programs adminis-
tered by the Secretary.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by inserting ‘‘(in-
cluding maintenance)’’ after ‘‘implementation’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(5) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(5) PAYMENT AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For payments pro-
vided by the Secretary under paragraph (2) or 
(3) of subsection (c), the Secretary shall deter-
mine payment amounts for technical assistance 
provided by third-party providers, which shall 
be at rates equivalent to, but that do not ex-
ceed, the cost to the Secretary of providing 
technical assistance directly to an eligible par-
ticipant. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining 
payment amounts under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall consider specialized equipment, 
frequency of site visits, training, travel and 
transportation, and such other factors as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(C) EXCLUSION.—A payment provided 
under subsection (c)(3) shall be excluded from 
calculations relating to any cost-sharing re-
quirements of the applicable conservation pro-
gram under which the payment was provided. 
‘‘(6) TRANSPARENCY.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
National Security Act of 2026, and periodically 
thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly avail-
able information on— 
‘‘(A) funds obligated to third-party pro-
viders through— 
‘‘(i) contracts entered into between el-
igible participants and individual third- 
party providers; and 
‘‘(ii) agreements with public and pri-
vate sector entities to secure third-party 
technical assistance; 
‘‘(B) the certification process under this 
section, including— 
‘‘(i) the number of third-party pro-
viders certified by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) the number of non-Federal certi-
fying entities approved by the Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) the number of third-party pro-
viders certified by non-Federal certifying 
entities (other than State agencies and In-
dian Tribes); 
‘‘(iv) the number of third-party pro-
viders certified by Indian Tribes; 
‘‘(v) the number of third-party pro-
viders certified by State agencies; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(vi) the number of third-party pro-
viders certified through the streamlined 
certification process described in sub-
section (e)(7); 
‘‘(C) how third-party providers contribute 
to the quality and effectiveness of conservation 
practices implemented and adopted through 
conservation programs administered by the Sec-
retary, and what improvements are needed; and 
‘‘(D) the target rate of utilization of third- 
party providers set under paragraph (3)(D) and 
how actual rate of utilization compares to the 
target rate.’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) SOIL HEALTH PLANNING.—The Secretary 
shall emphasize the use of third-party providers in 
providing technical assistance for soil health plan-
ning, including planning related to the use of cover 
crops, precision agriculture practices, comprehensive 
nutrient management planning, and other innovative 
plans.’’. 
(f) REVIEW OF CONSERVATION PRACTICE STAND-
ARDS.—Section 1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00076
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘RE-
VIEW’’ and inserting ‘‘ESTABLISHMENT
AND RE-
VIEW’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National 
Security Act of 2026, and at least every 5 years 
thereafter, complete a review of each conserva-
tion practice standard, including engineering 
design specifications;’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by amending subparagraph (D) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(D) evaluate opportunities to increase 
flexibility in conservation practice standards in 
a manner that integrates new and innovative 
technologies that provide equivalent or im-
proved natural resource benefits compared to 
the standards in effect at the time of the re-
view;’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(E) provide a process for public input on 
each conservation practice standard under such 
review, including a process for consideration of 
State and local input; 
‘‘(F) publicly post a summary of any input 
received under subparagraph (E) and any deci-
sions made relating to such input; and 
‘‘(G) revise any conservation practice 
standard based on the results of such review, as 
determined appropriate by the Secretary, and 
publish any such revised standard.’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) PROCESS
FOR
ESTABLISHMENT
OF
IN-
TERIM AND NEW CONSERVATION PRACTICE STAND-
ARDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, 
and National Security Act of 2026, the Sec-
retary shall develop a streamlined process under 
which the Secretary shall establish interim con-
servation practice standards and new conserva-
tion practice standards. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00078
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
tion practice standards and new conservation 
practice standards that integrate innovative 
technologies, including— 
‘‘(i) precision agriculture technologies; 
‘‘(ii) biological fertilizers, biostimu-
lants, enhanced efficiency fertilizers, and 
other tools determined by the Secretary to 
reduce nutrient loss; 
‘‘(iii) animal feed additives; 
‘‘(iv) perennial production systems, in-
cluding agroforestry and perennial forages 
and grain crops; and 
‘‘(v) any other innovative technology, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(E) 
TRANSPARENCY.—The 
Secretary 
shall make available on a public website a de-
tailed description of the process for recom-
mending, reviewing, and establishing interim 
conservation practice standards and new con-
servation practice standards under this para-
graph.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(i) by striking ‘‘Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘Farm, 
Food, and National Security Act of 2026’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘a report on’’ and in-
serting ‘‘a report detailing’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘ad-
ministrative’’ and inserting ‘‘streamlined’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(D) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) any other information the Secretary 
determines useful to improve such streamlined 
process for reviewing and establishing conserva-
tion practice standards.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) OFFICE OF CONSERVATION INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish within the Office of the Chief of the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service an Of-
fice of Conservation Innovation (referred to in 
this paragraph as the ‘Office’) which shall be 
under the direct supervision of the Chief. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The Office shall— 
‘‘(i) provide support to the Chief in 
meeting the requirements of this sub-
section; and 
‘‘(ii) encourage innovation in con-
servation practices through— 
‘‘(I) revisions of existing con-
servation practice standards; 
‘‘(II) recommendations of interim 
conservation practice standards; and 
‘‘(III) recommendations of new 
conservation practice standards. 
‘‘(C) STAFF.—The Chief shall detail to the 
Office not more than 6 employees of the De-
partment of Agriculture who are technical spe-
cialists that possess an understanding of con-
ventional, organic, and other production tech-
niques, representing— 
‘‘(i) agronomy and agroecology (in-
cluding soil health, biological nutrient 
sources, and compatible cover cropping 
systems); 
‘‘(ii) grazing lands ecology (including 
rangeland, pastureland, and grazed forest 
land); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iii) animal husbandry (including 
animal nutrition and feed management); 
‘‘(iv) water conservation, drainage 
water management, and irrigation engi-
neering technology; 
‘‘(v) agricultural engineering (includ-
ing animal waste management, energy, and 
structural measures); and 
‘‘(vi) forest ecology and agroforestry. 
‘‘(6) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall use fund-
ing from the annual appropriations for conservation 
operations of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service to carry out this subsection.’’. 
(g) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.—Section 1242 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) NRCS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may ap-
point, without regard to the provisions of subchapter 
I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code (other 
than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title), qualified 
candidates, as described in paragraph (2), directly to 
positions within the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service that provide technical assistance under con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
servation programs administered by the Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Paragraph (1) applies 
to a candidate who— 
‘‘(A) is qualified to provide the technical 
assistance described in paragraph (1), as deter-
mined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) meets qualification standards estab-
lished by the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment.’’. 
SEC. 2503. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR CON-
SERVATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) TENANT PROTECTIONS.—Section 1244(d) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(d)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘I.’’ and inserting ‘‘J.’’. 
(b) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.—Section 1244(f) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(f)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not en-
roll more than 25 percent of the cropland in any 
county in the conservation reserve program estab-
lished under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
D and wetland reserve easements under section 
1265C.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)(A)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end and inserting ‘‘or’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘paragraph 
(1)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ‘‘classes 
IV’’ and inserting ‘‘classes III’’. 
(c) REVIEW AND GUIDANCE FOR PRACTICE COSTS 
AND PAYMENT RATES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1244(j)(1) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(j)(1)) 
is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018, and not later than Oc-
tober 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary 
shall’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall estab-
lish a process under which the Secretary shall 
annually’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:08 Feb 13, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00086
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7567.IH
H7567
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS