some or all of the land into production 
using sustainable grazing or crop produc-
tion methods that meet or exceed the re-
source management system quality criteria 
for erosion, soil quality, water quality, and 
fish and wildlife; or’’. 
(b) TRANSITION OPTION FOR CERTAIN FARMERS OR 
RANCHERS.—Section 1235(f)(1) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(f)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘or socially disadvantaged farmer or 
rancher’’ and inserting ‘‘socially disadvantaged 
farmer or rancher, or limited resource farmer or 
rancher who is or will be actively engaged in farming 
or ranching with respect to the land transferred 
under this subsection’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the semicolon 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clauses: 
‘‘(iv) provide to the covered farmer or 
rancher an opportunity to enroll in the 
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conservation stewardship program or the 
environmental quality incentives program 
at any time beginning on the date that is 
1 year before the date of termination of 
the contract, including technical and finan-
cial assistance in the development of a 
comprehensive conservation plan; and 
‘‘(v) if the land transferred under this 
subsection remains in grass cover, provide 
to the covered farmer or rancher an oppor-
tunity to enroll in a long-term or perma-
nent easement under the agricultural con-
servation easement program;’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘com-
prehensive’’ before ‘‘conservation plan’’; 
(4) by striking subparagraph (D) and redesig-
nating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D); and 
(5) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘, if the retired or retiring owner or op-
erator is not a family member (as defined in section 
1001A(b)(3)(B) of this Act) of the covered farmer 
or rancher’’ and inserting ‘‘except that, in the case 
of a retired or retiring owner or operator who is a 
family member (as defined in section 1001) of the 
covered farmer or rancher, the additional payments 
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shall be made only if title to the land is sold or oth-
erwise transferred to the covered farmer or rancher 
on termination of the contract’’. 
SEC. 1303. CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENT PROGRAM. 
Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1236. CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall formu-
late and carry out a conservation reserve easement pro-
gram (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘ease-
ment program’) in accordance with this section, through 
the acquisition of permanent easements or easements for 
the maximum term permitted under applicable State law 
from willing owners of eligible farms or ranches in order 
to ensure the continued long-term protection of environ-
mentally sensitive lands, reduction in the degradation of 
water quality, and enhancement of wildlife habitat on such 
farms or ranches through the continued conservation and 
improvement of soil and water resources. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY; TERMINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary may acquire easements 
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under this section on eligible land placed in the con-
servation reserve under this subchapter that— 
‘‘(A) is determined by the Secretary to be 
unsuitable for long-term commodity production; 
‘‘(B) is an area of critical habitat for wild-
life, especially threatened or endangered species; 
or 
‘‘(C) contains other environmentally sen-
sitive areas, as determined by the Secretary, 
that would prevent a producer from complying 
with other Federal, State, or local environ-
mental goals if commodities were to be pro-
duced on such land. 
‘‘(2) INELIGIBLE
LAND.—The Secretary may 
not acquire easements on— 
‘‘(A) land that contains timber stands es-
tablished under this subchapter; or 
‘‘(B) pasture land established to trees 
under this subchapter. 
‘‘(3) TERMINATION OF EXISTING CONTRACT.— 
The Secretary may terminate or modify any existing 
contract entered into under section 1231(a) if eligi-
ble land that is subject to such contract is trans-
ferred into the easement program. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES OF OWNERS.— 
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‘‘(1) PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In conjunction with 
the creation of an easement on any lands under 
this section, the owner of the farm or ranch 
wherein such lands are located must agree to 
implement a natural resource conservation man-
agement plan in accordance with subparagraph 
(B) and approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) COMPONENTS.—A natural resource 
conservation management plan shall— 
‘‘(i) set forth the conservation meas-
ures and practices to be carried out by the 
owner of the land subject to the easement; 
‘‘(ii) set forth the commercial use, if 
any, to be permitted on such land during 
the term of the easement; and 
‘‘(iii) provide for the permanent re-
tirement of any existing cropland base and 
allotment history for such land under any 
program administered by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) AGREEMENT.—In return for the creation 
of an easement on any lands under this section, the 
owner of the farm or ranch wherein such lands are 
located must agree to the following: 
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‘‘(A) To the creation and recordation of an 
appropriate deed restriction, in accordance with 
applicable State law, to reflect the easement 
agreed to under this section with respect to 
such lands. 
‘‘(B) To provide a written statement of 
consent to such easement signed by those hold-
ing a security interest in the land. 
‘‘(C) To comply with such additional provi-
sions as the Secretary determines are desirable 
and are included in the easement to carry out 
this section or to facilitate the practical admin-
istration thereof. 
‘‘(D) To limit the production of any agri-
cultural commodity on such lands only to pro-
duction for the benefit of wildlife. 
‘‘(E) Not to conduct any harvesting or 
grazing, nor otherwise make commercial use of 
the forage, on land that is subject to the ease-
ment, unless specifically provided for in the 
easement or related agreement. 
‘‘(F) Not to adopt any other practice that 
would tend to defeat the purposes of this chap-
ter, as determined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(3) VIOLATION.—On the violation of the terms 
or conditions of the easement or related agreement 
entered into under this section, the easement shall 
remain in force and the Secretary may require the 
owner to refund all or part of any payments received 
by the owner under this section, together with inter-
est thereon as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In return for the 
granting of an easement by an owner under this section, 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) share the cost of carrying out the estab-
lishment of conservation measures and practices set 
forth in the plan described in section 1232(a)(1) for 
which the Secretary determines that cost sharing is 
appropriate and in the public interest; 
‘‘(2) pay for a period not to exceed 10 years an-
nual easement payments in the aggregate not to ex-
ceed the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) $250,000; or 
‘‘(B) the difference in the value of the land 
with and without the easement; 
‘‘(3) provide necessary technical assistance to 
assist owners in complying with the terms and con-
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ditions of the easement and the comprehensive con-
servation plan; and 
‘‘(4) permit the land to be used for wildlife ac-
tivities, including hunting and fishing, if such use is 
permitted by the owner. 
‘‘(e) TIME OF PAYMENT.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide payment for obligations incurred by the Secretary 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) with respect to any cost sharing obligation, 
as soon as possible after the obligation is incurred; 
and 
‘‘(2) with respect to any annual easement pay-
ment obligation, as soon as possible after October 1 
of each year. 
‘‘(f) COST SHARING PAYMENTS.—In making cost 
sharing payments to owners under this section, the Sec-
retary may pay up to 100 percent of the cost of estab-
lishing conservation measures and practices pursuant to 
this section. 
‘‘(g) EASEMENT PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT.—The Sec-
retary shall determine the amount payable to owners 
in the form of easement payments under this sec-
tion, and in making such determination may con-
sider, among other things, the amount necessary to 
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encourage owners to participate in the easement pro-
gram. 
‘‘(2) ACCEPTABILITY
OF
OFFERS.—In deter-
mining the acceptability of easement offers, the Sec-
retary may take into consideration— 
‘‘(A) the extent to which the purposes of 
the easement program would be achieved on the 
land; 
‘‘(B) the productivity of the land; and 
‘‘(C) the on-farm and off-farm environ-
mental threats if the land is used for the pro-
duction of agricultural commodities. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall prioritize 
offers that maximize the environmental goals of the 
easement program, particularly regarding improve-
ments to water quality, wildlife habitat and cor-
ridors, and water conservation. Priority may also be 
given to easements that are part of a cooperative 
conservation effort to address priority resource con-
cerns on a regional or watershed scale, or that are 
adjacent to existing conservation lands. 
‘‘(h) PAYMENTS TO OTHERS.—If an owner who is en-
titled to a payment under this section dies, becomes in-
competent, is otherwise unable to receive such payment, 
or is succeeded by another person who renders or com-
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pletes the required performance, the Secretary shall make 
such payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed 
by the Secretary and without regard to any other provision 
of law, in such manner as the Secretary determines is fair 
and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances. 
‘‘(i) MODIFICATION.—The Secretary may modify an 
easement acquired from, or a related agreement with, an 
owner under this section if— 
‘‘(1) the current owner of the land agrees to 
such modification; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that such modi-
fication is desirable— 
‘‘(A) to carry out this section; 
‘‘(B) to facilitate the practical administra-
tion of this section; or 
‘‘(C) to achieve such other goals as the 
Secretary determines are appropriate and con-
sistent with this section. 
‘‘(j) TERMINATION.—The Secretary may terminate 
an easement created with an owner under this section if— 
‘‘(1) the current owner of the land agrees to 
such termination; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that such termi-
nation would be in the public interest.’’. 
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Subtitle E—Conservation 
Stewardship Program 
SEC. 1401. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1238D(1)(A) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838d(1)(A)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘a resource concern’’ and in-
serting ‘‘one or more resource concerns’’. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—Section 1238D(1)(B) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838d(1)(B)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘conserva-
tion activities’ includes— 
‘‘(i) vegetative measures and land 
management measures, including inte-
grated pest, nutrient, crop residue, and 
managed rotational grazing management 
measures, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) structural measures that are in-
tegrated with and essential to the success-
ful implementation of such vegetative and 
land management measures; 
‘‘(iii) planning needed to address a re-
source concern; and 
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‘‘(iv) development of a comprehensive 
conservation plan.’’. 
(b) CONSERVATION MEASUREMENT TOOLS.—Section 
1238D(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838d(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘natural resource and’’ 
before ‘‘environmental benefit’’. 
(c) PRIORITY RESOURCE CONCERN.—Section 1238D 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838d) is 
amended by striking paragraphs (4) and (6) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (5) and (7) as paragraphs (4) and (5), 
respectively. 
(d) STEWARDSHIP THRESHOLD.—Section 1238D(5) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as so redesignated) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) STEWARDSHIP
THRESHOLD.—The term 
‘stewardship threshold’ means the level of natural 
resource conservation and environmental manage-
ment required to address and improve upon a pri-
ority resource concern, as determined by the Sec-
retary using— 
‘‘(A) conservation measurement tools; 
‘‘(B) the resource management system 
quality criteria for the particular priority re-
source concerns; 
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ship program payment is made to the ap-
plicant.’’. 
(2) TRANSITION.—Section 1238E(c) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838e(c)) is 
amended by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3) and inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) TRANSITION.—The Secretary may permit 
land described in paragraph (1)(A) to be prepared 
for production as a grazing operation prior to the 
expiration of the conservation reserve program con-
tract when a conservation stewardship contract has 
been approved, if no production takes place until 
after the expiration of the conservation reserve pro-
gram contract.’’. 
(3) 
CONVERSION
TO
CROPLAND.—Section 
1238E(c)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838e(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘the 
date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 
2013’’. 
SEC. 1403. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS. 
(a) SUBMISSION
OF CONTRACT OFFERS.—Section 
1238F(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838f(a)) is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or exceeding’’ before 
‘‘the stewardship threshold’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘one resource concern’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2 priority resource concerns’’; 
and 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) would, at a minimum, meet or exceed the 
stewardship threshold for at least 1 additional pri-
ority resource concern by the end of the stewardship 
contract by— 
‘‘(A) installing and adopting additional 
conservation activities; 
‘‘(B) improving, maintaining, and man-
aging conservation activities on the agricultural 
operation of the producer in a manner that in-
creases or extends the conservation benefits in 
place at the time the contract offer is accepted 
by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) if applicable, describing the resource- 
conserving crop rotation, managed intensive ro-
tation grazing system, or transition to organic 
crop or livestock systems the producer agrees to 
improve, maintain, and manage, or install and 
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adopt, during the term of the conservation 
stewardship contract.’’. 
(b) EVALUATION OF CONTRACT OFFERS.—Section 
1238F(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838f(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) RANKING
OF
APPLICATIONS.—In evalu-
ating contract offers made by producers to enter 
into contracts under the program, the Secretary 
shall rank applications based on— 
‘‘(A) the level of conservation and environ-
mental benefits resulting from all conservation 
activities to be covered by the contract, includ-
ing conservation activities proposed to be com-
menced as a result of the contract, on all appli-
cable priority resource concerns, based to the 
maximum extent practicable on conservation 
measurement tools; and 
‘‘(B) in the event of a tie in ranking scores 
between two or more applications, the extent to 
which the actual and anticipated environmental 
benefits from the contract are provided at the 
least cost.’’. 
(c) ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS.—Section 1238F(c) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838f(c)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘(c) ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—After a determination that 
a producer is eligible for the program under sub-
section (a), and a determination that the contract 
offer ranks sufficiently high under the evaluation 
criteria under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
enter into a conservation stewardship contract with 
the producer to enroll the land to be covered by the 
contract. 
‘‘(2) FINANCIAL OBLIGATION.—Consistent with 
section 1238G(e)(4), a contract entered into under 
paragraph (1) shall not create an obligation for fi-
nancial assistance until the first October 1 after the 
contract is entered into.’’. 
(d) CONTRACT RENEWAL.—Section 1238F(e) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838f(e)) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) CONTRACT RENEWAL.—At the end of a con-
servation stewardship contract of a producer, the Sec-
retary may allow the producer to renew the contract for 
an additional five-year period if the producer— 
‘‘(1) demonstrates compliance with the terms of 
the existing contract; 
‘‘(2) agrees to adopt new or improved conserva-
tion activities, as determined by the Secretary; and 
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‘‘(3) has met or exceeded, or agrees to meet or 
exceed, the stewardship threshold for all priority re-
source concerns identified for the region or area in 
which the land that is subject to the contract is lo-
cated.’’. 
(e) MODIFICATION.—Section 1238F(f) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838f(f)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(f) MODIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may allow a 
producer to modify a stewardship contract if the 
Secretary determines that the modification is con-
sistent with achieving the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(2) CHANGES
IN
CONTROL
OF
LAND.—The 
Secretary shall allow a producer to add or subtract 
from the contract land over which the producer loses 
or gains control, respectively, during the contract pe-
riod if such modification is consistent with achieving 
the purposes of the program and if the Secretary de-
termines that the resulting natural resource and en-
vironmental benefits would equal or exceed the origi-
nal contract.’’. 
(f) 
COORDINATION
WITH
ORGANIC
CERTIFI-
CATION.—Section 1238F(h) of the Food Security Act of 
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1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838f(h)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
maintain’’ after ‘‘may initiate’’. 
(g) ON-FARM RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION OR 
PILOT TESTING.—Section 1238F of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838f) is amended by striking 
subsection (i). 
SEC. 1404. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1238G(a) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(a)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To achieve the conservation 
goals of a contract under the conservation stewardship 
program, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) make the program available to eligible pro-
ducers on a continuous enrollment basis with 1 or 
more ranking periods, one of which shall occur in 
the first third of each fiscal year; 
‘‘(2) identify priority resource concerns in a 
particular watershed or other appropriate region or 
area within a State; 
‘‘(3) for any region or area that includes any 
part of a nutrient-impacted watershed (as deter-
mined by the Secretary), ensure that one of the pri-
ority resource concerns identified under paragraph 
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(2) is water pollution caused by excess nutrient 
loads; 
‘‘(4) develop reliable conservation measurement 
tools for purposes of carrying out the program; and 
‘‘(5) ensure that conservation measurement 
tools are transparent and available to producers 
by— 
‘‘(A) making interactive, user-friendly con-
servation measurement tools publically available 
online; 
‘‘(B) making conservation activity natural 
resource and environmental benefit scores avail-
able in an easy to understand format for study 
both before and during application; and 
‘‘(C) taking other similar steps, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) ALLOCATION TO STATES.—Section 1238G(b) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(b)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘primarily’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘also’’. 
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(c) ACREAGE ENROLLMENT LIMITATION.—Section 
1238G(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838g(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘12,769,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘10,000,000’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$18’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$23’’. 
(d) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PAYMENTS.— 
(1) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
PAYMENTS.—Section 
1238G(e)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3838g(e)(1)(B)) is amended by striking 
‘‘at the operation of the producer’’ and inserting ‘‘on 
the agricultural operation of the producer’’. 
(2) PAYMENT AMOUNT.—Section 1238G(e)(2) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838g(e)(2)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The amount of the 
conservation stewardship payment shall be de-
termined by the Secretary and based, to the 
maximum extent practicable, on the following 
factors: 
‘‘(i) Costs incurred by the producer 
associated with planning, design, materials, 
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installation, labor, management, mainte-
nance, or training. 
‘‘(ii) Income forgone by the producer. 
‘‘(iii) Expected natural resource and 
environmental benefits resulting from ex-
isting and proposed conservation treat-
ment, based to the maximum extent pos-
sible on conservation measurement tools. 
‘‘(B) PAYMENT DIFFERENTIAL.—In apply-
ing subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, 
where applicable, differentiate between— 
‘‘(i) improving, maintaining, and man-
aging conservation activities in place on 
the agricultural operation at the time the 
contract offer is accepted by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(ii) installing and adopting addi-
tional conservation activities on the agri-
cultural operation.’’. 
(3) MINIMUM PAYMENT.—Section 1238G(e) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(e)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) MINIMUM PAYMENT.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A payment to a pro-
ducer under this subsection shall be not less 
than $1,500 per year. 
‘‘(B) COMPREHENSIVE
CONTRACT.—If a 
contract requires a comprehensive conservation 
plan the implementation of which will, by the 
end of the contract term, meet or exceed the 
stewardship threshold for all priority resource 
concerns, the minimum payment shall be not 
less than $3,000.’’. 
(e) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS FOR RESOURCE-CON-
SERVING CROP ROTATIONS.—Section 1238G(f) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(f)) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS
FOR RESOURCE- 
CONSERVING CROP ROTATIONS, MANAGED INTENSIVE 
ROTATIONAL GRAZING, AND TRANSITION TO ORGANIC 
CROP OR LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall provide additional payments to pro-
ducers that, in participating in the program, agree 
to— 
‘‘(A) improve, maintain, and manage, or 
adopt and maintain— 
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‘‘(i) resource-conserving crop rota-
tions; or 
‘‘(ii) managed intensive rotational 
grazing; or 
‘‘(B) transition to organic crop or livestock 
systems. 
‘‘(2) 
RESOURCE-CONSERVING
CROP
ROTA-
TION.—In this subsection, the term ‘resource-con-
serving crop rotation’ means a crop rotation that— 
‘‘(A) includes at least 1 resource con-
serving crop (as defined by the Secretary); 
‘‘(B) reduces erosion; 
‘‘(C) improves water quality; 
‘‘(D) improves soil fertility and tilth; 
‘‘(E) interrupts pest cycles; and 
‘‘(F) in applicable areas, reduces depletion 
of soil moisture or otherwise reduces the need 
for irrigation. 
‘‘(3) MANAGED INTENSIVE ROTATIONAL GRAZ-
ING.—In this subsection, the term ‘managed inten-
sive rotational grazing’ means a system in which 
animals are regularly and systematically moved to 
fresh pasture in such a way as to— 
‘‘(A) maximize the quantity and quality of 
forage growth; 
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‘‘(B) improve manure distribution and nu-
trient cycling; 
‘‘(C) increase carbon sequestration from 
greater forage harvest; 
‘‘(D) improve the quantity and quality of 
cover for wildlife; 
‘‘(E) provide permanent cover to protect 
the soil from erosion; and 
‘‘(F) improve water quality. 
‘‘(4) TRANSITION TO ORGANIC CROP OR LIVE-
STOCK SYSTEMS.—In this subsection, the term ‘tran-
sition to organic crop or livestock systems’ means 
adoption of conservation activities for certified or-
ganic production on land or for herds not previously 
certified organic that meet all the requirements of 
the program and that are consistent with the regula-
tions promulgated under the Organic Foods Produc-
tion Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).’’. 
(f) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—Section 1238G(g) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(g)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A person or legal entity 
may not receive, directly or indirectly, payments 
under this subchapter that, in the aggregate, exceed 
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$200,000 for all contracts entered into during any 
5-year period, excluding funding arrangements with 
federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native 
corporations, regardless of the number of contracts 
entered into under the program by the person or en-
tity. 
‘‘(2) ACREAGE.—Any acres enrolled in the pro-
gram that will not receive payments due to the limi-
tation in paragraph (1) shall not be counted toward 
the acreage limitation in subsection (d)(1).’’. 
(g) REGULATIONS.—Section 1238G(h) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(h)) is amended 
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs 
(2) and (3), respectively, and by inserting before para-
graph (2) (as so redesignated) the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(1) require participants in the program to be 
actively engaged in farming or ranching;’’. 
(h) DATA.—Section 1238G(i) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g(i)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(i) DATA.—The Secretary shall maintain detailed 
and segmented data on contracts and payments under the 
program to allow, at a minimum, with respect to each con-
tract— 
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‘‘(1) quantification of the type and extent of 
conservation activities for which payments were 
made; 
‘‘(2) quantification of the amount of payments 
made for— 
‘‘(A) the installation and adoption of addi-
tional conservation activities and improvements 
to conservation activities in place on the oper-
ation of a producer at the time the conservation 
stewardship offer is accepted by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(B) the maintenance of existing conserva-
tion activities; and 
‘‘(3) identification of the watershed and county 
in which the agricultural operation receiving pay-
ments is located.’’. 
(i) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES RE-
LATED TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION.—Section 1238G of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838g) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES RE-
LATED TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
payments for conservation activities related to or-
ganic production. 
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‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—As a condi-
tion for receiving payments under the program, a 
producer shall agree to develop and implement con-
servation activities for certified organic production 
that are consistent with the regulations promulgated 
under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and the purposes of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(3) PLANNING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide 
planning 
assistance 
to 
producers 
transitioning to certified organic production 
consistent with the requirements of the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 
et seq.) and the purposes of this subchapter. 
‘‘(B) AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.—The 
Secretary shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, eliminate duplication of planning activi-
ties for a producer participating in a contract 
under this subchapter and initiating or main-
taining organic certification consistent with the 
Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).’’. 
(j) COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING.— 
Section 1238G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
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U.S.C. 3838g), as amended by subsection (i), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(h) COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING.— 
The Secretary shall provide technical and financial assist-
ance to producers under the program to develop a com-
prehensive conservation plan for the agricultural operation 
of the producer.’’. 
Subtitle F—Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program 
SEC. 1501. PURPOSES. 
Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1240. PURPOSES. 
‘‘The purpose of the environmental quality incentives 
program established by this chapter is to assist producers 
in implementing conservation systems, practices, and ac-
tivities on their operations in order to— 
‘‘(1) improve water quality, with special empha-
sis on reducing nutrient pollution and protecting 
sources of drinking water; 
‘‘(2) avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, 
the need for resource and regulatory programs by 
assisting producers in protecting soil, water, air, and 
related natural resources and meeting environmental 
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quality criteria established by Federal, State, tribal, 
and local agencies; 
‘‘(3) conserve ground and surface water to sus-
tain or improve in-stream flows; 
‘‘(4) enhance soil quality; 
‘‘(5) control invasive species; 
‘‘(6) enhance critical aquatic and terrestrial 
wildlife habitat for at-risk species; 
‘‘(7) reduce the amount and toxicity of pes-
ticides and other agricultural chemicals found on 
food and in water or the air; 
‘‘(8) reduce the nontherapeutic use of medically 
important antibiotics in food-producing animals in 
order to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics used 
in the treatment of human and animal disease; 
‘‘(9) help producers adapt to a changing and 
unpredictable climate and increase resiliency to cli-
mate change impacts, including rising temperatures 
and extreme weather events, while reducing green-
house gas emissions; and 
‘‘(10) address additional priority resource con-
cerns, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 1502. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) ORGANIC SYSTEM PLAN.—Section 1240A of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1) is 
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‘‘(c) PRIORITY.—If the Secretary determines that the 
environmental values of two or more applications for pay-
ments are comparable, the Secretary shall assign a higher 
priority to a program application which will achieve the 
environment and conservation values using practices and 
systems the assessed cost of which is lower.’’. 
(d) PAYMENTS.— 
(1) INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN PRAC-
TICES.—Section 1240B(d)(3) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(3)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) INCREASED
PAYMENTS
FOR
CERTAIN 
PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall provide supple-
mental payments and enhanced technical assistance 
to producers implementing land management and 
vegetative practices at a level that, as determined by 
the Secretary, results in highly cost-effective treat-
ment of priority resource concerns, including— 
‘‘(A) residue and tillage management; 
‘‘(B) contour farming; 
‘‘(C) cover cropping; 
‘‘(D) integrated pest management; 
‘‘(E) nutrient management; 
‘‘(F) stream corridor improvement; 
‘‘(G) invasive plant species control; 
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‘‘(H) contour buffer strips; 
‘‘(I) riparian herbaceous and forest buff-
ers; 
‘‘(J) filterstrips; 
‘‘(K) stream habitat improvement and 
management; 
‘‘(L) grassed waterways; 
‘‘(M) wetland restoration and enhance-
ment; 
‘‘(N) pollinator habitat; or 
‘‘(O) conservation crop rotation.’’. 
(2) INCREASED PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN PRO-
DUCERS.—Section 1240B(d)(4)(B) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(4)(B)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘30 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘50 percent’’. 
(3) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN 
PRACTICES.—Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN 
PRACTICES.—A producer who owns or operates a 
large confined animal feeding operation (as defined 
by the Secretary) shall not be eligible for payments 
under this chapter to construct an animal waste 
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management facility or any associated waste trans-
port or transfer device.’’. 
(e) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—Section 1240B(f) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(f)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—Of the funds made 
available for payments for each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018— 
‘‘(1) 50 percent shall be targeted at practices 
relating to livestock production; and 
‘‘(2) not less than 10 percent shall be targeted 
at practices relating to improvement of fish and 
wildlife habitat.’’. 
(f) WATER CONSERVATION
OR IRRIGATION EFFI-
CIENCY PRACTICE.— 
(1) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
PAYMENTS.—Section 
1240B(h)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)(1)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF PAYMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may provide payments under this subsection 
to a producer for a water conservation or irrigation 
practice that promotes ground and surface water 
conservation on the agricultural operation of the 
producer by— 
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‘‘(A) improvements to irrigation systems; 
‘‘(B) enhancement of irrigation efficiencies; 
‘‘(C) conversion of the agricultural oper-
ation to— 
‘‘(i) the production of less water-in-
tensive agricultural commodities; or 
‘‘(ii) dryland farming; 
‘‘(D) improvement of the storage of water 
through measures such as water banking and 
groundwater recharge; 
‘‘(E) enhancement of fish and wildlife 
habitat associated with irrigation systems in-
cluding pivot corners and areas with irregular 
boundaries; or 
‘‘(F) establishment of other measures, as 
determined by the Secretary, that improve 
groundwater and surface water conservation in 
agricultural operations.’’. 
(2) PRIORITY.—Section 1240B(h)(2) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa– 
2(h)(2)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; 
or’’ and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
as follows: 
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‘‘(B) any associated water savings remain 
in the original source of such water for the use-
ful life of the practice.’’. 
(3) DUTY OF PRODUCERS.—Section 1240B(h) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–2(h)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) DUTY
OF
PRODUCERS.—The Secretary 
may not provide payments to a producer for a water 
conservation or irrigation practice under this chapter 
unless the producer agrees not to use any associated 
water savings to bring new land, other than inci-
dental land needed for efficient operations, under ir-
rigated production, unless the producer is partici-
pating in a watershed-wide project that will effec-
tively conserve water, as determined by the Sec-
retary.’’. 
(g) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES RE-
LATED TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION.— 
(1) 
PAYMENTS
AUTHORIZED.—Section 
1240B(i)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(1)) is amended by striking 
‘‘subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter’’. 
(2) 
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
1240B(i)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
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U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(2)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—As a condi-
tion for receiving payments under this chapter, a 
producer shall agree to develop and implement con-
servation practices for certified organic production 
that are consistent with the regulations promulgated 
under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and the purposes of this chap-
ter.’’. 
(3) PAYMENT
LIMITATIONS; 
COORDINATION 
WITH ORGANIC CERTIFICATION; PLANNING.—Section 
1240B(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)) is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (3) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
(5) and (6), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION
WITH
ORGANIC
CERTIFI-
CATION.—The Secretary shall establish a trans-
parent means by which producers may initiate or-
ganic certification under the Organic Foods Produc-
tion Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) while par-
ticipating in a contract under this chapter. 
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‘‘(4) PLANNING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide 
planning 
assistance 
to 
producers 
transitioning to certified organic production 
consistent with the requirements of the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 
et seq.) and the purposes of this chapter. 
‘‘(B) AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.—The 
Secretary shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, eliminate duplication of planning activi-
ties for a producer participating in a contract 
under this chapter and initiating or maintaining 
organic certification consistent with the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 
et seq.).’’. 
(h) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES RE-
LATED TO ANTIBIOTIC USE.—Section 1240B of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(j) PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES RE-
LATED TO ANTIBIOTIC USE.— 
‘‘(1) PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary 
shall provide payments under this chapter to live-
stock producers for three years, to assist in a transi-
tion to modified animal management and production 
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systems, for practices leading to the reduction in the 
need for antibiotics, including modification of sys-
tems and spaces to— 
‘‘(A) improve sanitation; 
‘‘(B) improve ventilation; or 
‘‘(C) support the implementation of im-
proved animal management techniques at the 
operation. 
‘‘(2) DUTY OF PRODUCER.—The Secretary shall 
not make payments under this chapter for practices 
related to antibiotic use unless the producer agrees 
to provide information to the Secretary documenting 
the resulting reduction in antibiotic use in the oper-
ation of the producer.’’. 
(i) COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING.— 
Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2), as amended by subsection (g), is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(k) COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING.— 
The Secretary shall provide technical and financial assist-
ance to producers under the program to develop a com-
prehensive conservation plan for the agricultural operation 
of the producer.’’. 
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SEC. 1504. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS. 
(a) EVALUATION CRITERIA.—Section 1240C(a) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3(a)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘, national, State, and local con-
servation priorities’’ and inserting ‘‘priority resource con-
cerns identified under subsection (d)’’. 
(b) PRIORITIZATION
OF
APPLICATIONS.—Section 
1240C(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–3(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘achieving the 
anticipated environmental benefits of the project’’ 
and inserting ‘‘priority resource concerns identified 
under subsection (d)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘designated 
resource concern or resource concerns’’ and inserting 
‘‘priority resource concerns identified under sub-
section (d), including, in the case of applications 
from nutrient-impacted watersheds, the degree to 
which nutrient loadings would be reduced as a result 
of the proposed project’’. 
(c) GROUPING OF APPLICATIONS.—Section 1240C(c) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3(c)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘for evaluation purposes or other-
wise evaluate applications relative to other applications for 
similar farming operations’’ and inserting ‘‘proposing to 
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address the same priority resource concerns for evaluation 
purposes’’. 
(d) 
PRIORITY
RESOURCE
CONCERNS.—Section 
1240C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–3) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY RESOURCE CONCERNS.—For the pur-
poses of this section, the Secretary shall identify priority 
resource concerns in a particular watershed or other ap-
propriate region or area within a State.’’. 
SEC. 1505. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
GRAM PLAN. 
(a) PLAN OF OPERATIONS.—Section 1240E(a) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–5(a)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) PLAN OF OPERATIONS.—To be eligible to re-
ceive payments under the program, a producer shall sub-
mit to the Secretary for approval a plan of operations 
that— 
‘‘(1) specifies the priority resource concerns to 
be addressed; 
‘‘(2) specifies the type, number, and sequencing 
of conservation systems, practices, or activities to be 
implemented to address the priority resource con-
cerns; 
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‘‘(3) includes such terms and conditions as the 
Secretary considers necessary to carry out the pro-
gram, including a description of the purposes to be 
met by the implementation of the plan and a state-
ment of how the plan will achieve or take significant 
steps toward achieving the relevant resource man-
agement system quality criteria; 
‘‘(4) in the case of a confined livestock feeding 
operation, provides for development and implementa-
tion of a comprehensive nutrient management plan, 
if applicable; 
‘‘(5) in the case of a producer located within a 
nutrient-impacted watershed, identifies methods by 
which the producer will limit nutrient loss; and 
‘‘(6) in the case of forest land, is consistent 
with the provisions of a forest management plan 
that is approved by the Secretary, which may in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) a forest stewardship plan described in 
section 5 of the Cooperative Forestry Assist-
ance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103a); 
‘‘(B) another practice plan approved by the 
State forester; or 
‘‘(C) another plan determined appropriate 
by the Secretary.’’. 
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(b) 
AVOIDANCE
OF
DUPLICATION.—Section 
1240E(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa–5(b)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘plan of oper-
ations’’ and inserting ‘‘resource management system 
plan’’. 
SEC. 1506. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
Section 1240F(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–6(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘infor-
mation’’ and inserting ‘‘technical assistance, informa-
tion,’’. 
SEC. 1507. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. 
Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–7) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1240G. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. 
‘‘(a) LIMITATION ON TOTAL PAYMENTS.—Subject to 
subsection (b), a person or legal entity may not receive, 
directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments 
under this chapter, in the aggregate, for all contracts en-
tered into under this chapter by the person or entity (ex-
cluding funding arrangements with federally recognized 
Native American Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Corpora-
tions under section 1240B(h)), regardless of the number 
of contracts entered into under this chapter by the person 
or entity, that— 
‘‘(1) during any fiscal year exceed $30,000; and 
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‘‘(2) 
during 
any 
five-year 
period 
exceed 
$150,000. 
‘‘(b) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—In the case of contracts 
under this chapter for projects of special environmental 
significance, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary 
may waive the limitation otherwise applicable under sub-
section (a)(1). 
‘‘(c) PREVENTION OF DUPLICATION.—The Secretary 
shall not approve a contract or provide payments to any 
individual for a practice that has already been paid for 
as part of a previously approved and completed contract 
for any particular parcel of land.’’. 
Subtitle G—Conservation 
Innovation Grant Program 
SEC. 1601. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM. 
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1240S. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE CON-
SERVATION APPROACHES.—The Secretary shall, for each 
of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, carry out a conserva-
tion innovation grant program to encourage innovation in 
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conservation on private farmland, rangeland, wetlands, 
grasslands, and forest lands. 
‘‘(b) USE.—The Secretary shall provide grants under 
this section to governmental and non-governmental orga-
nizations and persons, on a competitive basis, to carry out 
projects that— 
‘‘(1) develop and test innovative and cost-effec-
tive technologies and practices and methods of con-
servation delivery to address priority resource con-
cerns; 
‘‘(2) involve producers who are eligible for pay-
ments or technical assistance under this title; 
‘‘(3) leverage Federal funds made available to 
carry out this section with matching funds provided 
by State and local governments and private organi-
zations to promote environmental enhancement and 
protection in conjunction with agricultural produc-
tion; 
‘‘(4) ensure efficient and effective transfer of 
innovative 
technologies 
and 
approaches 
dem-
onstrated through projects that receive funding 
under this subsection, such as market systems for 
pollution reduction and practices for the storage of 
carbon in soil; 
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‘‘(5) provide environmental and resource con-
servation benefits through increased participation by 
producers of specialty crops; 
‘‘(6) provide payments to producers to imple-
ment cost-effective and innovative technologies to 
address priority resource concerns related to air 
quality from agricultural operations; or 
‘‘(7) provide environmental and resource con-
servation benefits through increased participation by 
beginning farmers and ranchers and socially dis-
advantaged farmers and ranchers. 
‘‘(c) EVALUATION CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall 
develop criteria for evaluating applications for competitive 
grants under this section that will ensure that priority re-
source concerns are effectively addressed.’’. 
Subtitle H—Funding and 
Administration 
SEC. 1701. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1241(a) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018, the Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, 
and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
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carry out the following programs under this title (includ-
ing the provision of technical assistance): 
‘‘(1) The conservation reserve program under 
subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D, including, 
to the maximum extent practicable, $50,000,000 for 
the period of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to 
carry out section 1235(f) to facilitate the transfer of 
land subject to contracts from retired or retiring 
owners and operators to beginning farmers or ranch-
ers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(2) The conservation security program under 
subchapter A of chapter 2 of subtitle D, using such 
sums as are necessary to administer contracts en-
tered into before September 30, 2008. 
‘‘(3) The conservation stewardship program 
under subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D. 
‘‘(4) The environmental quality incentives pro-
gram under chapter 4 of subtitle D, using, to the 
maximum extent practicable, $1,542,500,000 for 
each fiscal year. 
‘‘(5) The conservation innovation grant pro-
gram under section 1240S, using, to the maximum 
extent practicable, $100,000,000 for each fiscal 
year. 
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‘‘(6) The agricultural conservation easement 
program under subtitle H, using, to the maximum 
extent practicable, $704,000,000 for each fiscal 
year, of which not less than 70 percent shall be used 
to carry out section 1265C. 
‘‘(7) The conservation loan and loan guarantee 
program under section 1246, using, to the maximum 
extent practicable, for each fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) $200,000,000 for direct loans; and 
‘‘(B) $150,000,000 for loan guarantees.’’. 
(b) GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Sec-
tion 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3841) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (h) 
as subsections (c) through (i), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), amounts made available by subsection (a) 
shall be used by the Secretary to carry out the pro-
grams specified in such subsection for fiscal years 
2014 through 2018 and shall remain available until 
expended. Amounts made available for the programs 
specified in such subsection during a fiscal year 
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through modifications, cancellations, terminations, 
and other related administrative actions and not ob-
ligated in that fiscal year shall remain available for 
obligation during subsequent fiscal years, but shall 
reduce the amount of additional funds made avail-
able in the subsequent fiscal year by an amount 
equal to the amount remaining unobligated. 
‘‘(2) CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM.—Amounts made available by subsection 
(a)(5) for a fiscal year and not obligated in that fis-
cal year shall be made available for the environ-
mental quality incentives program under chapter 4 
of subtitle D, and shall remain available until ex-
pended.’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 1241(c) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection 
(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Commodity Credit Cor-
poration funds made available for a fiscal year for 
each of the programs specified in subsection (a)— 
‘‘(A) shall be available for the provision of 
technical assistance for the programs for which 
funds are made available; and 
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‘‘(B) shall not be available for the provi-
sion of technical assistance for conservation 
programs specified in subsection (a) other than 
the program for which the funds were made 
available. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—The amount of funds made 
available under paragraph (1) shall in no case equal 
less than 10 percent nor more than 30 percent of 
the amounts made available by subsection (a).’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN FARMERS OR RANCH-
ERS FOR CONSERVATION ACCESS.—Section 1241(h) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by sub-
section (b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’; 
and 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘5’’ 
and inserting ‘‘10’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘(but not 
earlier than 120 days after the date that funding for 
the fiscal year is allocated to the States)’’ after ‘‘the 
Secretary’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘(but not 
earlier than 120 days after the date that funding for 
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the fiscal year is allocated to the States)’’ after ‘‘the 
Secretary’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) PARTICIPATION BY BEGINNING AND SO-
CIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS
AND
RANCH-
ERS.—Nothing in this subsection prohibits beginning 
or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers from 
participating in programs and receiving funding 
available under this title that is not reserved under 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(5) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—Of the funds 
reserved under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall al-
locate to the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
funding for technical assistance at a rate that is not 
more than 10 percent higher than the rate that 
would otherwise apply under the environmental qual-
ity incentives program and the conservation steward-
ship program to allow the Service to provide addi-
tional technical assistance to beginning farmers or 
ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers to establish comprehensive conservation 
plans.’’. 
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SEC. 1702. CONSERVATION LOAN AND LOAN GUARANTEE 
PROGRAM. 
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1246. CONSERVATION LOAN AND LOAN GUARANTEE 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make or 
guarantee qualified conservation loans to eligible bor-
rowers under this section. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) QUALIFIED
CONSERVATION
LOAN.—The 
term ‘qualified conservation loan’ means a loan, the 
proceeds of which are used to cover the costs to the 
borrower of carrying out a qualified conservation 
project. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFIED
CONSERVATION
PROJECT.— 
The term ‘qualified conservation project’ means con-
servation measures that address provisions of a com-
prehensive conservation plan of the eligible borrower. 
‘‘(3) CONSERVATION
LOAN
PLAN.—The term 
‘conservation loan plan’ means a plan, approved by 
the Secretary, that, for a farming or ranching oper-
ation, identifies— 
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‘‘(A) the conservation activities that will be 
addressed with loan funds provided under this 
section, including— 
‘‘(i) the installation of conservation 
structures to address soil, water, and re-
lated resources; 
‘‘(ii) the establishment of forest cover 
for sustained yield timber management, 
erosion control, or shelterbelt purposes; 
‘‘(iii) the installation of water con-
servation measures; 
‘‘(iv) the installation of waste manage-
ment systems; 
‘‘(v) the establishment or improve-
ment of permanent pasture; or 
‘‘(vi) other purposes consistent with 
the plan, including the adoption of any 
other emerging or existing conservation 
practices, techniques, or technologies ap-
proved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) how and to what extent the conserva-
tion project will support the implementation of 
a comprehensive conservation plan and improve 
the conditions of identified priority resource 
concerns. 
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‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE BORROWERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
or guarantee qualified conservation loans under this 
section to— 
‘‘(A) farmers or ranchers engaged pri-
marily and directly in agricultural production in 
the United States; or 
‘‘(B) farm cooperatives, private domestic 
corporations, partnerships, joint operations, 
trusts, or limited liability companies that are— 
‘‘(i) controlled by farmers or ranchers; 
and 
‘‘(ii) engaged primarily and directly in 
agricultural production in the United 
States. 
‘‘(2) CONSERVATION LOAN PLAN.—In order to 
be eligible to receive a loan or loan guarantee under 
this section, an entity described in paragraph (1) 
shall have a conservation loan plan. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In making or guaranteeing qualified 
conservation loans under this section, the Secretary shall 
give priority to— 
‘‘(1) qualified beginning farmers or ranchers 
and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; 
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‘‘(2) owners or tenants who use the loans to 
convert to sustainable or organic agricultural pro-
duction systems; 
‘‘(3) producers who use the loans to build con-
servation structures or establish conservation prac-
tices to implement a comprehensive conservation 
plan; 
‘‘(4) projects that will do the most to address 
priority resource concerns, as specified in a con-
servation loan plan; and 
‘‘(5) projects that are designed to help pro-
ducers comply with, or avoid the need for, local, 
State, or Federal regulation. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO LOAN GUARAN-
TEES.—The portion of a qualified conservation loan that 
the Secretary may guarantee under this section shall be 
not more than 90 percent of the principal amount of the 
loan. 
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.— 
‘‘(1) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, that qualified conservation loans made or 
guaranteed under this section are distributed across 
diverse geographic regions, while still prioritizing 
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qualified conservation projects with the greatest con-
servation or environmental benefit. 
‘‘(2) AGENCY
COOPERATION.—The Secretary 
shall ensure proper cooperation between the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, which shall review 
and approve comprehensive loan plans and provide 
technical 
assistance 
for 
qualified 
conservation 
projects, and the Farm Service Agency, which will 
approve and issue loans and loan guarantees under 
this section. 
‘‘(3) INTEREST
RATES.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that a loan made under this section is made 
at or below market rate.’’. 
Subtitle I—Agricultural 
Conservation Easement Program 
SEC. 1801. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Title XII of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Subtitle H—Agricultural 
Conservation Easement Program 
‘‘SEC. 1265. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish an agricultural conservation easement program for the 
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‘‘(A) is conveyed for the purposes of pro-
tecting natural resources and the agricultural 
nature of the land, and of promoting agricul-
tural viability for future generations; and 
‘‘(B) permits the landowner the right to 
continue agricultural production and related 
uses subject to an agricultural land easement 
plan. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) an agency of State or local govern-
ment or an Indian tribe (including a farmland 
protection board or land resource council estab-
lished under State law); or 
‘‘(B) an organization that is— 
‘‘(i) organized for, and at all times 
since the formation of the organization has 
been operated principally for, 1 or more of 
the conservation purposes specified in 
clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 
170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986; 
‘‘(ii) an organization described in sec-
tion 501(c)(3) of that Code that is exempt 
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from taxation under section 501(a) of that 
Code; or 
‘‘(iii) described in— 
‘‘(I) paragraph (1) or (2) of sec-
tion 509(a) of that Code; or 
‘‘(II) section 509(a)(3) of that 
Code and is controlled by an organiza-
tion described in section 509(a)(2) of 
that Code. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘eligible land’ 
means private or tribal land that is— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an agricultural land 
easement, agricultural land, including land on a 
farm or ranch— 
‘‘(i) that is subject to a pending offer 
for purchase from an eligible entity; 
‘‘(ii) that— 
‘‘(I) has prime, unique, or other 
productive soil; 
‘‘(II) contains historical or ar-
chaeological resources; or 
‘‘(III) the protection of which will 
further a State or local policy con-
sistent with the purposes of the pro-
gram; and 
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‘‘(iii) that is— 
‘‘(I) cropland; 
‘‘(II) rangeland; 
‘‘(III) grassland or land that con-
tains forbs, or shrubland for which 
grazing is the predominant use; 
‘‘(IV) pastureland; or 
‘‘(V) nonindustrial private forest 
land that contributes to the economic 
viability of an offered parcel or serves 
as a buffer to protect such land from 
development; 
‘‘(B) in the case of a wetland easement, a 
wetland or related area, including— 
‘‘(i) farmed or converted wetland, to-
gether with the adjacent land that is func-
tionally dependent on that land, if the Sec-
retary determines it— 
‘‘(I) is likely to be successfully 
restored in a cost effective manner; 
and 
‘‘(II) will maximize the wildlife 
benefits and wetland functions and 
values as determined by the Secretary 
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in consultation with the Secretary of 
the Interior at the local level; 
‘‘(ii) cropland or grassland that was 
used for agricultural production prior to 
flooding from the natural overflow of a 
closed basin lake or pothole, as determined 
by the Secretary, together (where prac-
ticable) with the adjacent land that is 
functionally dependent on the cropland or 
grassland; 
‘‘(iii) farmed wetland and adjoining 
land that— 
‘‘(I) is enrolled in the conserva-
tion reserve program; 
‘‘(II) has the highest wetland 
functions and values; and 
‘‘(III) is likely to return to pro-
duction after the land leaves the con-
servation reserve program; 
‘‘(iv) riparian areas that link wetland 
that is protected by easements or some 
other device that achieves the same pur-
pose as an easement; or 
‘‘(v) other wetland of an owner that 
would not otherwise be eligible, if the Sec-
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retary determines that the inclusion of 
such wetland in such easement would sig-
nificantly add to the functional value of the 
easement; or 
‘‘(C) in the case of both an agricultural 
land easement or wetland easement, other land 
that is incidental to eligible land if the Sec-
retary determines that it is necessary for the ef-
ficient administration of the easements under 
this program. 
‘‘(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means 
the agricultural conservation easement program es-
tablished by this subtitle. 
‘‘(5) WETLAND EASEMENT.—The term ‘wetland 
easement’ means a reserved interest in eligible land 
that— 
‘‘(A) is defined and delineated in a deed; 
and 
‘‘(B) stipulates— 
‘‘(i) the rights, title, and interests in 
land conveyed to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(ii) the rights, title, and interests in 
land that are reserved to the landowner. 
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‘‘SEC. 1265B. AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
shall facilitate and provide funding for— 
‘‘(1) the purchase by eligible entities of agricul-
tural land easements and other interests in eligible 
land; and 
‘‘(2) technical assistance to provide for the con-
servation of natural resources pursuant to an agri-
cultural land easement plan. 
‘‘(b) COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
cost-share assistance to eligible entities for pur-
chasing agricultural land easements to protect the 
agricultural use, including grazing, and related con-
servation values of eligible land. 
‘‘(2) SCOPE OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL
SHARE.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (C), an agreement described in para-
graph (4) shall provide for a Federal share de-
termined by the Secretary of an amount not to 
exceed 50 percent of the fair market value of 
the agricultural land easement or other interest 
in land, as determined by the Secretary using— 
‘‘(i) the Uniform Standards of Profes-
sional Appraisal Practice; 
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‘‘(ii) an area-wide market analysis or 
survey; or 
‘‘(iii) another industry-approved meth-
od. 
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (C), under the agreement, the 
eligible entity shall provide a share that is 
at least equivalent to that provided by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) SOURCE OF CONTRIBUTION.—An 
eligible entity may include as part of its 
share a charitable donation or qualified 
conservation contribution (as defined by 
section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986) from the private landowner 
if the eligible entity contributes its own 
cash resources in an amount that is at 
least 50 percent of the amount contributed 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—In the case of 
grassland of special environmental significance, 
as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary 
may provide up to 75 percent of the fair market 
value of the agricultural land easement. 
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‘‘(3) EVALUATION AND RANKING OF APPLICA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(A) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish evaluation and ranking criteria to maxi-
mize the benefit of Federal investment under 
the program. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing 
the criteria, the Secretary shall emphasize sup-
port for— 
‘‘(i) protecting agricultural uses and 
enhancing related conservation values of 
the land; and 
‘‘(ii) maximizing the protection of 
areas devoted to agricultural use and the 
conservation values that can be derived 
from the land. 
‘‘(C) PRIORITY.—If the Secretary deter-
mines that the environmental values of two or 
more applications for cost-share assistance are 
comparable, the Secretary shall assign a higher 
priority to a program application which will 
achieve the environment and conservation val-
ues using practices and systems the assessed 
cost of which is lower. 
‘‘(4) AGREEMENTS WITH ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
enter into agreements with eligible entities to 
stipulate the terms and conditions under which 
the eligible entity is permitted to use cost-share 
assistance provided under this section. 
‘‘(B) 
LENGTH
OF
AGREEMENTS.—An 
agreement shall be for a term that is— 
‘‘(i) in the case of an eligible entity 
certified under the process described in 
paragraph (5), a minimum of 5 years; and 
‘‘(ii) for all other eligible entities, at 
least 3, but not more than 5 years. 
‘‘(C) MINIMUM TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
An eligible entity shall be authorized to use its 
own terms and conditions for agricultural land 
easements so long as the Secretary determines 
such terms and conditions— 
‘‘(i) are consistent with the purposes 
of the program; 
‘‘(ii) are permanent or for the max-
imum duration allowed under applicable 
State law; 
‘‘(iii) permit effective enforcement of 
the conservation purposes of such ease-
ments, including appropriate restrictions 
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depending on the purposes for which the 
easement is acquired; 
‘‘(iv) include a right of enforcement 
for the Secretary that may be used if the 
terms of the easement are not enforced by 
the holder of the easement; 
‘‘(v) subject the land in which such an 
interest is purchased to an agricultural 
land easement plan that— 
‘‘(I) describes the activities which 
promote the long-term viability of the 
land to meet the purposes for which 
the easement was acquired; 
‘‘(II) requires the management of 
grassland according to a grassland 
management plan; and 
‘‘(III) includes a comprehensive 
conservation plan, and requires, at the 
option of the Secretary, the conversion 
of highly erodible cropland to less in-
tensive uses; and 
‘‘(vi) include a limit on the impervious 
surfaces to be allowed that is consistent 
with the purposes of the program under 
section 1265(b). 
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‘‘(D) 
SUBSTITUTION
OF
QUALIFIED 
PROJECTS.—An agreement shall allow, upon 
mutual agreement of the parties, substitution of 
qualified projects that are identified at the time 
of the proposed substitution. 
‘‘(E) EFFECT OF VIOLATION.—If a viola-
tion occurs of a term or condition of an agree-
ment under this subsection— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary may terminate the 
agreement; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary may require the el-
igible entity to refund all or part of any 
payments received by the entity under the 
program, with interest on the payments as 
determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(5) CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a process under which the 
Secretary may— 
‘‘(i) directly certify eligible entities 
that meet established criteria; 
‘‘(ii) enter into long-term agreements 
with certified eligible entities; and 
‘‘(iii) accept proposals for cost-share 
assistance for the purchase of agricultural 
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land easements throughout the duration of 
such agreements. 
‘‘(B) CERTIFICATION CRITERIA.—In order 
to be certified, an eligible entity shall dem-
onstrate to the Secretary that the entity will 
maintain, at a minimum, for the duration of the 
agreement— 
‘‘(i) a plan for administering ease-
ments that is consistent with the purpose 
of this subtitle; 
‘‘(ii) the capacity and resources to 
monitor and enforce agricultural land ease-
ments; and 
‘‘(iii) policies and procedures to en-
sure— 
‘‘(I) the long-term integrity of 
agricultural land easements on eligible 
land; 
‘‘(II) timely completion of acqui-
sitions of easements; and 
‘‘(III) timely and complete eval-
uation and reporting to the Secretary 
on the use of funds provided under 
the program. 
‘‘(C) REVIEW AND REVISION.— 
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‘‘(i) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall 
conduct a review of eligible entities cer-
tified under subparagraph (A) every 3 
years to ensure that such entities are 
meeting the criteria established under sub-
paragraph (B). 
‘‘(ii) REVOCATION.—If the Secretary 
finds that the certified eligible entity no 
longer meets the criteria established under 
subparagraph (B), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(I) allow the certified eligible 
entity a specified period of time, at a 
minimum 180 days, in which to take 
such actions as may be necessary to 
meet the criteria; and 
‘‘(II) revoke the certification of 
the eligible entity, if, after the speci-
fied period of time, the certified entity 
does not meet such criteria. 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
provide technical assistance, if requested, to assist in— 
‘‘(1) compliance with the terms and conditions 
of easements; and 
‘‘(2) implementation of an agricultural land 
easement plan. 
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‘‘SEC. 1265C. WETLAND EASEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
shall provide assistance to owners of eligible land to re-
store, protect, and enhance wetland through— 
‘‘(1) easements and related wetland easement 
plans; and 
‘‘(2) technical assistance. 
‘‘(b) EASEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) METHOD
OF
ENROLLMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall enroll eligible land through the use of— 
‘‘(A) 30-year easements; 
‘‘(B) permanent easements; 
‘‘(C) easements for the maximum duration 
allowed under applicable State laws; or 
‘‘(D) as an option for Indian tribes only, 
30-year contracts (which shall be considered to 
be 30-year contracts for the purposes of this 
subtitle). 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) INELIGIBLE
LAND.—The Secretary 
may not acquire wetland easements on— 
‘‘(i) land established to trees under 
the conservation reserve program, except in 
cases where the Secretary determines it 
would further the purposes of the program; 
and 
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‘‘(ii) farmed wetland or converted wet-
land where the conversion was not com-
menced prior to December 23, 1985. 
‘‘(B) CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP.—No wet-
land easement shall be created on land that has 
changed ownership during the preceding 24- 
month period unless— 
‘‘(i) the new ownership was acquired 
by will or succession as a result of the 
death of the previous owner; 
‘‘(ii)(I) the ownership change occurred 
because of foreclosure on the land; and 
‘‘(II) immediately before the fore-
closure, the owner of the land exercises a 
right of redemption from the mortgage 
holder in accordance with State law; or 
‘‘(iii) the Secretary determines that 
the land was acquired under circumstances 
that give adequate assurances that such 
land was not acquired for the purposes of 
placing it in the program. 
‘‘(3) EVALUATION AND RANKING OF OFFERS.— 
‘‘(A) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish evaluation and ranking criteria to maxi-
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mize the benefit of Federal investment under 
the program. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—When evaluating 
offers from landowners, the Secretary may con-
sider— 
‘‘(i) the conservation benefits of ob-
taining a wetland easement, including the 
potential environmental benefits if the land 
was removed from agricultural production; 
‘‘(ii) the cost-effectiveness of each 
wetland easement, so as to maximize the 
environmental benefits per dollar expended; 
‘‘(iii) whether the landowner or an-
other person is offering to contribute fi-
nancially to the cost of the wetland ease-
ment to leverage Federal funds; and 
‘‘(iv) such other factors as the Sec-
retary determines are necessary to carry 
out the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(C) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall place 
priority on acquiring wetland easements based 
on the value of the wetland easement for pro-
tecting and enhancing habitat for migratory 
birds and other wildlife. 
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‘‘(4) AGREEMENT.—To be eligible to place eligi-
ble land into the program through a wetland ease-
ment, the owner of such land shall enter into an 
agreement with the Secretary to— 
‘‘(A) grant an easement on such land to 
the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) authorize the implementation of a 
wetland easement plan; 
‘‘(C) create and record an appropriate 
deed restriction in accordance with applicable 
State law to reflect the easement agreed to; 
‘‘(D) provide a written statement of con-
sent to such easement signed by those holding 
a security interest in the land; 
‘‘(E) comply with the terms and conditions 
of the easement and any related agreements; 
and 
‘‘(F) permanently retire any existing crop-
land base and allotment history for the land on 
which the easement has been obtained. 
‘‘(5) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EASEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A wetland easement 
shall include terms and conditions that— 
‘‘(i) permit— 
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‘‘(I) repairs, improvements, and 
inspections on the land that are nec-
essary to maintain existing public 
drainage systems; and 
‘‘(II) owners to control public ac-
cess on the easement areas while iden-
tifying access routes to be used for 
restoration activities and management 
and easement monitoring; 
‘‘(ii) prohibit— 
‘‘(I) the alteration of wildlife 
habitat and other natural features of 
such land, unless specifically author-
ized by the Secretary; 
‘‘(II) the spraying of such land 
with chemicals or the mowing of such 
land, except where such spraying or 
mowing is authorized by the Secretary 
or is necessary— 
‘‘(aa) to comply with Fed-
eral or State noxious weed con-
trol laws; 
‘‘(bb) to comply with a Fed-
eral or State emergency pest 
treatment program; or 
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100 
‘‘(cc) to meet habitat needs 
of specific wildlife species; 
‘‘(III) any activities to be carried 
out on the owner’s or successor’s land 
that is immediately adjacent to, and 
functionally related to, the land that 
is subject to the easement if such ac-
tivities will alter, degrade, or other-
wise diminish the functional value of 
the eligible land; and 
‘‘(IV) the adoption of any other 
practice that would tend to defeat the 
purposes of the program, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) provide for the efficient and ef-
fective establishment of wetland functions 
and values; and 
‘‘(iv) include such additional provi-
sions as the Secretary determines are de-
sirable to carry out the program or facili-
tate the practical administration thereof. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION.—On the violation of the 
terms or conditions of the wetland easement, 
the wetland easement shall remain in force and 
the Secretary may require the owner to refund 
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101 
all or part of any payments received by the 
owner under the program, together with inter-
est thereon as determined appropriate by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(C) COMPATIBLE USES.—Land subject to 
a wetland easement may be used for compatible 
economic uses, including such activities as 
hunting and fishing, managed timber harvest, 
or periodic haying or grazing, if such use is spe-
cifically permitted by the wetland easement plan 
and is consistent with the long-term protection 
and enhancement of the wetland resources for 
which the easement was established. 
‘‘(D) 
RESERVATION
OF
GRAZING 
RIGHTS.—The Secretary may include in the 
terms and conditions of a wetland easement a 
provision under which the owner reserves graz-
ing rights if— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary determines that the 
reservation and use of the grazing rights— 
‘‘(I) is compatible with the land 
subject to the easement; 
‘‘(II) is consistent with the his-
torical natural uses of the land and 
long-term protection and enhancement 
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102 
goals for which the easement was es-
tablished; and 
‘‘(III) complies with the wetland 
easement plan; and 
‘‘(ii) the agreement provides for a 
commensurate reduction in the easement 
payment to account for the grazing value, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(A) DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall pay as compensation for a permanent 
wetland easement acquired under the pro-
gram an amount necessary to encourage 
enrollment in the program based on the 
lowest of— 
‘‘(I) the fair market value of the 
land, as determined by the Secretary, 
using the Uniform Standards of Pro-
fessional Appraisal Practice or an 
area-wide market analysis or survey; 
‘‘(II) the amount corresponding 
to a geographical cap, as determined 
by the Secretary in regulations; or 
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103 
‘‘(III) the offer made by the 
landowner. 
‘‘(ii) OTHER.—Compensation for a 
30-year wetland easement shall be not less 
than 50 percent, but not more than 75 
percent, of the compensation that would be 
paid for a permanent wetland easement. 
‘‘(B) FORM OF PAYMENT.—Compensation 
shall be provided by the Secretary in the form 
of a cash payment, in an amount determined 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) PAYMENT SCHEDULE.— 
‘‘(i) EASEMENTS
VALUED
AT
LESS 
THAN
$500,000.—For wetland easements 
valued at $500,000 or less, the Secretary 
may provide easement payments in not 
more than 10 annual payments. 
‘‘(ii) EASEMENTS VALUED AT MORE 
THAN
$500,000.—For wetland easements 
valued at more than $500,000, the Sec-
retary may provide easement payments in 
at least 5, but not more than 10 annual 
payments, except that, if the Secretary de-
termines it would further the purposes of 
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104 
the program, the Secretary may make a 
lump sum payment for such an easement. 
‘‘(c) EASEMENT RESTORATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 
financial assistance to carry out the establishment of 
conservation measures and practices and protect 
wetland functions and values, including necessary 
maintenance activities, as set forth in a wetland 
easement plan. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a permanent wetland 
easement, pay an amount that is not less than 
75 percent, but not more than 100 percent, of 
the eligible costs as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a 30-year wetland ease-
ment, pay an amount that is not less than 50 
percent, but not more than 75 percent, of the 
eligible costs, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall assist 
owners in complying with the terms and conditions 
of easements. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACTS OR AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may enter into 1 or more contracts with pri-
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105 
vate entities or agreements with a State, non-govern-
mental organization, or Indian tribe to carry out 
necessary restoration, enhancement, or maintenance 
of a wetland easement if the Secretary determines 
that the contract or agreement will advance the pur-
poses of the program. 
‘‘(3) FUNDING.—Not less than 10 percent of 
the funds made available to carry out this section 
shall be available to provide technical assistance 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(e) WETLAND ENHANCEMENT OPTION.—The Sec-
retary may enter into 1 or more agreements with a State 
(including a political subdivision or agency of a State), 
nongovernmental organization, or Indian tribe to carry out 
a special wetland enhancement option that the Secretary 
determines would advance the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) WETLAND
EASEMENT
PLAN.—The Sec-
retary shall develop a wetland easement plan for eli-
gible land subject to a wetland easement, which will 
include the practices and activities necessary to re-
store, protect, enhance, and maintain the enrolled 
land. 
‘‘(2) DELEGATION OF EASEMENT ADMINISTRA-
TION.— 
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106 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
delegate any of the easement management, 
monitoring, and enforcement responsibilities of 
the Secretary to other Federal or State agencies 
that have the appropriate authority, expertise 
and resources necessary to carry out such dele-
gated responsibilities or to other conservation 
organizations if the Secretary determines the 
organization has similar expertise and re-
sources. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall 
not delegate any of the monitoring or enforce-
ment responsibilities under the program to con-
servation organizations. 
‘‘(3) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) TIMING
OF
PAYMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall provide payment for obligations in-
curred by the Secretary under this section— 
‘‘(i) with respect to any easement res-
toration obligation as soon as possible after 
the obligation is incurred; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to any annual ease-
ment payment obligation incurred by the 
Secretary as soon as possible after October 
1 of each calendar year. 
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107 
‘‘(B) PAYMENTS TO OTHERS.—If an owner 
who is entitled to a payment dies, becomes in-
competent, is otherwise unable to receive such 
payment, or is succeeded by another person or 
entity who renders or completes the required 
performance, the Secretary shall make such 
payment, in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary and without regard to 
any other provision of law, in such manner as 
the Secretary determines is fair and reasonable 
in light of all of the circumstances. 
‘‘(g) WETLANDS RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM
AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary 
may enter into 1 or more agreements with a State 
(including a political subdivision or agency of a 
State), nongovernmental organization, or Indian 
tribe to carry out a special wetlands reserve en-
hancement program that the Secretary determines 
would advance the purposes of this section. 
‘‘(2) RESERVED RIGHTS PILOT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) RESERVATION
OF
GRAZING
AND 
HAYING RIGHTS.—As part of the wetlands re-
serve enhancement program, the Secretary shall 
carry out a pilot program for land in which a 
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108 
landowner may reserve grazing and haying 
rights in the warranty easement deed restriction 
if the Secretary determines that the reservation 
and use of the grazing rights— 
‘‘(i) is compatible with the land sub-
ject to the easement; 
‘‘(ii) is consistent with the long-term 
wetland protection and enhancement goals 
for which the easement was established; 
and 
‘‘(iii) complies with a comprehensive 
conservation plan. 
‘‘(B) DURATION.—The pilot program es-
tablished under this paragraph shall terminate 
on September 30, 2016. 
‘‘SEC. 1265D. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) INELIGIBLE LAND.—The Secretary may not ac-
quire an easement under the program on— 
‘‘(1) land owned by an agency of the United 
States, other than land held in trust for Indian 
tribes; 
‘‘(2) land owned in fee title by a State, includ-
ing an agency or a subdivision of a State, or a unit 
of local government; 
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109 
‘‘(3) land subject to an easement or deed re-
striction which, as determined by the Secretary, pro-
vides similar protection as would be provided by en-
rollment in the program; and 
‘‘(4) land where the purposes of the program 
would be undermined due to on-site or off-site condi-
tions, such as risk of hazardous substances, pro-
posed or existing rights of way, infrastructure devel-
opment, or adjacent land uses. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITY.—In evaluating applications under the 
program, the Secretary may give priority to land that is 
currently enrolled in the conservation reserve program in 
a contract that is set to expire within 1 year and— 
‘‘(1) in the case of an agricultural land ease-
ment, is grassland that would benefit from protec-
tion under a long-term easement; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of a wetland easement, is a 
wetland or related area with the highest functions 
and values and is likely to return to production after 
the land leaves the conservation reserve program. 
‘‘(c) SUBORDINATION, EXCHANGE, MODIFICATION, 
AND TERMINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may subor-
dinate, exchange, terminate, or modify any interest 
in land, or portion of such interest, administered by 
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110 
the Secretary, either directly or on behalf of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation under the program 
when the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(A) it is in the Federal Government’s in-
terest to subordinate, exchange, modify or ter-
minate the interest in land; 
‘‘(B) the subordination, exchange, modi-
fication, or termination action— 
‘‘(i) will address a compelling public 
need for which there is no practicable al-
ternative, or 
‘‘(ii) such action will further the prac-
tical administration of the program; and 
‘‘(C) the subordination, exchange, modi-
fication, or termination action will result in 
comparable conservation value and equivalent 
or greater economic value to the United States. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall 
work with the owner, and eligible entity if applicable, 
to address any subordination, exchange, termination, 
or modification of the interest, or portion of such in-
terest in land. 
‘‘(3) NOTICE.—At least 90 days before taking 
any termination action described in paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall provide written notice of such ac-
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111 
tion to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. 
‘‘(d) LAND ENROLLED IN OTHER PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.—The 
Secretary may terminate or modify a contract en-
tered into under section 1231(a) if eligible land that 
is subject to such contract is transferred into the 
program. 
‘‘(2) OTHER.—Land enrolled in the wetlands 
reserve program, grassland reserve program, or 
farmland protection program, as such programs 
were in effect on September 30, 2013, shall be con-
sidered enrolled in this program. 
‘‘(e) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR AGRICULTURAL 
LAND EASEMENTS.—Of the funds made available under 
section 1241 to carry out the program for a fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, use no less 
than 40 percent for agricultural land easements.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.— 
Before an eligible entity or owner of eligible land may re-
ceive assistance under subtitle H of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, the eligible entity or person shall 
agree, during the crop year for which the assistance is pro-
vided and in exchange for the assistance— 
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112 
(1) to comply with applicable conservation re-
quirements under subtitle B of title XII of that Act 
(16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.); and 
(2) to comply with applicable wetland protection 
requirements under subtitle C of title XII of that 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3821 et seq.). 
(c) CROSS REFERENCE.—Section 1244 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (A); 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (B); and 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) the agricultural conservation easement 
program established under subtitle H; and’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘programs administered under subchapters 
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114 
‘‘Subtitle I—Regional Conservation 
Partnership Program 
‘‘SEC. 1271. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a regional conservation partnership program to imple-
ment eligible activities through— 
‘‘(1) partnership agreements with eligible part-
ners; and 
‘‘(2) contracts with producers enrolled in a cov-
ered program. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program 
are— 
‘‘(1) to combine the purposes and coordinate 
the functions of the agricultural water enhancement 
program established under section 1240I, the Chesa-
peake Bay watershed program established under sec-
tion 1240Q, the cooperative conservation partnership 
initiative established under section 1243, and the 
Great Lakes basin program for soil erosion and sedi-
ment control established under section 1240P, as 
such sections were in effect on September 30, 2013; 
‘‘(2) to enhance priority resource concerns on 
agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands, 
including ground and surface water associated with 
such lands; 
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‘‘(3) to encourage cooperation among partners 
and producers to— 
‘‘(A) address priority resource concerns in-
volving agricultural and nonindustrial private 
forest lands on a local, State, multi-state, or re-
gional level; 
‘‘(B) encourage producers to cooperate in 
achieving the goals of applicable Federal, State, 
and local natural resource and environmental 
laws, thereby avoiding the need for additional 
regulatory measures to be applied to owners 
and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial 
private forest land; 
‘‘(C) encourage producers to cooperate in 
the installation and maintenance of conserva-
tion activities, practices, systems, and manage-
ment measures that affect multiple agricultural 
or nonindustrial private forest operations for 
the purpose of achieving landscape-level im-
provement of priority resource concerns; 
‘‘(D) promote the development and dem-
onstration of innovative conservation activities, 
practices, systems, and management measures 
to deliver technical, financial, and educational 
assistance; and 
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‘‘(E) promote ground and surface water 
conservation and improve water quality through 
efforts on agricultural land, including— 
‘‘(i) water quality or water conserva-
tion planning, including resource condition 
assessment and modeling; 
‘‘(ii) performance measurement and 
management to reduce nutrient loss; 
‘‘(iii) water quality or water conserva-
tion restoration or enhancement projects; 
‘‘(iv) in the case of nutrient-impacted 
watersheds, prioritization of nutrient loss 
reduction as a conservation goal; 
‘‘(v) activities designed to mitigate the 
effects of damaging drought or precipita-
tion; or 
‘‘(vi) related activities that the Sec-
retary determines will help achieve water 
quality or water conservation benefits on 
agricultural land; 
‘‘(4) to encourage producers to cooperate in the 
installation and maintenance of conservation activi-
ties, practices, systems, and management measures 
that provide climate change benefits, including in-
creasing resilience to rising temperatures, extreme 
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weather events, and related climate changes while 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions; 
‘‘(5) to improve the capacity of regional, state 
or local partners to deliver assistance to producers 
that is effective in addressing priority resource con-
cerns; and 
‘‘(6) to implement the partnership in such a 
way that encourages producers to achieve assessed 
conservation outcomes and allows them to receive 
payments and technical assistance linked to levels of 
those outcomes. 
‘‘SEC. 1271A. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) COVERED PROGRAMS.—The term ‘covered 
programs’ means all conservation programs under 
subtitle D. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITY.—The term ‘eligible 
activity’ means any of the following conservation ac-
tivities when delivered through a covered program: 
‘‘(A) Water quality restoration or enhance-
ment projects, including nutrient management 
and sediment reduction. 
‘‘(B) Water quantity conservation, restora-
tion, or enhancement projects relating to sur-
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face water and groundwater resources, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) the conversion of irrigated crop-
land to the production of less water-inten-
sive agricultural commodities or dryland 
farming; and 
‘‘(ii) irrigation system improvement 
and irrigation efficiency enhancement. 
‘‘(C) Drought mitigation. 
‘‘(D) Flood prevention. 
‘‘(E) Water retention. 
‘‘(F) Habitat conservation, restoration, 
and enhancement. 
‘‘(G) Erosion control. 
‘‘(H) Other related activities that the Sec-
retary determines will help achieve conservation 
benefits. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
PARTNER.—The term ‘eligible 
partner’ means any of the following: 
‘‘(A) An agricultural or silvicultural pro-
ducer association or other group of producers. 
‘‘(B) A State or unit of local government. 
‘‘(C) An Indian tribe. 
‘‘(D) A farmer cooperative. 
‘‘(E) An institution of higher education. 
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‘‘(F) A nongovernmental organization with 
an established history of working cooperatively 
with producers to effectively address priority re-
source concerns related to agricultural produc-
tion and nonindustrial private forest land or 
with demonstrated technical capabilities that 
would substantially increase the success of the 
program. 
‘‘(4) PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.—The term 
‘partnership agreement’ means an agreement be-
tween the Secretary and an eligible partner. 
‘‘(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means 
the regional conservation partnership program estab-
lished by this subtitle. 
‘‘SEC. 1271B. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS. 
‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS AUTHORIZED.— 
The Secretary may enter into a partnership agreement 
with an eligible partner to implement a project that will 
assist producers with installing and maintaining an eligi-
ble activity. 
‘‘(b) LENGTH.—A partnership agreement shall be for 
a period not to exceed 5 years, except that the Secretary 
may extend the agreement 1 time for up to 12 months 
when an extension is necessary to meet the objectives of 
the program. 
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‘‘(c) DUTIES OF PARTNERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Under a partnership agree-
ment, the eligible partner shall— 
‘‘(A) define the scope of a project, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) the eligible activities to be imple-
mented; 
‘‘(ii) the potential agricultural or non-
industrial private forest operations af-
fected; 
‘‘(iii) the local, State, multi-State, or 
other geographic area covered; and 
‘‘(iv) the planning, outreach, imple-
mentation, and assessment to be con-
ducted; 
‘‘(B) conduct outreach and education to 
producers for potential participation in the 
project; 
‘‘(C) at the request of a producer, act on 
behalf of a producer participating in the project 
in applying for assistance under section 1271C; 
‘‘(D) leverage financial or technical assist-
ance provided by the Secretary with additional 
funds to help achieve the project objectives; 
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‘‘(E) if proposed by the partner and ap-
proved by the Secretary, provide technical as-
sistance to producers participating in the 
project; 
‘‘(F) 
conduct 
an 
assessment 
of 
the 
project’s effects; and 
‘‘(G) at the conclusion of the project, re-
port to the Secretary on its results and funds 
leveraged. 
‘‘(2) CONTRIBUTION.—A partner shall provide 
a significant portion of the overall costs of the scope 
of the project, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPETITIVE
PROCESS.—The Secretary 
shall conduct a competitive process to select applica-
tions for partnership agreements and may assess 
and rank applications with similar conservation pur-
poses as a group. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA
USED.—In carrying out the 
process described in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall make public the criteria used in evaluating ap-
plications. 
‘‘(3) CONTENT.—An application to the Sec-
retary shall include a description of— 
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‘‘(A) the scope of the project, as described 
in subsection (c)(1)(A); 
‘‘(B) the plan for monitoring, evaluating, 
and reporting on progress made towards achiev-
ing the project’s objectives; 
‘‘(C) the program resources requested for 
the project, including the covered programs to 
be used and estimated funding needed from the 
Secretary; 
‘‘(D) the resources requested under section 
1271C(c)(4); 
‘‘(E) the partners collaborating to achieve 
project objectives, including their roles, respon-
sibilities, capabilities, and financial contribu-
tion; and 
‘‘(F) any other elements the Secretary con-
siders necessary to adequately evaluate and 
competitively select applications for funding 
under the program. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION
PRIORITY.—The Secretary 
shall give a higher priority to applications that dem-
onstrate the greatest potential to— 
‘‘(A) have a high percentage of producers 
involved and of the agricultural or nonindustrial 
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private forest land included in the area covered 
by the agreement; 
‘‘(B) assist producers in meeting the goals 
and objectives of Federal environmental and 
natural resource laws and regulations; 
‘‘(C) significantly leverage non-Federal fi-
nancial and technical resources and coordinate 
with other local, State, regional, or national ef-
forts; 
‘‘(D) deliver high percentages of applied 
conservation to address water quality, water 
conservation, or other State, regional, or na-
tional priority resource concerns; 
‘‘(E) provide innovation in conservation 
methods and delivery, including outcome-based 
performance measures and methods; 
‘‘(F) identify producers participating in the 
project, on whose behalf the partner is apply-
ing; 
‘‘(G) advance conservation and rural com-
munity development goals simultaneously; 
‘‘(H) assist producers in States with sig-
nificant water quantity concerns; or 
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‘‘(I) meet other factors that are important 
for achieving the purposes of the program, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 1271C. ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into 
contracts to provide financial and technical assistance 
to— 
‘‘(1) producers participating in an eligible activ-
ity with an eligible partner; or 
‘‘(2) producers participating in an eligible activ-
ity in a critical conservation area designated under 
section 1271F without an eligible partner. 
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPLIANCE
WITH
COVERED
PROGRAM 
RULES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall ensure 
that the terms and conditions of a contract 
under this section are consistent with the appli-
cable rules of the covered programs to be used 
as part of the project, as described in the appli-
cation under section 1271B(d)(3)(C). 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENTS.—Except for statu-
tory program requirements governing appeals, 
payment limitations, and conservation compli-
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125 
ance, the Secretary may adjust the discre-
tionary program rules of a covered program— 
‘‘(i) to provide a simplified application 
and evaluation process; 
‘‘(ii) to better reflect unique local cir-
cumstances and purposes if the Secretary 
determines such adjustments are necessary 
to achieve the purposes of the proposed 
project; 
‘‘(iii) to better link technical and fi-
nancial assistance to assessed conservation 
outcomes; and 
‘‘(iv) to increase the improvement in 
priority resource concerns achieved by the 
proposed project. 
‘‘(2) 
ALTERNATIVE
FUNDING
ARRANGE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of 
providing assistance for a critical conservation 
areas designated under section 1271F, the Sec-
retary may enter into alternative funding ar-
rangements with a multistate water resource 
agency or authority if— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary determines that the 
goals and objectives of the program will be 
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126 
met by the alternative funding arrange-
ments; 
‘‘(ii) the agency or authority certifies 
that the limitations established under this 
section on agreements with individual pro-
ducers will not be exceeded; and 
‘‘(iii) all participating producers meet 
applicable payment eligibility provisions. 
‘‘(B) CONDITIONS.—As a condition on re-
ceipt of funding under subparagraph (A), the 
multistate water resource agency or authority 
shall agree— 
‘‘(i) to submit an annual independent 
audit to the Secretary that describes the 
use of funds under this paragraph; 
‘‘(ii) to provide any data necessary for 
the Secretary to issue a report on the use 
of funds under this paragraph; and 
‘‘(iii) not to use any funds for admin-
istration or contracting with another enti-
ty. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may 
enter into not more than 10 alternative funding 
arrangements under this paragraph. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with statu-
tory requirements of the covered programs involved, 
the Secretary may make payments to a producer in 
an amount determined by the Secretary to be nec-
essary to achieve the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS TO CERTAIN PRODUCERS.—The 
Secretary may provide payments for a period of 5 
years— 
‘‘(A) to producers participating in a 
project that addresses water quantity concerns 
and in an amount sufficient to encourage con-
version from irrigated to dryland farming; and 
‘‘(B) to producers participating in a 
project that addresses water quality concerns 
and in an amount sufficient to encourage adop-
tion of conservation practices and systems that 
improve nutrient management. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—To assist in the im-
plementation of the program, the Secretary may 
waive the applicability of the limitation in section 
1001D(b)(2) of this Act for participating producers 
if the Secretary determines that the waiver is nec-
essary to fulfill the objectives of the program. 
‘‘(4) PAYMENTS TO PARTNERS.—The Secretary 
shall provide, directly or through cooperative and 
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128 
contribution agreements with partners, financial as-
sistance to such partners to complete tasks essential 
to the success of the project which may include nat-
ural resource assessment and planning, outreach to 
producers, monitoring, technical assistance, and 
evaluation of project progress and other such essen-
tial tasks as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 1271D. FUNDING. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall 
use $100,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 
to carry out the program established under this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) DURATION
OF AVAILABILITY.—Funds made 
available under subsection (a) shall remain available until 
expended. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND ACRES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the funds 
made available under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall reserve at least 8 percent of the funds and 
acres made available for a covered program for each 
of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 in order to ensure 
additional resources are available to provide tech-
nical and financial assistance to producers to carry 
out this program. 
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129 
‘‘(2) ASSISTANCE
TO
PARTNERS.—The Sec-
retary shall reserve at least 10 percent of the fund-
ing provided in subsection (a) to provide payments 
to partners. 
‘‘(3) UNUSED FUNDS AND ACRES.— 
‘‘(A) RETURN.—Any funds or acres re-
served under paragraph (1) of this section for 
a fiscal year from a covered program that are 
not obligated under this program by April 1 of 
that fiscal year shall be returned for use under 
the covered program or redirected to support 
unfunded applications within the geographic 
areas of approved partnership agreements. 
‘‘(B) REALLOCATION.—Any funds reserved 
under paragraph (2) of this section for a fiscal 
year that are not obligated under this program 
by April 1 of that fiscal year shall be reallo-
cated to partners demonstrating the highest 
level of performance in achieving the objectives 
of the program. 
‘‘(d) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—Of the funds and 
acres made available for the program under subsections 
(a) and (c), the Secretary shall allocate— 
‘‘(1) 40 percent of the funds and acres to 
projects based on a State competitive process admin-
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istered by the State conservationist, with the advice 
of the State technical committee; and 
‘‘(2) 60 percent of the funds and acres to 
projects based on a national competitive process to 
be established by the Secretary, of which 60 percent 
shall be reserved for the critical conservation areas 
designated under section 1271F. 
‘‘SEC. 1271E. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) DISCLOSURE.—The Secretary shall make pub-
licly available information on projects selected through the 
competitive process described in section 1271B(d)(1). 
‘‘(b) REPORTING.—Not later than December 31, 
2013, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the status 
of projects funded under the program, including— 
‘‘(1) the number and types of partners and pro-
ducers participating in the partnership agreements 
selected; 
‘‘(2) the number of producers receiving assist-
ance; 
‘‘(3) total funding committed to projects, in-
cluding Federal and non-Federal resources; and 
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131 
‘‘(4) a description of how funds are being ad-
ministered under section 1271B, including— 
‘‘(A) any oversight mechanisms that the 
Secretary has implemented; 
‘‘(B) the process through which the Sec-
retary is resolving appeals by program partici-
pants; and 
‘‘(C) the means by which the Secretary is 
tracking adherence to any applicable provisions 
for payment eligibility. 
‘‘(c) EVALUATION.—Partners shall provide to the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(1) annual performance reports; 
‘‘(2) at the end of each multi-year project, a 
performance report that describes— 
‘‘(A) the progress that has been made to-
wards attainment of conservation objectives and 
landscape-scale conservation outcomes; 
‘‘(B) the methods that have been used to 
measure progress being made toward attain-
ment of conservation objectives and landscape- 
scale conservation outcomes; 
‘‘(C) the number of producers who partici-
pated; and 
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‘‘(D) the conservation practices adopted 
and the frequency of adoption. 
‘‘SEC. 1271F. CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREAS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—When administering the funding 
reserved for critical conservation areas under section 
1271D(d)(2), the Secretary shall select applications for 
partnership agreements and producer contracts within 
critical conservation areas designated under this section. 
‘‘(b) CRITICAL
CONSERVATION
AREA
DESIGNA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate up to 6 geographical areas as critical con-
servation areas based on the degree to which an 
area— 
‘‘(A) includes multiple States with signifi-
cant agricultural production; 
‘‘(B) is covered by an existing regional, 
State, binational, or multistate agreement or 
plan that has established objectives, goals, and 
work plans and is adopted by a Federal, State, 
or regional authority; 
‘‘(C) has water quality concerns, including 
concerns for reducing erosion, promoting sedi-
ment control, and addressing nutrient manage-
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133 
ment activities affecting large bodies of water of 
regional, national, or international significance; 
‘‘(D) has water quantity concerns, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) concerns for groundwater, surface 
water, aquifer, or other water sources; or 
‘‘(ii) a need to promote water reten-
tion and flood prevention; 
‘‘(E) is subject to regulatory requirements 
that could reduce the economic scope of agricul-
tural operations within the area; or 
‘‘(F) is recognized as vital habitat for mi-
grating wildlife. 
‘‘(2) EXPIRATION.—Critical conservation area 
designations under this section shall expire after 5 
years, subject to redesignation, except that the Sec-
retary may withdraw designation from an area if the 
Secretary finds the area no longer meets the condi-
tions described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary shall administer any part-
nership agreement or producer contract under this 
section in a manner that is consistent with the terms 
of the program. 
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‘‘(2) RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ACTIVITY.— 
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, ensure that eligible activities carried out in 
critical conservation areas designated under this sec-
tion complement and are consistent with other Fed-
eral and State programs and water quality and 
quantity strategies.’’. 
TITLE II—CROP INSURANCE AND 
DISASTER ASSISTANCE 
SEC. 2001. INELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE, 
NONINSURED CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE, 
AND CERTAIN PAYMENTS BECAUSE OF CROP 
PRODUCTION ON NATIVE SOD. 
(a) FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE ACT AMENDMENT.— 
Section 508(o) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1508(o)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ‘‘, or the 
producer cannot substantiate that the ground has 
ever been tilled,’’ after ‘‘tilled’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘for bene-
fits under—’’ and all that follows through the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘for— 
‘‘(i) a portion of crop insurance pre-
mium subsidies under this subtitle in ac-
cordance with paragraph (3); 
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‘‘(ii) benefits under section 196 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Re-
form Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333); and 
‘‘(iii) payments described in sub-
section (b) of section 1001 of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308).’’; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—During the first 4 
crop years of planting on native sod acreage by 
a producer described in paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(i) paragraph (2) shall apply to 65 
percent of the transitional yield of the pro-
ducer; and 
‘‘(ii) the crop insurance premium sub-
sidy provided for the producer under this 
subtitle shall be 50 percentage points less 
than the premium subsidy that would oth-
erwise apply. 
‘‘(B) YIELD
SUBSTITUTION.—During the 
period native sod acreage is covered by this sub-
section, a producer may not substitute yields 
for the native sod acreage.’’. 
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136 
(b) NONINSURED
CROP
DISASTER
ASSISTANCE 
AMENDMENT.—Section 196(a)(4) of the Federal Agri-
culture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
7333(a)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ‘‘, or 
the producer cannot substantiate that the ground 
has ever been tilled,’’ after ‘‘tilled’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘INELIGIBILITY’’ and inserting ‘‘REDUC-
TION IN’’; and 
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘for benefits 
under—’’ and all that follows through the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘for— 
‘‘(I) benefits under this section; 
‘‘(II) a portion of crop insurance 
premium subsidies under the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et 
seq.) in accordance with subparagraph 
(C); and 
‘‘(III) payments described in sub-
section (b) of section 1001 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1308).’’; and 
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137 
(3) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting 
the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—During the first 4 
crop years of planting on native sod acre-
age by a producer described in subpara-
graph (B)— 
‘‘(I) 
subparagraph 
(B) 
shall 
apply to 65 percent of the transitional 
yield of the producer; and 
‘‘(II) the crop insurance premium 
subsidy provided for the producer 
under the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) shall be 50 
percentage points less than the pre-
mium subsidy that would otherwise 
apply. 
‘‘(ii) YIELD
SUBSTITUTION.—During 
the period native sod acreage is covered by 
this paragraph, a producer may not sub-
stitute yields for the native sod acreage.’’. 
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138 
TITLE III—REPEALS AND TRAN-
SITIONAL PROVISIONS; TECH-
NICAL 
AND 
CONFORMING 
AMENDMENTS; 
EFFECTIVE 
DATE 
SEC. 3001. REPEALS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS. 
(a) EMERGENCY
FORESTRY
CONSERVATION
RE-
SERVE PROGRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1231A of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS.— 
The amendment made by this subsection shall 
not affect the validity or terms of any contract 
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture 
under section 1231A of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) before October 1, 
2013, or any payments required to be made in 
connection with the contract. 
(B) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use 
funds made available to carry out the agricul-
tural conservation easement program under 
subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this Act, 
to continue to carry out contracts referred to in 
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139 
subparagraph (A) using the provisions of law 
and regulation applicable to such contracts as 
in existence on September 30, 2013. 
(b) WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Subchapter C of chapter 1 of 
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et seq.) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS AND 
EASEMENTS.—The amendment made by this 
subsection shall not affect the validity or terms 
of any contract or easement entered into by the 
Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter C of 
chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et seq.) 
before October 1, 2013, or any payments re-
quired to be made in connection with the con-
tract or easement. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of subchapter 
C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3837 et seq.), any funds made available 
from the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
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140 
carry out the wetlands reserve program 
under that subchapter for fiscal years 
2009 through 2013 shall be made available 
to carry out contracts or easements re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A) that were 
entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (in-
cluding the provision of technical assist-
ance), provided that no such contract or 
easement is modified so as to increase the 
amount of the payment received. 
(ii) OTHER.—The Secretary may use 
funds made available to carry out the agri-
cultural conservation easement program 
under subtitle H of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, as added by section 
1801 of this Act, to continue to carry out 
contracts and easements referred to in 
subparagraph (A) using the provisions of 
law and regulation applicable to such con-
tracts and easements as in existence on 
September 30, 2013. 
(c) FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FARM 
VIABILITY PROGRAM.— 
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141 
(1) REPEAL.—Subchapter C of chapter 2 of 
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h et seq.) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
AGREEMENTS 
AND
EASEMENTS.—The amendment made by 
this subsection shall not affect the validity or 
terms of any agreement or easement entered 
into by the Secretary of Agriculture under sub-
chapter C of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838h et seq.) before October 1, 2013, or any 
payments required to be made in connection 
with the agreement or easement. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of subchapter 
C of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838h et seq.), any funds made available 
from the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
carry out the farmland protection program 
under that subchapter for fiscal years 
2009 through 2013 shall be made available 
to carry out agreements and easements re-
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142 
ferred to in subparagraph (A) that were 
entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (in-
cluding the provision of technical assist-
ance). 
(ii) OTHER.—On exhaustion of funds 
made available under clause (i), the Sec-
retary may use funds made available to 
carry out the agricultural conservation 
easement program under subtitle H of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
added by section 1801 of this Act, to con-
tinue to carry out agreements and ease-
ments referred to in subparagraph (A) 
using the provisions of law and regulation 
applicable to such agreements and ease-
ments as in existence on September 30, 
2013. 
(d) GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Subchapter D of chapter 2 of 
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n et seq.) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS, 
AGREEMENTS, AND EASEMENTS.—The amend-
ment made by this subsection shall not affect 
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143 
the validity or terms of any contract, agree-
ment, or easement entered into by the Secretary 
of Agriculture under subchapter D of chapter 2 
of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838n et seq.) before 
October 1, 2013, or any payments required to 
be made in connection with the contract, agree-
ment, or easement. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of subchapter 
D of chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838n et seq.), any funds made 
available from the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration to carry out the grassland reserve 
program under that subchapter for fiscal 
years 2009 through 2013 shall be made 
available to carry out contracts, agree-
ments, or easements referred to in sub-
paragraph (A) that were entered into prior 
to October 1, 2013 (including the provision 
of technical assistance), provided that no 
such contract, agreement, or easement is 
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144 
modified so as to increase the amount of 
the payment received. 
(ii) OTHER.—The Secretary may use 
funds made available to carry out the agri-
cultural conservation easement program 
under subtitle H of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, as added by section 
1801 of this Act, to continue to carry out 
contracts, agreements, and easements re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A) using the 
provisions of law and regulation applicable 
to such contracts, agreements, and ease-
ments as in existence on September 30, 
2013. 
(e) ENVIRONMENTAL EASEMENT PROGRAM.—Chap-
ter 3 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839 et seq.) is repealed. 
(f) CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
MENTS.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1240H of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8) is re-
pealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS.— 
The amendment made by this subsection shall 
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145 
not affect the validity or terms of any contract 
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture 
under section 1240H of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8) before October 
1, 2013, or any payments required to be made 
in connection with the contract. 
(B) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use 
funds made available to carry out conservation 
innovation grants and payments under section 
1240S of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985, as added by section 1601 of this Act, to 
continue to carry out contracts referred to in 
subparagraph (A) using the provisions of law 
and regulation applicable to such contracts as 
they existed on September 30, 2013. 
(g) AGRICULTURAL WATER ENHANCEMENT PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1240I of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–9) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS AND 
AGREEMENTS.—The amendment made by this 
subsection shall not affect the validity or terms 
of any contract or agreement entered into by 
the Secretary of Agriculture under section 
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146 
1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–9) before October 1, 2013, or 
any payments required to be made in connec-
tion with the contract or agreement. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of section 
1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–9), any funds made 
available from the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration to carry out the agricultural 
water enhancement program under that 
section for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 
shall be made available to carry out con-
tracts and agreements referred to in sub-
paragraph (A) that were entered into prior 
to October 1, 2013 (including the provision 
of technical assistance). 
(ii) OTHER.—On exhaustion of funds 
made available under clause (i), the Sec-
retary may use funds made available to 
carry out the agricultural conservation 
easement program under subtitle H of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
added by section 1801 of this Act, to con-
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147 
tinue to carry out contracts and agree-
ments referred to in subparagraph (A) 
using the provisions of law and regulation 
applicable to such contracts and agree-
ments as in existence on September 30, 
2013. 
(h) WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1240N of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–1) is re-
pealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS.— 
The amendment made by this subsection shall 
not affect the validity or terms of any contract 
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture 
under section 1240N of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–1) before October 
1, 2013, or any payments required to be made 
in connection with the contract. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of section 
1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb–1), any funds made 
available from the Commodity Credit Cor-
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148 
poration to carry out the wildlife habitat 
incentive program under that section for 
fiscal years 2009 through 2013 shall be 
made available to carry out contracts re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A) which were 
entered into prior to October 1, 2013 (in-
cluding the provision of technical assist-
ance). 
(ii) OTHER.—On exhaustion of funds 
made available under clause (i), the Sec-
retary may use funds made available to 
carry out the environmental quality incen-
tives program under chapter 4 of subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) to con-
tinue to carry out contracts referred to in 
subparagraph (A) using the provisions of 
law and regulation applicable to such con-
tracts as in existence on September 30, 
2013. 
(i) GREAT LAKES BASIN PROGRAM.—Section 1240P 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–3) 
is repealed. 
(j) CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED PROGRAM.— 
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149 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1240Q of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–4) is re-
pealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS, 
AGREEMENTS, AND EASEMENTS.—The amend-
ment made by this subsection shall not affect 
the validity or terms of any contract, agree-
ment, or easement entered into by the Secretary 
of Agriculture under section 1240Q of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–4) be-
fore October 1, 2013, or any payments required 
to be made in connection with the contract, 
agreement, or easement. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of section 
1240Q of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb–4), any funds made 
available from the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration to carry out the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed program under that section for 
fiscal years 2009 through 2013 shall be 
made available to carry out contracts, 
agreements, and easements referred to in 
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150 
subparagraph (A) that were entered into 
prior to October 1, 2013 (including the 
provision of technical assistance). 
(ii) OTHER.—The Secretary may use 
funds made available to carry out the re-
gional conservation partnership program 
under subtitle I of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, as added by section 
1901 of this Act, to continue to carry out 
contracts, agreements, and easements re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A) using the 
provisions of law and regulation applicable 
to such contracts, agreements, and ease-
ments as in existence on September 30, 
2013. 
(k) COOPERATIVE
CONSERVATION
PARTNERSHIP 
INITIATIVE.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 1243 of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3843) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS AND 
AGREEMENTS.—The amendment made by this 
subsection shall not affect the validity or terms 
of any contract or agreement entered into by 
the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1243 
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151 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3843) before October 1, 2013, or any payments 
required to be made in connection with the con-
tract or agreement. 
(B) FUNDING.— 
(i) USE
OF
PRIOR
YEAR
FUNDS.— 
Notwithstanding the repeal of section 1243 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3843), any funds made available 
from the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
carry out the cooperative conservation 
partnership initiative under that section 
for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 shall be 
made available to carry out contracts and 
agreements referred to in subparagraph 
(A) that were entered into prior to October 
1, 2013 (including the provision of tech-
nical assistance). 
(ii) OTHER.—On exhaustion of funds 
made available under clause (i), the Sec-
retary may use funds made available to 
carry out the regional conservation part-
nership program under subtitle I of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
added by section 1901 of this Act, to con-
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152 
tinue to carry out contracts and agree-
ments referred to in subparagraph (A) 
using the provisions of law and regulation 
applicable to such contracts and agree-
ments as in existence on September 30, 
2013. 
(l) DESERT TERMINAL LAKES PROGRAM.— 
(1) REPEAL.—Section 2507 of the Farm Secu-
rity and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 
2211 note) is repealed. 
(2) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(A) EFFECT ON EXISTING CONTRACTS.— 
The amendment made by this subsection shall 
not affect the validity or terms of any contract 
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture 
under section 2507 of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (43 U.S.C. 2211 
note) before October 1, 2013, or any payments 
required to be made in connection with the con-
tract. 
(B) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use 
funds made available to carry out the agricul-
tural conservation easement program under 
subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985, as added by section 1801 of this Act, 
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153 
to continue to carry out contracts referred to in 
subparagraph (A) using the provisions of law 
and regulation applicable to such contracts as 
in existence on September 30, 2013. 
SEC. 3002. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1201(a) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘, H, and 
I’’ after ‘‘E’’. 
(b) PRIORITY RESOURCE CONCERN.—The following 
sections of the Food Security Act of 1985 are amended 
by inserting ‘‘priority’’ before ‘‘resource concerns’’: 
(1) Section 1238A(e)(4)(B)(ii) (16 U.S.C. 
3838a(e)(4)(B)(ii)). 
(2) 
Section 
1238D(3)(A) 
(16 
U.S.C. 
3838d(3)(A)). 
(3) 
Section 
1240A(1)(B)(vi) 
(16 
U.S.C. 
3839aa–1(1)(B)(vi)). 
SEC. 3003. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, 
shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
Æ 
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