‘‘(A) Costs incurred by the producer asso-
ciated with planning, design, materials, installa-
tion, labor, management, maintenance, or train-
ing. 
‘‘(B) Income forgone by the producer. 
‘‘(C) Expected conservation benefits, based 
to the maximum extent possible on conservation 
measurement tools. 
‘‘(D) The extent to which designated pri-
ority resource concerns will be addressed 
through the installation and adoption of con-
servation activities on the agricultural oper-
ation. 
‘‘(E) The level of stewardship in place at 
the time of application and maintained over the 
term of the contract. 
‘‘(F) The degree to which the conservation 
activities will be integrated across the entire ag-
ricultural operation for all designated priority 
resource concerns over the term of the contract. 
‘‘(G) Such other factors as are determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) EXCLUSIONS.—A payment to a producer 
under this subsection shall not be provided for— 
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‘‘(A) the design, construction, or mainte-
nance of animal waste storage or treatment fa-
cilities or associated waste transport or transfer 
devices for animal feeding operations; or 
‘‘(B) conservation activities for which there 
is no cost incurred or income forgone to the 
producer. 
‘‘(4) DELIVERY
OF
PAYMENTS.—In making 
payments under this subsection, the Secretary shall, 
to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(A) prorate conservation performance 
over the term of the contract so as to accommo-
date, to the extent practicable, producers earn-
ing equal annual payments in each fiscal year; 
and 
‘‘(B) make such payments as soon as prac-
ticable after October 1 of each fiscal year for 
activities carried out in the previous fiscal year. 
‘‘(5) MINIMUM
PAYMENT.—If a contract re-
quires a comprehensive conservation plan the imple-
mentation of which will, by the end of the contract 
term, meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for 
all designated priority resource concerns, the min-
imum payment shall be not less than $3,000. 
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‘‘(d) 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— 
‘‘(i) resource-conserving crop rotations 
to achieve beneficial crop rotations as ap-
propriate for the eligible land of the pro-
ducers; or 
‘‘(ii) managed intensive rotational 
grazing; or 
‘‘(B) transition to organic crop or livestock 
systems. 
‘‘(2) BENEFICIAL CROP ROTATIONS.—The Sec-
retary shall determine whether a resource-conserving 
crop rotation is a beneficial crop rotation eligible for 
additional payments under paragraph (1) based on 
whether the resource-conserving crop rotation is de-
signed to address designated priority resource con-
cerns while providing production benefits. 
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‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 
payment described in paragraph (1), a producer 
shall agree to adopt and maintain beneficial re-
source-conserving crop rotations for the term of the 
contract. 
‘‘(4) 
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) prevents pollution of surface water or 
groundwater; 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(5) 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. 
‘‘(6) 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.). 
‘‘(e) PAYMENT LIMITATION.—A person or legal enti-
ty may not receive, directly or indirectly, payments under 
the program that, in the aggregate, exceed $200,000 
under all contracts entered into during any 5-year period, 
excluding funding arrangements with Indian tribes, re-
gardless of the number of contracts entered into under the 
program by the person or legal entity. 
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‘‘(f) SPECIALTY CROP AND ORGANIC PRODUCERS.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that outreach and technical as-
sistance are available, and program specifications are ap-
propriate to enable specialty crop and organic producers 
to participate in the program. 
‘‘(g) COORDINATION
WITH
ORGANIC
CERTIFI-
CATION.—The Secretary shall establish a transparent 
means by which producers may initiate organic certifi-
cation under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) while participating in a contract 
under the program. 
‘‘(h) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall promul-
gate regulations that— 
‘‘(1) prescribe such other rules as the Secretary 
determines to be necessary to ensure a fair and rea-
sonable application of the limitations established 
under subsection (f); and 
‘‘(2) otherwise enable the Secretary to carry out 
the program. 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(j) 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. 
‘‘(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 
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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.).’’. 
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Subtitle D—Building on the 
Regional Conservation Partnership 
SEC. 231. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REGIONAL CONSERVA-
TION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM PURPOSES.—Section 1271(b) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871(b)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘use covered 
programs to’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) To encourage eligible partners to cooperate 
with producers in implementing projects that en-
hance and protect the health and quality of life of 
individuals in the United States by— 
‘‘(A) enhancing and protecting the quality 
and quantity of source water (as that term is 
used in the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300f et seq.)); 
‘‘(B) reducing the use of antibiotics and 
pesticides in crop and livestock production; 
‘‘(C) enhancing opportunities for natural- 
resource-based recreation by improving water 
quality and fish and wildlife habitat; and 
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‘‘(D) addressing other opportunities to im-
prove public health and quality of life, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(4) To avoid, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the need for statutory and regulatory pro-
grams related to the conservation of natural re-
sources by assisting producers in protecting soil, 
water, air, and related natural resources and in 
meeting environmental quality criteria established by 
Federal, State, tribal, and local governmental agen-
cies.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1271A of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871a) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (1); 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph 
(A) and inserting the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(A) Water quality restoration or enhance-
ment projects relating to the quality of surface 
water and groundwater used to supply drinking 
water by community water systems and domes-
tic wells, including projects that— 
‘‘(i) improve the management of crops 
and livestock production systems to avoid 
or control runoff and leaching of farm 
chemicals and manure; 
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‘‘(ii) change (including through diver-
sifying) the agricultural practices, includ-
ing crop rotations; and 
‘‘(iii) trap or capture pollutants before 
the pollutants enter surface water or 
ground water.’’; and 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(6) as paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively. 
(c) PROGRAM AGREEMENTS.—Section 1271B of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a period not 
to exceed’’ and all that follows through the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘a period of at least 10 years, 
but shall not exceed 15 years.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
through (F) as subparagraphs (B) through (G); 
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B) 
(as so redesignated) the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(A) complete natural resource and water-
shed assessments to effectively support plan-
ning and implementation of the proposed 
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project that is the subject of the agreement;’’; 
and 
(C) in subparagraph (F) (as redesignated 
by subparagraph (A)), by inserting ‘‘monitor re-
sults and’’ before ‘‘conduct’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), in subparagraph (C), 
by striking ‘‘, including the covered programs to 
be used and estimated funding needed from the 
Secretary’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘or’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) enhance the quality of surface water 
and groundwater used to supply drinking water 
by community water systems (as defined in the 
Safe Drinking Water Act) and domestic wells.’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS.—Section 1271C of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871c) is 
amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘assistance 
to’’ and all that follows through ‘‘of an eligible part-
ner.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘assistance, under 
the programs under this subtitle, to producers pro-
posing to implement conservation activities that 
meet the objectives of the partnership agreement en-
tered into under section 1271B.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) ALTERNATIVE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of pro-
viding assistance for land described in subsection (a) 
and section 1271F, the Secretary may enter into al-
ternative funding arrangements with a multistate 
water resource agency or authority if— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary determines that the 
goals and objectives of the program will be met 
by the alternative funding arrangements; 
‘‘(B) the agency or authority certifies that 
the limitations established under this section on 
agreements with individual producers will not 
be exceeded; and 
‘‘(C) all participating producers meet ap-
plicable payment eligibility provisions. 
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‘‘(2) CONDITIONS.—As a condition of receiving 
funding under paragraph (1), the multistate water 
resource agency or authority shall agree— 
‘‘(A) to submit an annual independent 
audit to the Secretary that describes the use of 
funds under this paragraph; 
‘‘(B) to provide any data necessary for the 
Secretary to issue a report on the use of funds 
under this paragraph; and 
‘‘(C) not to use any of the funds provided 
pursuant to paragraph (1) for administration or 
to provide for administrative costs through con-
tracts with another entity. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may enter 
into not more than 20 alternative funding arrange-
ments under this subsection.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘In ac-
cordance with statutory requirements of the 
covered programs involved, the Secretary’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Secretary’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘a period of 5 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘a period of at least 
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10 years, but that does not exceed 15 
years’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) to producers participating in a 
project involving an activity described in section 
1271A(2)(A).’’. 
(e) FUNDING.—Section 1271D of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘each of fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 
2018 and $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) RESOURCE
ASSESSMENT, OUTREACH, 
AND 
MONITORING.—Of the funds made available for the pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Secretary shall allocate 10 
percent to eligible partners to share the cost of imple-
menting the duties under section 1271B(c).’’; and 
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(3) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and acres’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and reserved for the pro-
gram under subsection (c)’’. 
(f) 
CRITICAL
CONSERVATION
AREAS.—Section 
1271F(b)(1)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3871f(b)(1)(C)) is amended by inserting ‘‘enhanc-
ing the quality of surface water and groundwater used to 
supply drinking water by community water systems (as 
defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act) and domestic 
wells,’’ after ‘‘sediment control,’’. 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to partnership agree-
ments entered into on or after October 1, 2018. 
Subtitle 
E—Establishing 
Innova-
tive Grants for Conservation 
and Loans for Structural Im-
provements 
SEC. 241. REPEAL AND REESTABLISHMENT OF EQIP CON-
SERVATION INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
MENTS.— 
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(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 
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, 2018, 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 subsection (b) of this sec-
tion, 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, 2018. 
(b) 
CONSERVATION
INNOVATION
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 1240S. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE CON-
SERVATION APPROACHES.—The Secretary shall, for each 
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, carry out a conserva-
tion innovation grant program to encourage innovation in 
conservation on private farmland, rangeland, wetlands, 
grasslands, and forest lands. 
‘‘(b) USE.—The Secretary shall provide grants under 
this section to governmental and nongovernmental organi-
zations 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-
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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; 
‘‘(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.’’. 
SEC. 242. CONSERVATION LOAN AND LOAN GUARANTEE 
PROGRAM. 
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
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‘‘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— 
‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE BORROWERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
or guarantee qualified conservation loans under this 
section to— 
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‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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-
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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 
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 
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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 F—Ensuring Greenhouse 
Gas Reporting for Agriculture 
SEC. 251. GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING. 
(a) REPORTING PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 
2020, the Secretary, in consultation with the Admin-
istrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and 
the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish and im-
plement a program to identify all major source cat-
egories of associated emissions and collect data on 
associated emissions from the production of agricul-
tural commodities and their food products in the 
United States, including— 
(A) emissions of greenhouse gases from the 
livestock industry, including from concentrated 
animal feeding operations, as defined by the 
Secretary; and 
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(B) emissions of greenhouse gases from 
the production of commodity and specialty 
crops, including the tilling of soil, and the use 
of synthetic fertilizer. 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Not later than 12 
months after the date that the Secretary implements 
the program described in paragraph (1), and annu-
ally thereafter, the Secretary shall issue a report, to 
be made available to the public and the appropriate 
committees of Congress, on associated emissions, in-
cluding— 
(A) identification of all major source cat-
egories of associated emissions; 
(B) the total amount, expressed in tons of 
carbon dioxide equivalent, of— 
(i) carbon dioxide, methane, and other 
greenhouse gases emitted through trans-
portation of agriculture products to market 
within the United States during the pre-
ceding calendar year; 
(ii) carbon dioxide, methane, and 
other greenhouse gases emitted through 
the rearing, raising, slaughter, and proc-
essing of poultry and livestock products in 
the United States, including those carbon 
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dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse 
gases emitted by manure management sys-
tems; 
(iii) carbon dioxide, methane, and 
other greenhouse gases emitted by the use 
of fertilizer in the production of commodity 
and specialty crops; and 
(iv) carbon dioxide, methane, and 
other greenhouse gases emitted by the till-
age of soil in the production of commodity 
and specialty crops; and 
(C) identification of all major agricultural 
practices that can reduce the emission of car-
bon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse 
gases, including— 
(i) the use of cover crops; 
(ii) the reduction and elimination of 
soil tillage, the successive planting of dif-
ferent crops on the same land, and other 
soil management practices; 
(iii) the use of rotational grazing on 
pasture for livestock; 
(iv) the use of anaerobic digesters to 
process organic material; 
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(v) the use of buffer crops to reduce 
soil erosion; and 
(vi) other practices that can yield sig-
nificant reductions in the emission of car-
bon dioxide, methane, and other green-
house gases by producers of agricultural 
commodities and their food products. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) GREENHOUSE GAS.—The term ‘‘greenhouse 
gas’’ has the meaning given such term under section 
211(o)(1)(G) of the Clean Air Act, as in effect on 
the date of the enactment of the Food and Farm 
Act. 
(2) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United 
States’’ has the meaning given such term under sec-
tion 5911(a)(4) of title 5, United States Code, as in 
effect on the date of the enactment of the Food and 
Farm Act. 
SEC. 252. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subtitle such sums as may be necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023. 
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Subtitle G—Administration and 
Funding 
SEC. 261. 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) ANNUAL FUNDING.—For each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023, the Secretary shall use the funds, fa-
cilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corpora-
tion to carry out the following programs under this title 
(including 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— 
‘‘(A) $20,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023 to provide payments 
under section 1234(c); and 
‘‘(B) $66,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023 to carry out section 
1235(f) to facilitate the transfer of land subject 
to contracts from retired or retiring owners and 
operators to beginning farmers or ranchers and 
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(2) The agricultural conservation easement 
program under subtitle H, using, to the maximum 
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extent practicable, $810,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023. 
‘‘(3) 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. 
‘‘(4) The conservation stewardship program 
under subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D. 
‘‘(5) The environmental quality incentives pro-
gram under chapter 4 of subtitle D, using, to the 
maximum extent practicable, $3,200,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. 
‘‘(6) The conservation innovation grant pro-
gram under section 1240S, using, to the maximum 
extent practicable, $100,000,000 for each fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(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— 
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(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (i) 
as subsections (c) through (j), 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 
2019 through 2023 and shall remain available until 
expended. Amounts made available for the programs 
specified in such subsection during a fiscal year 
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)(6) 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 
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of subtitle D, and shall remain available until ex-
pended.’’. 
(c) ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN FARMERS OR RANCH-
ERS FOR CONSERVATION ACCESS.—Section 1241(i) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection 
(b)) is amended, in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
TITLE III—FOOD ASSISTANCE 
SEC. 301. ELIMINATION OF DOMESTIC PROCUREMENT RE-
STRICTION FOR EMERGENCY AND PRIVATE 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS UNDER THE FOOD 
FOR PEACE ACT. 
Title II of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1721) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 201 (7 U.S.C. 1721), in the mat-
ter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘agricul-
tural commodities’’ and inserting ‘‘assistance, in-
cluding agricultural commodities,’’; and 
(2) in section 202 (7 U.S.C. 1722)— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘ASSISTANCE’’; 
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(B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘agricul-
tural commodities’’ and inserting ‘‘assistance, 
including agricultural commodities,’’; 
(C) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘agricultural commod-
ities’’ and inserting ‘‘assistance, including 
agricultural commodities,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the commodities’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the assistance’’; 
(D) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Agricul-
tural commodities’’ and inserting ‘‘Assistance, 
including agricultural commodities,’’; and 
(E) in subsection (f)— 
(i) in the subsection heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘COMMODITIES’’ and inserting ‘‘AS-
SISTANCE’’; 
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘agricultural commodities’’ 
and inserting ‘‘assistance, including agri-
cultural commodities,’’; 
(iii) in the matter preceding para-
graph (1), by striking ‘‘such commodities’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such assistance’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (5), by striking 
‘‘commodities’’ and inserting ‘‘assistance’’. 
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SEC. 302. ELIMINATION OF CAP ON SUPPORT FOR ELIGI-
BLE ORGANIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN PUR-
POSES. 
Section 202(e)(1) of the Food for Peace Act (7 
U.S.C. 1722) is amended by striking ‘‘not more than 20 
percent’’. 
SEC. 303. ELIMINATION OF MINIMUM LEVEL OF LOCAL 
SALES REQUIREMENT UNDER THE FOOD FOR 
PEACE ACT. 
Section 203 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1723) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting before the pe-
riod at the end the following: ‘‘to generate proceeds 
to be used as provided in this section’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively. 
SEC. 304. FOOD FOR PEACE ACT EXTENSIONS. 
(a) FOOD
AID
QUALITY
ASSURANCE.—Section 
202(h)(3) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1722(h)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
(b) MINIMUM LEVELS
OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 
204(a) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1724(a)) is 
amended in paragraphs (1) and (2) by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
both places it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
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(c) FOOD
AID
CONSULTATIVE
GROUP
TERMI-
NATION.—Section 205(f) of the Food for Peace Act (7 
U.S.C. 1725(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS.— 
Section 207(c)(1) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1726a(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Agricultural Act 
of 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘the Food and Farm Act’’. 
(e) PROGRAM OVERSIGHT, MONITORING, AND EVAL-
UATION.—Section 207(f)(4) of the Food for Peace Act (7 
U.S.C. 1726a(f)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
both places it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(f) ASSISTANCE
FOR
STOCKPILING
AND
RAPID 
TRANSPORTATION, DELIVERY, AND DISTRIBUTION
OF 
SHELF-STABLE PREPACKAGED FOODS.—Section 208(f) 
of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726b(f)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(g) PREPOSITIONING OF AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITIES.—Section 407(c)(4)(A) of the Food for Peace Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1736a(c)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
the both places it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
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(h) AGREEMENTS TO FINANCE SALES OR TO PRO-
VIDE OTHER ASSISTANCE.—Section 408 of the Food for 
Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736b) is amended by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(i) MINIMUM LEVEL OF NONEMERGENCY FOOD AS-
SISTANCE.—Section 412(e)(1) of the Food for Peace Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1736f(e)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(j) MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION PROGRAMS.— 
Section 415(c) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1736g–2(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
(k) FARMER-TO-FARMER PROGRAM.—Section 501 of 
the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1737) is amended in 
subsections (d) and (e)(1) by striking ‘‘2018’’ both places 
it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
TITLE IV—NUTRITION 
Subtitle A—Increasing Access to 
Healthy Foods 
SEC. 401. EXPANDING HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIA-
TIVE. 
(a) INCLUSION
OF
INVESTMENTS
IN
MID-TIER 
VALUE CHAIN COORDINATION.—Section 243 of the De-
partment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 6953) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, to build and sustain 
mid-tier value chain coordination’’ after ‘‘qual-
ity jobs’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and local and regional 
food supply networks’’ after ‘‘healthy food re-
tailers’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
clause (i); 
(ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as 
clause (iii); and 
(iii) by inserting after clause (ii) the 
following new clause: 
‘‘(ii) to link farmers, ranchers, and 
fisheries with local and regional food sup-
ply networks moving agricultural products 
of mid-tier value chains to consumers in 
underserved areas with moderate- and low- 
income populations; and’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (C)(ii)— 
(i) by redesignating subclause (VI) as 
subclause (VII); and 
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(ii) by inserting after subclause (V) 
the following new subclause: 
‘‘(VI) The project creates or 
strengthens a mid-tier value chain.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 243(b) of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6953(b)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through 
(7) as paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) MID-TIER VALUE CHAIN.—The term ‘mid- 
tier value chain’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 231 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act 
of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a).’’. 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF MANDATORY FUNDING.—Sub-
section (d) of section 243 of the Department of Agri-
culture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6953) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out 
the Initiative $25,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
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SEC. 402. HELPING SCHOOLS SERVE HEALTHIER MEALS. 
Section 6(f) of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(f)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘PILOT PROJECT FOR PROCUREMENT OF UNPROC-
ESSED FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES’’ and inserting 
‘‘PROGRAM FOR PROCUREMENT OF UNPROCESSED 
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘pilot project’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘program’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall facili-
tate the procurement of unprocessed fruits and vege-
tables in not fewer than 15 States receiving funds 
under this Act.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) MANDATORY FUNDING.—There is ap-
propriated to carry out this section, including 
through the provision of technical assistance, 
outreach, and other implementation assistance, 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023. 
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‘‘(B) RESERVATION.—Of the funds appro-
priated under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal 
year, $6,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
technical assistance to eligible vendors to be-
come certified to participate in the program 
under this section.’’. 
SEC. 403. STRENGTHENING THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 
SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM. 
Section 413 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7633) is 
amended— 
(1) subsection (b)(4), by inserting ‘‘, to promote 
agricultural education, and raise awareness about 
the consequences of wasted food and encourage the 
implementation of food recovery initiatives to reduce 
the quantity of wasted food’’ before the semicolon; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and where food comes from; and’’ and in-
serting ‘‘where food comes from, the con-
sequences of food waste, and food recovery 
initiatives;’’; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) have the capacity to execute regional 
or national projects that include 2 or more 
States.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) RESERVATION.—The majority of the funds 
made available to carry out this subsection shall be 
reserved for projects that— 
‘‘(A) are larger in scale as compared to 
other proposed projects; 
‘‘(B) are national or regional in scope; and 
‘‘(C) include 2 or more States.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking the para-
graph and inserting in its place the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(1) MANDATORY
FUNDING.—Of the funds 
available to the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary shall use $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023 to carry out the Initiative. 
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Amounts made available under this subsection shall 
remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 404. HARVESTING HEALTH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary Agriculture shall, 
in coordination with other Federal agencies, award grants 
to eligible entities to conduct pilot projects to demonstrate 
and evaluate the impact of produce prescription programs 
for low-income individuals and households. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the pilot projects re-
quired under this section is to demonstrate and evaluate 
the impact of produce prescription programs in areas with 
poverty and households with diet-related health issues with 
respect to the following: 
(1) The reduction of individual and household 
food insecurity. 
(2) The support for local and regional agri-
culture and economic development. 
(3) The increased domestic consumption of 
produce. 
(4) The reduction in health care use and associ-
ated costs. 
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this section, the term ‘‘el-
igible entity’’ means— 
(1) an emergency feeding organization (as de-
fined in section 201A of the Emergency Food Assist-
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ance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501)), in partnership 
with— 
(A) a hospital; 
(B) a Federally-qualified health center (as 
such term is defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of 
the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1396d(l)(2)(B))); 
(C) a hospital or clinic operated by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs; or 
(D) a provider group; 
(2) a farmer’s market, community supported 
agriculture entity, cooperative, local public benefit 
corporation, nonprofit organization, retail food store 
authorized under the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program; 
(3) a local or State government agency, in part-
nership with any of the entities described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1); and 
(4) any of the entities described in subpara-
graphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1), in part-
nership with an— 
(A) emergency feeding organization; 
(B) entity described in paragraph (2); or 
(C) a local or State government agency. 
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(d) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall 
submit an application, at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including— 
(1) a description of methods for how the 
produce prescription program would be targeted to 
low-income individuals and households with existing 
diet-related health issues; 
(2) a description and plan for the screening and 
recruitment of low-income individuals and house-
holds with existing diet-related health issues; 
(3) a description of plans for the evaluation of 
program participants and partners focused on pur-
poses described under subsection (b); 
(4) a description of plans for the inclusion of 
nutrition education opportunities for program par-
ticipants; 
(5) a description of the program partnerships 
and the role of each partner in implementing and 
evaluating an effective program; 
(6) documentation of the necessary partnership 
agreements with the relevant State Medicaid agency 
or other appropriate entity for the purpose of evalu-
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ating the programs effectiveness in reducing health 
care use and associated costs; and 
(7) data as requested by the Secretary for pur-
poses of analyzing the impact of the project. 
(e) EVALUATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary may enter into memorandums of understanding 
with Federal and States agencies and private partners to 
ensure the effective implementation and evaluation of the 
program. 
(f) PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘produce prescription program’’ 
means a program— 
(1) under which fresh fruits and vegetables are 
prescribed to individuals or households who are at- 
risk due to health status or income; and 
(2) that may provide— 
(A) financial incentives for individuals de-
scribed in paragraph (1) to purchase fruits and 
vegetables; 
(B) education resources on nutrition to 
such individuals; and 
(C) accessible locations for participants to 
procure fresh fruits and vegetables. 
(g) FUNDING.— 
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(1) MANDATORY
FUNDING.—Of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall use to carry out this section $10,000,000, to 
remain available until expended, for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023. 
(2) DISCRETIONARY
FUNDING.—There is au-
thorized to be appropriated to carry out this sub-
section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023. 
Subtitle B—Improving the Supple-
mental 
Nutrition 
Assistance 
Program 
SEC. 411. CONTINUING THE FARMERS’ MARKETS SUPPLE-
MENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to support the participation of farmers’ 
markets in the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program by providing equipment and support grants 
to new markets and those currently participating in 
the program; 
(2) to increase access to the supplemental nu-
trition assistance program and participation at farm-
ers’ markets by households that receive program 
benefits; and 
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(3) to support the establishment, expansion, 
and promotion of electronic benefits transfer services 
at farmers’ markets for the acceptance of program 
benefits. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
GRANT
PROGRAM.—To 
carry out the purposes of this section, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall establish a program to make grants each 
fiscal year to eligible entities to conduct tasks that are 
necessary for the supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram to operate at farmers’ markets, and to increase the 
frequency and effectiveness of farmers’ market participa-
tion in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sec-
tion: 
(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—the term ‘‘eligible 
entity’’ means— 
(i) a Native American tribal organiza-
tion nonprofit organization; 
(ii) a Native American tribal govern-
ment; 
(iii) a State or unit of general purpose 
local government of a State; 
(iv) a farmers’ market association; 
(v) a public benefit corporation; 
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(vi) an economic development corpora-
tion; 
(vii) a regional farmers’ market au-
thority; or 
(viii) a nonprofit organization engaged 
in farmers’ market management. 
(B) DEFINITIONS.— 
(i) SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
AS-
SISTANCE
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘supple-
mental 
nutrition 
assistance 
program’’ 
means the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program as defined in section 3 of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2012). 
(ii) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means 
any of the several States or the District of 
Columbia. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023. 
SEC. 412. EXPANDING AND INCREASING SUPPORT FOR THE 
FOOD INSECURITY NUTRITION INCENTIVES 
PROGRAM. 
Section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517) is amended— 
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(1) subsection (b)(2)(B)— 
(A) in clause (v) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause 
(vii); and 
(C) by inserting the following after clause 
(v): 
‘‘(vi) facilitate the provision of supple-
mental 
nutrition 
assistance 
program 
matching incentive programs, particularly 
for locally sourced produce, at approved re-
tail stores, particularly those located in un-
derserved areas; and’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
subsection (b) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023. 
‘‘(2) MANDATORY
FUNDING.—Of the funds 
available to the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary shall use to carry out subsection (b) 
$70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023.’’. 
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SEC. 413. CLOSING THE MEAL GAP. 
(a) CALCULATION
OF PROGRAM BENEFITS.—The 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 3 (7 U.S.C. 2012)— 
(A) by striking subsection (u); 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(n) 
through (t) as subsections (o) through (u), re-
spectively; and 
(C) by inserting after subsection (m) the 
following: 
‘‘(n) ‘Low-cost food plan’ means the diet required to 
feed a family of four persons, consisting of a man and 
a woman nineteen through fifty, a child six through eight, 
and a child nine through eleven years of age, determined 
in accordance with the Secretary’s calculations. The cost 
of such diet shall be the basis for uniform allotments for 
all households regardless of their actual composition, ex-
cept that the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) make household-size adjustments (based 
on the unrounded cost of such diet) taking into ac-
count economies of scale; 
‘‘(2) make cost adjustments in the low-cost food 
plan for Hawaii and the urban and rural parts of 
Alaska to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii and 
urban and rural Alaska; 
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‘‘(3) make cost adjustments in the separate 
low-cost food plans for Guam, and the Virgin Is-
lands of the United States, to reflect the cost of food 
in those States, but not to exceed the cost of food 
in the 50 States and the District of Columbia; and 
‘‘(4) on October 1, 2018, and each October 1 
thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the 
cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the 
result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each 
household size.’’; 
(2) in section 8(a) (7 U.S.C. 2017(a))— 
(A) by striking ‘‘thrifty food plan’’ each 
place it appears, and inserting ‘‘low-cost food 
plan’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘8 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘10 percent’’; 
(3) 
in 
section 
16(c)(1)(A)(ii) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
2025(c)(1)(A)(ii))— 
(A) in subclause (I) by striking ‘‘for fiscal 
year 2014, at an amount not greater than $37’’ 
and inserting ‘‘for fiscal year 2018, at an 
amount not greater than $50’’; and 
(B) in subclause (II)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘June 30, 2013’’ and 
inserting ‘‘June 30, 2018’’; and 
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100 
(b) STANDARD MEDICAL EXPENSE DEDUCTION.— 
Section 5(e)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘an excess 
medical’’ and all that follows through the period at 
the end, and inserting ‘‘a standard medical deduc-
tion or to a medical expense deduction of actual 
costs for the allowable medical expenses incurred by 
the elderly or disabled member, exclusive of special 
diets.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) The standard medical expense deduc-
tion shall be equal to $140 for fiscal year 2019, 
and for each subsequent fiscal year shall be 
equal to the applicable amount for the pre-
ceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes 
for the 12-month period ending the preceding 
June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All 
Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Depart-
ment of Labor, except that for any such fiscal 
year the State agency may establish a greater 
standard medical expense deduction that satis-
fies cost neutrality standards established by the 
Secretary for such fiscal year.’’. 
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101 
(c) ELIMINATION OF CAP OF EXCESS SHELTER EX-
PENSES.—Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and 
(D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively. 
(d) WORK REQUIREMENT.—Section 6(o)(3) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(3)) 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in subparagraph (E) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at end the following: 
‘‘(F) not offered a position in a program 
described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of para-
graph (2).’’. 
(e) FUNDING OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 16(h)(1)(E)(ii)(II) of the Food and Nu-
trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)(E)(ii)(II)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (A) through (E) of’’ 
after ‘‘under’’. 
(f) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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102 
(1) FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2008.—The 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.) is amended— 
(A) in section 10 (7 U.S.C. 2019) by strik-
ing ‘‘3(p)’’ and inserting ‘‘3(q)’’; 
(B) in section 11 (7 U.S.C. 2012)— 
(i) in subsection (a)(2) by striking 
‘‘3(t)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘3(u)(1)’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (d)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘3(t)(1)’’ each 
place 
it 
appears 
and 
inserting 
‘‘3(u)(1)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘3(t)(2)’’ each 
place 
it 
appears 
and 
inserting 
‘‘3(u)(2)’’; 
(C) in section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) (7 U.S.C. 
(a)(2)(A)(ii)) by striking ‘‘3(u)(4)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘3(n)(4)’’; and 
(D) 
in 
section 
27(a)(2) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
2036(a)(2))— 
(i) in subparagraph (C) by striking 
‘‘3(u)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘3(n)(4)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (E) by striking 
‘‘3(u)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘3(n)(4)’’. 
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103 
(2) LOW-INCOME
HOME
ENERGY
ASSISTANCE 
ACT OF 1981.—Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-In-
come Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 
U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘5(e)(6)(B)(iv)(1)’’; and 
(B) 
by 
striking 
‘‘(7 
U.S.C. 
2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I))’’ and inserting ‘‘(7 U.S.C. 
2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I))’’. 
(g) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—The Food and Nu-
trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 5(a) (7 U.S.C. 2014(a)) by strik-
ing ‘‘3(n)(4)’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘3(m)(4)’’; 
(2) 
in 
section 
8(f)(1)(A)(i) 
(7 
U.S.C. 
2017(f)(1)(A)(i)) by striking ‘‘3(n)(5)’’ and inserting 
‘‘3(m)(5)’’; and 
(3) in section 17(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(aa) (7 U.S.C. 
2016(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(aa)) by striking ‘‘3(n)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘3(m)’’. 
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104 
TITLE V—FUTURE OF AMERICAN 
FARMERS 
Subtitle A—Defining Beginning 
Farmer or Rancher 
SEC. 501. BEGINNING FARMER OR RANCHER DEFINED. 
In this title, the term ‘‘beginning farmer or rancher’’ 
means an individual or entity who— 
(1) has not operated a farm or ranch, or who 
has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 
consecutive years; and 
(2) will materially and substantially participate 
in the operation of the farm or ranch. 
Subtitle 
B—Providing 
Resources 
for Beginning, Retiring, and So-
cially Disadvantaged Farmers 
and Ranchers 
SEC. 511. REAUTHORIZATION AND INCREASED FUNDING 
FOR OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SO-
CIALLY 
DISADVANTAGED 
FARMERS 
AND 
RANCHERS AND VETERAN FARMERS AND 
RANCHERS. 
(a) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Subparagraph (A) of 
section 2501(a)(4) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)(4)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
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105 
‘‘(A) 
MANDATORY
FUNDING.—Of 
the 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary shall make available to carry out this 
section— 
‘‘(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
and 
‘‘(ii) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
2501(a)(4)(E) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)(4)(E)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 512. ENSURING PERMANENT FUNDING FOR BEGIN-
NING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM. 
Section 7405(h)(1)(C) of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f(h)(1)(C)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$20,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$50,000,000’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘through 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘and each fiscal year thereafter’’. 
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106 
SEC. 513. SUPPORTING BEGINNING FARMER PARTICIPA-
TION 
IN 
CERTAIN 
CONSERVATION 
PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 1241(h)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3841(h)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘5 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘20 percent’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘5 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘15 percent’’. 
SEC. 514. CREATING A PRIORITY FOR PARTICIPATION OF 
BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN 
FARMERS’ MARKET AND LOCAL FOOD PRO-
MOTION PROGRAM. 
Subsection (e) of section 6 of the Farmer-to-Con-
sumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) PRIORITIES.—In providing grants under the 
Program, priority shall be given to applications that in-
clude— 
‘‘(1) projects that will benefit underserved com-
munities, including communities that are located in 
areas of concentrated poverty with limited access to 
fresh locally or regionally grown food; and 
‘‘(2) with respect to beginning farmers and 
ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranch-
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107 
ers, and veteran farmers, projects in which such 
farmers and ranchers are participants.’’. 
SEC. 515. SUPPORTING BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCH-
ERS THROUGH FARM SERVICE AGENCY LIAI-
SONS. 
Section 226 of the Department of Agriculture Reor-
ganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6932) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(i) BEGINNING FARMERS
AND RANCHERS LIAI-
SON.— 
‘‘(1) POSITION ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary 
shall establish within each State office of the Con-
solidated Farm Service Agency the position of Be-
ginning Farmers and Ranchers Liaison to carry out 
the duties described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The Beginning Farmers and 
Ranchers Liaison shall— 
‘‘(A) provide technical assistance to begin-
ning farmers and ranchers to direct such farm-
ers and ranchers toward appropriate Federal 
resources and opportunities, including available 
Federal grant programs; and 
‘‘(B) promote coordination among Federal 
programs available to beginning farmers and 
ranchers.’’. 
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108 
SEC. 516. FACILITATING SUCCESSION PLANNING THROUGH 
THE CREATION OF FARM SERVICE AGENCY 
REGIONAL PLANNERS. 
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(h) REGIONAL PLANNERS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a regional planner for each of the 12 regions 
identified by the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The regional planners estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) establish and maintain one accurate, 
current, and unbiased database of resources to 
help farmers undertaking succession planning; 
and 
‘‘(B) coordinate with Federal, State, and 
private stakeholders, including land-grant col-
leges and universities and extension service, to 
understand farmer and rancher needs in each 
state within the respective regions, and to work 
with these stakeholders to provide farmers and 
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109 
ranchers information regarding relevant succes-
sion planning resources and opportunities based 
on those needs.’’. 
SEC. 517. ENSURING A VIBRANT AGRICULTURAL SECTOR 
THROUGH THE CREATION OF A LAND TEN-
URE COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall establish a commission to be known as 
the Land Tenure Commission (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) TOTAL
MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission 
shall be comprised of 10 members who shall be ap-
pointed by the Secretary for a term of 3 years in ac-
cordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) MEMBERS.—The Commission members 
shall include one representative from each the fol-
lowing categories: 
(A) The Farm Service Agency. 
(B) The Natural Resources Conservation 
Service. 
(C) State programs focused on land ten-
ure. 
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110 
(D) Private nonprofit organizations with 
active land tenure programs. 
(E) The Cooperative State Research, Edu-
cation, and Extension Service. 
(F) Community colleges or other institu-
tions of higher education with demonstrated ex-
perience in land tenure issues. 
(G) Other entities or persons providing 
lending for, or technical assistance regarding, 
land tenure. 
(H) Beginning farmers and ranchers. 
(I) Socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers. 
(J) Veteran farmers and ranchers. 
(K) Retiring or retired farmers and ranch-
ers. 
(3) REAPPOINTMENT.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may reappoint members of the Commission 
to a subsequent 3-year term. 
(4) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commis-
sion may not receive any compensation. 
(5) VACANCIES.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall make appointments to fill vacancies on the 
Commission as soon as practicable after the vacancy 
has occurred. 
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111 
(c) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 
(1) advise the Secretary of Agriculture on 
issues involving access to land, farm business transi-
tion, and land tenure, including trends in ownership 
and the status of farmland ownership; 
(2) with respect to the Commission’s activities, 
coordinate and consult with entities involved with 
farmland ownership and operation; 
(3) appoint technical advisors, comprised of 
representatives from the National Agricultural Sta-
tistics Service of the Department of Agriculture, 
not-for-profit organizations that assist farmers and 
ranchers transitioning in and out of agricultural 
business, and farm succession planners with exper-
tise in the field; and 
(4) focus efforts of Federal agency staff and 
programs toward ensuring the long-term sustain-
ability of the agriculture sector. 
(d) REPORTS.—The Commission shall submit an an-
nual report to Congress that includes— 
(1) a summary of the activities of the Commis-
sion; and 
(2) recommendations with respect to access to 
land, farm business transition, and land tenure, in-
cluding recommendations for Federal policy changes. 
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112 
Subtitle C—Creating Financial In-
centives To Benefit Beginning 
Farmers and Ranchers 
SEC. 521. REMOVING BARRIERS TO FARMING THROUGH AN 
ELIGIBLE FARMER TAX CREDIT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subpart B of part IV of sub-
chapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 30E. ELIGIBLE FARMER CREDITS. 
‘‘(a) ELIGIBLE FARMER PROPERTY SALE CREDIT.— 
In the case of a taxpayer who sells qualified farming prop-
erty to an eligible farmer during the taxable year, there 
shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by 
this chapter for such taxable year an amount equal to 10 
percent of the sales price of such property. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE
FARMER
PROPERTY
PURCHASE 
CREDIT.—In the case of a taxpayer who is an eligible 
farmer and purchases qualified farming property during 
the taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against 
the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an 
amount equal 10 percent of the purchase price of such 
property. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.— 
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113 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE FARMER.—For purposes of this 
section— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible 
farmer’ means— 
‘‘(i) any socially disadvantaged farmer 
or 
rancher, 
as 
defined 
in 
section 
2501(e)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279(e)(2)), 
‘‘(ii) any veteran farmer or rancher 
(as defined in section 2501(e)(7) of such 
Act (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)(7))), or 
‘‘(iii) any beginning farmer or ranch-
er. 
‘‘(B) BEGINNING FARMER OR RANCHER.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘begin-
ning farmer or rancher’ means an indi-
vidual or entity who— 
‘‘(I) has not operated a farm or 
ranch, or who has operated a farm or 
ranch for not more than 10 consecu-
tive years, and 
‘‘(II) will materially and substan-
tially participate in the operation of 
the farm or ranch. 
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‘‘(ii) MATERIAL
AND
SUBSTANTIAL 
PARTICIPATION.—For purposes of clause 
(i), the term ‘material and substantial par-
ticipation’ means— 
‘‘(I) in the case of an individual, 
that the individual provides substan-
tial day-to-day labor and management 
of the farm or ranch, consistent with 
the practices in the county or State 
where the farm is located, and 
‘‘(II) in the case of an entity, 
that all shareholders, holders of a cap-
ital or profits interest in the case of a 
partnership, or holders of a beneficial 
interest in the case of a trust or coop-
erative provide some amount of the 
management or labor necessary for 
day-to-day activities such that if each 
of the members did not provide these 
inputs, operation of the farm or ranch 
would be seriously impaired. 
‘‘(iii) 
PREDECESSOR.—Any 
prede-
cessor of any entity shall be treated as 
such entity for purposes of clause (i)(I). 
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‘‘(iv) AGGREGATION RULES.—All per-
sons which are treated as a single em-
ployer under subsections (a) and (b) of 
section 52 shall be treated as a single em-
ployer for purposes of this subparagraph. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFIED FARMING PROPERTY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘qualified 
farming property’ means any property— 
‘‘(i) which is used in the trade or 
business of farming or ranching in the 
United States, and 
‘‘(ii) which is— 
‘‘(I) property of a character sub-
ject to an allowance for depreciation, 
or 
‘‘(II) land used for the produc-
tion of crops, fruits, or other agricul-
tural products or for the sustenance 
of livestock. 
In the case of any tree, vine, or livestock which 
is not subject to an allowance for depreciation 
solely by reason of not having reached the in-
come-producing stage or age of maturity, as the 
case may be, such tree, vine, or livestock shall 
be treated as property of a character subject to 
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116 
an allowance for depreciation for purposes of 
this section. 
‘‘(B) LAND USE MUST BE RESTRICTED AG-
RICULTURAL USE.—Such term shall not include 
any land which is not subject to a State agricul-
tural land preservation program, permanent ag-
ricultural conservation easement, is not valued 
as agricultural land using special use valuation 
requirements, or is not under another long-term 
or permanent protection. 
‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULES.— 
‘‘(1) REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.—No credit 
shall be allowed to a taxpayer under this section un-
less, at such time and in such form and manner as 
the Secretary shall prescribe— 
‘‘(A) there is submitted to the Secretary a 
description of the qualified farming property 
with respect to which the credit under this sec-
tion is determined, 
‘‘(B) the eligible farmer submits to the 
Secretary an attestation of intent to treat such 
property as qualified farming property during 
the 8-year period beginning on the date of the 
sale or purchase to which this section applies, 
and 
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‘‘(C) the taxpayer who sells such property 
in the case of any credit determined under sub-
section (a), and the eligible farmer who pur-
chases such property in the case of any credit 
determined under subsection (b), submits to the 
Secretary an agreement consenting to the appli-
cation of paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) RECAPTURE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If any property with 
respect to which a credit is allowed under this 
section ceases to be qualified farming property 
during the 8-year period beginning on the date 
of the sale or purchase to which this section ap-
plies, the tax imposed by this chapter for the 
taxable year during which such property so 
ceases shall be increased by the applicable per-
centage of the amount of credit allowed under 
this section with respect to such property. 
‘‘(B) 
APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE.—For 
purposes of this paragraph, in the case of prop-
erty which ceases to be qualified farming prop-
erty during the 8-year period, the applicable 
percentage shall be determined under the fol-
lowing table: 
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