107 
livestock producer, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(B) 
DROUGHT
MONITOR.—The 
term 
‘‘drought 
monitor’’ 
means 
a 
system 
for 
classifying drought severity according to a 
range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought, 
as defined by the Secretary. 
(C) ELIGIBLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCER.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible 
livestock producer’’ means an eligible pro-
ducer on a farm that— 
(I) is an owner, cash or share 
lessee, or contract grower of covered 
livestock that provides the pastureland 
or grazing land, including cash-leased 
pastureland or grazing land, for the 
livestock; 
(II) provides the pastureland or 
grazing land for covered livestock, in-
cluding cash-leased pastureland or 
grazing land that is physically located 
in a county affected by drought; 
(III) certifies grazing loss; and
108 
(IV) meets all other eligibility re-
quirements established under this sub-
section. 
(ii) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘eligible 
livestock producer’’ does not include an 
owner, cash or share lessee, or contract 
grower of livestock that rents or leases 
pastureland or grazing land owned by an-
other person on a rate-of-gain basis. 
(D) NORMAL
CARRYING
CAPACITY.—The 
term ‘‘normal carrying capacity’’, with respect 
to each type of grazing land or pastureland in 
a county, means the normal carrying capacity, 
as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i), that 
would be expected from the grazing land or 
pastureland for livestock during the normal 
grazing period, in the absence of a drought or 
fire that diminishes the production of the graz-
ing land or pastureland. 
(E) NORMAL GRAZING PERIOD.—The term 
‘‘normal grazing period’’, with respect to a 
county, means the normal grazing period during 
the calendar year for the county, as determined 
under paragraph (3)(D)(i).
109 
(2) PROGRAM.—For fiscal year 2012 and each 
succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such 
sums as are necessary of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation to provide compensation 
for losses to eligible livestock producers due to graz-
ing losses for covered livestock due to— 
(A) a drought condition, as described in 
paragraph (3); or 
(B) fire, as described in paragraph (4). 
(3) ASSISTANCE FOR LOSSES DUE TO DROUGHT 
CONDITIONS.— 
(A) ELIGIBLE LOSSES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible livestock 
producer may receive assistance under this 
subsection only for grazing losses for cov-
ered livestock that occur on land that— 
(I) 
is 
native 
or 
improved 
pastureland with permanent vegeta-
tive cover; or 
(II) is planted to a crop planted 
specifically for the purpose of pro-
viding grazing for covered livestock. 
(ii) EXCLUSIONS.—An eligible live-
stock producer may not receive assistance 
under this subsection for grazing losses
110 
that occur on land used for haying or graz-
ing under the conservation reserve pro-
gram established under subchapter B of 
chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3831 et seq.). 
(B) MONTHLY PAYMENT RATE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), the payment rate for assist-
ance under this paragraph for 1 month 
shall, in the case of drought, be equal to 
60 percent of the lesser of— 
(I) the monthly feed cost for all 
covered livestock owned or leased by 
the eligible livestock producer, as de-
termined under subparagraph (C); or 
(II) the monthly feed cost cal-
culated by using the normal carrying 
capacity of the eligible grazing land of 
the eligible livestock producer. 
(ii) PARTIAL COMPENSATION.—In the 
case of an eligible livestock producer that 
sold or otherwise disposed of covered live-
stock due to drought conditions in 1 or 
both of the 2 production years immediately
111 
preceding the current production year, as 
determined by the Secretary, the payment 
rate shall be 80 percent of the payment 
rate otherwise calculated in accordance 
with clause (i). 
(C) MONTHLY FEED COST.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The monthly feed 
cost shall equal the product obtained by 
multiplying— 
(I) 30 days; 
(II) a payment quantity that is 
equal to the feed grain equivalent, as 
determined under clause (ii); and 
(III) a payment rate that is equal 
to the corn price per pound, as deter-
mined under clause (iii). 
(ii) FEED GRAIN EQUIVALENT.—For 
purposes of clause (i)(II), the feed grain 
equivalent shall equal— 
(I) in the case of an adult beef 
cow, 15.7 pounds of corn per day; or 
(II) in the case of any other type 
of weight of livestock, an amount de-
termined by the Secretary that rep-
resents the average number of pounds
112 
of corn per day necessary to feed the 
livestock. 
(iii) CORN PRICE PER POUND.—For 
purposes of clause (i)(III), the corn price 
per pound shall equal the quotient ob-
tained by dividing— 
(I) the higher of— 
(aa) the national average 
corn price per bushel for the 12- 
month period immediately pre-
ceding March 1 of the year for 
which the disaster assistance is 
calculated; or 
(bb) the national average 
corn price per bushel for the 24- 
month period immediately pre-
ceding that March 1; by 
(II) 56. 
(D) 
NORMAL
GRAZING
PERIOD
AND 
DROUGHT MONITOR INTENSITY.— 
(i) FSA COUNTY COMMITTEE DETER-
MINATIONS.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall determine the normal carrying 
capacity and normal grazing period
113 
for each type of grazing land or 
pastureland in the county served by 
the applicable committee. 
(II) CHANGES.—No change to 
the normal carrying capacity or nor-
mal grazing period established for a 
county under subclause (I) shall be 
made unless the change is requested 
by the appropriate State and county 
Farm Service Agency committees. 
(ii) DROUGHT INTENSITY.— 
(I) D2.—An eligible livestock 
producer that owns or leases grazing 
land or pastureland that is physically 
located in a county that is rated by 
the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a 
D2 (severe drought) intensity in any 
area of the county for at least 8 con-
secutive weeks during the normal 
grazing period for the county, as de-
termined by the Secretary, shall be el-
igible to receive assistance under this 
paragraph in an amount equal to 1 
monthly payment using the monthly
114 
payment rate determined under sub-
paragraph (B). 
(II) D3.—An eligible livestock 
producer that owns or leases grazing 
land or pastureland that is physically 
located in a county that is rated by 
the U.S. Drought Monitor as having 
at least a D3 (extreme drought) in-
tensity in any area of the county at 
any time during the normal grazing 
period for the county, as determined 
by the Secretary, shall be eligible to 
receive assistance under this para-
graph— 
(aa) in an amount equal to 
3 monthly payments using the 
monthly payment rate deter-
mined under subparagraph (B); 
(bb) if the county is rated as 
having a D3 (extreme drought) 
intensity in any area of the coun-
ty for at least 4 weeks during the 
normal grazing period for the 
county, or is rated as having a 
D4 (exceptional drought) inten-
115 
sity in any area of the county at 
any time during the normal graz-
ing period, in an amount equal to 
4 monthly payments using the 
monthly payment rate deter-
mined under subparagraph (B); 
or 
(cc) if the county is rated as 
having 
a 
D4 
(exceptional 
drought) intensity in any area of 
the county for at least 4 weeks 
during the normal grazing pe-
riod, in an amount equal to 5 
monthly 
payments 
using 
the 
monthly rate determined under 
subparagraph (B). 
(4) ASSISTANCE FOR LOSSES DUE TO FIRE ON 
PUBLIC MANAGED LAND.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible livestock 
producer may receive assistance under this 
paragraph only if— 
(i) the grazing losses occur on range-
land that is managed by a Federal agency; 
and
116 
(ii) the eligible livestock producer is 
prohibited by the Federal agency from 
grazing the normal permitted livestock on 
the managed rangeland due to a fire. 
(B) PAYMENT RATE.—The payment rate 
for assistance under this paragraph shall be 
equal to 50 percent of the monthly feed cost for 
the total number of livestock covered by the 
Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer, 
as determined under paragraph (3)(C). 
(C) PAYMENT DURATION.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), an eligible livestock producer shall be 
eligible to receive assistance under this 
paragraph for the period— 
(I) beginning on the date on 
which the Federal agency excludes the 
eligible livestock producer from using 
the managed rangeland for grazing; 
and 
(II) ending on the last day of the 
Federal lease of the eligible livestock 
producer. 
(ii) LIMITATION.—An eligible livestock 
producer may only receive assistance under
117 
this paragraph for losses that occur on not 
more than 180 days per year. 
(5) NO DUPLICATIVE PAYMENTS.—An eligible 
livestock producer may elect to receive assistance for 
grazing or pasture feed losses due to drought condi-
tions under paragraph (3) or fire under paragraph 
(4), but not both for the same loss, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(d) EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE
FOR
LIVESTOCK, 
HONEY BEES, AND FARM-RAISED FISH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For fiscal year 2012 and 
each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall use 
not more than $20,000,000 of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation to provide emergency re-
lief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and 
farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due 
to disease (including cattle tick fever), adverse 
weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and 
wildfires, as determined by the Secretary, that are 
not covered under subsection (b) or (c). 
(2) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Funds made available 
under this subsection shall be used to reduce losses 
caused by feed or water shortages, disease, or other 
factors as determined by the Secretary.
118 
(3) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any funds made 
available under this subsection shall remain available 
until expended. 
(e) TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) ELIGIBLE
ORCHARDIST.—The term 
‘‘eligible orchardist’’ means a person that pro-
duces annual crops from trees for commercial 
purposes. 
(B) NATURAL DISASTER.—The term ‘‘nat-
ural disaster’’ means plant disease, insect infes-
tation, drought, fire, freeze, flood, earthquake, 
lightning, or other occurrence, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(C) NURSERY TREE GROWER.—The term 
‘‘nursery tree grower’’ means a person who pro-
duces nursery, ornamental, fruit, nut, or Christ-
mas trees for commercial sale, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(D) TREE.—The term ‘‘tree’’ includes a 
tree, bush, and vine. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(A) LOSS.—Subject to subparagraph (B), 
for fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding fiscal 
year, the Secretary shall use such sums as are
119 
necessary of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to provide assistance— 
(i) under paragraph (3) to eligible or-
chardists and nursery tree growers that 
planted trees for commercial purposes but 
lost the trees as a result of a natural dis-
aster, as determined by the Secretary; and 
(ii) under paragraph (3)(B) to eligible 
orchardists and nursery tree growers that 
have a production history for commercial 
purposes on planted or existing trees but 
lost the trees as a result of a natural dis-
aster, as determined by the Secretary. 
(B) LIMITATION.—An eligible orchardist 
or nursery tree grower shall qualify for assist-
ance under subparagraph (A) only if the tree 
mortality of the eligible orchardist or nursery 
tree grower, as a result of damaging weather or 
related condition, exceeds 15 percent (adjusted 
for normal mortality). 
(3) ASSISTANCE.—Subject to paragraph (4), 
the assistance provided by the Secretary to eligible 
orchardists and nursery tree growers for losses de-
scribed in paragraph (2) shall consist of—
120 
(A)(i) reimbursement of 65 percent of the 
cost of replanting trees lost due to a natural 
disaster, as determined by the Secretary, in ex-
cess of 15 percent mortality (adjusted for nor-
mal mortality); or 
(ii) at the option of the Secretary, suffi-
cient seedlings to reestablish a stand; and 
(B) reimbursement of 50 percent of the 
cost of pruning, removal, and other costs in-
curred by an eligible orchardist or nursery tree 
grower to salvage existing trees or, in the case 
of tree mortality, to prepare the land to replant 
trees as a result of damage or tree mortality 
due to a natural disaster, as determined by the 
Secretary, in excess of 15 percent damage or 
mortality (adjusted for normal tree damage and 
mortality). 
(4) LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) DEFINITIONS OF LEGAL ENTITY AND 
PERSON.—In this paragraph, the terms ‘‘legal 
entity’’ and ‘‘person’’ have the meaning given 
those terms in section 1001(a) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)). 
(B) AMOUNT.—The total amount of pay-
ments received, directly or indirectly, by a per-
123 
(4) MEMBER.—The term ‘‘member’’, with re-
spect to the National Drought Council, means a 
member of the Council specified or appointed under 
this section or, in the absence of the member, the 
member’s designee. 
(5) 
MITIGATION.—The 
term 
‘‘mitigation’’ 
means a short- or long-term action, program, or pol-
icy that is implemented in advance of or during a 
drought to minimize any risks and impacts of 
drought. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the sev-
eral States, the District of Columbia, American 
Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
and the United States Virgin Islands. 
(8) TRIGGER.—The term ‘‘trigger’’ means the 
thresholds or criteria that must be satisfied before 
mitigation or emergency assistance may be provided 
to an area— 
(A) in which drought is emerging; or 
(B) that is experiencing a drought. 
(9) 
WATERSHED.—The 
term 
‘‘watershed’’ 
means a region or area with common hydrology, an
124 
area drained by a waterway that drains into a lake 
or reservoir, the total area above a given point on 
a stream that contributes water to the flow at that 
point, or the topographic dividing line from which 
surface streams flow in two different directions. In 
no case shall a watershed be larger than a river 
basin. 
(10) WATERSHED GROUP.—The term ‘‘water-
shed group’’ means a group of individuals, formally 
recognized by the appropriate State or States, who 
represent the broad scope of relevant interests with-
in a watershed and who work together in a collabo-
rative manner to jointly plan the management of the 
natural resources contained within the watershed. 
(b) EFFECT OF SECTION.—This section does not af-
fect— 
(1) the authority of a State to allocate quan-
tities of water under the jurisdiction of the State; or 
(2) any State water rights established as of the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) NATIONAL DROUGHT COUNCIL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture a council 
to be known as the ‘‘National Drought Council’’. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—
125 
(A) COMPOSITION.—The Council shall be 
composed of— 
(i) the Secretary (or the designee of 
the Secretary); 
(ii) the Secretary of Commerce (or the 
designee of the Secretary of Commerce); 
(iii) the Secretary of the Army (or the 
designee of the Secretary of the Army); 
(iv) the Secretary of the Interior (or 
the designee of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior); 
(v) the Director of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency (or the des-
ignee of the Director); 
(vi) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (or the designee 
of the Administrator); 
(vii) 4 members appointed by the Sec-
retary, in coordination with the National 
Governors Association, each of whom shall 
be the Governor of a State (or the designee 
of the Governor) and who collectively shall 
represent the geographic diversity of the 
Nation;
126 
(viii) 1 member appointed by the Sec-
retary, in coordination with the National 
Association of Counties; 
(ix) 1 member appointed by the Sec-
retary, in coordination with the United 
States Conference of Mayors; 
(x) 1 member appointed by the Sec-
retary of the Interior, in coordination with 
Indian tribes, to represent the interests of 
tribal governments; and 
(xi) 1 member appointed by the Sec-
retary, in coordination with the National 
Association of Conservation Districts, to 
represent local soil and water conservation 
districts. 
(B) DATE
OF
APPOINTMENT.—The ap-
pointment of each member of the Council shall 
be made not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(3) TERM; VACANCIES.— 
(A) TERM.—A non-Federal member of the 
Council appointed under paragraph (2) shall be 
appointed for a term of two years. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Coun-
cil—
127 
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Council; and 
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
as the original appointment was made. 
(C) TERMS OF MEMBERS FILLING VACAN-
CIES.—Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
occurring before the expiration of the term for 
which the member’s predecessor was appointed 
shall be appointed only for the remainder of 
that term. 
(4) MEETINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall meet 
at the call of the co-chairs. 
(B) FREQUENCY.—The Council shall meet 
at least semiannually. 
(5) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Council shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser 
number may hold hearings or conduct other busi-
ness. 
(6) COUNCIL LEADERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—There shall be a Fed-
eral co-chair and non-Federal co-chair of the 
Council. 
(B) APPOINTMENT.—
128 
(i) FEDERAL
CO-CHAIR.—The Sec-
retary shall be the Federal co-chair. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL
CO-CHAIR.—The 
non-Federal members of the Council shall 
elect, on a biannual basis, a non-Federal 
co-chair of the Council from among the 
members appointed under paragraph (2). 
(d) DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall— 
(A) not later than one year after the date 
of the first meeting of the Council, develop a 
comprehensive National Drought Policy Action 
Plan that— 
(i)(I) delineates and integrates re-
sponsibilities for activities relating to 
drought (including drought preparedness, 
mitigation, research, risk management, 
training, and emergency relief) among 
Federal agencies; and 
(II) ensures that those activities are 
coordinated with the activities of the 
States, local governments, Indian tribes, 
and neighboring countries; 
(ii) is consistent with—
129 
(I) this Act and other applicable 
Federal laws; and 
(II) the laws and policies of the 
States for water management; 
(iii) is integrated with drought man-
agement programs of the States, Indian 
tribes, 
local 
governments, 
watershed 
groups, and private entities; and 
(iv) avoids duplicating Federal, State, 
tribal, 
local, 
watershed, 
and 
private 
drought preparedness and monitoring pro-
grams in existence on the date of enact-
ment of this Act; 
(B) evaluate Federal drought-related pro-
grams in existence on the date of enactment of 
this Act and make recommendations to Con-
gress and the President on means of elimi-
nating— 
(i) discrepancies between the goals of 
the programs and actual service delivery; 
(ii) duplication among programs; and 
(iii) any other circumstances that 
interfere with the effective operation of the 
programs;
130 
(C) make recommendations to the Presi-
dent, Congress, and appropriate Federal agen-
cies on— 
(i) the establishment of common inter-
agency triggers for authorizing Federal 
drought mitigation programs; and 
(ii) improving the consistency and 
fairness of assistance among Federal 
drought relief programs; 
(D) encourage and facilitate the develop-
ment of drought preparedness plans under sub-
title C, including establishing the guidelines 
under this section; 
(E) based on a review of drought prepared-
ness plans, develop and make available to the 
public drought planning models to reduce water 
resource conflicts relating to water conservation 
and droughts; 
(F) develop and coordinate public aware-
ness activities to provide the public with access 
to understandable and informative materials on 
drought, including— 
(i) explanations of the causes of 
drought, the impacts of drought, and the 
damages from drought;
131 
(ii) descriptions of the value and bene-
fits of land stewardship to reduce the im-
pacts of drought and to protect the envi-
ronment; 
(iii) clear instructions for appropriate 
responses to drought, including water con-
servation, water reuse, and detection and 
elimination of water leaks; 
(iv) information on State and local 
laws applicable to drought; and 
(v) opportunities for assistance to re-
source-dependent businesses and industries 
in times of drought; and 
(G) establish operating procedures for the 
Council. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Council shall consult with groups af-
fected by drought emergencies. 
(3) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
(A) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the first meeting of 
the Council, and annually thereafter, the 
Council shall submit to Congress a report
132 
on the activities carried out under this sec-
tion. 
(ii) INCLUSIONS.— 
(I) IN
GENERAL.—The annual 
report shall include a summary of 
drought preparedness plans. 
(II) INITIAL REPORT.—The ini-
tial report submitted under subpara-
graph (A) shall include any rec-
ommendations of the Council. 
(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than seven 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Council shall submit to Congress a report 
that recommends— 
(i) amendments to this section; and 
(ii) whether the Council should con-
tinue. 
(e) POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.— 
(1) HEARINGS.—The Council may hold hear-
ings, meet and act at any time and place, take any 
testimony and receive any evidence that the Council 
considers advisable to carry out this section. 
(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council may ob-
tain directly from any Federal agency any in-
133 
formation that the Council considers necessary 
to carry out this section. 
(B) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), on request of the Secretary 
or the non-Federal co-chair of the Council, 
the head of a Federal agency may provide 
information to the Council. 
(ii) LIMITATION.—The head of a Fed-
eral agency shall not provide any informa-
tion to the Council that the Federal agency 
head determines the disclosure of which 
may cause harm to national security inter-
ests. 
(3) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Council may use 
the United States mail in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other agencies of the 
Federal Government. 
(4) GIFTS.—The Council may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
(f) COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(A) NON-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A mem-
ber of the Council who is not an officer or em-
134 
ployee of the Federal Government shall serve 
without compensation. 
(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 
the Council who is an officer or employee of the 
United States shall serve without compensation 
in addition to the compensation received for 
services of the member as an officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
Council shall be allowed travel expenses at rates au-
thorized for an employee of an agency under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from the home or regular place of 
business of the member in the performance of the 
duties of the Council. 
(g) TERMINATION OF COUNCIL.—The Council shall 
terminate at the end of the eighth fiscal year beginning 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Subtitle F—Administration 
SEC. 1601. ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY. 
(a) USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.— 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall use the funds, facilities, 
and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
carry out this title.
135 
(b) DETERMINATIONS
BY SECRETARY.—A deter-
mination made by the Secretary under this title shall be 
final and conclusive. 
(c) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this subsection, not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, as appropriate, 
shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary 
to implement this title and the amendments made by 
this title. 
(2) PROCEDURE.—The promulgation of the reg-
ulations and administration of this title and the 
amendments made by this title and sections 10003 
and 10016 of this Act shall be made— 
(A) pursuant to section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code, including by interim rules 
effective on publication under the authority pro-
vided in subparagraph (B) of subsection (b) of 
such section if the Secretary determines such 
interim rules to be needed and final rules, with 
an opportunity for notice and comment, no 
later than 21 months after the date of the en-
actment of this Act;
136 
(B) without regard to chapter 35 of title 
44, United States Code (commonly known as 
the ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act’’); and 
(C) without regard to the Statement of 
Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture effective 
July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804), relating 
to notices of proposed rulemaking and public 
participation in rulemaking. 
(d) ADJUSTMENT AUTHORITY RELATED TO TRADE 
AGREEMENTS COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) 
REQUIRED
DETERMINATION; 
ADJUST-
MENT.—If the Secretary determines that expendi-
tures under this title that are subject to the total al-
lowable domestic support levels under the Uruguay 
Round Agreements (as defined in section 2 of the 
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501)) 
will exceed the allowable levels for any applicable re-
porting period, the Secretary shall, to the maximum 
extent practicable, make adjustments in the amount 
of the expenditures during that period to ensure that 
the expenditures do not exceed the allowable levels. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL
NOTIFICATION.—Before 
making any adjustment under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the
137 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate a report describing the determination 
made under that paragraph and the extent of the 
adjustment to be made. 
SEC. 1602. REPEAL OF PERMANENT PRICE SUPPORT AU-
THORITY. 
(a) AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1938.— 
(1) REPEALS.—The following provisions of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 are repealed: 
(A) Parts II through V of subtitle B of 
title III (7 U.S.C. 1326 et seq.). 
(B) Subtitle D of title III (7 U.S.C. 1379a 
et seq.). 
(C) Title IV (7 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.). 
(2) INAPPLICABILITY
TO
UPLAND
COTTON.— 
Section 377 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 
1938 (7 U.S.C. 1377) is amended by striking ‘‘was 
not fully planted’’ and inserting ‘‘was not fully 
planted: Provided further, That effective on the date 
of the enactment of the Federal Agriculture Reform 
and Risk Management Act of 2013, this section 
shall not apply to upland cotton’’. 
(b) AGRICULTURAL ACT OF 1949.—The following 
provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949 are repealed: 
(1) Section 101 (7 U.S.C. 1441).
138 
(2) Section 103(a) (7 U.S.C. 1444(a)). 
(3) Section 105 (7 U.S.C. 1444b). 
(4) Section 107 (7 U.S.C. 1445a). 
(5) Section 110 (7 U.S.C. 1445e). 
(6) Section 112 (7 U.S.C. 1445g). 
(7) Section 115 (7 U.S.C. 1445k). 
(8) Section 201 (7 U.S.C. 1446). 
(9) Title III (7 U.S.C. 1447 et seq.). 
(10) Title IV (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), other 
than sections 404, 412, and 416 (7 U.S.C. 1424, 
1429, and 1431). 
(11) Title V (7 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.). 
(12) Title VI (7 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.). 
(c) SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN QUOTA PROVISIONS.— 
The joint resolution entitled ‘‘A joint resolution relating 
to corn and wheat marketing quotas under the Agricul-
tural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended’’, approved 
May 26, 1941 (7 U.S.C. 1330, 1340), is repealed. 
SEC. 1603. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1001 of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) LEGAL ENTITY.—
139 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘legal entity’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) an organization that (subject to 
the requirements of this section and sec-
tion 1001A) is eligible to receive a pay-
ment under a provision of law referred to 
in subsection (b), (c), or (d); 
‘‘(ii) a corporation, joint stock com-
pany, association, limited partnership, lim-
ited liability company, limited liability 
partnership, charitable organization, es-
tate, irrevocable trust, grantor of a rev-
ocable trust, or other similar entity (as de-
termined by the Secretary); and 
‘‘(iii) an organization that is partici-
pating in a farming operation as a partner 
in a general partnership or as a participant 
in a joint venture. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘legal entity’ 
does not include a general partnership or joint 
venture.’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (b) through (d) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS FOR COVERED COM-
MODITIES AND PEANUTS.—The total amount of payments
140 
received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity 
for any crop year for 1 or more covered commodities and 
peanuts under title I of the Federal Agriculture Reform 
and Risk Management Act of 2013 may not exceed 
$125,000, of which— 
‘‘(1) not more than $75,000 may consist of 
marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments 
under subtitle B of title I of the Federal Agriculture 
Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013; and 
‘‘(2) not more than $50,000 may consist of any 
other payments made for covered commodities and 
peanuts under title I of the Federal Agriculture Re-
form and Risk Management Act of 2013. 
‘‘(c) SPOUSAL EQUITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(b), except as provided in paragraph (2), if a person 
and the spouse of the person are covered by para-
graph (2) and receive, directly or indirectly, any pay-
ment or gain covered by this section, the total 
amount of payments or gains (as applicable) covered 
by this section that the person and spouse may 
jointly receive during any crop year may not exceed 
an amount equal to twice the applicable dollar 
amounts specified in subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—
141 
‘‘(A) SEPARATE FARMING OPERATIONS.— 
In the case of a married couple in which each 
spouse, before the marriage, was separately en-
gaged in an unrelated farming operation, each 
spouse shall be treated as a separate person 
with respect to a farming operation brought 
into the marriage by a spouse, subject to the 
condition that the farming operation shall re-
main a separate farming operation, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) ELECTION
TO
RECEIVE
SEPARATE 
PAYMENTS.—A married couple may elect to re-
ceive payments separately in the name of each 
spouse if the total amount of payments and 
benefits described in subsection (b) that the 
married couple receives, directly or indirectly, 
does not exceed an amount equal to twice the 
applicable dollar amounts specified in those 
subsections.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)(B) of subsection (f), by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) IRREVOCABLE TRUSTS.—In pro-
mulgating regulations to define the term 
‘legal entity’ as the term applies to irrev-
ocable trusts, the Secretary shall ensure
142 
that irrevocable trusts are legitimate enti-
ties that have not been created for the pur-
pose of avoiding a payment limitation.’’; 
and 
(4) in subsection (h), in the second sentence, by 
striking ‘‘or other entity’’ and inserting ‘‘or legal en-
tity’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘sub-
sections (b) and (c)’’ each place it appears in 
paragraphs (1) and (3)(B) and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (b)’’; 
(B) in subsection (f)— 
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking 
‘‘Subsections (b) and (c)’’ and inserting 
‘‘Subsection (b)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking 
‘‘subsection (b) or (c)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (b)’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (5)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A), by strik-
ing ‘‘subsection (d)’’; and
143 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by 
striking ‘‘subsection (b), (c), or (d)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (6)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A), by strik-
ing ‘‘Notwithstanding subsection (d), 
except as provided in subsection (g)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 
subsection (f)’’; and 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by 
striking ‘‘subsections (b), (c), and 
(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; 
(C) in subsection (g)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) 
by 
striking 
‘‘subsection 
(f)(6)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(e)(6)(A)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘subsection (b) 
or (c)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; 
and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking 
‘‘subsections (b) and (c)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subsection (b)’’; and
144 
(D) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(e) 
through (h) as subsections (d) through (g), re-
spectively. 
(2) Section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–1) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘sub-
sections (b) and (c) of section 1001’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 1001(b)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (b) or (c) of section 1001’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 1001(b)’’. 
(3) Section 1001B(a) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–2(a)) is amended in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘sub-
sections (b) and (c) of section 1001’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 1001(b)’’. 
(c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply beginning with the 2014 crop year. 
SEC. 1603A. PAYMENTS LIMITED TO ACTIVE FARMERS. 
Section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 
U.S.C. 1308–1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or active personal man-
agement’’ each place it appears in subpara-
graphs (A)(i)(II) and (B)(ii); and
145 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘, as 
applied to the legal entity, are met by the legal 
entity, the partners or members making a sig-
nificant contribution of personal labor or active 
personal management’’ and inserting ‘‘are met 
by partners or members making a significant 
contribution of personal labor, those partners or 
members’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) the landowner share-rents the land at 
a rate that is usual and customary;’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) the share of the payments received by 
the landowner is commensurate with the share 
of the crop or income received as rent.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘ac-
tive personal management or’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5)—
146 
(i) by striking ‘‘(5)’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A per-
son’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(5) CUSTOM FARMING SERVICES.—A person’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘under usual and 
customary terms’’ after ‘‘services’’; and 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (B); 
and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) FARM MANAGERS.—A person who other-
wise meets the requirements of this subsection other 
than (b)(2)(A)(i)(II) shall be considered to be ac-
tively engaged in farming, as determined by the Sec-
retary, with respect to the farming operation, includ-
ing a farming operation that is a sole proprietorship, 
a legal entity such as a joint venture or general 
partnership, or a legal entity such as a corporation 
or limited partnership, if the person— 
‘‘(A) makes a significant contribution of 
management to the farming operation necessary 
for the farming operation, taking into ac-
count— 
‘‘(i) the size and complexity of the 
farming operation; and
147 
‘‘(ii) the management requirements 
normally and customarily required by simi-
lar farming operations; 
‘‘(B)(i) is the only person in the farming 
operation qualifying as actively engaged in 
farming by using the farm manager special 
class designation under this paragraph; and 
‘‘(ii) together with any other persons in the 
farming operation qualifying as actively en-
gaged in farming under subsection (b)(2) or as 
part of a special class under this subsection, 
does not collectively receive, directly or indi-
rectly, an amount equal to more than the appli-
cable limits under section 1001(b); 
‘‘(C) does not use the management con-
tribution under this paragraph to qualify as ac-
tively engaged in more than 1 farming oper-
ation; and 
‘‘(D) manages a farm operation that does 
not substantially share equipment, labor, or 
management with persons or legal entities that 
with the person collectively receive, directly or 
indirectly, an amount equal to more than the 
applicable limits under section 1001(b).’’.
148 
SEC. 1604. ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME LIMITATION. 
(a) LIMITATIONS AND COVERED BENEFITS.—Section 
1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1308–3a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘LIM-
ITATIONS’’ and inserting ‘‘LIMITATIONS
ON COM-
MODITY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and in-
serting the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, a person or legal entity shall not 
be eligible to receive any benefit described in para-
graph (2) during a crop, fiscal, or program year, as 
appropriate, if the average adjusted gross income of 
the person or legal entity exceeds $950,000. 
‘‘(2) COVERED BENEFITS.—Paragraph (1) ap-
plies with respect to a payment or benefit under sub-
title A, B, or E of title I, or title II of the Federal 
Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 
2013, title II of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002, title II of the Food, Con-
servation, and Energy Act of 2008, title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985, section 524(b) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)), or 
section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333).’’.
149 
(b) ELIMINATION OF UNUSED DEFINITIONS.—Para-
graph (1) of section 1001D(a) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(a)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) AVERAGE ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.—In 
this section, the term ‘average adjusted gross in-
come’, with respect to a person or legal entity, 
means the average of the adjusted gross income or 
comparable measure of the person or legal entity 
over the 3 taxable years preceding the most imme-
diately preceding complete taxable year, as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) INCOME DETERMINATION.—Section 1001D of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking subsection (c); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and 
(f) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1001D of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A) or (B) 
of’’; and
150 
(B) by striking ‘‘, the average adjusted 
gross farm income, and the average adjusted 
gross nonfarm income’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘, average 
adjusted gross farm income, and average adjusted 
gross nonfarm income’’ both places it appears; 
(3) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by sub-
section (c)(2) of this section)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, aver-
age adjusted gross farm income, and average 
adjusted gross nonfarm income’’ both places it 
appears; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (1)(C) and (2)(B) of subsection (b)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(2)’’; and 
(4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by sub-
section (c)(2) of this section)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1)(C) and 
(2)(B) of subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (b)(2)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, average adjusted gross 
farm income, or average adjusted gross non-
farm income’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.—Subsection (e) of section 
1001D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–
151 
3a), as redesignated by subsection (c)(2) of this section, 
is repealed. 
(f) 
LIMITATION
ON
APPLICABILITY.—Section 
1001(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) 
is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘or title I of the Federal Agriculture Reform 
and Risk Management Act of 2013’’. 
(g) TRANSITION.—Section 1001D of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a), as in effect on the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall 
apply with respect to the 2013 crop, fiscal, or program 
year, as appropriate, for each program described in para-
graphs (1)(C) and (2)(B) of subsection (b) of that section 
(as so in effect on that day). 
SEC. 1605. GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS 
AND RANCHERS. 
Section 1621(d) of the Food, Conservation, and En-
ergy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8792(d)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘fiscal year 2009 and each succeeding fiscal year’’. 
SEC. 1606. PERSONAL LIABILITY OF PRODUCERS FOR DEFI-
CIENCIES. 
Section 164 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7284) is amended by 
striking ‘‘and title I of the Food, Conservation, and En-
152 
ergy Act of 2008’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘title I of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8702 et seq.), and title I of the Federal 
Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 1607. PREVENTION OF DECEASED INDIVIDUALS RE-
CEIVING 
PAYMENTS 
UNDER 
FARM 
COM-
MODITY PROGRAMS. 
(a) RECONCILIATION.—At least twice each year, the 
Secretary shall reconcile Social Security numbers of all in-
dividuals who receive payments under this title, whether 
directly or indirectly, with the Commissioner of Social Se-
curity to determined if the individuals are alive. 
(b) PRECLUSION.—The Secretary shall preclude the 
issuance of payments to, and on behalf of, deceased indi-
viduals that were not eligible for payments. 
SEC. 1608. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) MISSING PUNCTUATION.—Section 359f(c)(1)(B) 
of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 
1359ff(c)(1)(B)) is amended by adding a period at the 
end. 
(b) ERRONEOUS CROSS REFERENCE.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Section 1603(g) of the 
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public 
Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 1739) is amended in para-
graphs (2) through (6) and the amendments made
153 
by those paragraphs by striking ‘‘1703(a)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘1603(a)’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection and the 
amendments made by this subsection take effect as 
if included in the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 1651). 
(c) CONTINUED APPLICABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS 
GENERAL PROVISION.—Section 767 of division A of Pub-
lic Law 108–7 (7 U.S.C. 7911 note; 117 Stat. 48) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘sections 1101 and 1102 of 
Public Law 107–171’’ and inserting ‘‘subtitle A 
of title I of the Federal Agriculture Reform and 
Risk Management Act of 2013’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘such section 1102’’ and 
inserting ‘‘such subtitle’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) This section, as amended by section 1608(c) of 
the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management 
Act of 2013, shall take effect beginning with the 2014 
crop year.’’.
154 
SEC. 1609. ASSIGNMENT OF PAYMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of section 8(g) of 
the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 
U.S.C. 590h(g)), relating to assignment of payments, shall 
apply to payments made under this title. 
(b) NOTICE.—The producer making the assignment, 
or the assignee, shall provide the Secretary with notice, 
in such manner as the Secretary may require, of any as-
signment made under this section. 
SEC. 1610. TRACKING OF BENEFITS. 
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary may track the benefits provided, 
directly or indirectly, to individuals and entities under ti-
tles I and II and the amendments made by those titles. 
SEC. 1611. SIGNATURE AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this title and title 
II and amendments made by those titles, if the Secretary 
approves a document, the Secretary shall not subsequently 
determine the document is inadequate or invalid because 
of the lack of authority of any person signing the docu-
ment on behalf of the applicant or any other individual, 
entity, general partnership, or joint venture, or the docu-
ments relied upon were determined inadequate or invalid, 
unless the person signing the program document know-
ingly and willfully falsified the evidence of signature au-
thority or a signature.
155 
(b) AFFIRMATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section pro-
hibits the Secretary from asking a proper party to 
affirm any document that otherwise would be consid-
ered approved under subsection (a). 
(2) NO
RETROACTIVE
EFFECT.—A denial of 
benefits based on a lack of affirmation under para-
graph (1) shall not be retroactive with respect to 
third-party producers who were not the subject of 
the erroneous representation of authority, if the 
third-party producers— 
(A) relied on the prior approval by the Sec-
retary of the documents in good faith; and 
(B) substantively complied with all pro-
gram requirements. 
SEC. 1612. IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) STREAMLINING.—In implementing this title, the 
Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable— 
(1) seek to reduce administrative burdens and 
costs to producers by streamlining and reducing pa-
perwork, forms, and other administrative require-
ments; 
(2) improve coordination, information sharing, 
and administrative work with the Risk Management
156 
Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service; and 
(3) take advantage of new technologies to en-
hance efficiency and effectiveness of program deliv-
ery to producers. 
(b) MAINTENANCE OF BASE ACRES AND PAYMENT 
YIELDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall main-
tain, for each covered commodity and upland cotton, 
base acres and payment yields on a farm established 
under— 
(A)(i) in the case of covered commodities 
and upland cotton, sections 1101 and 1102 of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 7911, 7912); and 
(ii) in the case of peanuts, section 1302 of 
that Act (7 U.S.C. 7952); and 
(B)(i) in the case of covered commodities 
and upland cotton, sections 1101 and 1102 of 
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8711, 8712); and 
(ii) in the case of peanuts, section 1302 of 
that Act (7 U.S.C. 8752). 
(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR LONG GRAIN AND ME-
DIUM GRAIN RICE.—
157 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
maintain separate base acres for long grain rice 
and medium grain rice. 
(B) LIMITATION.—In carrying out this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall use the same 
total base acres and payment yields established 
with respect to rice under sections 1108 of the 
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 8718), as in effect on the day before the 
date of enactment of this Act, subject to any 
adjustment under section 1105. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall make 
available to the Farm Service Agency to carry out this 
title $100,000,000. 
SEC. 1613. PROTECTION OF PRODUCER INFORMATION. 
(a) PROHIBITION OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF PRO-
TECTED INFORMATION.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the Secretary, any officer or employee of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, any contractor or cooperator of the 
Department, and any officer or employee of another Fed-
eral agency shall not disclose— 
(1) information submitted by a producer or 
owner of agricultural land to the Federal Govern-
ment pursuant to title I or II of this Act; or
158 
(2) other information provided by a producer or 
owner of agricultural land concerning the agricul-
tural operation, farming or conservation practices, or 
the land itself in order to participate in programs of 
the Department of Agriculture or other Federal 
agencies. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Information described in sub-
section (a) may be disclosed if— 
(1) the information is required to be made pub-
licly available under any other provision of Federal 
law; 
(2) the producer or owner of agricultural land 
who provided the information has lawfully publicly 
disclosed the information; 
(3) the producer or owner of agricultural land 
who provided the information consents to the disclo-
sure; or 
(4) the information is disclosed to the Attorney 
General, to the extent necessary, to ensure compli-
ance and law enforcement. 
(c) NOTICE OF DISCLOSURE.—Any disclosure of in-
formation pursuant to an exception provided in subsection 
(b) shall be reported to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
159 
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate within 24 
hours after the disclosure. 
(d) PRODUCER DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘producer’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
1104(14) of this Act. 
TITLE II—CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Conservation Reserve 
Program 
SEC. 2001. EXTENSION AND ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS 
OF CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1231(a) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
(b) ELIGIBLE LAND.—Section 1231(b) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘the date 
of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘the date of the enact-
ment of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk 
Management Act of 2013’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating 
paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) grasslands that—
160 
‘‘(A) contain forbs or shrubland (including 
improved rangeland and pastureland) for which 
grazing is the predominant use; 
‘‘(B) are located in an area historically 
dominated by grasslands; and 
‘‘(C) could provide habitat for animal and 
plant populations of significant ecological value 
if the land is retained in its current use or re-
stored to a natural condition;’’; 
(4) 
in 
paragraph 
(4)(C), 
by 
striking 
‘‘filterstrips devoted to trees or shrubs’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘filterstrips or riparian buffers devoted to trees, 
shrubs, or grasses’’; and 
(5) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) the portion of land in a field not enrolled 
in the conservation reserve in a case in which— 
‘‘(A) more than 50 percent of the land in 
the field is enrolled as a buffer or filterstrip, or 
more than 75 percent of the land in the field 
is enrolled as a conservation practice other than 
as a buffer or filterstrip; and 
‘‘(B) the remainder of the field is— 
‘‘(i) infeasible to farm; and 
‘‘(ii) enrolled at regular rental rates.’’.