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used and estimated funding needed from the Sec-
retary; 
‘‘(D) eligible partners collaborating to 
achieve project objectives, including their roles, 
responsibilities, capabilities, and financial con-
tribution; and 
‘‘(E) any other elements the Secretary con-
siders necessary to adequately evaluate and com-
petitively select applications for funding under 
the program. 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY TO CERTAIN APPLICATIONS.—The 
Secretary may give a higher priority to applications 
that— 
‘‘(A) assist producers in meeting or avoid-
ing the need for a natural resource regulatory re-
quirement; 
‘‘(B) have a high percentage of eligible pro-
ducers in the area to be covered by the agree-
ment; 
‘‘(C) significantly leverage non-Federal fi-
nancial and technical resources and coordinate 
with other local, State, or national efforts; 
‘‘(D) deliver high percentages of applied 
conservation to address conservation priorities or
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regional, State, or national conservation initia-
tives; 
‘‘(E) provide innovation in conservation 
methods and delivery, including outcome-based 
performance measures and methods; or 
‘‘(F) meet other factors that are important 
for achieving the purposes of the program, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 1271C. ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into con-
tracts with producers to provide financial and technical as-
sistance to— 
‘‘(1) producers participating in a project with 
an eligible partner, as described in section 1271B; or 
‘‘(2) producers that fit within the scope of a 
project described in section 1271B or a critical con-
servation area designated under section 1271F, but 
who are seeking to implement an eligible activity on 
eligible land independent of a partner. 
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) CONSISTENCY WITH PROGRAM RULES.—Ex-
cept as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
ensure that the terms and conditions of a contract 
under this section are consistent with the applicable 
rules of the covered programs to be used as part of the
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project, as described in the application under section 
1271B(d)(3)(C). 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Except with respect to 
statutory program requirements governing appeals, 
payment limitations, and conservation compliance, 
the Secretary may adjust the discretionary program 
rules of a covered program— 
‘‘(A)
to provide a simplified application 
and evaluation process; and 
‘‘(B) to better reflect unique local cir-
cumstances and purposes if the Secretary deter-
mines such adjustments are necessary to achieve 
the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with statutory 
requirements of the covered programs involved, the 
Secretary may make payments to a producer in an 
amount determined by the Secretary to be necessary 
to achieve the purposes of the program. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS TO PRODUCERS IN STATES WITH 
WATER
QUANTITY
CONCERNS.—The Secretary may 
provide payments to producers participating in a 
project that addresses water quantity concerns for a 
period of five years in an amount sufficient to en-
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
courage conversion from irrigated farming to dryland 
farming. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—To assist in the im-
plementation of the program, the Secretary may 
waive the applicability of the limitation in section 
1001D(b)(2) of this Act for participating producers if 
the Secretary determines that the waiver is necessary 
to fulfill the objectives of the program. 
‘‘SEC. 1271D. FUNDING. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall 
use $100,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to carry 
out the program. 
‘‘(b) DURATION
OF
AVAILABILITY.—Funds made 
available under subsection (a) shall remain available until 
expended. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND ACRES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to the funds 
made available under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall reserve 6 percent of the funds and acres made 
available for a covered program for each of fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018 in order to ensure addi-
tional resources are available to carry out this pro-
gram.
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‘‘(2) UNUSED FUNDS AND ACRES.—Any funds or 
acres reserved under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year 
from a covered program that are not obligated under 
this program by April 1 of that fiscal year shall be 
returned for use under the covered program. 
‘‘(d) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—Of the funds and 
acres made available for the program under subsections (a) 
and (c), the Secretary shall allocate— 
‘‘(1) 25 percent of the funds and acres to projects 
based on a State competitive process administered by 
the State Conservationist, with the advice of the State 
technical committee established under subtitle G; 
‘‘(2) 50 percent of the funds and acres to projects 
based on a national competitive process to be estab-
lished by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(3) 25 percent of the funds and acres to projects 
for the critical conservation areas designated under 
section 1271F. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 
None of the funds made available under the program may 
be used to pay for the administrative expenses of eligible 
partners. 
‘‘SEC. 1271E. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) DISCLOSURE.—In addition to the criteria used 
in evaluating applications as described in section
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1271B(d)(2), the Secretary shall make publicly available 
information on projects selected through the competitive 
process described in section 1271B(d)(1). 
‘‘(b) REPORTING.—Not later than December 31, 2014, 
and every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report on the status of projects 
funded under the program, including— 
‘‘(1) the number and types of eligible partners 
and producers participating in the partnership agree-
ments selected; 
‘‘(2) the number of producers receiving assist-
ance; and 
‘‘(3) total funding committed to projects, includ-
ing from Federal and non-Federal resources. 
‘‘SEC. 1271F. CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREAS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In administering funds under sec-
tion 1271D(d)(3), the Secretary shall select applications for 
partnership agreements and producer contracts within crit-
ical conservation areas designated under this section. 
‘‘(b) 
CRITICAL
CONSERVATION
AREA
DESIGNA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PRIORITY.—In designating critical con-
servation areas under this section, the Secretary shall
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
give priority to geographical areas based on the de-
gree to which the geographical area— 
‘‘(A) includes multiple States with signifi-
cant agricultural production; 
‘‘(B) is covered by an existing regional, 
State, binational, or multistate agreement or 
plan that has established objectives, goals, and 
work plans and is adopted by a Federal, State, 
or regional authority; 
‘‘(C) would benefit from water quality im-
provement, including through reducing erosion, 
promoting sediment control, and addressing nu-
trient management activities affecting large bod-
ies of water of regional, national, or inter-
national significance; 
‘‘(D) would benefit from water quantity im-
provement, including improvement relating to— 
‘‘(i) groundwater, surface water, aqui-
fer, or other water sources; or 
‘‘(ii) a need to promote water retention 
and flood prevention; or 
‘‘(E) contains producers that need assist-
ance in meeting or avoiding the need for a nat-
ural resource regulatory requirement that could
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
have a negative economic impact on agricultural 
operations within the area. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not des-
ignate more than 8 geographical areas as critical con-
servation areas under this section. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary shall administer any part-
nership agreement or producer contract under this 
section in a manner that is consistent with the terms 
of the program. 
‘‘(2) RELATIONSHIP
TO
EXISTING
ACTIVITY.— 
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, ensure that eligible activities carried out in 
critical conservation areas designated under this sec-
tion complement and are consistent with other Fed-
eral and State programs and water quality and 
quantity strategies. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
AUTHORITY.—For a critical 
conservation area described in subsection (b)(1)(D), 
the Secretary may use authorities under the Water-
shed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
1001 et seq.), other than section 14 of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 1012), to carry out projects for the purposes 
of this section.’’.
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
Subtitle F—Other Conservation 
Programs 
SEC. 2501. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND. 
Section 1240M(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2018’’. 
SEC. 2502. GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1240O(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb–2) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2018. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—In addition to 
funds made available under paragraph (1), of the 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Sec-
retary shall use $5,000,000, to remain available until 
expended.’’.
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SEC. 2503. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT IN-
CENTIVE PROGRAM. 
(a) FUNDING.—Section 1240R(f)(1) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5(f)(1)) is amended by 
inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘‘and 
$30,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2014 through 
2018’’. 
(b) REPORT ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS.—Not later 
than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness of the voluntary 
public access program established by section 1240R of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5), includ-
ing— 
(1) identifying cooperating agencies; 
(2) identifying the number of land holdings and 
total acres enrolled by each State and tribal govern-
ment; 
(3) evaluating the extent of improved access on 
eligible lands, improved wildlife habitat, and related 
economic benefits; and 
(4) any other relevant information and data re-
lating to the program that would be helpful to such 
committees.
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SEC. 2504. AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCED 
SERVICES PROGRAM. 
(a) FUNDING.—Subsection (c) of section 1252 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3851) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may carry out 
the ACES program using funds made available to 
carry out each program under this title. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION.—Funds made available to 
carry out the conservation reserve program may not 
be used to carry out the ACES program.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2505. SMALL WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 14(h)(1) of the 
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
1012(h)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph:
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(H) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014, to 
remain available until expended.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
14(h)(2)(E) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Preven-
tion Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(h)(2)(E)) is amended by striking 
‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2018’’. 
SEC. 2506. AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) USES.—Section 524(b)(2) of the Federal Crop In-
surance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (B) and redesig-
nating subparagraphs (C) through (F) as subpara-
graphs (B) through (E), respectively; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
striking ‘‘or resource conservation practices’’; 
and 
(B) by striking clause (i) and redesignating 
clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses (i) through 
(iii), respectively. 
(b) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.— 
(1) FUNDING.—Section 524(b)(4)(B) of the Fed-
eral Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)(4)(B)) is 
amended to read as follows:
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(B) FUNDING.—The Commodity Credit 
Corporation shall make available to carry out 
this subsection not less than $10,000,000 for each 
fiscal year.’’. 
(2) CERTAIN USES.—Section 524(b)(4)(C) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)(4)(C)) 
is amended— 
(A) in clause (i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘50’’ and inserting 
‘‘30’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(A), (B), and (C)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(A) and (B)’’; and 
(B) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘40’’ and in-
serting ‘‘60’’. 
SEC. 2507. EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2203) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new sentence: ‘‘In evaluating requests for assistance under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority consideration 
to projects that address runoff retardation and soil-erosion 
preventive measures needed to mitigate the risks and reme-
diate the effects of catastrophic wildfire on land that is the 
source of drinking water for landowners and land users.’’.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
Subtitle G—Funding and 
Administration 
SEC. 2601. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 1241 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) ANNUAL FUNDING.—For each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018, the Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, 
and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation 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, $25,000,000 for the 
period of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to carry out 
section 1235(f) to facilitate the transfer of land subject 
to contracts from retired or retiring owners and oper-
ators to beginning farmers or ranchers and socially 
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(2) The agriculture conservation easement pro-
gram under subtitle H, using, to the maximum extent 
practicable— 
‘‘(A) $425,000,000 in fiscal year 2014; 
‘‘(B) $450,000,000 in fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(C) $475,000,000 in fiscal year 2016;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(D) $500,000,000 in fiscal year 2017; and 
‘‘(E) $200,000,000 in fiscal year 2018. 
‘‘(3) The conservation security program under 
subchapter A of chapter 2 of subtitle D, using such 
sums as are necessary to administer contracts entered 
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, $1,750,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.’’. 
(b) REGIONAL EQUITY; GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY 
OF FUNDS.—Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (d); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts made avail-
able by subsection (a) shall be used by the Secretary to carry 
out the programs specified in such subsection for fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018 and shall remain available until 
expended. Amounts made available for the programs speci-
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
fied in such subsection during a fiscal year through modi-
fications, cancellations, terminations, and other related ad-
ministrative actions and not obligated in that fiscal year 
shall remain available for obligation during subsequent fis-
cal years, but shall reduce the amount of additional funds 
made available in the subsequent fiscal year by an amount 
equal to the amount remaining unobligated.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2602. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 1241 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841), as redesig-
nated by section 2601(b)(2) of this Act, is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Commodity 
Credit Corporation funds made available for a fiscal 
year for each of the programs specified in subsection 
(a)— 
‘‘(A) shall be available for the provision of 
technical assistance for the programs for which 
funds are made available as necessary to imple-
ment the programs effectively; and 
‘‘(B) shall not be available for the provision 
of technical assistance for conservation programs
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
specified in subsection (a) other than the pro-
gram for which the funds were made available. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 
2013, the Secretary shall submit (and update as nec-
essary in subsequent years) to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate a report— 
‘‘(A) detailing the amount of technical as-
sistance funds requested and apportioned in each 
program specified in subsection (a) during the 
preceding fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) any other data relating to this sub-
section that would be helpful to such commit-
tees.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2603. RESERVATION OF FUNDS TO PROVIDE ASSIST-
ANCE TO CERTAIN FARMERS OR RANCHERS 
FOR CONSERVATION ACCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (g) of section 1241 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘2012’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2018’’; and
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(4) PREFERENCE.—In providing assistance 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give pref-
erence to a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in 
section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))) that 
qualifies under subparagraph (A) or (B) of para-
graph (1).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2604. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS 
AND ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (h) of section 1241 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘wetlands re-
serve program’’ and inserting ‘‘agricultural conserva-
tion easement program’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and re-
designating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as para-
graphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and 
(3) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)—
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(A) by striking ‘‘agricultural water en-
hancement program’’ and inserting ‘‘regional 
conservation partnership program’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘1240I(g)’’ and inserting 
‘‘1271C(c)(3)’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2605. REVIEW OF CONSERVATION PRACTICE STAND-
ARDS. 
Section 1242(h)(1)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3842(h)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘the 
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act 
of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2606. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE 
TO ALL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1244 of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) Veteran farmers or ranchers (as de-
fined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(e))).’’;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(2) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘, H, and I’’ 
before the period at the end; 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘coun-
try’’ and inserting ‘‘county’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (c)(2)(B) or (f)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (c)(2)(A)(ii) or (f)(2)’’; 
(4) in subsection (h)(2), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing, to the extent practicable, practices that maximize 
benefits for honey bees’’ after ‘‘pollinators’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(j) IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY AND EF-
FECTIVENESS.—In administrating a conservation program 
under this title, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable— 
‘‘(1) seek to reduce administrative burdens and 
costs to producers by streamlining conservation plan-
ning and program resources; and 
‘‘(2) take advantage of new technologies to en-
hance efficiency and effectiveness. 
‘‘(k) RELATION TO OTHER PAYMENTS.—Any payment 
received by an owner or operator under this title, including 
an easement payment or rental payment, shall be in addi-
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
tion to, and not affect, the total amount of payments that 
the owner or operator is otherwise eligible to receive under 
any of the following: 
‘‘(1) This Act. 
‘‘(2) The Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 
1421 et seq.). 
‘‘(3) The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk 
Management Act of 2013. 
‘‘(4) Any law that succeeds a law specified in 
paragraph (1), (2), or (3).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2607. STANDARDS FOR STATE TECHNICAL COMMIT-
TEES. 
Section 1261(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3861(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall develop’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall review and update as nec-
essary’’. 
SEC. 2608. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. 
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘SEC. 1246. REGULATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall promulgate 
such regulations as are necessary to implement programs 
under this title, including such regulations as the Secretary 
determines to be necessary to ensure a fair and reasonable 
application of the limitations established under section 
1244(f). 
‘‘(b) RULEMAKING PROCEDURE.—The promulgation of 
regulations and administration of programs under this 
title— 
‘‘(1) shall be carried out without regard to— 
‘‘(A) the Statement of Policy of the Sec-
retary effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 
13804), relating to notices of proposed rule-
making and public participation in rulemaking; 
and 
‘‘(B) chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Re-
duction Act); and 
‘‘(2) shall be made 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
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
the date of the enactment of the Federal Agriculture 
Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013.’’. 
SEC. 2609. WETLANDS MITIGATION. 
Section 1222 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3822) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ‘‘un-
less more acreage is needed to provide equivalent 
functions and values that will be lost as a result 
of the wetland conversion to be mitigated’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(E)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘not’’ before ‘‘greater 
than’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘if more acreage is 
needed to provide equivalent functions and 
values that will be lost as a result of the 
wetland conversion that is mitigated’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (g). 
SEC. 2610. LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN CONSERVATION RE-
PORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report containing the results of
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
a review and analysis of each of the programs administered 
by the Secretary that pertain to the conservation of the less-
er prairie-chicken, including the conservation reserve pro-
gram, the environmental quality incentives program, the 
wildlife habitat incentive program, and the Lesser Prairie- 
Chicken Initiative. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The Secretary shall include in the re-
port required by this section, at a minimum— 
(1) with respect to each program described in 
subsection (a) as it relates to the conservation of the 
lesser prairie-chicken, findings regarding— 
(A) the cost of the program to the Federal 
Government, impacted State governments, and 
the private sector; 
(B) the conservation effectiveness of the pro-
gram; and 
(C) the cost-effectiveness of the program; 
and 
(2) a ranking of the programs described in sub-
section (a) based on their relative cost-effectiveness.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
Subtitle H—Repeal of Superseded 
Program Authorities and Tran-
sitional 
Provisions; 
Technical 
Amendments 
SEC. 2701. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION ENHANCE-
MENT PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 1230 of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of chap-
ter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq.) is amended to read as fol-
lows: ‘‘CONSERVATION RESERVE’’. 
SEC. 2702. EMERGENCY FORESTRY CONSERVATION RE-
SERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 1231A of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is repealed. 
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS.—The 
amendment made by this section shall not affect the 
validity or terms of any contract entered into by the 
Secretary of Agriculture under section 1231A of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) before 
October 1, 2013, or any payments required to be 
made in connection with the contract.
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(2) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use funds 
made available to carry out the conservation reserve 
program 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.) to continue to carry out contracts 
referred to in paragraph (1) using the provisions of 
law and regulation applicable to such contracts as 
they existed on September 30, 2013. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2703. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3837 et seq.) is repealed. 
(b) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS.—The 
amendment made by this section shall not affect the 
validity or terms of any contract entered into by the 
Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter C of chap-
ter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837 et seq.) before October 1, 
2013, or any payments required to be made in con-
nection with the contract. 
(2) FUNDING.—The Secretary may use funds 
made available to carry out the agricultural conserva-
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tion easement program under subtitle H of title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985, as added by section 
2301 of this Act, to continue to carry out contracts 
referred to in paragraph (1) using the provisions of 
law and regulation applicable to such contracts as 
they existed on September 30, 2013. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 2704. FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FARM 
VIABILITY PROGRAM. 
(a) REPEAL.—Subchapter C of chapter 2 of subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3838h et seq.) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of chap-
ter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.) is amended by striking 
‘‘AND FARMLAND PROTECTION’’. 
(c) TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECT
ON
EXISTING
CONTRACTS.—The 
amendments made by this section shall not affect the 
validity or terms of any contract entered into by the 
Secretary of Agriculture under subchapter C of chap-
ter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h et seq.) before October