Southern CROPS Act

Bill: 118-s-4170
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Introduced: 2024-04-18
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4170 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 18, 2024 Mr. Warnock introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to modify provisions relating to base acres, loan rates, and textile mills, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Southern Commodities, Rates, Opportunities, Production, and Support Act or the Southern CROPS Act . 2. Base acres Section 1112 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9012 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as subsections (c) through (e), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Base acre increase for underserved farmers of covered commodities (1) Definition of underserved farmer of covered commodities In this subsection, the term underserved farmer of covered commodities means an underserved producer (as defined in section 508(a)(7)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(7)(A) )) or a limited resource or economically distressed farmer (as determined by the Secretary) of 1 or more covered commodities. (2) Opportunity to increase base acres As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the Southern CROPS Act , the Secretary shall provide a 1-time opportunity for an underserved farmer of covered commodities to increase base acres on a farm if— (A) the underserved farmer of covered commodities— (i) is an operator on the farm and provides a significant contribution of active personal labor on the farm; or (ii) has, or has an option to obtain, a significant ownership share of the farm or a business producing covered commodities on the farm, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) the average number of acres on the farm planted or prevented from planting as described in subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, of paragraph (3)(A)(i) to covered commodities during the 2018 through 2022 crop years is greater than the number of base acres on the farm. (3) Base acre increase (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the number of base acres added to a farm under paragraph (2) shall be equal to the difference between— (i) the sum obtained by adding— (I) the 5-year average of the acreage planted on the farm to all covered commodities for harvest, grazing, haying, sileage, or other similar purposes for the 2018 through 2022 crop years, according to records submitted to the Farm Service Agency or the Risk Management Agency; and (II) the 5-year average of any acreage on the farm that was prevented from planting to 1 or more covered commodities during the 2018 through 2022 crop years because of drought, flood, or other natural disaster, or other condition beyond the control of the producers, according to records submitted to the Farm Service Agency or the Risk Management Agency; and (ii) the number of base acres for covered commodities on the farm. (B) Limitations (i) Maximum Not more than 160 base acres shall be added to any farm under paragraph (2). (ii) Prohibition on reconstitution of farm The Secretary shall ensure that producers on a farm do not reconstitute the farm for the purpose of increasing the number of cumulative acres added to the farm under paragraph (2). (C) Distribution Base acres added to a farm under paragraph (2) shall be added to the base acreage of each covered commodity on the farm in the proportion that— (i) the acreage planted or prevented from planting to the covered commodity on the farm; bears to (ii) the acreage planted or prevented from planting to all covered commodities on the farm. (4) Reduction of base acres If an underserved farmer of covered commodities on a farm for which base acres have been increased under paragraph (2) does not own or operate the farm for any of the 2025 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary shall reduce the number of base acres on the farm by the number of base acres added to the farm under paragraph (2) for that crop year, in the same proportion among covered commodities on the farm described in paragraph (3)(C). ; and (3) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), in paragraph (2)(C), by striking (b)(1)(C) and inserting (c)(1)(C) . 3. Loan rates (a) In general Section 1202 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9032 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 2023 and inserting 2024 ; and (B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2024 ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) 2025 and subsequent crop years Beginning with the 2025 crop year, the Secretary shall establish a loan rate for a marketing assistance loan under section 1201 for a loan commodity equal to the lesser of— (1) an amount equal to 110 percent of the loan rate for the loan commodity described in subsection (b); and (2) an amount equal to the greater of— (A) the loan rate for the loan commodity described in subsection (b); and (B) the sum obtained by adding— (i) the loan rate for the loan commodity described in subsection (b); and (ii) the product obtained by multiplying— (I) the loan rate for the loan commodity described in subsection (b); and (II) using data calculated and published by the Economic Research Service, the quotient obtained by dividing— (aa) the difference between— (AA) the forecasted crop input expenses (including interest, labor, property taxes, seed, fertilizer and lime, fuel, oil, electricity, pesticides, and net rent to landowners) for the applicable crop year; and (BB) the average of the crop input expenses for the 5-year period immediately preceding the applicable crop year; by (bb) the average of the crop input expenses described in item (aa)(AA) for the 5-year period immediately preceding the applicable crop year. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 1204(h)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9034(h)(1) ) is amended by striking (a)(20) or (b)(20), and inserting (a)(20), (b)(20), or (c), . 4. Textile mills Section 1207(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9037(c)(2) ) is amended— (1) by striking Effective beginning on August 1, 2013, and inserting the following: (A) August 2013 through July 2025 Effective during the period beginning on August 1, 2013, and ending on July 31, 2025, ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (B) Beginning August 2025 Effective beginning on August 1, 2025, the value of the assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be 4 cents per pound. .