zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to repeal the dairy price support program. Amends the national dairy market loss payment program to: (1) extend the sign-up and contract duration periods; (2) replace the "Class 1 milk" definition with a "Class III milk" definition; (3) revise the payment formula (which shall include a feed adjustment factor); and (4) establish a maximum annual payment of $50,000 per dairy operation. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a national dairy options program; and (2) make nonrecourse loans available to commercial processors of cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a milk revenue insurance pilot program under which dairy producers may elect to receive insurance against revenue loss due to natural disasters and price fluctuations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) study the economic benefits to milk producers of establishing a two-class system (fluid milk class and manufacturing grade milk class) for classifying milk under federal milk marketing orders; and (2) amend federal milk marketing orders to implement such system if it would benefit milk producers. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to eliminate pilot program status for, and extend, the dairy forward pricing program. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize rural industrial assistance loans and loan guarantees for dairy processors to invest in new equipment and technologies. Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize banks for cooperatives to assist dairy processing cooperatives with export activities. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to establish a new subtitle P, entitled the "Federal Dairy Education Loan Forgiveness Act." Directs the Secretary to carry out a dairy education loan forgiveness program under which the Secretary shall assume the obligation to repay a specified amount for one or more qualified loans made to eligible applicants. Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to provide for mandatory reporting of specified dairy commodities.

Date: 2007-05-23
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Agricultural Producers Value-Added Investment Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals who materially participate in a farming business and certain farmer-owned entities a business tax credit up to $30,000 for investment in qualified value-added agricultural property. Defines "qualified value-added agricultural property" as depreciable property which is used to add value to a good or product, suitable for food or nonfood use, derived in whole or in part from organic matter which is available on a renewable basis, including agricultural crops and agricultural wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, and domesticated animal wastes. Terminates the credit after 2012.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Conservation Reserve Program Tax Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act to treat payments under the Conservation Acreage Reserve Program as rentals from real estate and thus not self employment income subject to employment tax. Transfers from the general fund of the Treasury to specified social security trust funds amounts necessary to cover any reductions in trust fund revenues resulting from this Act.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Disabled Farmers' Market Nutrition Pilot Program of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a farmers' market nutrition pilot program for disabled individuals in California, the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Midwest. States that the program's purposes are to: (1) provide fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs to low-income disabled individuals; (2) increase domestic consumption of agricultural commodities; and (3) develop new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
National Dairy Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to give producers in a state participating in the national dairy market loss payment program 60 days to decide whether to continue participating in such program or to participate in the program established under this Act. Establishes the following five regional dairy marketing areas: (1) Northeast region - Northeast Dairy Marketing Area (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont); (2) Southern region - Southern Dairy Marketing Area (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia); (3) Midwest region - Midwest Dairy Marketing Area (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin); (4) Intermountain region - Intermountain Dairy Marketing Area (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and (5) Pacific region - Pacific Dairy Marketing Area (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington). Administers each region by a Regional Dairy Board. Sets forth Board powers, including authority to establish: (1) over-order price (a price higher than the marketing order or non-marketing area price) for Class I milk; (2) equalization pools to equalize over-order prices to producers throughout a regulated area; and (3) processor administrative fees. Requires producer referendum to approve of a proposed over-order price establishment, amendment, or termination. States that each covered processor that purchases Class I milk during a month that will be sold in the regulated area of a Region shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the product of the over-order premium and the quantity of purchased Class I milk. Establishes in the Treasury the National Dairy Producers Fund. Directs the Secretary to make monthly payments from the Fund to the Boards which shall make payments to eligible producers of all milk classes. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend the national dairy market loss payment program.

Date: 2007-06-18
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Wheat Counter-Cyclical Payments Enhancement Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to consider national average market price variations for different classes of wheat when determining wheat producer eligibility for 2007 counter-cyclical payments. States that in calculating a separate effective price for a class of wheat the effective price shall equal the sum of: (1) the higher of the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year, or the national average loan rate during that period; and (2) the direct wheat payment rate.

Date: 2007-06-27
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to eliminate the requirement that forage producers must participate in the insurance pilot program or the noninsured crop disaster assistance program in order to receive crop disaster and livestock assistance.

Date: 2007-07-23
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Act of 2007 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to provide behavioral health programs to participants in the agricultural sector in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; and (2) provide grants to states for Network pilot projects.

Date: 2007-10-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Agricultural Bond Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exempt agricultural bonds from the volume cap applicable to private activity bonds; (2) increase the loan limit on agricultural bonds to $450,000 and index such amount for inflation after 2007; and (3) eliminate the dollar limitation in the definition of substantial farmland used for agricultural bonds.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Extends for one year extensions of: (1) crop programs and authorizations of appropriations under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002; and (2) direct spending programs as defined under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or other authority under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Exempts peanut storage costs from such extension.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Establishes within the Treasury the Orange Juice Promotion and Production Improvements Trust Fund in order to provide grants to U.S. entities for the generic promotion of orange juice in the U.S. market. Requires such grants to be made only to entities that themselves provide funds on a matching basis.

Date: 2008-01-29
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Extends: (1) with specified exceptions, agricultural programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until April 18, 2008; and (2) the farmland protection program, the ground and surface water conservation program, and the wildlife habitat incentives program. Suspends permanent price support authorities through April 18, 2008.

Date: 2008-03-11
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Extends, with specified exceptions, agricultural programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until April 25, 2008. Suspends permanent price support authorities through April 25, 2008.

Date: 2008-04-16
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in order to carry out title I of H.R. 2419 of the 110th Congress, as enrolled, to make such reductions in payment rates and loan rates otherwise applicable to commodity programs under such title and amendments made by that title as may be necessary to reduce obligations and expenditures of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) by $7 billion for each of FY2008-FY2012.

Date: 2008-05-05
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Extends, with specified exceptions, agricultural programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until May 23, 2008, or the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Suspends permanent price support authorities through May 23, 2008, or the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

Date: 2008-05-14
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out conservation reserve program notice CRP-598 ("Voluntary Modification of Conservation Reserve Program [CRP] Contract for Critical Feed Use") pursuant to the terms and conditions of the notice to: (1) modify producer and operator conservation reserve program contracts; and (2) allow harvesting or grazing on agricultural lands enrolled in the conservation reserve program.

Date: 2008-07-17
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection Act - Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act - Requires a biotech company that sells any genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed that will be used in the United States to: (1) provide the purchaser with written notice of possible legal and environmental risks of such article's use (such disclosure shall neither relieve the company from liability, nor be construed to create purchaser liability); and (2) disclose any technology fees to the Secretary of Agriculture, and not charge fees that are higher than those outside the United States. Sets forth related contract prohibitions and limitations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) identify which plants are outcrossed pollinators and make such information available to affected sellers and purchasers; and (2) issue rules to require mitigation strategies for predominately outcrossed crops. Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) establish the best achievable resistance plan for plant-incorporated pesticides engineered to include toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); (2) revoke Bt registrations not in plan compliance; (3) reduce a pesticide's use if it is determined to be facilitating Bt-toxin resistance in pests; and (4) establish an advisory panel. Prohibits: (1) labeling seeds as non-genetically engineered if the Secretary determines such seeds contains genetically engineered material; (2) manufacture, sale, or planting of genetically engineered or chemically induced non-fertile seeds; and (3) loan discrimination against a producer who refuses to use genetically engineered plants or animals. Authorizes, with respect to violations under this Act,: (1) the Secretary to assess civil penalties; and (2) citizen civil actions against the Secretary, a federal agency, or an individual. Genetically Engineered Organism Liability Act of 2007 [sic] - States that: (1) a biotech company shall be liable to any party injured by the release of a genetically engineered organism into the environment if the injury results from such genetic engineering; and (2) liability may not be waived or otherwise avoided by contract.

Date: 2008-07-29
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to: (1) municipalities to facilitate the ability of local farmers to grow food crops or raise livestock for local community sale; (2) local nongovernmental farming associations that promote community-based farming or to qualified farmers to provide technical, advisory, and other assistance for a municipally-based agricultural project; and (3) provide startup funding to agricultural producers who must diversify in order to participate in a community-supported agricultural project. Directs the Secretary to provide marketing assistance to a participating farmer who has received a lease or loan guarantee that has not been terminated to assist the farmer in marketing to community institutions, including schools, child care centers, and senior centers.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
(Sec. 1) Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 with respect to producers, including peanut producers, with 10 or fewer base acres to: (1) suspend a prohibition on direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments for crop year 2008; and (2) extend the 2008 signup deadline for direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments until the later of November 14, 2008, or the end of the 45-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that no penalty is assessed against producers for failure to submit reports or comply with other program requirements as a result of compliance with the extended signup deadline. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to reduce FY2011 amounts available for Federal Crop Insurance Corporation information management upgrades. (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act, regarding the supplemental revenue assistance program (SURE), to define: (1) "actual production on the farm" as the sum of the value of all crops raised on the farm; and (2) "normal production on the farm" as the sum of the expected revenue for all crops on the farm. Revises the definition of "disaster county" to include any farm in which the actual farm production is less than 50% of normal production. Requires the actual production on a farm for at least one crop of economic significance to be reduced by at least 10% due to disaster, adverse weather, or disaster-related conditions in order to be eligible for crop loss assistance payments. Excludes subsequently planted crops and uninsured crops in calculating the disaster assistance program guarantee. Adds provisions regarding normal and actual farm production. Removes grazing land from SURE. Funds the tree assistance program from the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund. Sets forth: (1) a de minimis exception to the risk management purchase requirement; (2) a risk management purchase requirement waiver for crop year 2009; and (3) a payment limitation transition rule for crop year 2008. Makes similar amendments to the Trade Act of 1974.

Date: 2008-09-09
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to appropriate funds for: (1) emergency financial assistance to producers on a farm that incurred qualifying natural disaster-caused quantity or quality losses for the 2008 crop; (2) certain processors in Florida for natural disaster-caused crop and other losses in 2008; (3) certain first processors of sugarcane that operate in a county affected by a natural disaster or obtain sugarcane from a county affected by a natural disaster in Louisiana; and (4) certain sugarcane growers in Texas for natural disaster-caused demurrage, storage, and transportation costs in 2008. Provides specified Commodity Credit Corporation funds for grants to state departments of agriculture for assistance to eligible catfish producers to help offset natural disaster-caused feed costs or economic losses in 2008.

Date: 2008-09-27
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Reliable Farm Safety Net Act - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish permanent authority (beginning with crop year 2007) for the Secretary of Agriculture to provide disaster relief to qualifying agricultural producers who incur crop or livestock losses as a result of damaging weather or related condition in federally declared disaster areas.

Date: 2007-01-08
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Emergency Farm Relief Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance for: (1) crop disaster assistance for qualifying quantity or quality losses (other than sugar beets) for the 2005 and/or 2006 crop due to weather or related conditions (including disease, insects, and delayed harvest); (2) dairy losses; (3) livestock assistance for 2005 and 2006 disaster-caused losses, including losses from blizzards that began in 2006 and continued into 2007; (4) livestock indemnity payments for 2005 and 2006 disaster-caused losses, including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, extreme heat, anthrax, and blizzards that began in 2006 and continued into 2007; (5) ewe lamb replacement and retention; (6) sugar beet disaster assistance for crop year 2005 or 2006; (7) sugarcane growers in Hawaii through a payment to an agricultural transportation cooperative in Hawaii; and (8) flooded crop and grazing land in the Devils Lake basin, the McHugh, Lake Laretta, and Rose Lake closed drainage areas, North Dakota. Directs the Secretary to make grants to state agriculture departments or comparable agencies in qualified states for direct economic loss payments to eligible small businesses that suffered weather-related agricultural losses in crop year 2005 or 2006. Directs the Secretary to use specified funds to carry out emergency measures under: (1) the emergency watershed protection program, including specified projects in Hawaii; (2) the emergency conservation program, including wildfire recovery efforts in Montana and other states and specified projects in Hawaii; and (3) the environmental quality incentives program, including wildfire and blizzard recovery efforts in Montana and other states. Directs the Secretary to use specified funds to hire additional county Farm Service Agency personnel to expedite the delivery of agricultural disaster and economic assistance.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Emergency Farm Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to provide assistance: (1) to producers of specialty crops in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2005 or 2006; (2) to citrus producers in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2007; (3) to producers of other specialty crops in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2007; (4) to dairy producers in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2006; and (5) for livestock indemnity payments to producers in disaster counties that incurred losses in 2006 or 2007, or both. Directs the Secretary to make grants to California for an expedited disaster assistance program to qualified small businesses that suffered losses during the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop year as a result of weather-related agricultural losses to the California specialty crop or livestock production sectors. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to tree or fruit and tree nut producers in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2005, 2006, or 2007, or any combination of such years. Defines "tree" to include: (1) a tree (including a Christmas tree, ornamental tree, nursery tree, and potted tree); (2) a bush (including a shrub, nursery shrub, nursery bush, ornamental bush, ornamental shrub, potted bush, and potted shrub); and (3) a vine (including a nursery vine and ornamental vine). Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide unemployment assistance and temporary mortgage rental assistance to California agricultural workers (including low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers) who are unemployed due to disasters in 2007. Directs the Secretary to provide: (1) food coupons and surplus commodities to such workers; and (2) emergency grants for California low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers who are unemployed due to disasters in 2007.

Date: 2007-02-07
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Federal Milk Marketing Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from using distance or transportation costs from a location not within a marketing area as the basis for pricing Class I (fluid) milk unless such location supplies the recipient marketing area with specified quantities of milk (single base point pricing).

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Rural Entrepreneur and Microenterprise Assistance Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a rural entrepreneur and microenterprise (sole proprietorship or business entity with not more than 10 full-time employees) program to help low- and moderate- income individuals acquire: (1) necessary skills to establish small rural businesses; and (2) technical and financial assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a related rural microloan program to provide technical and financial assistance to sole proprietorships and small rural businesses with a particular focus on businesses with five or fewer full-time employees.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Housing and community development
Captive Supply Reform Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 respecting livestock producer-packer forward contracts to: (1) require the inclusion of fixed dollar amount base pricing and public bidding; (2) prohibit formula pricing; (3) limit individual contract size; and (4) exclude from the definition of "formula price" futures-based prices and base adjustments resulting from factors outside packer control.

Date: 2007-03-28
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farming Flexibility Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, with respect to direct and counter-cyclical payments, to: (1) permit a producer to reduce a covered commodity base acreage by electing to plant such acres with fruits or vegetables for processing; (2) require such election to be made annually; and (3) provide that if a farm's base acreage is recalculated, such fruit or vegetable production shall be considered the same as the planning, prevented planting, or production of the covered commodity.

Date: 2007-04-23
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish a crop insurance pilot program for experimental biofuel crops (nonpetroleum fuel source or nonpetroleum lubricant use). Amends the Farm Security and Reinvestment Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide loans and loan guarantees to producers of experimental biofuel crops; and (2) authorize the Secretary to make grants to research facilities and institutions of higher education for studies of such crops as animal feed and research on harvesting and planting techniques for such crops.

Date: 2007-04-26
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm, Nutrition, and Community Investment Act of 2007 - Extends and revises various agricultural programs, including programs respecting: (1) milk and dairy; (2) conservation security; (3) conservation reserve; (4) wetlands reserve; (5) environmental quality incentives; (6) farmland protection; (7) cooperative conservation partnership initiative; (8) wildlife habitat; (9) conservation loan guarantees; (10) market access; (11) food stamps; (12) farm and ranch profitability grants; (13) community forest and open space conservation; (14) healthy forests reserve; (15) biomass and renewable energy; (16) specialty crops, farmers' markets, and nutrition; (17) organic agriculture programs; (18) crop insurance; and (18) colony collapse disorder.

Date: 2007-05-17
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a decision relating to any proposed milk marketing order amendment for which a hearing is held not later than 90 days after the hearing.

Date: 2007-05-22
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to make beginning farmer and rancher development grants available for energy conservation and organic and value-added alternative production. Caps annual grant amounts and permits consecutive grants to the same recipient. Sets forth grant evaluation criteria. Extends grant authority. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the new farmer individual development accounts pilot program under which: (1) an eligible participant shall deposit an agreed upon amount into an account which will be matched at 300% by the program ($9,000 annual cap); and (2) expenditures shall be used for specified farming purposes, including purchases of farmland, equipment and other assets, breeding stock, and timber, nut, or fruit trees. Revises: (1) the down payment loan program; and (2) the beginning farmer or rancher contract land sales program. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for inventory sales preferences on real property acquired by the Secretary through security servicing. Increases direct and operating agricultural loan limits. Requires the Secretary to establish a plan to transition agricultural loan borrowers to private credit sources. Increases fiscal year aggregate loan and specified set-aside levels. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for certain loan set-asides, and extends such set-aside authority. Includes among soil and water conservation grant priority recipients: (1) beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and (2) owners or tenants who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production systems. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the conservation reserve program to permit the Secretary to modify a contract to facilitate land transition from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher in order to return some or all of the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods. Sets forth transition options for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for cost sharing under the conservation security program and the environmental quality incentives program. Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to include among "high priority research" areas of concern to beginning farmers or ranchers. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to include farm transfer options for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers among priority grant areas. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to provide emphasis on risk management education for beginning, immigrant, retiring, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

Date: 2007-05-23
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Wildfire Presuppression Fuels Management Pilot Program Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend the environmental quality incentives program. Includes private land fire presuppression activities in the program. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make FY2008-FY2012 cost-share and incentive payments to contracting producers for fuels management conservation plans on private grazing land to help prevent wildfires fueled by invasive or noxious weed species, including activities relating to: (1) fuel breaks; (2) protection of wildlife habitat; (3) restoration of fire-damaged areas; and (4) conservation practices.

Date: 2007-06-18
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to eliminate the requirement that forage producers must participate in the insurance pilot program or the noninsured crop disaster assistance program in order to receive crop disaster and livestock assistance.

Date: 2007-06-27
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to repeal the dairy price support program. Amends the national dairy market loss payment program to: (1) extend the sign-up and contract duration periods; (2) replace the "Class 1 milk" definition with a "Class III milk" definition; (3) revise the payment formula (which shall include a feed adjustment factor); and (4) establish a maximum annual payment of $50,000 per dairy operation. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a national dairy options program; and (2) make nonrecourse loans available to commercial processors of cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a milk revenue insurance pilot program under which dairy producers may elect to receive insurance against revenue loss due to natural disasters and price fluctuations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) study the economic benefits to milk producers of establishing a two-class system (fluid milk class and manufacturing grade milk class) for classifying milk under federal milk marketing orders; and (2) amend federal milk marketing orders to implement such system if it would benefit milk producers. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to eliminate pilot program status for, and extend, the dairy forward pricing program. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize rural industrial assistance loans and loan guarantees for dairy processors to invest in new equipment and technologies. Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize banks for cooperatives to assist dairy processing cooperatives with export activities. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to establish a new subtitle P, entitled the "Federal Dairy Education Loan Forgiveness Act." Directs the Secretary to carry out a dairy education loan forgiveness program under which the Secretary shall assume the obligation to repay a specified amount for one or more qualified loans made to eligible applicants. Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to provide for mandatory reporting of specified dairy commodities.

Date: 2007-06-27
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to base the minimum Class II milk price on the average production cost of producing all milk in the 48 contiguous states. Directs the Secretary to: (1) announce the minimum price for Class II milk by November 1 of each year, with specified price adjustment dates; (2) use the Class II milk price as the basic formula price for all federal and state milk marketing orders and all unregulated milk production areas; and (3) estimate annual milk production and domestic consumption. States that the price of Class I (fluid) milk price in all federal and state milk marketing orders and all unregulated milk production areas shall be equal to the basic formula price plus the opportunity cost of unpaid labor for producing all milk. Prohibits imposition of producer charges for the cost of hauling milk or the conversion of raw milk to manufactured products. Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) milk inventory management; and (2) milk handler responsibilities. States that in the case of a federal milk order, disapproval of an amendment to the order shall not be considered disapproval of the order or of other terms of the order.

Date: 2007-06-27
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
National Agriculture and Food Defense Act of 2007 - States that: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) shall lead federal, state, local, tribal, and private efforts to enhance the protection of critical U.S. infrastructure and key resources, including the agriculture and food system; (2) the Secretary of Agriculture shall lead federal efforts relating to agriculture, meat, poultry, and egg food products; (3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall lead federal efforts relating to other food products; and (4) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall lead federal efforts relating to drinking water and waste water.Establishes in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): (1) a Chief Medical Officer who shall serve as the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs; and (2) the agriculture and food defense rotational expertise program.Establishes in the Department of Agriculture the position of Under Secretary for Protection, Preparedness, and Response.Directs the Secretary of HHS to coordinate the public health surveillance of zoonotic diseases. Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare and submit to the appropriate congressional committees the national agriculture and food defense strategy; (2) carry out vulnerability assessments of the agriculture and food system; (3) implement mitigation strategies to protect critical production and processing nodes from diseases, pests, and poisonous agents; (3) ensure that combined federal, state, and local capabilities are adequate to respond to a terrorist attack, disease outbreak, or other disaster affecting the U.S. agriculture and food system; (4) assist the states with food and agriculture protection activities; and (5) establish the Food and Agriculture Government Coordinating Council.Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) develop a national veterinary stockpile; (2) develop a national plant disease recovery system; (3) establish a National Veterinary Stockpile Advisory Committee; (4) carry out a program (Agricultural Biosecurity Corps) to develop veterinary leaders with epidemiological expertise to respond to animal agriculture threats; (5) develop a national plant diagnostic network; (6) develop a national food emergency response network; (7) develop a national animal health laboratory network; (8) identify an increased production capacity goal for the rendering industry to meet animal disposal needs following a catastrophic animal disease outbreak; and (9) conduct a study of irradiation technology use to enhance food defense capabilities. Directs the Secretaries concerned to submit an integrated food system defense budget. Directs the Administrator to provide assistance to state, local, and tribal governments in assessing, decontaminating, and recovering from an agriculture or food emergency.

Date: 2007-07-17
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm Safety Net Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend (through crop year 2012) and revise the counter-cyclical payment program.Makes payments available in a state for a covered commodity if the actual state revenue (as defined by this Act) for the commodity is less than the revenue counter-cyclical program guarantee (as defined by this Act) for the commodity. (Under current law, payments are provided if a commodity's effective price is less than its target price.)Provides recourse loans for covered commodities through crop year 2012.Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Risk Management Agency, to identify necessary actions to ensure that federal crop insurance programs are properly rated to account for a rebalancing of risk resulting from enactment of this Act.

Date: 2007-07-25
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Harvesting Energy Act of 2007 - Extends: (1) federal procurement of biobased products; (2) biorefinery development grants; (3) the biodiesel fuel education program; (4) the energy audit and renewable energy development program; (5) the biomass research and development program; (6) assistance for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, including pyrolysis and thermochemical conversion systems; (7) cooperative research and extension projects; (8) the bioenergy program, including establishment of feedstock residue management and transition assistance programs; (9) research, extension, and educational programs on biobased technologies and products; (10) the environmental quality incentives program; and (11) high-priority research and extension initiatives.Establishes: (1) a biochar research and demonstration program; (2) a strategic biofuel feedstock reserve program; (3) a direct payment program for value-added and renewable energy enterprises; (4) a biomass feedstock pilot program; (5) biochar demonstration projects; and (6) demonstration projects for farm and rural applications of plug-in electric drive vehicles.Provides for Department of Agriculture (Department) use of flexible fuel vehicles.Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, to carry out a renewable energy research and development program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a standardized protocol for market-based trading of greenhouse gas emissions reductions from soil carbon sequestration to monitor soil carbon sequestration and increases in soil carbon stocks associated with agricultural management practices; (2) provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to develop renewable energy and value-added curricula and provide renewable energy extension services; and (3) provide grants to nonprofit organizations to educate fleet operators and the public about biodiesel and other renewable fuels.Provides for a joint Department-Department of Energy study and report on reducing the costs of producing electricity from renewable resources.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Energy
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to permanently reduce base acres for land that: (1) has been developed for commercial or industrial use; (2) has been subdivided and developed into multiple residential units or other nonfarming uses; or (3) is no longer intended for farm use. Includes within a producer agreement for direct or counter-cyclical payments prohibitions against the land: (1) being in residential use (including land subdivided and developed into residential units or other nonfarming uses); or (2) no longer being intended for farm use. Requires: (1) Farm Service Agency certification of an agreement; and (2) annual audits of direct and counter-cyclical payments and base acreage by the Secretary.

Date: 2007-07-31
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating any Farm Service Agency (FSA) county or field office until at least one year after enactment of an omnibus law to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs for fiscal years after 2007 unless such office, for 180 consecutive days during the two-year period ending on such date of enactment, had zero employees.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating any Farm Service Agency (FSA) county or field office until at least one year after enactment of an omnibus law to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs for fiscal years after 2007.

Date: 2007-09-12
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm Savings Account Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt farm savings accounts to allow taxpayers engaged in the business of farming or ranching to use distributions from such accounts to offset operational losses in lieu of receiving, after a specified transitional period, federal subsidies to purchase crop insurance; (2) allow a tax deduction for cash contributions to such accounts; (3) specify minimum levels of contributions to, and maximum levels of distributions from, such accounts; (4) require the Secretary of Agriculture to make matching contributions to such accounts; and (5) set forth tax rules relating to account distributions, excess contributions, and prohibited transactions.

Date: 2007-10-16
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 - Revises agricultural and related programs and provisions respecting: (1) producer income; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development and investment; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) livestock marketing; and (11) agricultural security.

Date: 2007-11-02
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farmer Red Tape Reduction Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to require that each agency publish in the Federal Register a biennial agricultural regulatory flexibility agenda that shall: (1) describe the subject area of any proposed rule that is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of agricultural entities; (2) provide a summary of, the legal basis for, and an approximate schedule for completing action on a rule under consideration; and (3) provide the name and telephone number of an agency official who is knowledgeable concerning the rule. Authorizes an agricultural entity that is adversely affected by a final agency action to seek judicial review. Establishes within the Department of Agriculture an Office of Advocacy of the Department of Agriculture.

Date: 2008-03-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Extends: (1) with specified exceptions, agricultural programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until April 18, 2008; and (2) the farmland protection program, the ground and surface water conservation program, and the wildlife habitat incentives program. Suspends permanent price support authorities through April 18, 2008.

Date: 2008-03-12
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuels between May 26, 2008, and September 1, 2008. Provides for reimbursement from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund for any reduction in Trust Fund receipts resulting from such suspension. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) consumers immediately receive the benefit of the reduction in taxes resulting from the suspension of gasoline excise taxes; and (2) transportation motor fuels producers and other dealers take necessary actions to reduce fuel prices to reflect such reduction in taxes. Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to monitor oil, diesel, and gasoline markets to: (1) ensure that consumers receive the benefit resulting from the suspension of taxes; and (2) prevent price gouging and market manipulation. Imposes in taxable years beginning in 2008 an excise fee of 50% of the excess profit of integrated oil companies and other producers or refiners of crude oil with gross receipts exceeding $1 billion. Defines "excess profit" for purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Energy to suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through the royalty-in-kind program or any other acquisition method until December 31, 2008. Permits an earlier resumption of petroleum acquisition for periods when the weighted average price of petroleum is $75 or less per barrel.

Date: 2008-05-02
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Accelerating Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas emission.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to increase to a maximum of $50,000 the civil penalty for a violation of the Act primarily directed toward or committed against a senior (age 62 or older). Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that guideline offense levels and enhancements appropriately punish criminal violations of the securities laws against seniors.

Date: 2008-06-27
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make advance supplemental revenue assistance payments of not less than 50% of a farm's projected revenue losses.

Date: 2008-07-10
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Small Marine Business and Fishing Guide Relief Act of 2008 - Waives biometric transportation security card requirements for certain small business merchant mariners.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the issuance of tax-exempt small issue bonds to finance the purchase of property or land used primarily for the processing of agricultural products.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation