Sec. 2004. Duties of the Secretary
726 words·~3 min read·
/bill/113/hr/2642/pcs/section-2004A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 1233 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3833 ) is amended to read as follows: In return for a contract entered into by an owner or operator under the conservation reserve program, the Secretary shall— share the cost of carrying out the conservation measures and practices set forth in the contract for which the Secretary determines that cost sharing is appropriate and in the public interest; and for a period of years not in excess of the term of the contract, pay an annual rental payment in an amount necessary to compensate for— the conversion of highly erodible cropland or other eligible lands normally devoted to the production of an agricultural commodity on a farm or ranch to a less intensive use; the retirement of any base history that the owner or operator agrees to retire permanently; and the development and management of grasslands for multiple natural resource conservation benefits, including to soil, water, air, and wildlife.
The Secretary shall permit certain activities or commercial uses of land that is subject to a contract under the conservation reserve program in a manner that is consistent with a plan approved by the Secretary, as follows: Harvesting, grazing, or other commercial use of the forage in response to a drought or other emergency created by a natural disaster, without any reduction in the rental rate. Consistent with the conservation of soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat (including habitat during nesting seasons for birds in the area), and in exchange for a reduction of not less than 25 percent in the annual rental rate for the acres covered by the authorized activity— managed harvesting and other commercial use (including the managed harvesting of biomass), except that in permitting managed harvesting, the Secretary, in coordination with the State technical committee— shall develop appropriate vegetation management requirements; and shall identify periods during which managed harvesting may be conducted, such that the frequency is not more than once every three years; routine grazing or prescribed grazing for the control of invasive species, except that in permitting such routine grazing or prescribed grazing, the Secretary, in coordination with the State technical committee— shall develop appropriate vegetation management requirements and stocking rates for the land that are suitable for continued routine grazing; and shall identify the periods during which routine grazing may be conducted, such that the frequency is not more than once every two years, taking into consideration regional differences such as— climate, soil type, and natural resources; the number of years that should be required between routine grazing activities; and how often during a year in which routine grazing is permitted that routine grazing should be allowed to occur; and the installation of wind turbines and associated access, except that in permitting the installation of wind turbines, the Secretary shall determine the number and location of wind turbines that may be installed, taking into account— the location, size, and other physical characteristics of the land; the extent to which the land contains wildlife and wildlife habitat; and the purposes of the conservation reserve program under this subchapter.
The intermittent and seasonal use of vegetative buffer practices incidental to agricultural production on lands adjacent to the buffer such that the permitted use does not destroy the permanent vegetative cover. For eligible land described in section 1231(b)(3), the Secretary shall permit the following activities: Common grazing practices, including maintenance and necessary cultural practices, on the land in a manner that is consistent with maintaining the viability of grassland, forb, and shrub species appropriate to that locality.
Haying, mowing, or harvesting for seed production, subject to appropriate restrictions during the nesting season for critical bird species in the area. Fire presuppression, fire-related rehabilitation, and construction of fire breaks. Grazing-related activities, such as fencing and livestock watering. Beginning on the date that is 1 year before the date of termination of a contract under the program, the Secretary shall allow an owner or operator to make conservation and land improvements that facilitate maintaining protection of enrolled land after expiration of the contract.
The Secretary shall require an owner or operator carrying out the activities described in paragraph
(1)to develop and implement a conservation plan. Land improved under paragraph
(1)may not be re-enrolled in the conservation reserve program for 5 years after the date of termination of the contract. .
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
U.S. Code
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 2004
Duties of the Secretary
Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources