Sec. 2102. Conservation reserve
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/bill/118/hr/8467/ih/section-2102A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(a) ) is amended to read as follows: Through the 2029 fiscal year, the Secretary shall formulate and carry out a conservation reserve program in each State, to the maximum extent practicable, under which eligible land is enrolled in the conservation reserve through the use of contracts to assist owners and operators of such land with the establishment and maintenance of permanent cover for the purposes of— conserving and improving the soil, water, and wildlife resources of such land; and addressing resource concerns raised by Tribal, State, regional, and national conservation initiatives. .
Section 1231(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(b) ) is amended to read as follows: The Secretary may include in the conservation reserve program the following, in accordance with subsection (d)(1): Cropland that— on a field level, consists of not less than 85 percent soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of III through VII; or cannot be farmed in accordance with a plan that complies with the requirements of subtitle B; and the Secretary determines had a cropping history or was considered to be planted for not fewer than 4 of the 6 years preceding the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 .
Cropland (including prairie potholes, playas, and pocosins within cropland), grasslands, and marginal pasture land (including marginal pastureland converted to wetland or established as wildlife habitat) to be— devoted to conservation buffers; established to ecologically appropriate vegetation, including trees, in or near riparian areas, intermittent, seasonal, or perennial streams, wetlands (including prairie potholes, playas, and pocosins), or saline-impaired soils; or devoted to similar water quality or wildlife habitat practices.
Grasslands that— contain forbs or shrubland (including improved rangeland and pastureland) for which grazing is the predominant use; are located in an area historically dominated by grasslands; and could provide habitat for animal and plant populations of significant ecological value if the land is retained in its current use or restored to a natural condition. Land described in paragraph (1), (2), or
(3)that will address significant water quality, water conservation, and wildlife habitat concerns, as proposed by an eligible partner and agreed to by the Secretary for purposes of section 1231A. The portion of land in a field not enrolled in the conservation reserve in a case in which— 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 the Secretary determines that the remainder of the field is infeasible to farm. . Section 1231(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(c) ) is amended to read as follows: For purposes of determining the eligibility of land to be enrolled in the conservation reserve established under this subchapter, land shall be considered to be planted to an agricultural commodity during a crop year if, during the crop year, the land was devoted to a conserving use. For purposes of this subchapter, alfalfa and other multi-year grasses and legumes in a rotation practice, approved by the Secretary, shall be considered agricultural commodities. Alfalfa, when grown as part of a rotation practice, as determined by the Secretary, is an agricultural commodity subject to the cropping history criteria under subsection (b)(1)(B) for the purpose of determining whether eligible cropland has been planted or considered planted for 4 of the 6 years referred to in such subsection. . Section 1231(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(d) ) is amended to read as follows: The Secretary shall offer enrollment in the conservation reserve under this subchapter through the following enrollment options: A general enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(1). A continuous enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(2) and any associated eligible land described in subsection (b)(5). A grassland enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(3). A partnership initiatives enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(4), and any associated eligible land described in subsection (b)(5), that is to be enrolled pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 1231A(b). In enrolling eligible land under the general enrollment option, the Secretary shall make the conservation reserve program available to owners or operators of eligible land on an annual enrollment basis with one or more ranking periods. In enrolling eligible land under the continuous enrollment option, the Secretary shall make the conservation reserve program available to owners or operators of eligible land on a continuous basis. In enrolling eligible land under the grasslands enrollment option, the Secretary shall make the conservation reserve program available to owners or operators of eligible land on an annual enrollment basis with one or more ranking periods. In enrolling eligible land under the partnership initiatives enrollment option, the Secretary shall make the conservation reserve program available to owners or operators of eligible land using the methods and processes for enrollment described in the applicable agreement under section 1231A(b)(2)(A). The Secretary may maintain in the conservation reserve at any one time during fiscal years 2025 through 2029 not more than 27,000,000 acres. For purposes of applying the limitations in subparagraph (A)— the Secretary shall enroll and maintain in the conservation reserve not fewer than 8,000,000 acres of the land described in subsection (b)(3) by September 30, 2029; and in carrying out clause (i), to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall maintain in the conservation reserve at any one time during— fiscal year 2025, 6,000,000 acres; fiscal year 2026, 7,000,000 acres; and fiscal years 2027 through 2029, 8,000,000 acres. . Section 1231(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(e) ) is amended to read as follows: The term of a contract under this subchapter shall be— 10 years for a contract entered into pursuant to the general enrollment option or the grasslands enrollment option; not fewer than 10 years nor more than 15 years, as determined by the Secretary, for a contract entered into pursuant to the continuous enrollment option or the partnership initiatives enrollment option; and notwithstanding paragraphs
(1)and (2), upon request of the owner or operator of eligible land, not fewer than 10 years nor more than 30 years, as determined by the Secretary, for a contract to enroll eligible land devoted to conservation buffers that improve water quality by reducing sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. . Section 1231(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831(f) ) is amended by striking paragraph (4). Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831 ) is amended by striking subsections
(g)through
(i)and inserting the following: During the final year of the term of a contract entered into under this subchapter, the land subject to the contract shall be eligible to be considered for reenrollment in the conservation reserve in accordance with paragraph (2). The eligibility of land for reenrollment in the conservation reserve shall be subject to the land meeting the applicable requirements of subsection (b). In this subsection, the term restricted tree means a pine tree, other than a shortleaf pine ( Pinus echinata ) or a longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris ). Notwithstanding subsection (g), land subject to a contract entered into under this subchapter that is established predominately to restricted trees is not eligible to be considered for reenrollment in the conservation reserve. Notwithstanding subsection (g), land subject to a contract entered into under this subchapter that is established predominately to trees that are not restricted trees is eligible to be considered for reenrollment in the conservation reserve in accordance with such subsection only if the land— is devoted to shelterbelts, riparian forest buffers, or trees of high conservation value, as determined by the Secretary; or consists of forested wetlands. Land that has previously been subject to a contract entered into under this subchapter, and which was established predominately to restricted trees during the term of such contract, may be subsequently enrolled in the conservation reserve in accordance with subsection
(d)only if— the restricted trees have been harvested; and the new enrollment is for establishment of a permanent cover other than restricted trees. .
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Sec. 2102
Conservation reserve
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