Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024

The term Department means the Department of Agriculture.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

Section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4), by striking September 30, 2013 and inserting September 30, 2024; and

(2) in paragraph (19)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking $5.50 and inserting $6.35;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking $3.70 and inserting $4.10;

(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking $3.95 and inserting $4.40;

(D) in subparagraph (D), by striking $4.95 and inserting $5.45;

(E) in subparagraph (E), by striking $2.40 and inserting $2.65;

(F) in subparagraph (F), by striking $14.00 and inserting $16.90;

(G) in subparagraph (G), by striking $14.00 and inserting $16.90;

(H) in subparagraph (H), by striking $8.40 and inserting $10.00;

(I) in subparagraph (I), by striking $20.15 and inserting $23.75;

(J) in subparagraph (J), by striking $535.00 and inserting $630.00;

(K) in subparagraph (K), by striking $11.00 and inserting $13.10;

(L) in subparagraph (L), by striking $19.97 and inserting $23.75;

(M) in subparagraph (M), by striking $19.04 and inserting $22.65;

(N) in subparagraph (N), by striking $21.54 and inserting $25.65; and

(O) in subparagraph (O), by striking $0.367 and inserting $0.42.

Section 1112 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9012) is amended:

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall provide notice to the owners of a farm regarding the allocation of base acres to such farm in the manner provided in this subsection.

The notice under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:

(i) Information that the allocation is occurring.

(ii) Information regarding the eligibility of the farm for an allocation of base acres under paragraph (2).

(iii) Information on how an owner may appeal a determination of ineligibility for an allocation of base acres under paragraph (2) through an appeals process established by the Secretary.

An owner of a farm that is eligible to receive an allocation of base acres may elect to not receive such allocation by notifying the Secretary.

Subject to subparagraph (E), effective beginning with the 2025 crop year, a farm is eligible to receive an allocation of base acres if, with respect to such farm, the amount described in subparagraph (B) exceeds the amount described in subparagraph (C).

The amount described in this subparagraph is, with respect to a farm, the sum of—

(i) the 5-year average of—

(I) the acreage planted on the farm to all covered commodities for harvest, grazing, haying, silage or other similar purposes for the 2019 through 2023 crop years; and

(II) any acreage on the farm that the producers were prevented from planting during the 2019 through 2023 crop years to covered commodities because of drought, flood, or other natural disaster, or other condition beyond the control of the producers, as determined by the Secretary; plus

(ii) the lesser of the following:

(I) 15 percent of the total acres on the farm.

(II) The 5-year average of—

(aa) the acreage planted on the farm to eligible non-covered commodities for harvest, grazing, haying, silage, or other similar purposes for the 2019 through 2023 crop years; and

(bb) any acreage on the farm that the producers were prevented from planting during the 2019 through 2023 crop years to eligible non-covered commodities because of drought, flood, or other natural disaster, or other condition beyond the control of the producers, as determined by the Secretary.

The amount described in this subparagraph is, with respect to a farm, the total number of base acres for covered commodities on the farm (excluding unassigned crop base), as in effect on September 30, 2024.

In this paragraph, the term acreage planted on the farm to eligible non-covered commodities means acreage planted on a farm to commodities other than covered commodities, trees, bushes, vines, grass, or pasture (including cropland that was idle or fallow), as determined by the Secretary.

In the case of a farm for which the amount determined under clause (i) of subparagraph (B) is equal to zero, such farm shall be ineligible to receive an allocation of base acres under this subsection.

Subject to paragraph (5), the acres eligible for allocation to base acres—

(A) shall be equal to the difference obtained by subtracting the amount determined under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) from the amount determined under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph; and

(B) shall include unassigned crop base.

For the purpose of applying this subsection to covered commodities, the Secretary shall allocate the eligible acres under paragraph (3) among those covered commodities planted on the farm at any time during the 2019 through 2023 crop years.

The allocation of eligible acres to base acres for covered commodities shall be in proportion to the ratio of—

(i) the 5-year average of—

(I) the acreage planted on the farm to each covered commodity for harvest, grazing, haying, silage, or other similar purposes for the 2019 through 2023 crop years; and

(II) any acreage on the farm that the producers were prevented from planting during the 2019 through 2023 crop years to that covered commodity because of drought, flood, or other natural disaster, or other condition beyond the control of the producers, as determined by the Secretary; to

(ii) the 5-year average determined under paragraph (2)(B)(i).

For the purpose of determining a 5-year acreage average under subparagraph (B) for a farm, the Secretary shall not exclude any crop year in which a covered commodity was not planted.

For the purpose of determining under subparagraph (B) the acreage on a farm that producers planted or were prevented from planting during the 2019 through 2023 crop years to covered commodities, if the acreage that was planted or prevented from being planted was devoted to another covered commodity in the same crop year (other than a covered commodity produced under an established practice of double cropping), the owner may elect the commodity to be used for that crop year in determining the 5-year average, but may not include both the initial commodity and the subsequent commodity.

The allocation of eligible acres to base acres among covered commodities on a farm under this paragraph may not result in a total number of base acres for the farm in excess of the total number of acres on the farm.

In carrying out this subsection, if the total number of eligible acres allocated to base acres across all farms in the United States under this subsection would exceed 30,000,000 acres, the Secretary shall apply an across the board, pro-rata reduction to the number of eligible acres to ensure the number of allocated base acres under this subsection is equal to 30,000,000 acres.

Beginning with crop year 2025, for the purpose of making price loss coverage payments under section 1116, the Secretary shall establish payment yields to base acres allocated under this subsection equal to—

(A) the payment yield established on the farm for the applicable covered commodity; and

(B) if no such payment yield for the applicable covered commodity exists, a payment yield—

(i) equal to the average payment yield for the covered commodity for the county in which the farm is situated; or

(ii) determined pursuant to section 1113(c).

In the case of a farm for which the owner on the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 was not the owner for the 2019 crop year, the Secretary shall use the planting history of the prior owner or owners of such farm for purposes of determining eligibility under paragraph (2), eligible acres under paragraph (3), and the allocation of acres under paragraph (4).

(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking Notwithstanding the election made under subsection (a), the and inserting The;

(3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking Notwithstanding the election made under subsection (a), if and inserting If; and

(4) in subsection (d)(3)(A), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 1115 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9015) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking and for and inserting, for; and

(B) by inserting, and for the 2025 through 2029 crop years (subject to subsection (h)) after (subject to subsection (h)); and

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2014 crop year or the 2019 crop year, as applicable and inserting 2014 crop year, 2019 crop year, or 2025 crop year, as applicable;

(B) in paragraph (1), by striking 2014 crop year or the 2019 crop year, as applicable, and inserting 2014 crop year, 2019 crop year, or 2025 crop year, as applicable,; and

(C) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

(C) the same coverage for each covered commodity on the farm for the 2026 through 2029 crop years as was applicable for the 2024 crop year.

Section 1116 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(2) in subsection (c)(1)(B)—

(A) in the heading, by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(3) in subsection (d), by striking 2024 and inserting 2029.

Section 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2014 through 2018 crop years or the 2019 through 2023 crop years, as applicable and inserting 2014 through 2018 crop years, 2019 through 2023 crop years, or 2025 through 2029 crop years, as applicable;

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting for each of 2014 through 2024 crop years and 90 percent of the benchmark revenue for each of 2025 through 2029 crop years before the period at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(C) in paragraph (4)(B)—

(i) in the heading, by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(ii) by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(D) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(3) by amending subsection (d)(1)(B) to read as follows:

(i) for each of the crop years 2014 through 2024, 10 percent of the benchmark revenue for the crop year applicable under subsection (c); and

(ii) for each of the crop years 2025 through 2029, 12.5 percent of the benchmark revenue for the crop year applicable under subsection (c).

(4) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(5) in subsection (g)(5), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 1201(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9031(b)(1)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

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;

(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;

(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:; and

For purposes of each of the 2025 through 2029 crop years, the loan rate for a marketing assistance loan under section 1201 for a loan commodity shall be equal to the following:

(1) In the case of wheat, $3.72 per bushel.

(2) In the case of corn, $2.42 per bushel.

(3) In the case of grain sorghum, $2.42 per bushel.

(4) In the case of barley, $2.75 per bushel.

(5) In the case of oats, $2.20 per bushel.

(6) In the case of base quality of upland cotton, $0.55 per pound.

(7) In the case of extra long staple cotton, $1.00 per pound.

(8) In the case of long grain rice, $7.70 per hundredweight.

(9) In the case of medium grain rice, $7.70 per hundredweight.

(10) In the case of soybeans, $6.82 per bushel.

(11) In the case of other oilseeds, $11.10 per hundredweight for each of the following kinds of oilseeds:

(A) Sunflower seed.

(B) Rapeseed.

(C) Canola.

(D) Safflower.

(E) Flaxseed.

(F) Mustard seed.

(G) Crambe.

(H) Sesame seed.

(I) Other oilseeds designated by the Secretary.

(12) In the case of dry peas, $6.87 per hundredweight.

(13) In the case of lentils, $14.30 per hundredweight.

(14) In the case of small chickpeas, $11.00 per hundredweight.

(15) In the case of large chickpeas, $15.40 per hundredweight.

(16) In the case of graded wool, $1.60 per pound.

(17) In the case of nongraded wool, $0.55 per pound.

(18) In the case of mohair, $5.00 per pound.

(19) In the case of honey, $1.50 per pound.

(20) In the case of peanuts, $390 per ton.

(4) by amending subsection (e) (as so redesignated) to read as follows:

For purposes of section 1116(b)(2) and paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (2)(A)(ii)(II) of section 1117(b), the loan rate shall be deemed to equal—

(A) for seed cotton, $0.30 per pound; and

(B) for corn, $3.30 per bushel.

Nothing in this subsection authorizes any nonrecourse marketing assistance loan under this subtitle for seed cotton.

Section 1204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (subject to subsection (j)) after section 1201 for upland cotton; and

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2) a formula to determine the prevailing world market price for upland cotton that, during any period which price quotations for Middling (M) one and three-thirty-second inch cotton are available, is based on the average of the 3 lowest-priced growths that are quoted; and

Section 1204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

In the case of a marketing assistance loan under section 1201 for upland cotton that is repaid by a producer on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall provide a reimbursement to such producer in an amount equal to the difference obtained by subtracting—

(1) the amount the producer would have paid under such loan using the lowest prevailing world market price during the 30-day period beginning on the date on which such loan was repaid, from

(2) the amount repaid by the producer.

Section 1204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034) is further amended—

(1) in subsection (c)—

(A) by striking shall be at the and inserting the following: shall be the lesser of—;

(1) the

(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting; or; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(2) the prevailing world market price for the commodity, as determined and adjusted by the Secretary in accordance with this section.

(2) in subsection (d)(1)—

(A) by striking upland cotton and inserting extra long staple cotton; and

(B) by striking and at the end; and

(3) in subsection (e)—

(A) in the heading, by inserting extra long staple cotton, after upland cotton,; and

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in the heading, by inserting upland before cotton; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 2024 and inserting 2030.

(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

The prevailing world market price for extra long staple cotton determined under subsection (d)—

(A) shall be adjusted to United States quality and location, with the adjustment to include the average costs to market the commodity, including average transportation costs, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B) may be further adjusted, during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph and ending on July 31, 2030, if the Secretary determines the adjustment is necessary—

(i) to minimize potential loan forfeitures;

(ii) to minimize the accumulation of stocks of extra long staple cotton by the Federal Government;

(iii) to ensure that extra long staple cotton produced in the United States can be marketed freely and competitively, both domestically and internationally; and

(iv) to ensure an appropriate transition between current-crop and forward-crop price quotations, except that the Secretary may use forward-crop price quotations prior to July 31 of a marketing year only if—

(I) there are insufficient current-crop price quotations; and

(II) the forward-crop price quotation is the lowest such quotation available.

Section 1204(g) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034(g)) is amended—

(1) by striking Effective and inserting the following:

Effective

(2) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated, by striking 2023 and inserting 2024; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

Effective for each of the 2025 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary shall make cotton storage payments for upland cotton and extra long staple cotton available in the same manner as the Secretary provided storage payments for the 2006 crop of upland cotton, except that the payment rate shall be equal to the lesser of—

(A) the submitted tariff rate for the current marketing year; or

(B) in the case of storage in—

(i) California or Arizona, a payment rate of $4.90; and

(ii) any other State, a payment rate of $3.00.

Section 1207(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9037(c)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

The value of the assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be—

(A) for the period beginning on August 1, 2013, and ending on July 31, 2024, 3 cents per pound; and

(B) beginning on August 1, 2024, 5 cents per pound.

Section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (5), by striking 2023 and inserting 2024; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:; and

(6) 24.00 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of the 2025 through 2029 crop years.

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking and;

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking 2023 and inserting 2024; and

(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(3) a rate that is equal to 136.55 percent of the loan rate per pound of raw cane sugar under subsection (a)(6) for each of the 2025 through 2029 crop years.

Section 167 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7287) is amended—

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:; and

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the 2025 crop year and each subsequent crop year thereafter, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall establish rates for the storage of forfeited sugar in an amount that is not less than—

(1) in the case of refined sugar, 34 cents per hundredweight per month; and

(2) in the case of raw cane sugar, 27 cents per hundredweight per month.

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the heading, by striking Subsequent and inserting Prior; and

(B) by striking and subsequent and inserting through 2024.

Section 359c(g)(2) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359cc(g)(2)) is amended—

(1) by striking In and inserting (A) In general.— Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the Secretary makes an upward adjustment under paragraph (1)(A), in adjusting allocations among beet sugar processors the Secretary shall give priority to such processors with available sugar.

Section 359e(b)(2) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359ee(b)(2)) is amended—

(1) by striking If and inserting (A) In general.— If;

(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall—

(i) make an initial determination following the publication of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) by the World Agricultural Outlook Board for the month of January that is applicable to the crop year for which allotments are required; and

(ii) provide for an initial reassignment under subparagraph (A)(i) not later than 30 days after the announcement of such WASDE.

Section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359kk) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Subject to paragraph (3), following the establishment of the tariff-rate quotas under subsection (a), the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary, shall—

(A) determine which countries do not intend to fill their allocation for the quota year; and

(B) reallocate any forecasted shortfall as soon as practicable.

Subject to paragraph (3), not later than March 1 of a quota year, the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary, shall reallocate any additional forecasted shortfall in the fulfillment of the minimum tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar established under subsection (a)(1) for that quota year.

Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if—

(A) the Agreement Suspending the Countervailing Duty Investigation on Sugar from Mexico (C–201–846) is terminated; and

(B) the countervailing duty order on sugar from Mexico is revoked.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall carry out a study on whether additional terms and conditions with respect to refined sugar imports are necessary and appropriate.

In conducting the study required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall examine the following:

(i) The need for:

(I) Defining refined sugar as having a minimum polarization of 99.8 degrees or higher.

(II) Establishing a standard for color or reflectance based units for refined sugar such as those utilized by the International Commission of Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis.

(III) Prescribing specifications for packaging type for refined sugar.

(IV) Prescribing specifications for transportation modes for refined sugar.

(V) Requiring affidavits or other evidence that sugar imported as refined will not undergo further refining in the United States.

(VI) Prescribing appropriate terms and conditions to avoid the circumvention of United States law relative to any sugar imports.

(VII) requiring other additional definitions, terms and conditions, or other requirements.

(ii) The potential impact of each of subclauses (I) through (VII) of clause (i) on the domestic sugar industry.

(iii) Whether, based on the need described in clause (i) and the impact described in clause (ii), additional terms and conditions are appropriate.

In conducting the study required by paragraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with representatives of the domestic sugar industry, users of refined sugar, and relevant State and Federal agencies.

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary 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 that includes the findings of the study required under subparagraph (A).

Based on the findings in the report submitted under paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary may establish through the rulemaking authorized under subparagraph (B) such additional terms and conditions after providing notice to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

The Secretary may issue regulations to establish and implement any additional terms and conditions determined necessary and appropriate pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), so long as such regulations—

(i) do not have an adverse impact on the domestic sugar industry; and

(ii) are consistent with the requirements of this part, section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272), and obligations under international trade agreements that have been approved by Congress.

In this subsection, the term domestic sugar industry means domestic—

(A) sugar beet producers and processors;

(B) producers and processors of sugar cane; and

(C) refiners of raw cane sugar.

Section 359k(b)(1) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359kk(b)(1)) is amended—

(1) by striking Before and inserting Notwithstanding any other provision of law, before; and

(2) by striking if there is an and inserting for the sole purpose of responding directly to an.

Section 1401(8) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9051(8)) is amended by striking when the participating dairy operation first registers to participate in dairy margin coverage.

Section 1405 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9055) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:; and

Except as provided in subsection (b), the production history of a dairy operation for dairy margin coverage is equal to the highest annual milk marketings of the participating dairy operation during any one of the 2021, 2022, or 2023 calendar years.

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);

(B) by striking Operations in the subsection heading and all that follows through In the case in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and inserting the following: operations.—In the case; and

(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and indenting appropriately.

Section 1407(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9057(b)) is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking 5,000,000 and inserting 6,000,000; and

(2) in paragraph (1), by striking 5,000,000 and inserting 6,000,000.

Section 1407(c) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9057(c)) is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking 5,000,000 and inserting 6,000,000; and

(2) in paragraph (1), by striking 5,000,000 and inserting 6,000,000.

Section 1407(g) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9057(g)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2025 through 2029; and

(B) by striking January 2019 and inserting January 2025; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029.

Section 273 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1637b) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking and at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:; and

(C) for each manufacturer required to report under subparagraph (A) for any product, require that manufacturer to report production cost and product yield information, as determined by the Secretary, for all products processed in the same facility or facilities.

(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting products and after those;

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking Electronic Reporting and inserting Reporting;

(B) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the heading, by striking Electronic reporting and inserting Reporting; and

(ii) by striking this section and inserting in its place subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1);

(C) in paragraph (2), by striking this section and inserting in its place subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1); and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report containing the information obtained under subparagraph (C) of subsection (b)(1).

Section 8c(5)(A) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(5)(A)), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is amended by striking the third sentence and inserting For the period beginning on the earlier of the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 and the date on which the Announcement of Advanced Prices and Pricing Factors is first published after such date of enactment and ending on the effective date of a modification by amendment to the order involved, for purposes of determining prices for milk of the highest use classification, the Class I skim milk price per hundredweight specified in section 1000.50(b) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), shall be the sum of the adjusted Class I differential specified in section 1000.52 of such title 7 (or successor regulations), plus the adjustment to Class I prices specified in sections 1005.51(b), 1006.51(b), and 1007.51(b) of such title 7 (or successor regulations), plus the higher of the advanced pricing factors computed in sections 1000.50(q)(1) and 1000.50(q)(2) of such title 7 (or successor regulations)..

Implementation of the amendment made by subsection (a) shall not be subject to any of the following:

(1) The notice and comment provisions of section 553 of title 5, United States Code.

(2) The notice and hearing requirements of section 8c(3) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(3)), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

(3) The order amendment requirements of section 8c(17) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(17)).

(4) A referendum under section 8c(19) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(19)).

Section 1502 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8772) is amended by striking subsection (e).

Section 3 of Public Law 90–484 (7 U.S.C. 4553) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 113(e)(2) of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(e)(2)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 301 of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4514) is amended by striking Not later and all that follows through an annual report, and inserting With respect to each calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, a report (which shall be submitted not later than 18 months after the last day of such calendar year).

Section 1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)) is amended—

(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:; and

Indemnity payments to an eligible producer on a farm under paragraph (1)(A) shall be made at a rate of 100 percent of the market value of the affected livestock on the applicable date, as determined by the Secretary.

Indemnity payments to an eligible producer on a farm under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) shall be made at a rate of 75 percent of the market value of the affected livestock on the applicable date, as determined by the Secretary.

The Secretary shall determine the market value described in paragraphs (A) and (B)—

(i) in coordination with the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service;

(ii) using other appropriate resources, as determined by the Secretary; and

(iii) on a quarterly basis.

In this paragraph, the term applicable date means, with respect to livestock, as applicable—

(i) the day before the date of death of the livestock; or

(ii) the day before the date of the event that caused the harm to the livestock that resulted in a reduced sale price.

(2) by adding at the end the following:

In the case of unborn livestock death losses incurred on or after January 1, 2024, the Secretary shall make an additional payment to eligible producers on farms that have incurred such losses in excess of the normal mortality due to a condition specified in paragraph (1).

Additional payments under subparagraph (A) shall be made at a rate—

(i) determined by the Secretary; and

(ii) less than or equal to 85 percent of the payment rate established with respect to the lowest weight class of the livestock, as determined by the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency.

The amount of a payment to an eligible producer that has incurred unborn livestock death losses shall be equal to the payment rate determined under subparagraph (B) multiplied, in the case of livestock described in—

(i) subparagraph (A), (B), or (F) of subsection (a)(4), by 1;

(ii) subparagraph (D) of such subsection, by 2;

(iii) subparagraph (E) of such subsection, by 12; and

(iv) subparagraph (G) of such subsection, by the average number of birthed animals (for one gestation cycle) for the species of each such livestock, as determined by the Secretary.

In this paragraph, the term unborn livestock death losses means losses of any livestock described in subparagraph (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of subsection (a)(4) that was gestating on the date of the death of the livestock.

In determining livestock death losses in excess of the normal mortality for purposes of livestock indemnity payments under section 1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)), the Secretary shall—

(A) with respect to eligible animal attacks by animals or avian predators treat documentation showing probability or confirmation of such an attack as sufficient to qualify for a payment under such program; and

(B) calculate normal mortality as the numerical amount, computed by a percentage, as established for the area by the Farm Service Agency State Committee, of expected livestock deaths by category (except that such amount shall not include attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the Federal Government or protected by Federal law, including wolves and avian predators), that normally occur during a calendar year for a producer.

In determining grazing losses for covered livestock under the livestock forage program section under 1501(c) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)), the Secretary shall provide eligible livestock producers not less than 90 days after the calendar year in which such grazing losses occurred to submit a completed application for assistance and the required supporting documentation relating to such losses.

The Secretary shall issue or revise regulations in accordance with this section and the amendment made by this section, including sections 1416.302 and 1416.305 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act).

For purposes of determining payments under subsection (b) of section 1501 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081) with respect to livestock described in subsection (a)(4)(A) of such section, the Secretary shall use the following:

(1) Weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more.

(2) Such other weight categories as the Secretary determines appropriate, except that such weight categories may only be set at an amount that is greater than 400 pounds.

In determining honeybee colony losses eligible for assistance under section 1501(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)), the Secretary shall review the normal mortality rate used for the calculation of such assistance and adjust such rate as necessary to not include losses caused by colony collapse disorder, as determined by the Secretary.

Section 1501(e)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or biennial after annual; and

(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting or pest after insect.

Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking 15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) and inserting normal mortality;

(2) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking 15 percent mortality (adjusted for normal mortality) and inserting normal mortality; and

(3) in paragraph (3)(B)—

(A) by striking 50 percent and inserting 65 percent; and

(B) by striking 15 percent damage or mortality (adjusted for normal tree damage and mortality) and inserting normal tree damage or mortality.

Section 1501(e)(3) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(3)) is amended in the matter before subparagraph (A) by striking and (5) and inserting, (5), and (6).

Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

An eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower shall agree, as a condition on receipt of assistance under this subsection, to replant new trees and salvage existing trees for which such assistance is provided not later than—

(A) 12 months after the application for such assistance is approved; or

(B) if the period specified in subparagraph (A) is not adequate for tree survival, at such time as is necessary to ensure tree survival.

An eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower receiving assistance under this subsection with respect to tree loss may use such assistance to replant using—

(i) an alternative variety;

(ii) an alternative stand density; and

(iii) an alternative location.

The assistance provided by the Secretary to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for losses described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A), may not be greater than the amount the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower would receive if the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower planted the variety or stand density lost or planted in the location in which the loss occurred, as applicable.

Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9801(e)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 120 days after receiving an application for assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall—

(A) approve or deny such application; and

(B) notify the applicant of such approval or denial.

Subtitle E of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In the case additional funds made available after the date of the enactment of this section for covered losses, the Secretary may make assistance for such losses available in the form of block grants.

In this section, the term covered losses means losses—

(1) of revenue, quality, or production of crops, trees, bushes, vines, poultry or livestock as a consequence of a natural disaster (as determined by the Secretary); and

(2) for which assistance is not available pursuant to any other Federal law.

The table of contents for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1501 the following:

Section 1602 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9092) is amended by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029.

Section 1614 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9097) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end;

(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period at the end and adding; and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:; and

(5) establish a system that provides producers the option to repay a marketing assistance loan under section 1204 during a lapse in appropriations regardless of whether an employee of the Department is on furlough.

(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall make available to the Farm Service Agency to carry out titles I and XI of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 and the amendments made by those titles $50,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which—

(A) $15,000,000 shall be used to carry out the mandatory cost surveys required by paragraph (3) of section 273(d) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1637b(d)), as added by the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024;

(B) not less than $5,000,000 shall be used to carry out paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (b);

(C) $3,000,000 shall be used for activities described in paragraph (3)(A); and

(D) $3,000,000 shall be used for activities described in paragraph (3)(B).

Section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:; and

The term qualified pass through entity means—

(A) a partnership (within the meaning of subchapter K of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);

(B) a limited liability company that does not affirmatively elect to be treated as a corporation;

(C) an S corporation (as defined in section 1361 of such Code); or

(D) a joint venture or general partnership.

(2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking except a joint venture or general partnership each place it appears and inserting except a qualified pass through entity.

Section 1001(e)(3)(B)(ii) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(e)(3)(B)(ii)) is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking joint ventures and general partnerships and inserting qualified pass through entities;

(2) by striking joint venture or a general partnership and inserting qualified pass through entity;

(3) by striking joint ventures and general partnerships and inserting qualified pass through entities; and

(4) by striking joint venture or general partnership and inserting qualified pass through entity.

Section 1001D(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(d)) is amended by striking, general partnership, or joint venture both places it appears.

Section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is further amended—

(1) in subsection (b), by striking The and inserting Subject to subsection (i), the;

(2) in subsection (c), by striking The and inserting Subject to subsection (i), the; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

Beginning with the 2025 crop year, in the case of a person or legal entity (except a qualified pass through entity) for which greater than or equal to 75 percent of the average adjusted gross income of such person or legal entity derives from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities, subsections (b) and (c) shall apply by substituting $155,000 for $125,000 each place it appears.

The Secretary shall annually adjust the amount substituted under paragraph (1) for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Department of Labor.

In this subsection, the term farming, ranching, or silviculture activities includes agri-tourism, direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products, the sale of agricultural equipment owned by such person or legal entity, and other agricultural-related activities, as determined by the Secretary.

Section 1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting paragraphs (3) and (4); and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

In the case of an excepted payment or benefit, the limitation established by paragraph (1) shall not apply to a person or legal entity during a crop, fiscal, or program year, as appropriate, if greater than or equal to 75 percent of the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity derives from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities (as described in section 1001(i)).

For purposes of this paragraph, the term excepted payment or benefit means—

(i) a payment or benefit under subtitle E of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.);

(ii) a payment or benefit under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333); and

(iii) beginning October 1, 2024, a payment or benefit described in paragraph (2)(C).

Section 1614(a) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8789(a)) is amended—

(1) by striking funds for producers and inserting the following: funds for—; and

(1) producers

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(2) producers to construct or upgrade storage facilities for propane that is primarily used for agricultural production (as such term is defined in section 4279.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph)).

Subtitle C of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–79) is amended by adding at the end the following:

With respect to any Federal policy that would impact the administration of this subtitle, the amendments made by this subtitle, or any rule, policy, or guidance issued pursuant to such subtitle or amendments, the preservation and strengthening of the domestic production described in subsection (b) shall be a priority objective of the President.

The domestic production described in this subsection is the production of an agricultural commodity—

(1) covered under this subtitle or an amendment made by this subtitle; and

(2) from which a food ingredient that serves an important function throughout the domestic food production supply chain is derived.

Notwithstanding section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c), during fiscal years 2025 through 2034, the Commodity Credit Corporation is authorized to use its general powers only to carry out operations as the Congress may specifically authorize or provide for.

Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to impact funds obligated before the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking subtitles A through I: and inserting subtitles A through J:;

(2) in paragraph (14), by striking term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term and inserting terms Indian tribe and Indian Tribe have the meaning given those terms;

(3) by redesignating paragraph (20) through (27) as paragraphs (22) through (29), respectively; and

(4) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:

The term precision agriculture means managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality.

The term precision agriculture technology means any technology (including equipment that is necessary for the deployment of such technology) that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, inputs used in crop or livestock production, including—

(A) Global Positioning System-based or geospatial mapping technology;

(B) satellite or aerial imagery technology;

(C) yield monitors;

(D) soil mapping technology;

(E) sensors for gathering data on crop, soil, or livestock conditions;

(F) Internet of Things and telematics technologies;

(G) data management software and advanced analytics;

(H) network connectivity products and solutions;

(I) Global Positioning System guidance or auto-steer systems;

(J) variable rate technology for applying inputs, such as section control; and

(K) any other technology, as determined by the Secretary, that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, the use of crop or livestock production inputs, which may include seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time.

Subchapter B of chapter 1 of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) is amended by inserting before section 1231 the following:

In this subchapter:

The term conservation buffer means a practice that, once established, provides a benefit to water quality or another resource concern, including—

(A) a grass sod waterway;

(B) a contour grass sod strip;

(C) a prairie strip;

(D) a filterstrip;

(E) a field border;

(F) a living snow fence;

(G) a riparian buffer;

(H) a shelterbelt or windbreak;

(I) a wetland or a wetland buffer (including a buffer for prairie potholes, a playa, or a pocosin);

(J) a saturated buffer;

(K) a bioreactor;

(L) a wellhead protection area; and

(M) other similar practices, as determined by the Secretary.

The term conservation reserve plan means a plan for land enrolled in the conservation reserve under a contract entered into under this subchapter that—

(A) covers the full term of the contract;

(B) details the practices to be implemented under the contract and a schedule for establishment, evaluation, and monitoring of the applicable vegetative cover;

(C) prescribes and schedules management to be conducted on the established cover throughout the term of the contract;

(D) sets forth the commercial use, if any, to be permitted on the land during the term of the contract; and

(E) may be modified, with the approval of the Secretary, when necessary to achieve the purposes of the program.

The term conservation reserve program means the conservation reserve program established under this subchapter.

The term continuous enrollment option means the continuous enrollment option offered under section 1231(d)(1)(B).

The term eligible land means land that is authorized to be included in the conservation reserve program under section 1231(b).

The term eligible partner means—

(A) a State;

(B) a political subdivision of a State;

(C) an Indian Tribe; or

(D) a nongovernmental organization.

The term general enrollment option means the general enrollment option offered under section 1231(d)(1)(A).

The term grasslands enrollment option means the grasslands enrollment option offered under section 1231(d)(1)(C).

The term land capability class means a soil classification assigned using the land capability classification system in effect on December 23, 1985.

The term partnership initiatives enrollment option means the partnership initiatives enrollment option offered under section 1231(d)(1)(D).

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—

(1) conserving and improving the soil, water, and wildlife resources of such land; and

(2) 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):

(1) Cropland that—

(i) on a field level, consists of not less than 85 percent soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of III through VII; or

(ii) cannot be farmed in accordance with a plan that complies with the requirements of subtitle B; and

(B) 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.

(2) 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—

(A) devoted to conservation buffers;

(B) 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

(C) devoted to similar water quality or wildlife habitat practices.

(3) Grasslands that—

(A) contain forbs or shrubland (including improved rangeland and pastureland) for which grazing is the predominant use;

(B) are located in an area historically dominated by grasslands; and

(C) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) The portion of land in a field not enrolled in the conservation reserve in a case in which—

(A) 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

(B) 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) A general enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(1).

(B) A continuous enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(2) and any associated eligible land described in subsection (b)(5).

(C) A grassland enrollment option, for eligible land described in subsection (b)(3).

(D) 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)—

(i) 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

(ii) in carrying out clause (i), to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall maintain in the conservation reserve at any one time during—

(I) fiscal year 2025, 6,000,000 acres;

(II) fiscal year 2026, 7,000,000 acres; and

(III) 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—

(1) 10 years for a contract entered into pursuant to the general enrollment option or the grasslands enrollment option;

(2) 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

(3) 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—

(i) is devoted to shelterbelts, riparian forest buffers, or trees of high conservation value, as determined by the Secretary; or

(ii) 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—

(A) the restricted trees have been harvested; and

(B) the new enrollment is for establishment of a permanent cover other than restricted trees.

Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is amended in the header by striking Conservation reserve enhancement program and inserting Partnership initiatives.

Section 1231A(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(a)) is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary shall establish the conservation reserve enhancement program and the State acres for wildlife enhancement program under this subchapter in order to leverage Federal and non-Federal funds to—

(1) target specific State, regional, or nationally significant conservation concerns; and

(2) restore critical wildlife habitat.

Section 1231A(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(b)) is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary may enter into or modify an agreement with an eligible partner to carry out the conservation reserve enhancement program or the State acres for wildlife enhancement program, within a defined geographic area—

(A) to assist in enrolling eligible land in the conservation reserve under this subchapter; and

(B) that the Secretary determines will advance the purposes of this subchapter.

An agreement entered into or modified under paragraph (1) shall describe—

(i) 1 or more specific State or nationally significant resource concerns to be addressed by the agreement;

(ii) quantifiable environmental goals for addressing the concerns under clause (i);

(iii) a suitable acreage goal for enrollment of eligible land under the agreement, as determined by the Secretary;

(iv) the location of eligible land to be enrolled in the project area identified under the agreement;

(v) the payments to be offered by the Secretary and eligible partner to an owner or operator;

(vi) an appropriate list of conservation reserve program conservation practices that are appropriate to meeting the concerns described under clause (i), as determined by the Secretary in consultation with eligible partners; and

(vii) methods and processes for enrollment of eligible land under the agreement, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the eligible partner.

An agreement entered into or modified under paragraph (1) to carry out the conservation reserve enhancement program shall—

(i) subject to clause (ii), require the eligible partner to provide matching funds—

(I) in an amount determined during a negotiation between the Secretary and 1 or more eligible partners, if the majority of the matching funds to carry out the agreement are provided by 1 or more eligible partners that are not nongovernmental organizations; or

(II) in an amount not less than 30 percent of the cost required to carry out the conservation measures and practices described in the agreement, if a majority of the matching funds to carry out the agreement are provided by 1 or more nongovernmental organizations; and

(ii) include procedures to allow for a temporary waiver of the matching requirements under clause (i), or continued enrollment with a temporary suspension of incentives or eligible partner contributions for new agreements, during a period when an eligible partner loses the authority or ability to provide matching contributions, if the Secretary determines that the temporary waiver or continued enrollment with a temporary suspension will advance the purposes of this subchapter.

Section 1231A(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking under a CREP and inserting under a contract entered into pursuant to an agreement under this section;

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking under a CREP each place it appears and inserting under a contract entered into pursuant to an agreement under this section;

(3) in paragraph (4)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting reserve after consistent with the conservation; and

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking The amount of payments received by and inserting The amount of payments made by the Secretary to.

Section 1231A(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(d)) is amended to read as follows:

In the case of an agreement under subsection (b)(1) that includes forested riparian buffers as an eligible practice, the Secretary shall allow an owner or operator—

(1) to plant food-producing woody plants in the forested riparian buffers, on the conditions that—

(A) the plants shall contribute to the conservation of soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat; and

(B) the planting shall be consistent with—

(i) recommendations of the applicable State technical committee established under section 1261(a); and

(ii) technical guide standards approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and

(2) to harvest from plants described in paragraph (1), on the conditions that—

(A) the harvesting shall not damage the conserving cover or otherwise have a negative impact on the conservation concerns targeted by the agreement;

(B) only native plant species appropriate to the region shall be used within 35 feet of the watercourse; and

(C) the producer shall be subject to a reduction in the rental rate commensurate to the value of the crop harvested.

Section 1231A(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(e)) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking In the case of an agreement under subsection (b)(1) to address regional drought concerns, in accordance with the conservation purposes of the CREP and inserting In the case of an agreement under the conservation reserve enhancement program to address regional drought concerns, in accordance with the conservation purposes of the agreement; and

(2) in paragraph (1), by striking notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) and inserting notwithstanding section 1230(4).

Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is amended by striking subsection (f).

Section 1232 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking a plan and inserting a conservation reserve plan;

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking highly erodible cropland and inserting eligible land;

(C) in paragraph (5)—

(i) by striking undertake and inserting conduct; and

(ii) by striking conservation plan and inserting conservation reserve plan; and

(D) in paragraph (7), by inserting conservation reserve before program; and

(2) by striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

Section 1233(a)(2)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833(a)(2)(A)) by striking highly erodible cropland, marginal pastureland, or other eligible lands and inserting eligible land.

Section 1233(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)—

(A) in subclause (I)(cc), by inserting conservation reserve before program;

(B) in subclause (II), by striking if payments are authorized for a county under the livestock forage disaster program under clause (ii) of section 1501(c)(3)(D) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(3)(D)) and inserting if an owner or operator has received a payment under the livestock forage disaster program under clause (ii) of section 1501(c)(3)(D) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(3)(D)) in the fiscal year during which the emergency grazing is conducted; and

(C) in subclause (V), by striking under paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 1231(b) and inserting under a contract entered into pursuant to the continuous enrollment option or the partnership initiatives enrollment option; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)—

(A) by amending subclause (I) to read as follows:; and

Except as provided in subclause (II), haying or grazing described in paragraph (1) shall not be permitted on land covered by a contract entered into pursuant to the partnership initiatives enrollment option.

(B) in subclause (II), by striking conservation reserve enhancement program agreement or other partnership agreement entered into under this subchapter and inserting agreement entered into under section 1231A.

Section 1233(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833(d))—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking Beginning on the date that is 1 year before the date of termination of a contract under the program and inserting During the final year of the term of a contract entered into under this subchapter;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in the heading, by striking Conservation plan and inserting Conservation reserve plan; and

(B) by striking a conservation plan and inserting a conservation reserve plan; and

(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:

Land improved under paragraph (1)—

(A) shall not be eligible to be considered for reenrollment in the conservation reserve under section 1231(g), notwithstanding paragraph (1) of such section; and

(B) may not be subsequently enrolled in the conservation reserve before the date that is 5 years after the date of expiration of the contract.

Section 1233(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833(e)) is amended by inserting reserve after conservation.

Section 1233 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall allocate acres to States for enrollment of eligible land in the conservation reserve under this subchapter, based—

(1) primarily on the proportion of eligible land in each State relative to the total acreage of eligible land in all States; and

(2) also on consideration of—

(A) historical State enrollment rates;

(B) the extent and magnitude in each State of the conservation needs and of the impact of agricultural production on water quality, water quantity, wetlands, and wildlife habitat;

(C) the degree to which implementation of the conservation reserve program in each State is, or will be, effective in helping producers address such needs and mitigate such impact; and

(D) equitable geographic distribution of acres, as determined by the Secretary.

Section 1234(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)) is amended—

(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

In making cost sharing payments to an owner or operator under a contract entered into under this subchapter, the Secretary shall pay 50 percent of the cost of, as the Secretary determines appropriate and in the public interest—

(A) establishing permanent vegetation, including site preparation, cover, fertilizer, seeding, and planting;

(B) carrying out erosion control practices necessary to stabilize the site for vegetation established under subparagraph (A);

(C) installing fencing to protect riparian areas and buffers;

(D) carrying out water development practices associated with excluding livestock from protected riparian areas;

(E) installing fencing and carrying out water development practices to facilitate transition to livestock grazing on lands enrolled under the grasslands enrollment option;

(F) conducting the necessary and appropriate mid-contract management activities to maintain the permanent cover and associated benefits; and

(G) carrying out other water quality conservation measures and practices.

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) in the heading, by inserting or haying after grazing; and

(ii) by inserting for grazing livestock or harvesting hay before pursuant to; and

(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting made by the Secretary before under this subchapter;

(3) in paragraph (3), by striking the conservation reserve enhancement program under section 1231A and inserting section 1231A; and

(4) by striking paragraph (4).

Section 1234(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(c)) is amended to read as follows:

In addition to the cost sharing payment described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall make a practice incentive payment to an owner or operator of eligible land enrolled under the continuous enrollment option, or of eligible land described in section 1231(b)(2) (and any associated eligible land described in section 1231(b)(5)) and enrolled under the partnership initiatives enrollment option, in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the actual cost of establishing all measures and practices described in subsection (b)(1), including seed costs related to the establishment of cover, as determined by the Secretary.

In addition to the annual rental payment under subsection (d), the Secretary may make an incentive payment to an owner or operator for enrolling environmentally sensitive eligible land in the conservation reserve to implement or establish a qualifying practice.

The Secretary shall—

(i) for purposes of subparagraph (A), establish an incentive payment amount for each contract with an owner or operator that does not exceed 50 percent of the first annual rental payment made to the owner or operator under subsection (d) for the eligible land; and

(ii) make any incentive payment under subparagraph (A) concurrent with such first annual rental payment.

In this paragraph, the term qualifying practice means a practice the implementation or establishment of which is appropriate to encourage on environmentally sensitive eligible land—

(i) as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the applicable State technical committee, for environmentally sensitive eligible land enrolled under the continuous enrollment option; or

(ii) as identified in an agreement under section 1231A, for environmentally sensitive eligible land enrolled pursuant to such agreement.

Using funds made available under section 1241(a)(1)(A), the Secretary may make incentive payments to an owner or operator of eligible land in an amount sufficient to encourage proper thinning and other practices to improve the condition of resources, promote forest management, or enhance wildlife habitat on the land.

A payment described in subparagraph (A) may not exceed 100 percent of the total cost of thinning and other practices conducted by the owner or operator.

The Secretary shall reduce the amount of a payment under subparagraph (A) by an amount that is equal to any income received by the owner or operator as a result of the thinning or other practice, as determined by the Secretary.

Section 1234(d)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(d)(1)) is amended—

(A) by striking highly erodible cropland or other eligible lands each place it appears and inserting eligible land; and

(B) by striking the program established by this subchapter and inserting the conservation reserve program.

Section 1234(d)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(d)(2)) is amended—

(A) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if land subject to a contract entered into under this subchapter is reenrolled pursuant to section 1231(g), the annual rental payment shall be in an amount that is not more than the applicable percentage of the relevant county average soil rental rate for the year in which the reenrollment occurs (as determined under paragraph (4)(E)).

For purposes of clause (i), the applicable percentage shall be—

(I) for the first reenrollment that occurs after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, 85 percent; and

(II) for each subsequent reenrollment, the percentage that is 10 percentage points less than the percentage that was applicable to the preceding reenrollment.

The limitations on annual rental payments under clauses (i) and (ii) may be waived or modified as part of the negotiation between the Secretary and an eligible partner to enter into an agreement under section 1231A.

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting subparagraphs (A) and (B); and

(C) by striking subparagraph (D).

Section 1234(d)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(d)(3)) is amended—

(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

In determining the acceptability of contract offers, the Secretary shall—

(i) with the advice of the applicable State technical committee, take into consideration the extent to which enrollment of the land that is the subject of the contract offer would improve soil resources, water quality, or wildlife habitat or provide other environmental benefits; and

(ii) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, an equitable balance among the conservation purposes of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat.

(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

The Secretary, with the advice of the applicable State technical committee, shall establish different criteria for determining the acceptability of contract offers in various States based on the extent to which water quality or wildlife habitat may be improved or erosion may be abated.

(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); and

(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, maximize water quality and habitat benefits in conservation priority areas designated under section 1231(f) by promoting a significant level of enrollment of land within such areas in the conservation reserve by—

(i) giving additional weight to applications for the enrollment of land within such areas that will maximize water quality and habitat benefits;

(ii) holding a signup and enrollment under the general enrollment option and the grasslands enrollment option specific to the designated areas; or

(iii) whatever other means the Secretary determines are appropriate and consistent with the purposes of this subchapter.

In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary, in consultation with the applicable State technical committee, shall give priority to contract offers for enrollment under the grasslands enrollment option for eligible land—

(i) that has previously been enrolled under the general enrollment option, the continuous enrollment option, or the partnership initiatives enrollment option;

(ii) with established cover that supports conservation objectives for a conservation priority area designated under section 1231(f); and

(iii) enrollment of which under the grasslands enrollment option will extend the protection of the established cover as an alternative to cropping.

Section 1234(d)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(d)(4)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking as a factor;

(B) in subparagraph (D)—

(i) in the header, by striking fsa offices and crep and inserting offices and;

(ii) by amending clause (i) to read as follows:

The Secretary shall, prior to finalizing a new soil rental rate, provide a period of not fewer than 60 days for the County Operating Committees of the Farm Service Agency, State Committees of the Farm Service Agency, State conservationists, conservation districts, State technical committees established under section 1261(a), and eligible partners to review such rate and concur or propose an alternative soil rental rate, on the condition that documentation described in clause (ii) is provided to support the proposed alternative.

(iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and

(iv) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:; and

The Secretary shall accept and finalize an alternative soil rental rate proposed in accordance with clause (i) unless the Secretary finds that such alternative rate is not appropriate, and publishes such finding on a publicly accessible website, including a justification for such finding.

(C) by amending subparagraph (E) to read as follows:

The county average soil rental rate (before any adjustments relating to specific practices, wellhead protection, or soil productivity) shall not exceed—

(I) for eligible land consisting of soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of I or II that is enrolled under the general enrollment option, 85 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph;

(II) for eligible land consisting of soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of III that is enrolled under the general enrollment option, 100 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph;

(III) for eligible land consisting of soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of IV through VII that is enrolled under the general enrollment option, 115 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph; and

(IV) for eligible land enrolled under the continuous enrollment option, 100 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph, without regard to the land capability class of the soil.

For eligible land enrolled under the partnership initiatives enrollment option, the county average soil rental rate (before any adjustments relating to specific practices, wellhead protection, or soil productivity) shall not exceed—

(I) for eligible land consisting of soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of I or II, 85 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph;

(II) for eligible land consisting of soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of III, 100 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph;

(III) for eligible land consisting of soils with a dryland cropland land capability class of IV through VII, 115 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph; and

(IV) for eligible land that would otherwise be enrolled under the continuous enrollment option, 100 percent of the estimated rental rate determined under this paragraph, without regard to the land capability class of the soil.

Section 1234(e)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(e)(2)) is amended by striking Payments and inserting As the Secretary determines appropriate, payments.

Section 1234(g)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(g)(1)) is amended by striking $50,000 and inserting $125,000.

Section 1235(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking placing the land in the program established by and inserting enrolling the land in the conservation reserve under; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking agreement each place it appears and inserting contract.

Section 1235(b)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(b)(3)) is amended by striking program established by this subchapter and inserting conservation reserve program.

Section 1235(e)(1)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(e)(1)(A)) is amended by striking During fiscal year 2015, the and inserting The.

Section 1235(e)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(e)(2)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking Filterstrips, waterways, strips adjacent to riparian areas, windbreaks, and shelterbelts and inserting Conservation buffers;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking an erodibility index of more than 15 and inserting a dryland cropland land capability class of VI through VII;

(C) in subparagraph (C), by inserting, longleaf pine, or shortleaf pine before trees;

(D) in subparagraph (D), by striking State acres for wildlife enhancement,; and

(E) in subparagraph (J), by striking under the conservation reserve enhancement program and inserting pursuant to section 1231A.

Section 1235(e)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(e)(4)) is amended—

(A) in the heading, by striking Prorated rental payment and inserting Prorations;

(B) by striking If a contract and inserting the following:; and

If a contract

(C) by adding at the end the following:

If a contract entered into under this subchapter is terminated under this subsection before the end of the contract term, the Secretary shall require repayment of the portion of the cost sharing payments received that is proportional to the percentage of the years remaining in the contract term on the date of the termination.

Section 1235(e)(5) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(e)(5)) is amended—

(A) in the heading, by striking Renewed and inserting Subsequent; and

(B) by striking a subsequent bid to enroll the land and inserting an application for subsequent enrollment of the land.

Section 1235(f)(1)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(f)(1)(C)) is amended by inserting reserve after conservation.

Section 1235(f)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(f)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

To the extent that the maximum number of acres permitted to be enrolled under the conservation reserve program has not been met, the Secretary shall approve the first reenrollment requested by a covered farmer or rancher pursuant to section 1231(g), subject to the requirements of such section.

Section 1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary may allow an owner or operator to receive emergency cost-share assistance for livestock water facilities and grazing infrastructure through the emergency conservation program, authorized by section 402 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2202), with respect to land enrolled in the conservation reserve, except that the Secretary shall ensure that there is no payment from the conservation reserve program for the same assistance.

Section 1240A(6)(B)(v) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1(6)(B)(v)) is amended by inserting (including the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology) after planning.

Section 1240B(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(a)) is amended by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1240B(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(6)) is amended—

(A) by striking A producer shall and inserting the following:; and

A producer shall

(B) by adding at the end the following:

A producer receiving payments for practices on eligible land under the program may also receive a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to cover costs for the same practices on the same land.

The Secretary shall inform a producer participating in the program in writing that they may apply to receive a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act as it relates to costs of implementing practices under this program.

Section 1240B(d)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(7)) is amended—

(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting state-determined before high-priority; and

(B) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in clause (iii), by striking or at the end;

(ii) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and inserting; or; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

(v) increases carbon sequestration or reduces greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions of methane and nitrous oxide.

Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary may increase the amount that would otherwise be provided for a practice under this subsection to not more than 90 percent of the costs associated with adopting precision agriculture practices and acquiring precision agriculture technology for the purpose of implementing conservation practices.

Section 1240B(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(f)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(B)—

(A) in the heading, by striking 2031 and inserting 2029; and

(B) by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1240B(h)(1) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking; or and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting; or; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(D) the adoption of precision agriculture practices or the acquisition of precision agriculture technology to achieve water conservation and energy efficiency.

Section 1240B(i)(3)(A)(ii) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking 2019 through 2023, $140,000 and inserting 2025 through 2029, $200,000.

Section 1240B(j)(2)(A)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(j)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting (which may include the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology) after incentive practices.

Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall provide payments under the program to producers to implement conservation practices on covered lands of such producers that address and repair covered damage that may contribute to a natural resource concern or problem.

In the case of a contract under the program entered into for the implementation of practices described in paragraph (1), such contract shall have a term of 1 year.

In this subsection:

The term covered damage means damage to agricultural land or farming infrastructure.

The term covered land means eligible land in a county at or near the southern border of the United States, as determined by the Secretary.

Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–7) is amended by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2025 through 2029.

Section 1240H(a) is amended—

(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:; and

Out of the funds made available to carry out this subchapter, the Secretary may award competitive grants that are intended to stimulate development and evaluation of new and innovative approaches to leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production or forest resource management, through the program, including grants for the development and evaluation of new and innovative technologies that may be incorporated into conservation practice standards.

(2) in paragraph (2)(H), by inserting before the period (including precision agriculture practices and precision agriculture technologies).

Section 1240H(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(b)(2)) is amended by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1240H(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)—

(A) in subclause (VI), by striking and at the end; and

(B) by inserting after subclause (VII) the following:; and

(VIII) perennial production systems, including agroforestry and perennial forages and grain crops; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1240H(d)(2)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(d)(2)(A)) is amended—

(1) in clause (i)—

(A) by inserting, including both management and structural conservation practices, after conservation practices; and

(B) by striking and at the end;

(2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii);

(3) by inserting after clause (i) the following:; and

(ii) data that may be used to evaluate new and emerging technologies and recommendations for State and regional applications of such new and emerging technologies; and

(4) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by inserting for consideration under the streamlined process developed under section 1242(h)(3) before the period at the end.

Section 1240J(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–22(a)) is amended by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1240L(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting before the period (including increased costs associated with planning and adopting precision agriculture conservation activities and acquiring precision agriculture technology); and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

The amount of an annual payment under the program shall be not less than $2,500.

Section 1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d)) is amended—

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking and advanced grazing management and inserting, advanced grazing management, and precision agriculture;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking; or and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting; or; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:; and

(C) precision agriculture conservation activities.

(3) in paragraph (3), by striking or advanced grazing management and inserting, advanced grazing management, or precision agriculture conservation activities.

Section 1240L(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(f)) is amended by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2025 through 2029.

Section 1240L(h)(2)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(h)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In this section:

The term eligible Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe that is—

(A) implementing a soil health program for the area over which the Indian Tribe has jurisdiction; and

(B) meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the Indian Tribe for the soil health program.

The term eligible State means a State that is—

(A) implementing a soil health program for the State; and

(B) meeting or exceeding performance measures established by the State for the soil health program.

The term soil health program means a program to improve soil health on agricultural land that—

(A) is broadly consistent with the soil health principles of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B) may include—

(i) technical assistance;

(ii) financial assistance;

(iii) on-farm research and demonstration;

(iv) education, outreach, and training;

(v) monitoring and evaluation; or

(vi) such other components as the Secretary determines appropriate.

For fiscal years 2025 through 2029, the Secretary shall make grants to eligible States and eligible Indian Tribes for the purpose of improving soil health on agricultural lands through the implementation of State and Tribal soil health programs.

To receive a grant under this section, an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such a manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, which shall include—

(A) a description of performance measures to be used to evaluate the State or Tribal soil health program and the results of any activities carried out using grant funds received under this section; and

(B) an assurance that grant funds received under this section will supplement the expenditure of State or Tribal funds in support of soil health, rather than replace such funds.

An Indian Tribe shall have the option, at the sole discretion of the Indian Tribe, to be incorporated into the application of an eligible State.

In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible States and eligible Indian Tribes with a climate action plan that includes soil health, as determined by the Secretary.

The amount of a grant to an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe under this section for a fiscal year may not exceed the lower of—

(A) $5,000,000; or

(B) as applicable—

(i) 50 percent of the cost of implementing the State soil health program in the fiscal year; or

(ii) 75 percent of the cost of implementing the Tribal soil health program in the fiscal year.

A grant under this section shall be for 1 year, and may be renewed annually.

An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary—

(1) for each year for which the State or Indian Tribe receives such a grant, the results of an audit of the expenditures of the grant funds; and

(2) at such intervals as the Secretary shall establish, a review and evaluation of the State or Tribal soil health program.

If the Secretary, after reasonable notice to an eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section, finds that the State or Indian Tribe has failed to comply with the terms of the grant, the Secretary may disqualify, for 1 or more years, the State or Indian Tribe from receipt of future grants under this section.

Of the funds made available to carry out this subchapter, $100,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out this section.

The Secretary may not use more than 3 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year for administrative expenses.

An eligible State or eligible Indian Tribe receiving a grant under this section may not use more than 7 percent of the granted funds for a fiscal year for administrative expenses.

Section 1240M(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Chapter 5 of subtitle D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1240M the following:

The Secretary shall establish a feral swine eradication and control program (in this section referred to as the program) to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health.

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall—

(1) study and assess the nature and extent of damage to the threatened areas caused by feral swine;

(2) develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine in the threatened areas;

(3) develop methods to restore damage caused by feral swine; and

(4) provide financial assistance to agricultural producers in threatened areas.

The Secretary may provide financial assistance to agricultural producers under the program to implement methods to—

(1) eradicate or control feral swine in the threatened areas; and

(2) restore damage caused by feral swine.

The Secretary shall ensure that the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service coordinate for purposes of this section through State technical committees established under section 1261(a).

The Federal share of the costs of activities under the program may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such activities.

The non-Federal share of the costs of activities under the program may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions of materials or services.

In this section, the term threatened area means an area of a State in which feral swine have been identified as a threat to agriculture, native ecosystems, or human and animal health, as determined by the Secretary.

Of the funds made available under section 1241(a)(3)(A), the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Of the funds made available under paragraph (1)—

(A) 40 percent shall be allocated to the Natural Resources Conservation Service to carry out the program, including the provision of financial assistance to producers for on-farm trapping and technology related to capturing and confining feral swine; and

(B) 60 percent shall be allocated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to carry out the program, including the use of established, and testing of innovative, population reduction methods.

Not more than 10 percent of funds made available under this section may be used for administrative expenses of the program.

Section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note) is repealed.

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 is amended by striking the item relating to section 2408.

Section 1240O(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–2(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(2) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking; and and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(C) of the funds made available under section 1241(a)(3)(A), $1,000,000 beginning in fiscal year 2025, to remain available until expended.

Section 1240R(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5(f)) is amended to read as follows:

Of the funds made available under section 1241(a)(3)(A), the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

To the maximum extent practicable, of the funds made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use $3,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to encourage public access to land covered by wetland reserve easements under section 1265C through agreements with States and Tribal governments under this section.

Section 3(a) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003(a)) is amended by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7) and inserting after paragraph (5) the following:

(6) to provide technical and financial assistance for remedial actions in accordance with subsection (c); and

Section 3 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In carrying out subsection (a)(6), the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to local organizations for remedial actions for a completed work of improvement installed under this Act with respect to which—

(A) deterioration of a structural component of the work of improvement is occurring at an abnormal rate, including situations in which such deterioration is due to a design deficiency or to site conditions that were unknown at the time of installation of the work of improvement;

(B) the planned service life of the work of improvement exceeds the service life of a structural component of such work of improvement; or

(C) structural damage to such work of improvement, or to a structural component of such work of improvement, was caused by a storm event that exceeded the maximum storm event for which the work of improvement was designed.

Financial assistance provided under this subsection shall be provided in accordance with the cost-share rate established in the agreement with the local organization for the work of improvement.

The Secretary shall, on an ongoing basis—

(1) engage with relevant Federal agencies to reduce or eliminate regulatory, policy, or procedural barriers to timely provision of assistance under this Act;

(2) provide for streamlined procedures relating to coordination with other Federal or State agencies for required reviews and permitting of projects pursuant to this Act, and ensure such procedures are commensurate with the size and scale of the projects;

(3) conduct an assessment of internal Department of Agriculture planning, technical support, and approvals to determine best practices to be used for the purpose of maximizing the decisionmaking authority of State conservationists with respect to approvals required for projects under this Act; and

(4) prioritize the use of agreements and contracting authorities under this Act to provide funding to local organizations for the planning, design, and construction of works of improvement.

Section 13 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1010) is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary shall collect and maintain, and make publicly available—

(1) data, on a national and State-by-State basis, concerning—

(A) expenditures for the individual flood control and conservation measures for which assistance is provided under this Act; and

(B) the expected flood control or environmental (including soil erosion) benefits that will result from the implementation of such measures; and

(2) data, with respect to each project for which assistance is provided under this Act, concerning—

(A) total allocated and expended funds for planning, design, construction, remedial actions, and rehabilitation; and

(B) contracts and agreements entered into by the Secretary with a local organization to provide services, including—

(i) the services provided through such contracts and agreements;

(ii) the total funds allocated to such contracts and agreements; and

(iii) any modifications or adjustments made to such contracts and agreements.

The Secretary may not make publicly available under this section an agreement entered into with an individual landowner, operator, or occupier under this Act, or any disaggregated information that identifies such individual landowner, operator, or occupier.

Section 14(b) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(b)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking 65 percent and inserting 90 percent; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

A rehabilitation project for which assistance is provided under this section shall not be subject to—

(A) the requirement under section 2 that a project contain benefits directly related to agriculture, including rural communities, that account for at least 20 percent of the total benefits of the project; or

(B) section 4(5).

Section 14(h)(2)(E) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(h)(2)(E)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 15 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012a) is amended—

(1) by striking $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and inserting $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and

(2) by inserting before the period at the end, to remain available until expended.

Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting and other emergency conservation measures after fencing; and

(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:; and

With respect to a payment to an agricultural producer under subsection (a) for the repair or replacement of fencing, or for other emergency measures to rehabilitate farmland or to repair or replace a farmland or conservation structure, the Secretary shall give the agricultural producer the option of receiving—

(A) before carrying out such replacement or rehabilitation, not more than 75 percent of the payment for such replacement or rehabilitation, which shall be based on the fair market value of the replacement or rehabilitation, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B) before carrying out such repair, not more than 50 percent of the payment for such repair, which shall be based on the fair market value of the repair, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) by adding at the end the following:

A wildfire that causes damage with respect to which a payment may be made under subsection (a) includes any wildfire that is not caused naturally, including a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government, if the damage is caused by the spread of the fire due to natural causes.

Section 403(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203(b)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (5) and (6);

(2) by inserting after the subsection header the following:; and

The Secretary is authorized to restore appropriate vegetative cover, hydrological functions, and other functions and values of the land subject to a floodplain easement acquired under subsection (a).

The Secretary is authorized to monitor, maintain, and enhance appropriate vegetative cover, hydrological restoration measures, and other restoration measures on land subject to a floodplain easement acquired under subsection (a).

In carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary may—

(A) enter into contracts with landowners; and

(B) enter into agreements with States, nongovernmental organizations, and Indian Tribes.

The Secretary may authorize a landowner to carry out activities on land subject to a floodplain easement acquired under subsection (a) that are—

(A) compatible uses necessary to carry out paragraph (1) or (2); or

(B) compatible economic uses (including such activities as hunting and fishing, managed timber harvest, water management, or periodic haying or grazing) if such uses are consistent with the long-term protection of the floodplain functions and values for which the easement was acquired.

(3) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking paragraph (1) and inserting paragraph (5) each place it appears.

Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In carrying out this section, the Secretary may undertake measures that increase the level of protection above that which would be necessary to address the immediate impairment of the watershed if the Secretary determines that such restoration is in the best interest of the long-term health of the watershed and the long-term protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a national agriculture flood vulnerability report containing the results of a Conservation Effects Assessment Project assessment of flood risk on agricultural lands, including—

(1) an analysis of economic losses of crops and livestock resulting from flooding under different recurrence scenarios;

(2) an analysis of the downstream effects of mitigation activities carried out as part of a watershed management approach;

(3) an analysis of available Federal and State data relating to flood risk, as applicable to agricultural land, including data relating to riverine flooding, coastal flooding, storm surge, extreme precipitation, and flash flooding; and

(4) a description of ongoing producer-level conservation practices and broader government initiatives to manage the effects of flooding and flood risk within and across watersheds, and recommendations for additional practices and initiatives to further address such effects and risk.

Section 1241(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2031 and inserting 2029;

(2) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 2019 through 2023 to provide payments under section 1234(c) and inserting 2025 through 2029 to provide payments under section 1234(c)(3); and

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2025 through 2029;

(3) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting the following:

(A) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(B) $625,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(C) $650,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(D) $675,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and

(E) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.

(4) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking clauses (i) through (v) and inserting the following:; and

(i) $2,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(ii) $2,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(iii) $2,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(iv) $3,100,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and

(v) $3,120,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking clauses (i) through (v) and inserting the following:; and

(i) $1,275,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(ii) $1,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(iii) $1,325,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(iv) $1,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and

(v) $1,375,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.

(5) by adding at the end the following:

(5) The forest conservation easement program under subtitle I, using, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(B) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and

(E) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.

(6) The regional conservation partnership program under subtitle J, using, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(B) $425,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(C) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(D) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and

(E) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.

Section 1241(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(b)) is amended by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1241(e)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(e)(1)) is amended by striking subtitle I and inserting subtitle J.

Section 1241(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(f)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (6)(A)(ii), by inserting of before any terms;

(2) in paragraph (8), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2031 and inserting 2029; and

(3) in paragraph (9)—

(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

(A) subtitle D (except for subchapter B of chapter 1 of such subtitle), subtitle H, subtitle I, or subtitle J;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the semicolon and inserting; or; and

(C) by striking subparagraph (C).

Section 1241(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(h)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(B)—

(A) in the heading, by striking 2031 and inserting 2029; and

(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 2031 and inserting 2029; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking 2031 and inserting 2029.

Section 1241(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(i)) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2024 through 2029; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking section 1265B(b)(2)(B)(ii) and inserting section 1265B(b)(2)(A)(iii).

The unobligated balances of amounts made available by the following provisions of Public Law 117–169 (136 Stat. 2015–2016) are hereby rescinded:

(1) Clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of section 21001(a)(1)(A).

(2) Clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of section 21001(a)(2)(A).

(3) Subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of section 21001(a)(3).

(4) Clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of section 21001(a)(4)(A).

Section 1242(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(a)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

The term non-Federal certifying entity means a non-Federal entity, an Indian Tribe, or a State agency described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (e)(4) that has entered into an agreement under subsection (e)(5)(D).

Section 1242(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(b)) is amended by inserting timely, after consistent,.

Section 1242(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(d)) is amended by inserting (including private sector entities) after Department or non-Federal entities.

Section 1242(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(e)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and inserting Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024;

(2) by amending paragraph (3)(A) to read as follows:; and

(A) ensure that persons (including commercial entities, nonprofit entities, State or local governments or agencies, and other Federal agencies) with expertise in the technical aspects of conservation planning, watershed planning, environmental engineering, conservation practice design, implementation, and evaluation, and any other technical skills determined appropriate by the Secretary, are eligible to become approved providers of the technical assistance;

(3) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5) and inserting the following:

A third-party provider may be certified to provide technical assistance under this section only—

(A) through a certification process administered by the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service;

(B) by a non-Federal entity (other than a State agency or an Indian Tribe) approved by the Secretary under paragraph (5) to certify a third-party provider;

(C) by an Indian Tribe approved by the Secretary under paragraph (5) to certify a third-party provider; or

(D) by a State agency that—

(i) has statutory authority to certify, administer, or license professionals in one or more fields of natural resources, agriculture, or engineering; and

(ii) is approved by the Secretary under paragraph (5) to certify a third-party provider.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall establish a process to approve a non-Federal entity (including a State agency and an Indian Tribe), to become a non-Federal certifying entity.

Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application by a non-Federal entity to certify third-party providers under this section, the Secretary shall make a decision on whether to approve such application.

In carrying out subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall take into consideration—

(i) the ability of the applicable non-Federal entity to assess the qualifications of a third-party provider and to certify third-party providers at scale;

(ii) the experience of the applicable non-Federal entity in working with third-party providers and eligible participants;

(iii) the expertise of the applicable non-Federal entity in the technical skills described in paragraph (3)(A); and

(iv) such other qualifications as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

Upon approving an application under this paragraph, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the non-Federal entity to become a non-Federal certifying entity.

In certifying third-party providers under this section, a non-Federal certifying entity shall—

(i) assess the ability of a third-party provider to appropriately provide technical assistance to eligible participants for specified practices and conservation activities;

(ii) provide training to ensure that a third-party provider is qualified to provide technical assistance upon certification by the non-Federal certifying entity; and

(iii) submit to the Secretary, in a timely manner, information on—

(I) each third-party provider certified by the non-Federal certifying entity, for inclusion on the registry of certified third-party providers maintained by the Secretary; and

(II) each third-party provider the certification of which is withdrawn by the non-Federal certifying entity.

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application from a third-party provider to be certified under the process described in paragraph (4)(A) for particular practices and conservation activities, the Secretary shall—

(i) make a final decision with respect to such application; and

(ii) if the final decision is to certify the third-party provider, include the name of the certified third-party provider on the registry of certified third-party providers maintained by the Secretary.

Not later than 10 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a notification from a non-Federal certifying entity that a third-party provider was certified, pursuant to subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (4), for particular practices and conservation activities, the Secretary shall include the name of the certified third-party provider on the registry of certified third-party providers maintained by the Secretary.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall establish a streamlined process for the Secretary and non-Federal certifying entities to use to certify under this section a third-party provider that has a relevant professional certification for particular practices and conservation activities, as determined by the Secretary.

Section 1242(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(f)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking each of the programs specified in section 1241 and inserting conservation programs administered by the Secretary;

(2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or a non-Federal certifying entity before under this section;

(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall—

(A) review the certification processes under paragraphs (4)(A) and (7) of subsection (e);

(B) make any adjustments considered necessary by the Secretary to—

(i) increase the number of third-party providers delivering technical assistance; and

(ii) improve the quality of technical assistance delivered by third-party providers;

(C) conduct outreach to, and receive input on the barriers for third-party providers to become certified under this section from—

(i) third-party providers that are, or have been, certified under this section; and

(ii) other interested parties associated with eligible participants; and

(D) set a target rate of utilization of third-party providers to deliver technical assistance across all conservation programs administered by the Secretary.

(4) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by inserting (including maintenance) after implementation;

(5) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:; and

For payments provided by the Secretary under paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (c), the Secretary shall determine payment amounts for technical assistance provided by third-party providers, which shall be at rates equivalent to, but that do not exceed, the cost to the Secretary of providing technical assistance directly to an eligible participant.

In determining payment amounts under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider specialized equipment, frequency of site visits, training, travel and transportation, and such other factors as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

A payment provided under subsection (c)(3) shall be excluded from calculations relating to any cost-sharing requirements of the applicable conservation program under which the payment was provided.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly available information on—

(A) funds obligated to third-party providers through—

(i) contracts entered into between eligible participants and individual third-party providers; and

(ii) agreements with public and private sector entities to secure third-party technical assistance;

(B) the certification process under this section, including—

(i) the number of third-party providers certified by the Secretary;

(ii) the number of non-Federal certifying entities approved by the Secretary;

(iii) the number of third-party providers certified by non-Federal certifying entities (other than State agencies and Indian Tribes);

(iv) the number of third-party providers certified by Indian Tribes;

(v) the number of third-party providers certified by State agencies; and

(vi) the number of third-party providers certified through the streamlined certification process described in subsection (e)(7);

(C) how third-party providers contribute to the quality and effectiveness of conservation practices implemented and adopted through conservation programs administered by the Secretary, and what improvements are needed; and

(D) the target rate of utilization of third-party providers set under paragraph (3)(D) and how actual rate of utilization compares to the target rate.

(6) by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall emphasize the use of third-party providers in providing technical assistance for soil health planning, including planning related to the use of cover crops, precision agriculture practices, comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other innovative plans.

Section 1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended—

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking Review and inserting Establishment and review;

(2) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

(A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, and at least every 5 years thereafter, complete a review of each conservation practice standard, including engineering design specifications;

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end;

(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

(E) provide a process for public input on each conservation practice standard under such review, including a process for consideration of State and local input;

(F) publicly post a summary of any input received under subparagraph (E) and any decisions made relating to such input; and

(G) revise any conservation practice standard based on the results of such review, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, and publish any such revised standard.

(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall develop a streamlined process under which the Secretary shall establish interim conservation practice standards and new conservation practice standards.

In developing the streamlined process under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—

(i) ensure that the public can engage with the Department of Agriculture, including by recommending interim conservation practice standards; and

(ii) establish—

(I) the types of data, metrics, and other relevant information that are necessary for the establishment of interim conservation practice standards and new conservation practice standards;

(II) the process by which an interim conservation practice standard may become a new conservation practice standard; and

(III) specific requirements for an expedited review of a new conservation practice for the purpose of establishing a new conservation practice standard for such practice.

In establishing an interim conservation practice standard or a new conservation practice standard under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider—

(i) input from State technical committees on recommendations that identify innovations or advancements in conservation practices;

(ii) technological advancements, including advancements from projects developed under section 1240H; and

(iii) State and local input in the form of—

(I) recommendations for interim conservation practice standards; and

(II) partnership-led proposals for new and innovative techniques to facilitate implementing agreements and grants under this title; and

(iv) input from native entities in the form of information relating to native traditional ecological knowledge that can inform conservation practice standards.

The Secretary shall make available on a public website a detailed description of the process for recommending, reviewing, and establishing interim conservation practice standards and new conservation practice standards under this paragraph.

(4) in paragraph (4)—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and inserting Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024; and

(ii) by striking a report on and inserting a report detailing;

(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking administrative and inserting streamlined;

(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end;

(D) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(E) by adding at the end the following:; and

(D) any other information the Secretary determines useful to improve such streamlined process for reviewing and establishing conservation practice standards.

(5) by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall establish within the Office of the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service an Office of Conservation Innovation (referred to in this paragraph as the Office) which shall be under the direct supervision of the Chief.

The Office shall—

(i) provide support to the Chief in meeting the requirements of this subsection; and

(ii) encourage innovation in conservation practices through—

(I) revisions of existing conservation practice standards;

(II) recommendations of interim conservation practice standards; and

(III) recommendations of new conservation practice standards.

The Chief shall detail to the Office not more than 6 employees of the Department of Agriculture who are technical specialists that possess an understanding of conventional, organic, and other production techniques representing—

(i) agronomy and agroecology;

(ii) grazing lands ecology (including rangeland, pastureland, and grazed forest land);

(iii) animal husbandry (including animal nutrition and feed management);

(iv) water conservation, drainage water management, and irrigation engineering technology;

(v) agricultural engineering (including animal waste management, energy, and structural measures); and

(vi) forest ecology and agroforestry.

The Secretary shall use funding from the annual appropriations for conservation operations of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to carry out this subsection.

Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title), qualified candidates, as described in paragraph (2), directly to positions within the Natural Resources Conservation Service that provide technical assistance under conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Paragraph (1) applies to a candidate who—

(A) is qualified to provide the technical assistance described in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary; and

(B) meets qualification standards established by the Office of Personnel Management.

Section 1244(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(d)) is amended by striking I. and inserting J..

Section 1244(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(f)) is amended—

(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

The Secretary shall not enroll more than 25 percent of the cropland in any county in the conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D and wetland reserve easements under section 1265C.

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (1)(A) and inserting paragraph (1); and

(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end and inserting or;

(3) in paragraph (3), by striking paragraph (1)(A) and inserting paragraph (1); and

(4) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking classes IV and inserting classes III.

Section 1244(j)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(j)(1)) is amended—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall and inserting The Secretary shall establish a process under which the Secretary shall annually;

(B) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:; and

(A) review, with respect to each State, the actual practice costs and rates of payments (or, where actual practice costs and rates of payments are not available, estimates of such practice costs and rates) made to producers pursuant to programs under this title for practices on eligible land; and

(C) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) in clause (ii), by striking and at the end;

(ii) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv);

(iii) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:; and

(iii) accounts for the variability in costs of implementing practices on eligible land under this title; and

(iv) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking regional, State, and and inserting State and.

Section 1244(j)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(j)(2)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking estimates for; and

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) in clause (i), by striking and at the end;

(ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii);

(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following:; and

(ii) monitoring for and identifying significant variability in practice costs in each year; and

(iv) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by inserting and, when appropriate, adopting any recommendations made by such State technical committee after that State.

Section 1244(j) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In order to provide rates of payments that are commensurate with the costs of implementing practices pursuant to programs under this title, the Secretary shall establish processes and procedures for updating rates of payments under a contract or agreement in effect under this title to reflect the appropriate practice costs and rates of payments determined under paragraph (2)(B) for the year in which the practice is implemented.

Section 1244(n) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(n)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii);

(ii) in clause (i), by striking the and at the end; and

(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following:; and

(ii) identify in each State a source water protection coordinator who shall be responsible for coordinating such collaboration with community water systems under this subsection; and

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking under subparagraph (A)(ii) and inserting under subparagraph (A)(iii);

(2) in paragraph (3), strike 2031 and insert 2029; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

Beginning on the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall make publicly available—

(A) an annual report that details—

(i) for each local priority area identified under paragraph (2)(A)(i)—

(I) the conservation programs under which assistance is provided pursuant to paragraph (1);

(II) the practices implemented pursuant to paragraph (1); and

(III) the number of contracts and acres devoted to such practices;

(ii) for each conservation program administered by the Secretary—

(I) the amount of funds obligated and expended for practices implemented pursuant to paragraph (1); and

(II) information regarding the status of compliance with paragraph (3); and

(iii) the practices, by State, that are receiving increased incentives and higher payment rates under paragraph (2)(A)(iii); and

(B) through an interactive map, aggregated data detailed under subparagraph (A).

Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may, as appropriate, encourage the use of conservation practices that support the development, restoration, and maintenance of habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors.

Section 1252(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3851(a)) is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary shall establish an experienced services program (referred to in this section as the program) for the purpose of utilizing the talents of individuals who are age 55 or older, but who are not employees of the Department of Agriculture or a State agriculture department, to provide technical, professional, and administrative services in support of conservation programs administered by the Secretary, including conservation planning assistance, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices.

Section 1252(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3851(c)) is amended—

(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:; and

Except as provided in paragraph (2), with respect to subsection (a), the Secretary may carry out the program using funds made available to carry out each conservation program administered by the Secretary.

(2) by striking paragraph (3).

Section 1265A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865a) is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (2);

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and

(3) in paragraph (3)(A), as so redesignated, by amending clause (i) to read as follows:

(i) that is subject to a pending offer for purchase of an agricultural land easement from an eligible entity;

Section 1265B(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking in eligible land; and inserting on eligible land; and;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking (iv); and and inserting (iii).; and

(3) by striking paragraph (3).

Section 1265B(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(b)(2)) is amended—

(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

An agreement described in paragraph (4) shall provide for a Federal share determined by the Secretary of an amount not to exceed 65 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement, as determined by the Secretary using—

(I) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice;

(II) an areawide market analysis or survey; or

(III) another industry-approved method.

In the case of eligible land with respect to which a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher holds an ownership interest of not less than 50 percent, the Secretary may provide an amount not to exceed 90 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

In the case of grassland of special environmental significance, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide an amount not to exceed 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) by amending clause (i) to read as follows:

Under the agreement, the eligible entity shall provide a non-Federal share that is equivalent to the remainder of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement not provided by the Secretary under subparagraph (A).

(ii) by striking clause (ii);

(iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii); and

(iv) in clause (ii), as so redesignated, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking subparagraph and inserting paragraph; and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

Notwithstanding paragraph (4)(C)(v), an eligible entity may elect to enter into an agreement under paragraph (4) in which the terms and conditions of an agricultural land easement funded under the agreement do not include a right of enforcement for the Secretary if the eligible entity agrees to a Federal share that does not exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement, as determined by the Secretary under subparagraph (A).

Under an agreement described in clause (i), an eligible entity shall be authorized to use its own terms and conditions for agricultural land easements so long as the Secretary determines such terms and conditions—

(I) are consistent with the purposes of the program; and

(II) permit effective enforcement of the conservation purposes of such easements.

Under an agreement described in clause (i), the Secretary shall require the terms and conditions for the agricultural land easement to include a right of enforcement for the eligible entity.

Under an agreement described in clause (i), the eligible entity shall provide cash resources in an amount that is not less than 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement, as determined by the Secretary under subparagraph (A).

Section 1265B(b)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary may evaluate and rank applications submitted by eligible entities for the purchase of agricultural land easements from landowners who are socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers separately from applications submitted for the purchase of agricultural land easements from other landowners.

Section 1265B(b)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (42 U.S.C. 3865b(b)(4)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) by striking clause (iii);

(ii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively;

(iii) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by striking the and at the end;

(iv) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting;; and

(v) by adding at the end the following:

(v) include a right of enforcement for the Secretary that—

(I) may be used only if the terms and conditions of the easement are not enforced by the eligible entity; and

(II) does not extend to a right of inspection unless—

(AA) the holder of the easement fails to provide monitoring reports in a timely manner; or

(BB) the Secretary has a reasonable and articulable belief that the terms and conditions of the easement have been violated; and

(bb) prior to the inspection, the Secretary notifies the eligible entity and the landowner of the inspection and provides a reasonable opportunity for the eligible entity and the landowner to participate in the inspection; and

(vi) include a right of the Secretary to require the transfer of the easement to a different eligible entity if the eligible entity that holds the easement ceases to exist or is no longer eligible to participate in the program, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) in subparagraph (D)—

(i) in clause (ii)—

(I) in subclause (I)(ff), by striking (v) and inserting (iv); and

(II) in subclause (II), by striking the and at the end;

(ii) in subclause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(iii) by inserting at the end the following:

(iv) do not conflict with any minimum terms or conditions under subparagraph (C) that may be required.

(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and

(D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

An eligible entity shall be authorized to modify a term or condition of an agricultural land easement funded under an agreement under subparagraph (A) if such modification does not conflict with any minimum term or condition required by the Secretary under subparagraph (C).

Section 1265B(b)(5) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(b)(5)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking under which the Secretary may and inserting, to minimize administrative burdens on the Secretary and recognize the ability of experienced eligible entities to administer easements with minimal oversight by the Secretary, under which the Secretary shall; and

(ii) in clause (iv), by inserting, and modify, after entity to use;

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) in clause (ii)—

(I) in subclause (II), by striking 10 and inserting 5; and

(II) in subclause (III), by striking the or at the end;

(ii) in clause (iii)—

(I) in subclause (I), by striking 10 and inserting 5; and

(II) in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting; or;

(iii) by adding at the end the following:; and

(iv) is an eligible entity not described in clause (ii) or (iii) that has—

(I) acquired not fewer than 10 agricultural land easements under the program or any predecessor program; and

(II) successfully met the responsibilities of the eligible entity under the applicable agreements with the Secretary, as determined by the Secretary, relating to agricultural land easements that the eligible entity has acquired under the program or any predecessor program.

(C) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) in the header, by striking Review and revision and inserting Review and revocation;

(ii) in the header of clause (i) by striking Review and inserting Certified entity review; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall establish and conduct an annual quality review process to—

(I) review a sample set of easements acquired by certified eligible entities;

(II) ensure the integrity of the easement acquisition process under this section;

(III) establish and enforce a process for corrective actions; and

(IV) provide for a waiver of successive easement reviews based on demonstrated compliance.

Section 1265C(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking tribes and inserting Tribes and landowners who are socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (3)(C) the following:

The Secretary may evaluate and rank offers from landowners who are socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers separately from offers from other landowners.

Section 1265C(c)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c(c)(1)) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting subsection (g).

Section 1265C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as subsections (e) through (h); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (c), the following:

The Secretary shall provide financial assistance to owners of eligible land enrolled under this section for the repair, necessary maintenance, and enhancement activities described in the wetland reserve easement plan developed for the eligible land under subsection (g)(1).

The Secretary shall—

(A) regularly assess land enrolled under this section to identify maintenance and management needs, including any needed repair or enhancement of existing structural practices, in accordance with the applicable wetland reserve easement plan;

(B) consistent with the purposes of the program, create, execute, and update as necessary based on the assessments carried out under subparagraph (A), a stewardship strategy for—

(i) prioritizing and addressing the needs identified under subparagraph (A); and

(ii) projecting the amount of annual funding needed for financial and technical assistance to address such needs; and

(C) establish a 5-year schedule to address such needs.

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make payments in an amount that is not more than 100 percent of the eligible costs, as determined by the Secretary.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary 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 that includes—

(A) an inventory of the existing stewardship needs of all wetland reserve easements, based on the assessments carried out under paragraph (2);

(B) the stewardship strategy created under paragraph (2)(B);

(C) the amounts the Secretary plans to allocate to address such stewardship needs, based on projections made pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(ii); and

(D) the planned use of compatible uses under subsection (b)(5)(C), contracts or agreements under subsection (e)(2), or wetland reserve easement plans under subsection (g)(1) to ensure that each such stewardship need is addressed.

Subsection (e) of section 1265C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c), as so redesignated, is amended—

(1) in the header, by striking Technical assistance and inserting Assistance; and

(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:

The Secretary may enter into 1 or more contracts or agreements with a Federal, State, or local agency, a nongovernmental organization, an Indian Tribe, or a private entity to carry out necessary restoration, enhancement, maintenance, repair, assessment, or monitoring of a wetland reserve easement if the Secretary determines that the contract or agreement will advance the purposes of the program.

Subsection (f) of section 1265C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c), as so redesignated, is amended—

(1) by striking The Secretary and inserting the following:; and

The Secretary

(2) by adding at the end the following:

Of the funds made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 15 percent to carry out this subsection.

Section 1265D(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865d(c)) is amended—

(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:; and

The Secretary may approve a modification of any interest in land, or portion of such interest, administered by the Secretary, either directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the program if the Secretary determines that the modification—

(I) will support the long-term agricultural viability of the applicable farm or ranch operation and the conservation values of the applicable easement;

(II) will result in equal or increased conservation values;

(III) is consistent with the original intent of the easement;

(IV) is consistent with the purposes of the program; and

(V) is in the public interest or furthers the practical administration of the program, including correcting errors, exercising reserved rights, and increasing flexibility to recognize changes in water availability or administration.

In modifying an interest in land, or portion of such interest, under this subparagraph, the Secretary may not, except in the case of a modification that includes a change to an easement to add acreage, increase any payment to an eligible entity.

An action taken pursuant to this subparagraph may not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).

The Secretary may approve an exchange of any interest in land, or portion of such interest, administered by the Secretary, either directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the program if the Secretary determines that—

(I) no reasonable alternative exists and the effect on the interest in land is avoided or minimized to the extent practicable; and

(II) the exchange—

(aa) results in equal or increased conservation values;

(bb) results in equal or greater economic value to the United States;

(cc) is consistent with the original intent of the easement;

(dd) is consistent with the purposes of the program; and

(ee) is in the public interest or furthers the practical administration of the program.

In exchanging an interest in land, or portion of such interest, under this subparagraph, the Secretary may not increase any payment to an eligible entity.

(2) by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary may approve and make de minimis adjustments to any interest in land, or a portion of such interest, administered by the Secretary, directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the program if the Secretary determines that the adjustment—

(i) furthers the practical administration of the program; and

(ii) is not a subordination, modification, exchange, or termination, as determined by the Secretary.

De minimis adjustments made under this paragraph may include title corrections and other minor adjustments, including—

(i) typographical error corrections;

(ii) minor changes in legal descriptions as a result of survey or mapping errors;

(iii) the transfer of an interest of an eligible entity to another eligible entity;

(iv) changes to a building envelope boundary;

(v) relocation of easement access;

(vi) authorization of temporary work areas not associated with other easement administration actions; and

(vii) other adjustments determined necessary by the Secretary.

Section 1265D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865D) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The adjusted gross income limitation described in section 1001D(b)(1) shall not apply to any payment or other assistance under this subtitle.

Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subtitle I (16 U.S.C. 3871 et seq.) as subtitle J; and

(2) by inserting after subtitle H (16 U.S.C. 3865 et seq.) the following:

The Secretary shall establish a forest conservation easement program for the conservation and restoration of eligible land and natural resources through the acquisition of conservation easements or other interests in land.

The purposes of the program are—

(1) to protect the viability and sustainability of working forest land, and related conservation values of eligible land, by limiting the negative effects of nonforest land uses of such land;

(2) to protect and enhance forest ecosystem and landscape functions and values;

(3) to promote the restoration, protection, and improvement of habitat of species that are threatened, endangered, or otherwise at risk; and

(4) to carry out the purposes and functions of the healthy forests reserve program established under title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq.), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this section.

In this subtitle:

The term acreage owned by an Indian Tribe means—

(A) land that is held in trust by the United States for Indian Tribes or individual Indians;

(B) land, the title to which is held by Indian Tribes or individual Indians subject to Federal restrictions against alienation or encumbrance;

(C) land that is subject to rights of use, occupancy, and benefit of certain Indian Tribes;

(D) land that is held in fee title by an Indian Tribe;

(E) land that is owned by a native corporation formed under—

(i) section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the Indian Reorganization Act) (25 U.S.C. 5124); or

(ii) section 8 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1607); and

(F) a combination of 1 or more types of land described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).

The term eligible entity means—

(A) an agency of State or local government or an Indian Tribe (including a land resource council established under State law); or

(B) an organization that is—

(i) organized for, and at all times since the formation of the organization has been operated principally for, 1 or more of the conservation purposes specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(ii) an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of that Code that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code; or

(iii) described in—

(I) paragraph (1) or (2) of section 509(a) of that Code; or

(II) section 509(a)(3) of that Code and is controlled by an organization described in section 509(a)(2) of that Code.

The term eligible land means private land or acreage owned by an Indian Tribe—

(A) that is—

(i) forest land; or

(ii) being restored to forest land;

(B) in the case of a forest land easement—

(i) the enrollment of which would protect working forests and related conservation values by conserving land; or

(ii) the protection of which will further a State or local policy consistent with the purposes of the program; and

(C) in the case of a forest reserve easement, the enrollment of which will maintain, restore, enhance, or otherwise measurably—

(i) increase the likelihood of recovery of a species that is listed as endangered or threatened under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533); or

(ii) improve the well-being of a species that is—

(I) not listed as endangered or threatened under that section; and

(aa) a candidate for that listing, a State-listed species, or a special concern species; or

(bb) designated as a species of greatest conservation need by a State wildlife action plan.

The term forest land easement means an easement or other interest in eligible land that—

(A) is conveyed to an eligible entity for the purpose of protecting natural resources and the forest nature of the eligible land; and

(B) permits the landowner the right to continue working forest production and related uses, consistent with an applicable forest management plan.

The term forest management plan means—

(A) a forest stewardship plan described in section 5(f) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103a(f));

(B) another plan approved by the applicable State forester or State forestry agency;

(C) a plan developed under a third-party certification system determined appropriate by the Secretary; or

(D) another plan determined appropriate by the Secretary.

The term forest reserve easement means an easement or other interest in eligible land that—

(A) is conveyed to the Secretary for the purpose of protecting natural resources and the forest nature of the eligible land; and

(B) permits the landowner the right to continue working forest production and related uses consistent with the applicable forest reserve easement plan developed under section 1267C(c)(1)(A).

The term program means the forest conservation easement program established under this subtitle.

The term socially disadvantaged forest landowner means a forest landowner who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group (as defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))).

The Secretary shall facilitate and provide funding for—

(1) the purchase by eligible entities of forest land easements on eligible land;

(2) the development of a forest management plan; and

(3) technical assistance to implement this section.

The Secretary shall protect working forests, and related conservation values of eligible land, through cost-share assistance to eligible entities for purchasing forest land easements.

Except as provided in clause (ii), an agreement described in paragraph (4) shall provide for a Federal share of 50 percent of the fair market value of the forest land easement, as determined by the Secretary.

An agreement described in paragraph (4) may provide for a Federal share of not more than 75 percent of the fair market value of a forest land easement in the case of eligible land that is—

(I) a forest of special environmental significance, as determined by the Secretary; or

(II) owned by a socially disadvantaged forest landowner.

Under an agreement described in paragraph (4), the eligible entity shall provide a non-Federal share that is equivalent to the remainder of the fair market value of the forest land easement not provided by the Secretary under subparagraph (A).

The non-Federal share provided by an eligible entity under this paragraph may comprise—

(I) cash resources;

(II) a charitable donation or qualified conservation contribution (as defined in section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from the private forest landowner from which the forest land easement will be purchased;

(III) costs associated with securing a deed to the forest land easement, including the cost of appraisal, survey, inspection, and title; and

(IV) other costs, as determined by the Secretary.

For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall determine the fair market value of a forest land easement using—

(i) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice;

(ii) an areawide market analysis or survey; or

(iii) another industry-approved method.

The Secretary shall establish evaluation and ranking criteria to maximize the benefit of Federal investment under the program.

In evaluating applications under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to an application for the purchase of a forest land easement—

(i) that maintains the viability of a working forest, as determined by the Secretary; and

(ii) on eligible land for which a forest management plan has been developed at the time of application.

In establishing the criteria under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall emphasize support for—

(i) protecting working forests and related conservation values of eligible land;

(ii) reducing fragmentation of forest land; and

(iii) maximizing the areas protected from conversion to nonforest uses.

The Secretary shall enter into agreements with eligible entities to stipulate the terms and conditions under which the eligible entity is permitted to use cost-share assistance provided under this section.

An agreement under subparagraph (A) shall be for a term that is not less than 3, but not more than 5, years, unless the Secretary determines that a longer term is justified.

An eligible entity shall be authorized to use its own terms and conditions for forest land easements so long as the Secretary determines such terms and conditions—

(i) are consistent with—

(I) the purposes of the program; and

(II) the forestry activities to be conducted on the eligible land;

(ii) permit effective enforcement of the conservation purposes of the forest land easements;

(iii) include a requirement to implement a forest management plan on eligible land subject to a forest land easement;

(iv) include a limit on the impervious surfaces to be allowed that is consistent with the forestry activities to be conducted; and

(v) include a right of enforcement for the Secretary that—

(I) may be used only if the terms and conditions of the forest land easement are not enforced by the eligible entity; and

(II) does not extend to a right of inspection unless—

(AA) the holder of the forest land easement fails to provide monitoring reports in a timely manner; or

(BB) the Secretary has a reasonable and articulable belief that the terms and conditions of the forest land easement have been violated; and

(bb) prior to the inspection, the Secretary notifies the eligible entity and the landowner of the inspection and provides a reasonable opportunity for the eligible entity and the landowner to participate in the inspection.

An agreement under subparagraph (A) shall allow, upon mutual agreement of the parties, substitution of qualified projects that are identified at the time of the proposed substitution.

If a violation of a term or condition of an agreement under subparagraph (A) occurs—

(i) the Secretary may terminate the agreement; and

(ii) the Secretary may require the eligible entity to refund all or part of any payments received by the eligible entity under the program, with interest on the payments as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

If the eligible land does not have a forest management plan at the time of application, prior to the acquisition of the forest land easement the landowner shall develop, in partnership with the eligible entity, a forest management plan for the land subject to the forest land easement.

The Secretary may reimburse the landowner for the cost of the development of a forest management plan for eligible land enrolled under this section.

The Secretary shall enroll eligible land under this section through the use of—

(1) permanent easements; or

(2) easements for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws.

The Secretary may provide technical assistance, on request, to assist in compliance with the terms and conditions of forest land easements.

The Secretary shall provide assistance to owners of eligible land to restore, protect, and enhance eligible land through—

(1) forest reserve easements and related forest reserve easement plans; and

(2) technical assistance to implement this section.

The Secretary shall enroll eligible land under this section—

(i) through the use of—

(I) permanent easements;

(II) 30-year easements; and

(III) easements for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws; and

(ii) in the case of acreage owned by an Indian Tribe, through the use of—

(I) 30-year contracts (the compensation for which shall be equivalent to the compensation for 30-year easements); or

(II) permanent easements.

Not more than 10 percent of amounts made available to carry out this section in a fiscal year may be used for 30-year easements under this section.

The Secretary shall establish evaluation and ranking criteria for offers from landowners under this section.

The Secretary shall give priority to the enrollment of eligible land under this section that provides the greatest conservation benefit to—

(i) primarily, species listed as endangered or threatened under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533); and

(ii) secondarily, species that are—

(I) not listed as endangered or threatened under that section; and

(aa) candidates for that listing, State-listed species, or special concern species; or

(bb) designated as species of greatest conservation need by a State wildlife action plan.

The Secretary may give additional consideration to eligible land the enrollment under this section of which will—

(i) improve biological diversity;

(ii) restore native forest ecosystems;

(iii) conserve forest land that provides habitat for species described in subparagraph (B);

(iv) reduce fragmentation of forest land; and

(v) increase carbon sequestration.

A forest reserve easement shall include terms and conditions that—

(i) are consistent with the purposes of the program and the forestry activities to be conducted on the eligible land;

(ii) are consistent with the management objectives of the owner of the eligible land and the implementation of the forest reserve easement plan developed under subsection (c)(1)(A);

(iii) permit effective enforcement of the conservation purposes of the forest reserve easements;

(iv) provide for the efficient and effective establishment or enhancement of forest ecosystem functions and values; and

(v) include such additional provisions as the Secretary determines are desirable to carry out the program or facilitate the practical administration of the program.

An owner of eligible land may request that a term or condition be included in a forest reserve easement, and the Secretary may include such term or condition, if it—

(i) is consistent with the management objectives of the owner of the eligible land and the implementation of the forest reserve easement plan developed under subsection (c)(1)(A); and

(ii) does not conflict with any terms or conditions included under subparagraph (A).

In the case of eligible land enrolled in a permanent easement under this section, the Secretary shall pay the owner of the eligible land an amount equal to the difference between, as determined by the Secretary—

(i) the fair market value of the eligible land before the enrollment in the permanent easement; and

(ii) the fair market value of the eligible land as encumbered by the permanent easement.

The Secretary shall pay the owner of eligible land enrolled under this section in a 30-year contract, a 30-year easement, or an easement for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws, not less than 50 percent, and not more than 75 percent, of the compensation that would be paid under subparagraph (A) if the land were being enrolled in a permanent easement.

The Secretary shall determine the fair market value of eligible land for purposes of this paragraph using the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or another industry-approved method.

Land enrolled in a forest reserve easement shall be subject to a forest reserve easement plan, to be developed jointly by the landowner and the Secretary, that describes such activities to be carried out on the land as are necessary to restore, maintain, and enhance habitat for species described in subsection (b)(2)(B).

A forest reserve easement plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall require implementation of such practices and measures as are necessary to accomplish the activities described in the plan under such subparagraph, which may include—

(i) vegetative management and silviculture practices;

(ii) structural practices and measures;

(iii) practices to increase carbon sequestration;

(iv) practices to improve biological diversity; and

(v) other practices and measures, as determined by the Secretary.

The Secretary shall provide financial assistance to owners of eligible land to carry out the activities, practices, and measures described in the forest reserve easement plan developed for the eligible land under paragraph (1).

With respect to financial assistance provided under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall pay—

(i) in the case of a forest reserve easement plan for eligible land enrolled in a permanent easement, an amount that is not more than 100 percent of the eligible costs described in subparagraph (C), as determined by the Secretary; and

(ii) in the case of a forest reserve easement plan for eligible land enrolled in a 30-year contract, a 30-year easement, or an easement for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws, an amount that is not less than 50 percent, and not more than 75 percent, of the eligible costs described in subparagraph (C), as determined by the Secretary.

Costs eligible for payments under this paragraph are the costs of activities, practices, and measures referred to in subparagraph (A) that are associated with the restoration or enhancement of the habitat conditions specified for the applicable species in the forest reserve easement plan.

Payments under this paragraph shall be made—

(i) only on a determination by the Secretary that an activity, practice, or measure described in subparagraph (C) has been established in compliance with appropriate standards and specifications, which determination shall be made as soon as practicable after establishment; and

(ii) as soon as possible after such determination is made.

Financial assistance provided by the Secretary under this paragraph to an owner of eligible land may not exceed $500,000 per easement or contract.

The Secretary shall provide to owners of eligible land technical assistance to assist the owners in—

(A) developing a forest reserve easement plan; and

(B) complying with the terms and conditions of a forest reserve easement, including the implementation of a forest reserve easement plan.

The Secretary may enter into 1 or more contracts with private entities or agreements with a State, nongovernmental organization, or Indian Tribe to provide technical assistance described in paragraph (1), if the Secretary determines that the contract or agreement will advance the purposes of the program.

In the case of a landowner who enrolls eligible land in a forest reserve easement, and whose conservation activities under the forest reserve easement plan developed for such land result in a net conservation benefit for a species described in subsection (b)(2)(B), the Secretary shall make available to the landowner safe harbor or similar assurances and protection under—

(A) section 7(b)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(4)); or

(B) section 10(a)(1) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)).

If protection under paragraph (1) requires the taking of measures that are in addition to the measures covered by the forest reserve easement plan developed for the eligible land, the cost of the additional measures, and the cost of any permit, shall be considered costs eligible for payments under subsection (c)(2).

The Secretary may delegate any of the management, monitoring, and enforcement responsibilities of the Secretary under this section to other Federal or State agencies that have the appropriate authority, expertise, and resources necessary to carry out those delegated responsibilities.

The Secretary may delegate any of the management responsibilities of the Secretary under this section to a nonprofit conservation organization if the Secretary determines the organization has the appropriate expertise and resources necessary to carry out those delegated responsibilities.

In carrying out this section, the Secretary may consult with—

(A) private forest landowners;

(B) other Federal agencies;

(C) State forestry agencies;

(D) State fish and wildlife agencies;

(E) State environmental quality agencies;

(F) other State conservation agencies; and

(G) nonprofit conservation organizations.

The Secretary shall not use amounts made available to carry out the program for the purposes of acquiring an easement on—

(1) land owned by a Federal agency, other than such land that is acreage owned by an Indian Tribe;

(2) land owned in fee title by a State, including an agency or a subdivision of a State, or a unit of local government;

(3) land subject to an easement or deed restriction that, as determined by the Secretary, provides similar protection as would be provided by enrollment in the program; or

(4) land the enrollment in the program of which would undermine the purposes of the program due to on-site or off-site conditions, such as risk of hazardous substances, permitted or existing rights of way, infrastructure development, or adjacent land uses.

The Secretary may subordinate any interest in eligible land, or portion of such an interest, administered by the Secretary (including for the purposes of utilities and energy transmission services) directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation under the program if the Secretary determines that the subordination—

(A) increases conservation values or has a limited negative effect on conservation values;

(B) minimally affects the acreage subject to the interest in eligible land; and

(C) is in the public interest or furthers the practical administration of the program.

The Secretary may approve a modification of any interest in land, or portion of such interest, administered by the Secretary, either directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the program if the Secretary determines that the modification—

(I) will support the viability and sustainability of working forests and the conservation values of the applicable easement;

(II) will result in equal or increased conservation values;

(III) is consistent with the original intent of the easement;

(IV) is consistent with the purposes of the program; and

(V) is in the public interest or furthers the practical administration of the program, including correcting errors and exercising reserved rights.

In modifying an interest in land, or portion of such interest, under this subparagraph, the Secretary may not, except in the case of a modification that includes a change to an easement to add acreage, increase any payment to an eligible entity.

The Secretary may approve an exchange of any interest in land, or portion of such interest, administered by the Secretary, either directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the program if the Secretary determines that—

(I) no reasonable alternative exists and the effect on the interest in land is avoided or minimized to the extent practicable; and

(II) the exchange—

(aa) results in equal or increased conservation values;

(bb) results in equal or greater economic value to the United States;

(cc) is consistent with the original intent of the easement;

(dd) is consistent with the purposes of the program; and

(ee) is in the public interest or furthers the practical administration of the program.

In exchanging an interest in land, or portion of such interest, under this subparagraph, the Secretary may not increase any payment to an eligible entity.

The Secretary may approve a termination of any interest in eligible land, or portion of such an interest, administered by the Secretary, directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation under the program if the Secretary determines that—

(A) termination is in the interest of the Federal Government;

(B) the United States will be fully compensated for—

(i) the value of the interest in the land, as determined by the Secretary;

(ii) any costs relating to the termination; and

(iii) any damages determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

(C) the termination will—

(i) address a compelling public need for which there is no practicable alternative even with avoidance and minimization; and

(ii) further the practical administration of the program.

The Secretary shall obtain consent from the landowner and eligible entity, if applicable, for any subordination, exchange, modification, or termination of an interest in eligible land, or portion of such an interest, under this subsection.

Not fewer than 90 days before taking any termination action described in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall provide written notice of that action to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

In accordance with the provisions of section 2902 of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, land enrolled in the healthy forests reserve program established under title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq.) on the day before the date of enactment of this section shall be considered enrolled in the program.

Section 1271(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

(2) To address natural resource concerns on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale, including through—

(A) the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil;

(B) the conservation and protection of water, including sources of drinking water and groundwater;

(C) the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought, and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency; and

(D) the conservation of wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources.

Section 1271A(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871a(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:

(D) The forest conservation easement program established under subtitle I.

Section 1271B(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b(a)) is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary may enter into a partnership agreement with an eligible partner to implement a project that will assist producers with installing and maintaining an eligible activity on eligible land.

The Secretary shall ensure that a partnership agreement under paragraph (1)—

(A) is entered into not later than 180 days after the date on which an application is selected under subsection (e); and

(B) contains only—

(i) the information, described under subsection (e)(3), necessary to fund and initiate the project to be implemented under the partnership agreement; and

(ii) any adjustments to the requirements of a covered program determined necessary by the Secretary under paragraph (2) of section 1271E(f), and any waiver provided under paragraph (3) of such section.

The Secretary shall make available information on the process for requesting a waiver or an adjustment to the requirements of a covered program pursuant to section 1271E(f).

Section 1271B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking how the Secretary used amounts reserved by the Secretary for that year for technical assistance under section 1271D(f); and and inserting the use of funds for technical assistance under section 1271D(c);;

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(6) ensure payments to eligible partners under a partnership agreement are made not later than 30 days after the date on which the eligible partner submits to the Secretary a request for payment.

Section 1271B(e)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b(e)(3)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end;

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

(E) any requests by an eligible partner for a waiver or an adjustment to the requirements of a covered program pursuant to section 1271E(f); and

Section 1271C(d)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871c(d)(3)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);

(2) in subparagraph (A)(iv), by striking the and at the end; and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A)(iv) the following:

(B) provide, under section 1271B(c)(2), not less than 50 percent of the overall costs of the scope of the project that is the subject of a partnership agreement funded pursuant to paragraph (1) in direct funding; and

Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (3871d) is amended—

(1) by striking subsections (a) and (b);

(2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (a), (b), and (c), respectively; and

(3) in subsection (a), as so redesignated, by striking subsection (a) and inserting section 1241(a)(6).

Subsection (b) of section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871d), as so redesignated, is amended to read as follows:

Of the funds made available to implement a project under a partnership agreement, the Secretary may use not more than ten percent to reimburse the eligible partner for administrative expenses relating to the project.

Any amounts expended by an eligible partner for administrative expenses that are not reimbursed under paragraph (1) may be considered to be a part of the contribution of the eligible partner under section 1271B(c)(2).

Subsection (c) of section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871d), as so redesignated, is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary shall, through a partnership agreement, identify—

(A) the total amount of funds that will be used for technical assistance; and

(B) the share of such funds that will be provided to eligible partners under paragraph (2).

Under a partnership agreement that is not funded through an alternative funding arrangement or grant agreement under section 1271C(d), the Secretary may reimburse eligible partners for the costs of technical assistance provided through such partnership agreement, including—

(i) the costs of technical assistance needed to facilitate the maximum conservation benefit of the applicable project;

(ii) the costs of providing outreach and education to producers for potential participation in the applicable project;

(iii) the costs of establishing baseline metrics to support the development of the assessment required under section 1271B(c)(1)(E); and

(iv) other costs necessary to support the implementation of eligible activities, as determined by the Secretary.

The Secretary may advance to eligible partners reasonable amounts of funds for costs that may be reimbursed under subparagraph (A), as determined by the Secretary.

The Secretary shall limit costs of the Secretary for technical assistance to costs necessary to carry out the objectives of the program.

The Secretary shall provide a single, simplified process for reimbursements or advancements to eligible partners for the costs of technical assistance under this subsection.

The Secretary shall develop and implement strategies to encourage third-party technical service providers to provide technical assistance to eligible partners pursuant to a partnership agreement.

Section 1271E(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871e(b)) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting make publicly available and after the Secretary shall.

Section 1271E of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871e) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Except as provided in this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the terms and conditions of a program contract are consistent with the requirements of the applicable covered program to be used as part of the applicable partnership agreement.

The Secretary may, if the Secretary determines necessary, adjust a regulatory requirement of a covered program to be used as a part of a partnership agreement, or related guidance, as it applies to an eligible activity carried out under a program contract entered into pursuant to the partnership agreement—

(i) to provide a simplified process; or

(ii) to better reflect unique local circumstances.

The Secretary shall not adjust the application of statutory requirements for a covered program to be used as a part of a partnership agreement, including requirements governing appeals, payment limits, and conservation compliance.

With respect to a program contract for an eligible activity under the agricultural conservation easement program, the Secretary may, in the applicable partnership agreement, waive the application of clauses (ii) or (iii)(III) of section 1265A(4)(A) for purposes of determining the eligibility of land.

With respect to a partnership agreement entered into for acquisition of easements, the Secretary shall apply the authorities applicable to the eligible partner under section 1265B(b)(5)(A) if the eligible partner is an eligible entity certified under such section.

With respect to a program contract that includes an eligible activity under the environmental quality incentives program to be installed and maintained in a State in which irrigation has not been used significantly for agricultural purposes, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may not consider prior irrigation history when determining the eligibility of land.

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to partnership agreements funded pursuant to section 1271C(d).

Section 1271F(a)(2)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871f(a)(2)(C)) is amended by inserting, including restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat connectivity and wildlife migration corridors before the semicolon at the end.

Section 1271F(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871f(b)) is amended by striking funds under section 1271D(d)(2) and inserting funds allocated under section 1271D(a)(2).

Section 1231B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831b) is repealed.

Section 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831c) is repealed.

Subject to paragraph (2), this title, and the amendments made by this title, shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract or agreement entered into by the Secretary 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.) before the date of enactment of this Act, or any payments or technical assistance required to be made in connection with the contract or agreement.

The signatories to a contract or an agreement entered into 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.) before the date of enactment of this Act may mutually agree to a modification of the contract or agreement to implement this title, and the amendments made by this title.

Notwithstanding the repeal of sections 1231B and 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 made by subsection (a), the Secretary may extend for 1 year a contract or agreement entered into under either such section before the date of enactment of this Act, if that contract or agreement expires on or before September 30, 2025, under the terms and payment rate of the existing contract or agreement and in accordance with section 1231B or 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), as applicable.

Notwithstanding the amendments made by this title, any funds made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out subchapter B of chapter 1 of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) for any of fiscal years 2019 through 2024 shall be made available to carry out contracts and agreements that were entered into under such subchapter prior to the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the condition that no such contract or agreement may be modified so as to increase the amount of land enrolled or the amount of the payment received.

The Secretary may use funds made available to carry out subchapter B of chapter 1 of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 to continue to carry out contracts or agreements that were entered into under such subchapter prior to the date of enactment of this Act using the provisions of law (including regulations) applicable to those contracts or agreements as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.

Title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq.) is repealed.

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–148; 117 Stat. 1887) is amended by striking the items relating to title V.

The repeal made by subsection (a) shall not affect the validity or terms of any contract, agreement, or easement entered into by the Secretary under title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq.) before the date of enactment of this Act, or any payments or technical assistance required to be made in connection with the contract, agreement, or easement.

Notwithstanding the repeal made by subsection (a), any funds made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the healthy forests reserve program established under title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq.) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) for any of fiscal years 2019 through 2024 shall be made available to carry out contracts, agreements, or easements referred to in paragraph (1), subject to the condition that no such contract, agreement, or easement may be modified so as to increase the amount of any payment received.

The Secretary may use funds made available to carry out the forest conservation easement program established under subtitle I of the Food Security Act of 1985 to continue to carry out contracts, agreements, or easements referred to in paragraph (1) using the provisions of law (including regulations) applicable to those contracts, agreements, and easements as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.

Section 202 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1722) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking any other provision of law and inserting any other provision of this Act;

(B) by inserting, in consultation with the Secretary, after Administrator; and

(C) by striking as the Administrator determines appropriate and inserting as the Secretary determines appropriate;

(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting assistance, including in the form of before agricultural commodities;

(3) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking; or and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting; or; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3) a nongovernmental organization, as determined by the Administrator.

(4) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:; and

Of the funds made available in each fiscal year under this title to the Administrator, not more than 50 percent may be made available for expenses other than the procurement of United States-grown agricultural commodities and ocean transportation of such commodities.

(5) in subsection (h)(3), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 204(a) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.1724(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3), by striking Committees on International Relations and inserting Committees on Foreign Affairs;

(2) by striking paragraph (2); and

(3) by redesignating paragraph (3), as amended, as paragraph (2).

Section 205(f) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 13 1725(f)) is amended by striking December 31, 2023 and inserting December 31, 2029.

Section 207 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and inserting the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024; and

(2) in subsection (f)(4), by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029.

Section 208(f) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726b(f)) is amended to read as follows:

In addition to amounts otherwise made available to carry out this section, of the funds made available in each fiscal year under this title to the Administrator, not less than $15,000,000 shall be made available in each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out this section, to remain available until expended.

Subsection (b) of section 406 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736) is amended to read as follows:

With respect to commodities made available under titles II and III, the Commodity Credit Corporation may pay all associated and incidental costs of such commodities.

Section 407 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736a) is amended—

(1) by amending subsection (c)(1) to read as follows:

The Administrator shall transfer, arrange for the transportation, and take other steps necessary to make available agricultural commodities to be provided under title II and title III.

(2) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029;

(3) in subsection (f)(2)—

(A) by striking subparagraph (I);

(B) by amending subparagraph (H) to read as follows:

(H) A statement of the amount of funds provided to each eligible organization that received assistance under this Act and the manner in which those funds were used, including whether such use was for commodity transportation or administrative costs.

(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (H) (as amended) as subparagraphs (F) through (I), respectively; and

(D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:; and

(E) An assessment of activities specifically targeting women and girls and the impact of those activities in addressing the unique needs of women and girls.

(4) by striking subsection (f)(3).

Section 408 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736b) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 412 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f) is amended—

(1) in subsection (e)(1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, if the most recent Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, published annually by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the United Nations Children's Fund, report a rate of children under 5 years of age affected by child wasting above 5 percent for the year covered by such report, not less than the minimum level described in paragraph (2), to be derived from amounts otherwise made available to carry out food assistance programs for such fiscal year and in addition to amounts otherwise made available pursuant to this Act, shall be expended for the procurement of ready-to-use therapeutic foods.

The minimum level described in this paragraph is—

(A) $200,000,000; or

(B) in the case of a fiscal year for which the total amount made available to carry out programs under title II is less than $1,925,000,000, the product of—

(i) $200,000,000, multiplied by

(ii) the quotient of the total amount made available to carry out programs under title II for that fiscal year divided by $1,925,000,000.

Section 415(c) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.1736g–2(c)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 501 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1737) is amended by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029.

Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623(c)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

As part of the program established under this subsection, the Secretary shall enter into contracts or other agreements with eligible trade organizations to provide needs assessments, training, and other technical assistance to enhance the capabilities of infrastructure in new and developing foreign markets, including infrastructure relating to cold chain capacity, port improvements, and other developments, to ensure that United States agricultural commodities are not damaged or lost due to deficiencies of such infrastructure.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subparagraph that are not used to carry out this paragraph are authorized to be made available to carry out the program established under this subsection.

Section 203(e)(7) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623(e)(7)) is amended to read as follows:

The Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall submit every two years to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report detailing the competitiveness of United States specialty crops.

The report required by subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) identify and analyze acts, policies, or practices of foreign countries that constitute significant barriers to, or distortions of, United States exports of specialty crops, including the imposition of—

(I) tariffs (including retaliatory tariffs) or quotas (including tariff-rate quotas); and

(II) non-tariff barriers, including technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, import licensing procedures, and subsidies;

(ii) identify and analyze acts, policies, or practices of foreign countries that enhance the competitiveness of imported specialty crops with domestic specialty crop producers, including—

(I) the subsidization of exports from the producing country; and

(II) the impact of any lack or circumvention of labor and environmental laws in the producing country;

(iii) identify and analyze any differences in applicable food safety regulations of foreign countries that may result in imported specialty crops posing a risk to United States consumers;

(iv) make an estimate—

(I) of the impacts on the competitiveness of United States specialty crops of any act, policy, or practice identified under clauses (i) and (ii);

(II) if feasible, of the value of additional specialty crops that would, during the year preceding submission of the report, have been exported from the United States to each foreign country an act, policy, or practice of which is identified under clause (i) if each such act, policy, or practice of that country did not exist; and

(III) if feasible, of the injury caused to domestic specialty crop producers for any acts, policies, or practices identified under clause (ii).

(v) assess the extent to which each act, policy, or practice identified under clauses (i) and (ii) are subject to international agreements to which the United States is a party;

(vi) include information with respect to any action taken by the executive or legislative branches during the two years preceding submission of the report, or expected to be taken after submission of the report, to eliminate any act, policy, or practice identified under clauses (i) and (ii), including—

(I) any action under section 301;

(II) negotiations or consultations with foreign governments, which may include engagement through the standing committee on sanitary and phytosanitary matters established under a free trade agreement to which the United States is a party; and

(III) action at the World Trade Organization, including dispute settlement actions, consultations, or negotiations; and

(vii) a description of—

(I) any funds provided under subsection (f)(3)(A)(iv) that were not obligated in the fiscal year preceding submission of the report; and

(II) the reason such funds were not obligated.

In preparing the report required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in coordination with the United States Trade Representative, shall seek and consider comments from the public and from the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.

The report required by subparagraph (A) shall be made available to the public in machine-readable format.

Section 203(f) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623(f)) is amended—

(1) by striking 2019 through 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2025 through 2029;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking $255,000,000 and inserting $489,500,000;

(3) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking $200,000,000 and inserting $400,000,000;

(4) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by striking $34,500,000 and inserting $69,000,000; and

(5) in paragraph (4), by striking during the period in which that memorandum is in effect and inserting during the period in which the directives in such memorandum are in effect.

Section 718 of title VII of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (as enacted by section 101(a) of division A of Public Law 105–277; 7 U.S.C. 5623 note) is repealed.

Section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking As used in this Act— and inserting In this Act:;

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as paragraphs (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (4), respectively, and reordering such paragraphs in numerical sequence;

(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:; and

The term ‘common name’ means a name that, as determined by the Secretary—

(i) is ordinarily or customarily used for an agricultural commodity or food product;

(ii) is typically placed on the packaging and product label of the agricultural commodity or food product;

(iii) with respect to wine—

(I) is—

(aa) ordinarily or customarily used for a wine grape varietal name; or

(bb) a traditional term or expression that is typically placed on the packaging and label of the wine; and

(II) does not mean any appellation of origin for wine listed in subpart C of part 9 of title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and

(iv) the use of which is consistent with standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may take into account—

(i) competent sources, such as dictionaries, newspapers, professional journals and literature, and information posted on websites that are determined by the Secretary to be reliable in reporting market information;

(ii) the use of the common name in a domestic, regional, or international product standard, including a standard promulgated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, for the agricultural commodity or food product; and

(iii) the ordinary and customary use of the common name in the production or marketing of the agricultural commodity or food product in the United States or in other countries.

(4) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph (A)—

(A) in clause (v), by striking or at the end;

(B) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting; or; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(vii) prohibits or disallows the use of the common name of an agricultural commodity or food product of the United States.

Title III of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5652 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall coordinate efforts with the United States Trade Representative to secure the right of United States agricultural producers, processors, and exporters to use common names for agricultural commodities or food products in foreign markets through the negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding, or exchanges of letters that assure the current and future use of each common name identified by the Secretary in connection with United States agricultural commodities or food products.

The Secretary and the United States Trade Representative shall jointly provide to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, a briefing, twice annually, on efforts and successes in carrying out subsection (a).

Subtitle B of title IV of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5671 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary (acting through the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs), the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other Federal agencies or entities as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, shall jointly establish an interagency working group (referred to in this section as the working group) composed of representatives from each agency to monitor and assess, on an ongoing basis, seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables trade data and related information.

The working group shall consult with the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, relevant seasonal or perishable agricultural producers, and other relevant trade associations to identify threats that imports pose to domestic producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.

The working group shall coordinate as appropriate regarding potential additional trade actions and investigations with respect to any seasonal or perishable fruits and vegetables, as determined to be advisable by the working group.

The working group shall recommend programs or assistance that the Secretary could provide to producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables to address market impacts.

Section 1543A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5679) is amended in subsection (d), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 1110 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (commonly referred to as the Food for Progress Act of 1985; 7 U.S.C. 1736o) is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)—

(A) by striking enter into and inserting annually enter into two or more; and

(B) by inserting two or more before eligible entities;

(2) in subsection (f)(3), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(3) in subsection (g), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(4) in subsection (k), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(5) in subsection (l)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(B) in the heading of paragraph (4), by striking Humanitarian or;

(6) in subsection (m)(2), by striking humanitarian and; and

(7) in subsection (n)(2)(C), by striking Committee on International Relations and inserting Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Section 302 of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f–1) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(i), by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029;

(2) by amending the matter preceding subclause (I) of subsection (c)(1)(B)(i) to read as follows:

Without undue delay, any funds or commodities held in the trust may be released by the Secretary, which shall be informed by information provided by the Administrator regarding the ongoing programs of the Administrator, to provide food, and cover any associated costs, under title II of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.)—

(3) in subsection (c)(1)(C), by striking the Administrator and inserting the Secretary;

(4) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by inserting by the Secretary after reimbursed; and

(5) in subsection (h), by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029.

Section 1542(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note; Public Law 101–624) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 3307 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 3295) is amended—

(1) in subsection (g)(1)), by striking 2019 through 2023 and inserting 2025 through 2029;

(2) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and

(3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:

To assist eligible countries in the long-term development of enduring, school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(1) implement the fellowship program in each participating host country for not fewer than 3 consecutive years; and

(2) ensure that contracts awarded to outside organizations are multi-year.

Title III of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–334) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

In this section:

The term eligible candidate means an individual that—

(A) is between the ages of 19 and 30 years;

(B) has demonstrated experience in agricultural sciences, food systems, and food and nutrition education;

(C) is prepared to live in 1 or more host countries for at least 2 months or up to 6 months; and

(D) is a resident of the United States.

The term eligible country means a country that has agricultural trade relations with the United States, as recognized by the Foreign Agriculture Service.

The term Program means the International Agriculture Cultural Immersion and Exchange Program established under subsection (b).

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

The Secretary shall establish an international cultural immersion and exchange program, to be known as the International Agriculture Cultural Immersion and Exchange Program, under which the Secretary shall—

(1) provide eligible candidates with international cultural exchange and immersion experiences focused on agricultural sciences, food systems, and food and nutrition education through placement with host families in eligible countries; and

(2) place in the United States with host families individuals that meet the requirement of subsection (a)(1)(A) and are residents of eligible countries to experience United States agriculture, trade relations, and culture.

The purposes of the Program are—

(1) to develop globally minded citizens of the United States; and

(2) to strengthen and enhance trade between eligible countries and the United States in agricultural, food, nutrition, and environmental industries.

To administer the Program, the Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit organization that has experience in implementing international cultural exchange programs focused on agricultural sciences, food and nutrition education, and cultural understanding through placement with host families.

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to a nonprofit organization with which the Secretary has a memorandum of understanding dated not earlier than January 1, 2019.

As a condition of entering into a cooperative agreement under this subsection, a nonprofit organization shall provide equal matching funds from non-Federal sources.

There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Section 1543B(f) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o–1) is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii), by inserting or lower-middle before income;

(2) in subsection (h)(2), by striking Committee on International Relations and inserting Committee on Foreign Affairs;

(3) in subsection (l)(2), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(4) in subsection (l)(4), by striking not more than 10 percent and inserting not less than 8 percent, but not more than 15 percent.

Section 3202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (22 U.S.C. 2220a note; Public Law 110–246) is amended—

(1) by amending subsection (b)(1) to read as follows:

For the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, the aggregate contributions of funds of the Federal Government provided to the Trust under this section shall not exceed 33 percent of the total amount of funds contributed to the Trust from all sources and for all purposes.

(2) in subsection (b)(2)—

(A) by inserting under this section after Trust; and

(B) by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(3) in subsection (c), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 3206(e)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 1726c(e)(1)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a joint task force, to be known as the Agricultural Trade Enforcement Task Force (referred to in this section as the Task Force).

The Task Force shall—

(A) identify trade barriers to United States agricultural exports that are vulnerable to dispute settlement under the World Trade Organization (WTO) or other trade agreements;

(B) develop and implement a strategy for enforcing violations of trade agreements related to these trade barriers;

(C) identify like-minded trading partners for specific trade barriers that could act as co-complainants or primary complainants on disputes that are systemically or economically important to the United States; and

(D) report quarterly to Congress on progress towards resolving cases or filing disputes.

In carrying out its duties under this subsection, the Task Force shall regularly consult, to the extent necessary and appropriate, with the following:

(A) Relevant stakeholders in the private sector, including the agricultural trade advisory committees.

(B) Federal departments and agencies that are not represented on the Task Force.

(C) Like-minded trading partners that are similarly concerned with trade barriers and are potential participants in the dispute settlement process.

The Task Force shall be comprised of the following members:

(A) One or more employees of the Foreign Agricultural Service, who shall be appointed by the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

(B) One of more employees of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, who shall be appointed jointly by the General Counsel for the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Chief Agricultural Negotiator.

(C) One or more employees of other Federal agencies as needed, who shall be appointed jointly by the officials specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

Employees of the Federal agencies specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) may be appointed as members of the Task Force only if such employees have appropriate expertise in agricultural trade policy and trade enforcement.

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report on its progress in identifying and addressing trade barriers to United States agricultural exports.

The report required by this subsection shall include the following:

(A) A description of the systemic and economically significant trade barriers that have been identified.

(B) A justification for including the identified trade barriers.

(C) A description of the progress that has been made in developing dispute settlement cases and further information that is required.

(D) The current status of ongoing disputes at the WTO and implementation of panel, arbitration, or Appellate Body decisions.

The initial report required by this subsection shall, in addition to the matters described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (2), include a plan to file a request under the WTO dispute settlement process for consultations to address India’s minimum price supports. The plan shall include—

(A) an identification of like-minded trading partners that could act as co-complainants or primary complainants with respect to the request;

(B) a description of specific claims the United States intends to make with respect to the request; and

(C) a timeline to—

(i) request consultations; and

(ii) request the establishment of a panel not later than 60 days after the date of the request for consultations if India does not provide assurances that it will address its minimum price supports.

The United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide briefings on the Task Force to appropriate Members of Congress and congressional staff.

Section 2 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011) is amended—

(1) by inserting (a) before It., and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(b) Congress recognizes the supplemental nutrition assistance program allows low-income households to obtain supplemental food for an active, healthy life that supports the prevention of—

(1) diet-related chronic disease, including—

(A) obesity;

(B) diabetes;

(C) hypertension;

(D) heart disease; and

(E) cancer;

(2) disability;

(3) premature death;

(4) unsustainable health care costs; and

(5) undermining of military readiness.

(c) Accordingly, it is also the policy of the Congress that the Secretary should administer the supplemental nutrition assistance program in a manner that will provide participants, especially children, access to a variety of foods essential to optimal health and well-being.

Title I of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into self-determination contracts, in accordance with subsection (b), with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, on the request of any Indian Tribe by Tribal resolution, to plan, conduct, and administer any function, service, or activity of the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) for the Indian Tribe.

A self-determination contract entered into under subsection (a) shall have the same terms and conditions, and be subject to the same procedures, regulations, and requirements, as a self-determination contract entered into under section 102, except that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture shall be the appropriate Secretary and agency for purposes of a self-determination contract entered into under subsection (a).

The Office of Self-Governance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall provide technical assistance regarding the self-determination contracts authorized under this section to—

(1) the Secretary of Agriculture; and

(2) Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations that request that assistance.

Section 4(b)(6)(E) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)(5)(E)) is amended by striking “2023” and inserting “2029”.

Section 5(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (7)—

(A) by striking a child who is, and

(B) by striking 17 and inserting 21, and

(2) in paragraph (18) by striking and at the end,

(3) in paragraph (19) by striking the period at the end and by inserting; and, and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

(20) Any payment, income, allowance, or earnings made to household members derived from—

(A) any program defined in section 6(o)(1), except any earnings made to a household member derived from any program established under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 or the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017;

(B) any program established under section 6(d)(4), any vocational rehabilitation program established as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or

(C) any refugee employment program established under section 412(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended by striking subsection (l).

Section 5(g) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary shall exclude from financial resources under this subsection the value of any earnings made to household members derived from—

(A) any program defined in section 6(o)(1), except any earnings derived from any program established under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 or the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017;

(B) any program established under section 6(d)(4) and any vocational rehabilitation program established as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or

(C) any refugee employment program established under section 412(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Section 5(e)(2)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(2)(B)) is amended by striking 20 and inserting 22.

Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition act (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In the case of any individual who is a member of a household that received supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and who is exempt from requirements by the State agency specified in (d)(1)(A)(ii) of this section, the State may use personnel exempt from Merit System requirements specified in section 11(e)(6)(B) to screen the recipient for appropriateness for participation in the service program, notwithstanding any determination otherwise by the State agency of eligibility of such individual for such services.

Section 7(h)(13)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(13)(B)) is amended to read as follows:

Neither a State, nor any agent, contractor, or subcontractor of a State who facilitates the provision of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in such State may impose a fee on a SNAP authorized retailer for EBT transactions including switching (as defined in subsection (j)(1)(H)) or routing such benefits, for costs to implement subsections (d) and (f)(5)(B).

The prohibition against fees described in clause (i) shall not apply towards costs associated with equipment rentals.

Section 7 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016) is amended by adding at the end the following:

In this subsection, the term covered person means a person who—

(A) is a member of a household that receives benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and

(B) owns or is a member of a household in which another member owns a retail food store that is authorized to accept and redeem benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under section 9.

A covered person shall not redeem benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program at a retail food store owned by the covered person or a member of the household of the covered person.

Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking and at the end,

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and, and

(C) by adding at the end the following:, and

(C) parameters for third party cooperation with the Secretary sufficient to carry out subsection (k).

(2) by adding at the end the following:

To assist in making improvements to supplemental nutrition assistance program design, for each interval not greater than a 2-year period, the Secretary shall—

(A) collect a statistically significant sample of transaction data consisting of an aggregation of costs and a description of items purchased for all customers including those using supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, to the extent practicable and without affecting retail food store confidential information or document retention practices;

(B) prioritize consumer single sourced data as a component of the aggregate summary with verified purchases to capture consumers natural purchase behavior; and

(C) make a summarized report of aggregated data collected under subparagraph (A) available to the public in a manner that prevents identification of individual retail food stores, individual retail food store chains, and households that use such benefits.

Any data that contains information specific to a retail food store, a retail food store location, a person, or other entity shall be exempt from the disclosure requirements of Section 552(a) of title 5 of the United States Code pursuant to section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5 of the United States Code. The Secretary shall limit the use or disclosure of information obtained under this subsection in a manner consistent with sections 9(c) and 11(e)(8).

Section 11(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2020(d)) is amended by inserting after the 1st sentence the following: The Secretary shall maintain a publicly available database of the parts of each State agency approved plan of operation in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary not later than 180 days after the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024.

Section 11(x) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(x)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking an interstate and inserting a centralized national,

(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

The Secretary shall require that State agencies make available to the National Accuracy Clearinghouse only such information as is necessary for the purpose described in subparagraph (A), including the following for each member of a participating household—

(i) the social security number or the social security number substitute;

(ii) the current residence of such member;

(iii) the employment status of such member;

(iv) the amount of income and whether that income is earned or unearned;

(v) that member’s portion of the household monthly allotment; and

(vi) the portion of the aggregate value of household assets attributed to that member.

(C) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) by striking clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), and

(ii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and

(D) by adding at end the following:

The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a single national contractor that may subcontract with other entities as necessary to administer the National Accuracy Clearinghouse established in this paragraph.

(2) in paragraph (3)—

(A) by striking 18 months and all that follows through promulgate regulations, and inserting the following: 6 months after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall withdraw regulations promulgated to implement the National Accuracy Clearinghouse and promulgate new regulations,

(B) in subparagraph (A) by striking from the and inserting since the implementation of the,

(C) in subparagraph (C) by inserting and subsection (e)(8) before the semicolon at the end, and

(D) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:, and

(D) require a State agency, as determined by the Secretary—

(i) to conduct initial and ongoing matches of participant and applicant data;

(ii) to identify and act on all apparent instances of duplicative participation by participants or applicants in multiple States; and

(iii) to disenroll an individual who has applied to participate in another State in a manner sufficient to allow the State in which the individual is currently applying to comply with paragraphs (3) and (9) of section 11(e); and

(3) in paragraph (4)—

(A) by striking 3 years and inserting 1 year, and

(B) by striking Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and inserting Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024.

Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(B), a State agency (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008) may, by contract with the State agency at a reasonable cost in accordance with the State agency’s standard contracting rules, hire a contractor to undertake supplemental nutrition assistance program certification or carry out any other function of the State agency under such program so long as—

(A) the contract does not provide incentives for the agency or contractor to delay eligibility determinations or to deny eligibility for individuals otherwise eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; and

(B) the contractor has no direct or indirect financial interest in an approved retail store.

A State agency may use the authority provided in paragraph (1) when the State experiences increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or an inability to timely process such applications from causes that include but are not limited to—

(A) pandemics and other health emergencies,

(B) seasonal workforce cycles,

(C) temporary staffing shortages, and

(D) weather or other natural disasters.

A State agency that hires a contractor under paragraph (1) shall ensure such action—

(A) is consistent with all principles under section 900.603 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and

(B) is part of a blended workforce and does not supplant existing merit-based personnel in the State.

A State agency shall notify the Secretary of its intent to use the authority provided in this section and shall provide any information or data supporting State agency increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or any inability to timely process such applications.

Not later than 10 days after the date of the receipt of a notification submitted by a State agency under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of the Department of Agriculture the notification submitted by such State agency and any accompanying information or data supporting such notification so submitted.

Any action taken by a State agency under paragraph (1) shall not be—

(A) considered to be a major change in the operations of such State agency for purposes of section 11(a)(4) of this Act, or

(B) subject to any requirement specified in such section.

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, an annual report that contains—

(A) a description of measures taken to address increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications and any inability to timely process such applications;

(B) information or data supporting State agency notifications provided pursuant to paragraph (4); and

(C) recommendations for changes to the Secretary’s authority under this Act to assist the Secretary, States, and local governments of States in preparing for any future increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or inability to timely process such applications.

In cases of temporary staffing shortages, the authority provided to State agencies under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) expire when the backlog of supplemental nutrition assistance program applications has been eliminated; and

(B) not override any collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding in effect between the State and employees of the State or of a local government of such State.

Section 14(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2023(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2) by striking by any and inserting to each of the firm’s owners, officers, and managers by email and via any other,

(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ten and inserting 30,

(3) by amending subparagraph (4) to read as follows:, and

(4) If such a request is not made by such store, concern, or State agency or if such store, concern, or State agency otherwise fails to submit information in support of its position after filing a request, the administrative determination shall be a final determination, subject to the provisions of judicial review.

(4) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5) If such request is made by such store, concern, or State agency, such information as may be submitted by such store, concern, or State agency, as well as such other information as may be available, shall be reviewed by the person or persons designated by the Secretary, who shall, subject to the right of judicial review hereinafter provided, make a determination within 60 days after submission of such store’s response. The agency’s determination shall be final and shall take effect 30 days after the date of the delivery or service of such final notice of determination. In all administrative proceedings involving the denial, withdrawal, or disqualification of a retail food store from the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the agency shall bear the burden of proof of establishing that the denial, withdrawal, or disqualification is based on a preponderance of the evidence. The agency shall produce, within 10 days of any request by such store or its counsel, all records reviewed or relied upon by the agency in issuing the charge letter or other notice. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or of any other Act, the agency shall produce information and records otherwise prohibited from disclosure to counsel for such store subject to a nondisclosure agreement.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study and submit the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report that contains the results of such study, including—

(1) the number of times first-time trafficking offenders are given a penalty of permanent disqualification in lieu of civil penalty, disaggregated by—

(A) the number of employees and revenue; and

(B) the race and ethnicity of owners.

(2) an analysis of the Anti-Fraud Locator Using Electronic Benefits Transfer System (ALERT) including—

(A) the metrics of detecting fraudulent activity;

(B) how the metrics of detecting fraudulent activity were determined;

(C) how often these metrics are updated to ensure they continue to be reliable; and

(D) what metrics are reviewed in addition to ALERT findings to determine fraudulent activity.

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 16(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(a)) is amended—

(1) in the 1st sentence by striking 35 percent and inserting 50 percent, and

(2) by inserting after the 1st sentence the following: A State agency shall use such funds retained only to carry out the supplemental nutrition assistance program, including investments in technology, improvements in administration and distribution, and actions to prevent fraud (including skimming).

Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended—

(1) in subclause (I) by striking and at the end,

(2) in subclause (II)—

(A) by striking fiscal year thereafter and inserting of the fiscal years 2015 through 2024, and

(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and, and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(III) for each fiscal year thereafter, $0.

Section 16(c) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following—.

The Secretary shall provide notice, and make available for public comment for a period of not fewer than 60 days, any new or updated guidance proposing substantive changes for conducting quality control reviews prior to any such guidance being finalized.

The requirement in (A) shall be applicable to any proposed guidance reasonably expected to require State agencies to make changes to systems, procedures, or staffing pertaining to quality control reviews or that impact verification requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits recipients.

In the case of an urgent and immediate need, the Secretary may issue interim final guidance simultaneous with the notice and comment requirements required in subparagraph (A).

Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 is amended by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 18 months after enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall establish within the Food and Nutrition Service an Office of Program Integrity.

The Secretary, in consultation with the office of Inspector General, shall appoint a senior official to serve as the Director of the Office of Program Integrity (referred to in this section as the Director).

The mission of the Office of Program Integrity shall be to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in nutrition programs administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, and improve the development, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of nutrition programs and policies administered by the Food and Nutrition Service.

The Director of the Office of Program Integrity shall—

(A) evaluate current program integrity policies, and where applicable develop and implement, in coordination with the Food and Nutrition Service and State agencies, program integrity policies, including reporting requirements, for all nutrition programs administered by the agency, including but not limited to the—

(i) supplemental nutrition assistance program;

(ii) emergency food assistance program; and

(iii) commodity supplemental food program;

(B) continuously track and evaluate program spending, participation, and outcomes;

(C) monitor, evaluate, and work to mitigate, instances of program fraud, waste, and abuse by the Food and Nutrition Service, State agencies, and program participants;

(D) annually prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, reports on program trends, outcomes, recommendations, and instances of fraud, waste, and abuse where enforcement action was not taken, which shall be made publicly available; and

(E) at the Director's discretion, and after informing the Secretary, refer instances of program fraud by the Food and Nutrition Service, State agencies, and program participants, to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

In carrying out the duties required under paragraph (4), the Director shall collaborate with other Federal Departments and Agencies with offices or functions similar to the Office of Program Integrity to identify and incorporate best practices.

The 1st sentence of section 18(a)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2027(a)(1)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting ‘ 2029.

Section 25(b)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034(b)(2)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C) by striking and at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (D) by striking year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter. and inserting years 2019 through 2024; and; and

(3) by adding at end the following:

(E) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.

Section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7502) is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

In this subsection:

The term eligible State has the meaning given the term in section 4206(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 7518(b)).

The term entitlement funds, with respect to an eligible State, means the dollar amount used by the Secretary to purchase commodities pursuant to section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036) to distribute to the eligible State in accordance with section 214.

The Secretary shall allow an eligible State to elect to receive all of the entitlement funds of the eligible State as cash to make direct purchases of commodities through the private commercial marketplace.

Section 203D(d)(5) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7507(d)(5)) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection and inserting the following: subsection—;

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(3) by adding at end the following:

(B) $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until the end of the subsequent fiscal year.

Section 204(a)(1) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7508(a)(1)) is amended by striking year 2008 and inserting years 2008 through 2024, and $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.

Section 209(d) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7511a(d)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1) by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (C) by striking 2023 and inserting 2025; and

(B) in subparagraph (D)—

(i) by striking 2023 the 1st place it appears and inserting 2025;

(ii) in clause (ix) by striking fiscal year 2023 and inserting each of the fiscal years 2023 and 2024; and

(iii) by adding at end the following:, and

(x) for fiscal year 2025, $40,000,000; and

(C) in subparagraph (E)—

(i) by striking 2024 and inserting 2026; and

(ii) by striking (D)(ix) and inserting (D)(x).

Section 28 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)—

(A) by amending paragraph (1)(B) to read as follows:

(B) through agreements or partnerships with other State or local agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or community organizations.

(B) in paragraph (2)(B)—

(i) in clause (i) by inserting, including how the projects will reach a broad age range of individuals and how each local project will be evaluated by the local partner before the semicolon at the end,

(ii) in clause (ii)—

(I) by inserting of all ages after individuals, and

(II) by striking constrained, and

(iii) in clause (iii)—

(I) in item (hh) by striking and at the end, and

(II) by adding at the end the following:

(JJ) cost of conducting research to assess and evaluate the projects; and

(C) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(i) by inserting culinary and after group-based, and

(ii) in subparagraph (B)—

(I) in clause (iii) by striking and at the end,

(II) in clause (iv) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon, and

(III) by adding at end the following:

(v) healthcare practitioners and community health workers; and

(vi) educators.

(D) in paragraph (6) by inserting evidence-based and after section are,

(E) in paragraph (9)—

(i) by inserting, based on external review by non-government experts with recognized expertise in quality of evidence evaluation after report that;

(ii) in subparagraph (A)(iii) by striking and at the end;

(iii) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(iv) by adding at end the following:, and

(C) includes comprehensive analysis of the impacts, outcomes, and efficacy of all projects described in subparagraph (8).

(F) by adding at the end the following:

Project recipients shall use not less than 5 percent of funds received for process and impact evaluation and may contract with land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) to carry out this evaluation.

(2) in subsection (d)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (E) by striking and at the end, and

(B) in subparagraph (F)—

(i) by striking 2016 and each subsequent fiscal year and inserting fiscal years 2016 through 2024, and

(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon, and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

(G) for fiscal year 2025, $521,000,000; and

(H) for fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent fiscal year, the applicable amount during the preceding fiscal year, as adjusted to reflect any increases for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor."

(3) by adding at end the following:

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall issue recommendations to Congress on how to unify the nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program under this section with the expanded food and nutrition education program under section 1425 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3175). In developing these recommendations, the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consider the policy options described in the Comptroller General report described in paragraph (2).

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Comptroller General of the United States shall finalize and submit to the United States House of Representatives Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, a report that examines policy options to unify the nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program under this section with the expanded food and nutrition education program under section 1425 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3175).".

Section 29(c)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036b) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21 U.S.C. 862a) is amended—

(1) in the heading by striking AND BENEFITS,

(2) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1) by striking, or at the end and inserting a period,

(B) by striking for— and all that follows through (1), and inserting for, and

(C) by striking paragraph (2),

(3) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking and benefits for others and all that follows through families, and

(B) by striking paragraph (2),

(4) in subsection (c) by striking or benefits, and

(5) in subsection (e)—

(A) in paragraph (1) by striking, and at the end and inserting a period,

(B) by striking it— and all that follows through (1), and inserting it, and

(C) by striking paragraph (2).

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is amended in the table of contents by striking the item relating to section 115 and inserting the following:

Section 6(i) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(i) is amended to read as follows:

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if a disqualification is imposed on a household member for a failure of the member to perform an action required under a Federal, State, or local law relating to a means-tested public assistance program, the State agency may impose the same disqualification on the member of the household under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

A State agency may not impose a disqualification under subparagraph (A) for a felony-drug conviction or for a failure to satisfy an action required under a Federal, State, or local law relating to a means-tested public assistance program that was required as a result of a felony drug conviction.

If a disqualification is imposed under paragraph (1) for a failure of a household member to perform an action required under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the State agency may use the rules and procedures that apply under part A of title IV of the Act to impose the same disqualification under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, provided that there may be no disqualification under the supplemental nutrition assistance program for a felony-drug conviction or for a failure to satisfy an action required under a Federal, State, or local law relating to a means-tested public assistance program that was required as a result of a felony drug conviction.

A household member disqualified under paragraph (1) may, after the disqualification period has expires, apply for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and shall be treated as a new applicant, except that a prior disqualification under subsection (d) shall be considered in determining eligibility.

In this subsection, the term felony drug conviction means a criminal conviction under a Federal or State law that includes an element that is the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).

Section 3(m)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(m)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(F) Incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days.

Section 19(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)—

(A) in clause (i) by striking 2003, $1,401,000,000 and inserting 2025, $1,451,000,000, and

(B) in clause (ii) by striking 2002 and inserting 2024,

(2) in subparagraph (B)(i) by striking 2003 and inserting 2025,

(3) in subparagraph (C) by striking 2003 and inserting 2025, and

(4) in subparagraph (D) by striking 2002 and inserting 2024.

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the elderly simplified application program (referred to in this section as ESAP), under which a State, in carrying out the supplemental nutrition assistance program, may elect to implement a streamlined application and certification process for households in which all adult members—

(1) are elderly or disabled members; and

(2) have no earned income.

The certification period for participants in ESAP shall be 36 months.

A State agency determining the eligibility for an applicant household under ESAP shall, notwithstanding section 11(e)(3)—

(A) to the maximum extent practicable, use data matching for income verification and household size; and

(B) allow self-declaration by the household of the information required under section 273.2(f) of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), subject to household certification after verification of the information provided that relates to eligibility factors and that the State agency determines is questionable.

In carrying out paragraph (1), a State agency shall establish accountability and fraud protection measures to deter fraud and ensure the integrity of ESAP and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(A), for recertification of a household under ESAP, the State agency shall not require an interview unless requested by the household, which may be conducted virtually.

Before establishment of ESAP under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service shall develop guidance for States, after consultation with States, to carry out ESAP, including—

(1) general implementation guidelines;

(2) reporting requirements;

(3) quality control requirements; and

(4) best practices.

Section 501 of title IV of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, is amended by adding at the end the following:

The State agency shall review and, where appropriate, suspend the accounts of households for which EBT card transactions are made exclusively out-of-State for a period longer than 90 days, until—

(1) the household affirmatively provides substantiating evidence that the members of the household who are program participants still reside in the State from which they receive benefits; or

(2) an inquiry is conducted and conclusively determines that the members of the household who are program participants still reside in the State from which they receive benefits.

Section 11(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)) is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (24); and

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (25) and (26) as paragraphs (24) and (25), respectively.

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), as amended by section 4125, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report on food security and diet quality in the United States.

The report required to be submitted under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) an analysis of the food security and diet quality of participants and nonparticipants in the supplemental nutrition assistance program;

(A) a summary of legislative and Executive branch changes made to the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the year covered by the report that are intended to improve food security and diet quality; and

(B) an analysis of the impact and effectiveness of those changes on food security and diet quality; and

(3) recommendations to the Congress on how to improve food security and diet quality for participants and nonparticipants in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, shall contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to carry out a study to assess the efficacy of allowing hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption to be purchased with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits issued under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), including the impact on diet quality, purchasing power, and access to food.

The study pursuant to the contract under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) an assessment of currently available data, including data of instances of temporary emergency standards which disrupt commercial channels of food distribution where the prohibition on hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption was temporarily lifted;

(2) an assessment of participating households’ diet quality, including whether diet quality would improve or worsen upon the termination of the prohibition on hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption;

(3) an assessment of food access, including changes in the types of foods accessed for eligible households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program upon the termination of the prohibition on hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption;

(4) an assessment of participating households’ purchasing power of current supplemental nutrition assistance program allotments compared with what the purchasing power would be upon the termination of the prohibition on hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption; and

(5) factors for the Congress to contemplate if considering the authorization of a pilot to test the termination of the prohibition on hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report on the study carried out under subsection (a) to determine whether a pilot program for the termination of the prohibition on hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption is warranted.

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture shall make available to carry out this section $1,000,000, to remain available until expended.

Section 4402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007(a)) is amended—

(1) by striking $20,600,000 and inserting $22,600,000; and

(2) by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 4402(b)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007(b)(1)) is amended by striking and herbs and inserting herbs, and maple syrup.

The 1st sentence of section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93–86) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1) by striking 2023 and inserting 2029, and

(B) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029,

(2) in subsection (d)(2), in the 1st sentence, by striking 2023 and inserting 2029; and

(3) by amending subsection (g)(1) to read as follows—, and

Except as provided in subsection (m)—

(A) the States shall only provide assistance under the commodity supplemental food program to low-income persons aged 60 and older; and

(B) any amount deducted from social security payments for premiums paid under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act shall not be considered income for the purposes of this section.

(4) by adding at the end the following:

The purpose of this subsection is to award grants for the operation of projects that increase the access of low-income elderly persons to commodities through home delivery or other means and to evaluate such projects.

The Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants directly to State agencies, or to State agencies on behalf of eligible entities, to carry out the activities described in paragraph (5).

A grant awarded to a State agency under this subsection shall not exceed—

(A) the greater of—

(i) the State’s commodity supplemental food program caseload at time of application multiplied by 60; or

(ii) $10,000; or

(B) $4,000,000; whichever is less.

A State agency seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

A State agency awarded a grant under this subsection shall distribute grant funds to eligible entities to operate projects that facilitate delivery of commodities to participants in the commodity supplemental food program, including with respect to costs associated with—

(A) transportation and distribution of commodities to participants in the commodity supplemental food program, including transportation and distribution services provided by a third party;

(B) staffing required to operate delivery services; and

(C) outreach to participants or potential participants in the commodity supplemental food program with respect to home delivery.

A State agency awarded a grant under this subsection must prioritize eligible entities that serve participants in the commodity supplemental food program who reside in a rural area.

Not later than 180 days after the end of the fiscal year in which a State agency is awarded a grant under this subsection and has distributed grant funds to eligible entities, and in each succeeding fiscal year until grant funds are expended, a State agency shall submit a report to the Secretary that includes—

(A) a summary of the activities carried out under the project, including the quantity of commodities delivered, number of participants in the commodity supplemental food program served, and total number of deliveries;

(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of the project, including a calculation of the average cost per delivery, and an evaluation of any services provided by a third party; and

(C) best practices regarding use of home delivery to improve the effectiveness of the commodity supplemental food program.

In this subsection:

The term State agency, local agency, and subdistributing agency have the meanings given such terms in section 247.1 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).

The term eligible entity means—

(i) a local agency;

(ii) a subdistributing agency;

The term rural area has the meaning given such term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to remain available until expended.

Section 1114(a)(2)(A) of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 1431e(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

In this subsection:

The term demonstration project means the demonstration project established under paragraph (2).

The term food distribution program means the commodity supplemental food program identified in section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93–86).

The term Indian reservation has the meaning given the term reservation in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012).

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

The term self-determination contract has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304) with modification as determined by the Secretary.

The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012).

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration project under which 1 or more Tribal organizations may enter into self-determination contracts to purchase agricultural commodities under the food distribution program for the Indian reservation of that Tribal organization.

The Secretary shall consult with Indian Tribes to determine the process and criteria under which a Tribal organization may participate in the demonstration project.

The Secretary shall select for participation in the demonstration project Tribal organizations that—

(i) are successfully administering the food distribution program of the Tribal organization under section 4(b)(2)(B) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note);

(ii) have the capacity to purchase agricultural commodities in accordance with paragraph (4) for the food distribution program of the Tribal organization; and

(iii) meet any other criteria determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Indian tribes.

Any agricultural commodities purchased by a Tribal organization under the demonstration project shall—

(A) be domestically produced;

(B) not result in a material increase in the amount of food in the food package of that Tribal organization compared to the amount of food that the Secretary authorized to be provided through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Guide Rate;

(C) be of similar or higher nutritional value as the type of agricultural commodities that would be supplanted in the existing food package for that Tribal organization or be an agricultural commodity with Tribal significance to that Indian Tribe; and

(D) meet any other criteria determined by the Secretary.

Not later than 1 year after the date on which funds are appropriated under paragraph (6) and annually thereafter, the Secretary 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 describing the activities carried out under the demonstration project during the preceding year.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.

Only funds appropriated under subparagraph (A) in advance specifically to carry out this subsection shall be available to carry out this subsection.

The Secretary shall appoint an existing office of the United States Department of Agriculture to administer Tribal self-determination contracts to include but not limited to:

(A) awarding of Food and Nutrition Service nutrition program self-determination contracts to selected Tribal organizations; and

(B) hiring contract officers and program staff in order to manage the selection of Tribal organizations and execution of self-determination contracts.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for the payment of Department contract officers and program staff salaries and benefits.

Section 10603(b) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c-4(b)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service and in consultation with the Food and Nutrition Service, shall—

(1) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024—

(A) establish a pilot program for the purpose of procuring and distributing foods from the categories of staple foods listed in section 3(q) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(q)) that align with dietary patterns as defined in the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and

(B) publish guidance for participation in such program; and

(2) not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, enter into contracts with eligible entities to carry out not more than 20 pilot projects under such program.

The pilot program established under subsection (a) shall be designed—

(1) to supplement, not supplant, the nutrition of food insecure households in a manner complementary to other food nutrition programs administered by the Department;

(2) to expand the capacity of nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations; and

(3) to support local and regional food systems to improve food access.

In determining whether to award contracts under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider whether an eligible entity—

(1) demonstrates the capability to meet the program goals in subsection (b);

(2) offers a price inclusive of all inspection, transportation, and distribution costs, including last mile distribution;

(3) proposes to deliver a variety of staple foods determined by the Secretary to be the best value using trade-offs among evaluation factors other than lowest price or highest technical rating;

(4) demonstrates an established network of partners or affiliates with distribution and logistics capability to provide last mile delivery to individuals in need;

(5) will engage small- and medium-sized farmers or retailers, or distributors who source from such farmers; or

(6) will source local and regional products relative to the proposed distribution area when commercially and seasonally available at a fair and reasonable price.

Not later than one year after the entering into a contract to carry out this section, the Secretary 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 on the status of activities carried out under this section, including—

(1) the amount and types of products purchased and the proximity to relevant distribution points;

(2) the distribution data for each project sufficient to identify all partners involved and their respective roles in the distribution process, the means of distribution and the ultimate destination of products;

(3) the number of farms sourced from;

(4) the number of boxes delivered to households and number of households receiving boxes; and

(5) the associated economic impact of each project.

In this section the term eligible entity includes—

(1) small- and medium-sized farmers, as determined by the Secretary;

(2) distributors with demonstrated capacity to source from small- and medium-sized farmers; and

(3) recipient and nonprofit organizations with expertise in management or administration of food distribution, including—

(A) faith-based organizations that distributes food or meals;

(B) Tribal organizations that distribute food or meals;

(C) child or adult care centers; and

(D) any other similar feeding entity, as determined by the Secretary.

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, to remain available until expended.

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate regulations with respect to nutrition guidelines for food distributed under the programs established under—

(1) section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note);

(2) the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501); and

(3) section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)).

In promulgating regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1) ensure that the food products distributed under the programs described in such subsection are consistent with the goals of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans published under section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) and designed to meet the quantitative recommendations of such Guidelines; and

(2) Ensure that the nutrition standards reflect the different cultural and religious dietary needs of the populations being served food products under the programs described in such subsection.

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), as amended by sections 4125 and 4128, is amended by adding at the end the following:

The Secretary of Agriculture shall issue guidance to States on how to identify and notify eligible students who are likely to qualify for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

In issuing the guidance under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may consult with the Secretary of Education.

In this section, the term eligible student means a student receiving work-study assistance under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Section 12(n)(2)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(n)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:

Subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall require that a school food authority purchase, with respect to each food purchase category designated by the Agricultural Marketing Service, at least 95 percent domestic products and commodities in each such category for each school year.

Domestically unavailable products and commodities included on a list issued pursuant to clause (iii) with respect to a school year and purchased by a school food authority during such school year shall not be used to calculate whether such school food authority meets the requirements under clause (i).

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall make available to school food authorities a list of domestically unavailable products.

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to school food authorities beginning on the first day of the first school year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:; and

Except as provided in clause (ii) and subparagraph (D)(iii), the Federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity under this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the activity.

The Secretary may waive the application of clause (i) in the case of an activity carried out in a county that, during the preceding 30-year period has had a population of which greater than or equal to 20 percent of such population are living in poverty (as measured by the most recent decennial censuses).

(B) in paragraph (2)(B)—

(i) by redesignating clauses (ix) and (x) as clauses (x) and (xi); and

(ii) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:; and

(ix) increase year-round availability of incentives by offering all forms of fruits or vegetables;

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) by striking fresh fruits and vegetables and inserting all forms of fruits, vegetables, and legumes each place it appears; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:; and

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall issue recommendations to Congress on how to transition the produce prescription program established under this subsection to the Department of Health and Human Services to be administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In developing these recommendations, the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall consider the policy option described in the Comptroller General report described in subparagraph (B).

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the Comptroller General of the United States shall finalize and submit to the United States House of Representatives Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, a report that examines policy options relating to the transition of the produce prescription program established under this subsection to the Department of Health and Human Services to be administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The authority to carry out this subsection shall terminate on September 30, 2029.

(3) in subsection (f)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029;

(B) in paragraph (2)(G), by striking $56,000,000 and inserting $75,000,000; and

(C) in paragraph (3)—

(i) by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2029;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 8 percent and inserting 7 percent; and

(iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking $7,000,000 and inserting $4,000,000.

Section 224(e)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924(e)(2)) is amended—

(1) in the heading, by inserting Annual before Report;

(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting and annually thereafter, before the Secretary shall;

(3) in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end;

(4) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(5) by adding at the end the following:

(C) a general description of each project and activity implemented pursuant to this section;

(D) a summary of the cooperative agreements entered into pursuant to subsection (c);

(E) a detailed account of how the Secretary avoided, managed, or will manage market disruption; and

(F) a summary of coordinated activities with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, including interagency communication and coordination related to the promotion or exclusion of practices and technologies to limit food waste.

Section 243(d) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6953(d)) is amended by striking $125,000,000 and inserting $135,000,000.

Section 4206(g)(1) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 7518(g)(1)) is amended by striking $10,000,000 and inserting $30,000,000.

Section 4208 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2026a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking flavoring or and inserting artificial;

(B) by striking paragraph (2); and

(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(2) in subsection (e)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking $20,000,000 and inserting $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029;

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting or made available under paragraph (3) before shall be; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until expended.

Section 302(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(a)) is amended—

(1) in the 2nd sentence of paragraph (1), by striking a majority each place it appears and inserting at least a 50 percent;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:

Qualified operators, as defined by the Secretary, shall be considered to meet the operator requirement of paragraph (1).

An applicant that is or will become only the operator of farm real estate acquired, improved, or supported with funds under this subtitle shall be considered to meet the owner-operator requirements of paragraph (1) if 1 or more of the individuals who is an owner of the farm real estate owns at least 50 percent (or such other percentage as the Secretary determines is appropriate) of the applicant.

An entity that is an owner-operator described in paragraph (1), or an operator described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph that is owned, in whole or in part, by 1 or more other entities, shall be considered to meet the direct ownership requirement imposed under paragraph (1) if at least 75 percent of the total ownership interests of the embedded entity, or of the other entities, is owned, directly or indirectly, by qualified operators of the farm acquired, improved, or supported with funds under this subtitle.

Section 302(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 3 years and inserting 2 years; and

(2) in paragraph (4)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(I) by striking 3-year and inserting 2-year; and

(II) by striking 1 or 2 years and inserting 1 year;

(ii) in clause (iii), by inserting or operational before responsibilities;

(iii) in clause (vii), by striking or; and

(iv) by adding at the end the following:; and

(ix) met any other criteria established by the Secretary; or

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 3-year and inserting 2- year.

Section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924) is amended—

(1) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking and at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking 1985. and inserting 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812); and; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:; and

(4) producers who use the loans to adopt precision agriculture practices or acquire precision agriculture technologies, including adoption or acquisition for the purpose of participating in the environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.).

(2) in subsection (h), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 305(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925(a)(2)) is amended by striking $600,000, or, in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $1,750,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year 2019 and inserting $850,000, or, in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $3,500,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year 2025.

Section 305(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking of the Prices Paid By Farmers Index (as compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department of Agriculture) for the 12-month period ending on July 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year and inserting of the per acre average United States farm real estate value, the per acre average United States cropland value, and the per acre average United States pasture value for the preceding year (as published in the applicable Agricultural Land Values report of the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department of Agriculture), weighted equally; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking of such index (as so defined) for the 12-month period that immediately precedes the 12-month period described in paragraph (1) and inserting of the per acre average United States farm real estate value, the per acre average United States cropland value, and the per acre average United States pasture value for the year immediately preceding the year described in paragraph (1) (as so published), weighted equally.

The Farm Credit Act of 1971 is amended by inserting after section 4.18A (12 U.S.C. 2206a) the following:

A Farm Credit Bank, direct lender association, or bank for cooperatives chartered under this Act may, for the purpose of making available capital to develop, build, maintain, improve, or provide related equipment or other support for essential community facilities in rural areas, make and participate in loans and commitments, and extend other technical and financial assistance for projects for essential community facilities eligible for financing under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.

Only an entity eligible for financing under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act may receive financing or any other assistance under subsection (a) of this section.

A Farm Credit System institution described in subsection (a) shall not provide financing or assistance under this section in an aggregate amount that exceeds 15 percent of the total of all outstanding loans of the institution.

A Farm Credit System institution shall not provide financing or assistance under this section unless the institution—

(i) has offered, under reasonable terms and conditions acceptable to the borrower involved, an interest in the financing to at least 1 domestic lending institution not referred to in subsection (a) other than the Department of Agriculture; and

(ii) has reported the offer to the Farm Credit Administration.

In offering an interest in a financing to a domestic lending institution described in subparagraph (A)(i), the Farm Credit System institution shall give priority to community banks located in the service area of the essential community facility being financed.

Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Farm Credit Administration shall provide a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on the activities undertaken pursuant to this section by Farm Credit System institutions during the period covered by the report, including through partnerships between such an institution and other lending institutions, which shall also be posted on the website of the Farm Credit Administration.

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2024.

Section 310E(b)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1935(b)(1)) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking exceed 45 percent of the least and inserting exceed, subject to section 305(a), 45 percent of the lesser;

(2) in subparagraph (A), by adding or after the semicolon;

(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking; or and inserting a period; and

(4) by striking subparagraph (C).

Section 310I(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1936c(g)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 310I of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1936c) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

The Secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to provide legal or accounting services to underserved heirs, at no cost to the underserved heirs, to assist in resolving undivided ownership interests on farmland or forest land, or land transitioning to farmland or forest land, that has multiple owners. Such a cooperative agreement must be for any of the following purposes:

(A) To assist with transitioning land to agricultural production.

(B) To maintain land in agricultural production.

(C) To increase access to programs administered by the Secretary through the resolution of real property claims in order to allow real property owners to meet land ownership eligibility requirements for participation in a program administered by the Secretary.

A cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) shall be in effect for not more than 4 years, subject to clause (ii).

The Secretary may extend a cooperative agreement or re-enter into a cooperative agreement with the same or a different eligible entity to provide continued services for heirs if—

(I) property ownership is not resolved within the initial term of the original cooperative agreement; and

(II) the entity certifies that the entity understands that the cooperative agreement is not guaranteed to be funded for more than 4 years after the commencement of the original cooperative agreement.

An eligible entity must provide annual reports to the Secretary summarizing the progress made during each fiscal year towards achieving the goals of the cooperative agreement for the heirs for whom services are provided under the cooperative agreement.

The Secretary may require an eligible entity to provide the Secretary with such information or data as the Secretary deems necessary to determine that the eligible entity is making acceptable progress. The data may not include personally identifiable information.

If an eligible entity providing services under such a cooperative agreement does not demonstrate success, as determined by the Secretary, in resolving or reasonably attempting to resolve the property claims of an heir, the Secretary may terminate the agreement

The Secretary may utilize requests for public input or the formal rulemaking process to effectuate this subsection. At a minimum, the Secretary shall make publicly available the criteria for selecting an eligible entity to enter into an agreement to provide services, the administrative and performance requirements for cooperative agreements under this subsection, as well as codify within its internal policy its implementation process.

On a limited basis, and when determined by the Secretary to meet the purposes of a program administered by the Secretary and to expand access to such a program, the Secretary may allow an eligible entity to provide services at no cost to an heir who is not an underserved heir if—

(i) the land with respect to which the services are to be provided is not farmland or in agricultural production, but could be viably productive for agricultural, conservation, or forestry purposes;

(ii) the heir satisfies all other requirements of the definition of underserved heir;

(iii) the heir can provide proof to substantiate that the heir is in control of the real property; and

(iv) the heir certifies to the Secretary that the heir intends to apply for, and make a good faith effort to enroll the land in, a program administered by the Secretary once property claims to the land are resolved through services provided under a cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection.

In this subsection:

The term eligible entity means a nonprofit organization that—

(i) provides legal or accounting services to an underserved heir at no cost to the underserved heir to resolve property ownership issues; and

(ii) has demonstrated experience in resolving issues related to ownership and succession on farmland or forest land that has multiple owners.

An heir shall be considered a limited resource heir for purposes of this subsection if—

(i) the total household income of the heir is at or below the national poverty level for a family of 4, or less than 50 percent of the county median household income for the 2 immediately preceding calendar years, as determined annually using data of the Department of Commerce; or

(ii) the property of the heir for which legal services are provided pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection is in a persistent poverty community, as determined annually on the basis of data from the Department of Commerce, or a socially vulnerable area, as designated by the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention.

The term underserved heir means an heir with an undivided ownership interest in farmland or forest land that has multiple owners, who is—

(i) a limited resource heir;

(ii) a member of a socially disadvantaged group (as defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990); or

(iii) a veteran (as defined in section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code).

Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare, make public, and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a written report on the activities carried out under this subsection in the year covered by the report.

To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Section 310I(g) of such Act, as so redesignated by subsection (b) of this section, is amended by striking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall and inserting The Secretary shall annually.

Section 333A of the of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (g)—

(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:; and

The Secretary shall provide to lenders a short, simplified application form for real estate and operating guaranteed loans under this title, for loans of not more than $1,000,000.

Within 5 business days after receipt of an application to guarantee a farm ownership or operating loan that meets the requirements under subparagraph (A) originated by a USDA preferred lender, the Secretary shall notify the lender as to whether the application is approved or disapproved.

The percentage of the principal amount of a loan which may be guaranteed pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed—

(i) 90 percent, in the case of a loan not exceeding $125,000;

(ii) 75 percent, in the case of a loan of more than $125,000 and not more than $500,000; or

(iii) 50 percent, in the case of a loan of more than $500,000 and not more than $1,000,000.

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, and inserting after paragraph (1) the following:; and

The Secretary shall develop an application process that accelerates, to the maximum extent practicable, the processing of applications for business and industry guaranteed loans to assist rural entities, as described under section 310B(a)(2)(A), for loans not exceeding $400,000.

The accelerated application process, as provided under subparagraph (A), shall apply to loans not exceeding $600,000 if there is not a significant increased risk of a default on the loan, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) by striking subsection (h).

Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended by inserting after section 333D (7 U.S.C. 1983d) the following:

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, shall carry out a pilot program to establish a pre-approval process for direct farm ownership loans made under subtitle A in order to streamline the application process and provide greater certainty to borrowers.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary may establish eligibility requirements for direct farm ownership loans under subtitle A.

This section shall not be interpreted to repeal any borrowing requirement imposed under subtitle A.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 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 examining the actions undertaken under, and the results of, the pilot program.

The authority provided by this section shall terminate effective September 30, 2029.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (referred to in this section as the Secretary), shall promulgate regulations allowing certain loans guaranteed by the Farm Service Agency to be refinanced into direct loans issued by the Farm Service Agency, in accordance with this section.

The regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall provide that a guaranteed loan described in that subsection may be refinanced into a direct loan described in that subsection only if the Secretary determines that—

(A) the guaranteed loan is distressed;

(B) the borrower on that guaranteed loan has attempted to work with the lender and has been unsuccessful;

(C) a reasonable chance for the success of the operation financed by the guaranteed loan exists; and

(D) all other criteria established by the Secretary for purposes of this section to protect taxpayer funds and the loan programs of the Farm Service Agency have been satisfied.

For purposes of paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may determine that a reasonable chance for the success of an operation exists if the Secretary determines that—

(A) all relevant problems with the operation financed by the guaranteed loan—

(i) have been identified; and

(ii) can be corrected; and

(B) on correction of those problems, the operation can achieve, or be returned to, a sound financial basis.

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the refinancing of guaranteed loans into direct loans has no impact on the subsidy rate of—

(1) loans guaranteed by the Farm Service Agency; or

(2) direct loans issued by the Farm Service Agency.

In making direct loans pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subsection (a), the Secretary may refinance a loan guaranteed under 1 program of the Farm Service Agency into a direct loan issued under another program of the Farm Service Agency, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate and in accordance with the laws applicable to the program under which the new direct loan is issued.

A direct loan issued by the Farm Service Agency pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall be subject to any otherwise applicable limitation on the maximum amount of a direct loan issued by the Farm Service Agency, including, if applicable, the limitations described in—

(1) section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925); and

(2) section 313 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1943).

Section 311(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941) is amended—

(1) in the 2nd sentence of paragraph (1), by striking a majority each place it appears and inserting at least a 50 percent; and

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking (2) Special rule.— An entity and inserting the following:; and

Qualified operators, as defined by the Secretary, shall be considered to meet the operator requirement of paragraph (1).

An entity

(B) by striking ownership interests of each embedded entity of the entity is owned directly or indirectly by the individuals that own the family farm and inserting total ownership interests of the embedded entity, or of the other entities, is owned, directly or indirectly, by qualified operators of the farm improved or supported with funds under this subtitle.

Section 313(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(a)(1)) is amended by striking $400,000, or, in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $1,750,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year 2019 and inserting $750,000, or, in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $3,000,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year 2025.

Section 313(c)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(c)(2)) is amended by striking $50,000 and inserting $100,000.

Section 313(c)(4)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(c)(4)(A)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2029.

Section 321 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961) is amended—

(1) by striking all that precedes shall make and insure and inserting the following:

The Secretary

(2) in the 1st sentence—

(A) by striking (1) and inserting (A);

(B) by striking (2) and inserting (B);

(C) by striking (A) the 1st place it appears and inserting (i);