Clarifies that no person shall become ineligible for USDA programs if an exemption applies for wetland conversions.

Requires USDA to provide training on minimal effects exemption within 1 year

Requires USDA to issue minimal effects exemptions from wetlands conservation compliance regulations within in 180 days.  Provides authorization for appropriations for wetland mitigation banking  – $5 million per year for FY19-23

CRP is reauthorized for the next 5 years with the cap increased  of up to 25 million acres.  The bill establishes continuous sign-up into law (previously an administrative action) and creates Continuous Sign-up funding pools

o   State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE): 30% of acres

o   Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers Priority: Enrollment of water quality practices (grass sod waterway, contour grass sod strip, prairie strip, filterstrip, riparian buffer, wetland or wetland buffer, saturated buffer, a bioreactor or similar practice): 40% of acres

Under State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), States or Tribes can request designation, with priority for habitat for declining populations, T&E species & wildlife corridors

Increases the CRP cap by 1 million acres each year, up to 29 million acres.  Grasslands acres increased to a total of 3 million acres within the 29 million acre cap;

CRP is reauthorized for the next 5 years with the cap increased  of up to 25 million acres.  The bill establishes continuous sign-up into law (previously an administrative action) and creates Continuous Sign-up funding pools

o   State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE): 30% of acres

o   Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers Priority: Enrollment of water quality practices (grass sod waterway, contour grass sod strip, prairie strip, filterstrip, riparian buffer, wetland or wetland buffer, saturated buffer, a bioreactor or similar practice): 40% of acres

Under State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), States or Tribes can request designation, with priority for habitat for declining populations, T&E species & wildlife corridors

Increases the CRP cap by 1 million acres each year, up to 29 million acres.  Grasslands acres increased to a total of 3 million acres within the 29 million acre cap;

Program modified to allow cost-share and rental payments include fencing and other water distribution practices. Harvesting, grazing and other commercial use of forage allowed without penalty for drought, flood and responding to a state emergency (drought or wildlife) .  Managed harvesting (as part of contract with a 25% reduction for the acres covered by the activity) not allowed on more than 1/3 of the acres covered by all the CRP contracts during any year.  Grazing permitted (as part of the contract with a 25% reduction for the acres covered by the activity) not more than once every 3 years on the same land – if contract covers more than 20 acres, grazing not allowed on more than 1/3 of the acres covered by all the CRP contracts of the owner or operator to be grazed during any one year – if contract < 20 acres, grazing allowed on all of the land covered by the contract at 25% of the stocking rate permitted under the livestock forage disaster program with veteran and beginning farm or rancher allowed to graze without reduction in rental rate. Harvesting and grazing subject to appropriate plans outlining timing of activities.

If land has been rated by the drought monitor as D2 or greater for not less than 1 month during the normal grazing period for the 3 previous consecutive years, the land shall not be eligible for harvesting or grazing that year. Harvesting and grazing can determine that the activity should not take place in a given year if there will be damage to vegetative cover.  SAFE acres are eligible for harvesting and grazing. CREP acres are eligible for harvesting and grazing.

CRP payments are capped at 88.5% of county rental rates (determined by NASS).  Signing incentive payments and practices incentive payments are only permitted if the national average market price received by producers during the previous 12 month marketing year for major covered commodities is greater than the national average market price received by producers during the most recent 10 marking years for major covered commodities.

Wellhead protection payments to  rural water district or association  are not subject to payment limits or AGI limits.

CRP payments are capped at 80% of county rental rates (determined by NASS); with the 1^st re-enrollment reduced an additional 15% and subsequent re-enrollments reduced another 10%. Signing Incentive Payments (SIPs) and Practice Incentive Payments (PIPs) are eliminated. Decrease cost share to 40% from 50% and limit seed payment to 25% of the cost of seed. Increase flexibility of grazing as a mid-contract management practice. Decrease federal share of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (joint program with states)

Establishes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program into law (currently administrative action by USDA); Eligible partner can be state, political subdivision of a state, Indian tribe, NGO, institute of higher learning, state cooperative extension, research institute; agreement with partner must describe conservation concerns, conservation practices (and modifications to standards), environmental goals, acreage goals, location of land to be enrolled and payment to be offered by USDA and the partner. Funds provided by a partner may be cash, in-kind or technical assistance.  New provision allows for cost-share payment to an owner or operator to install stream fencing, crossing, and alternative water development on marginal pastureland under a program to reflect fair market value of the cost of installation.  Cost share payments authorized and can be assigned to eligible partner.  Riparian buffer maintenance payments to encourage regular management and shall not be greater than 100% of the management cost

Food producing woody plants can be part of forested riparian buffers

20% of continuous acres

Eliminates early termination provisions

CRP TIP modified to “contract holder” instead of retired or retiring owner or operator” and allows access 2 years prior to the date of termination of the contract; clarifies the covered farmer can have a lease with a term of less than 5 years (instead of just a long-term lease) and includes transition to CSP, EQIP and easements

Creates a new Conservation Reserve Easement option for contracts that are entered into between FY2019 and September 30, 2023. Only applies to land under contracts enrolled in continuous sign-up under the Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers priority and the SAFE acres. Starting in 2029 when the 2019 contracts expire, producers have the option to re-enroll at 40% reduced annual rental payment (with no incentive payments) or enter into a conservation reserve easement or not to reenroll. If the Secretary determines that the land is not suitable for an easement, the producer may reenroll in CRP

Allow for early termination of contracts in 2019 if meeting certain requirements.  CRP TIP is amended to allow for the covered farmers and owner to make conservation land improvements 1 year before the end of the contract.  Allows for transition to organic production 3 years before the end of the contract.

Producers in the final year of CRP contracts can enter into the EQIP contract.

CRP Tip is continued

Creation of the Conservation Reserve Easements for a term that is permanent, or the maximum period allowed by state law.  Under the easement, the landowner agrees to deed restrictions and permanently retire any base history for the land covered by the easement.  The easement would prohibit alteration of wildlife habitat, and any action on adjacent land that would adversely impact the land under the easement, or other practices that would tend to defeat the purpose of the program. Compatible uses allowed – hunting, fishing, managed timber harvest or periodic haying or grazing.  USDA shall pay the lowest of fair market value, an offer made by the landowner, or a USDA set geographical limitation. Payments can be made in 1 payment or up to 10 annual payments.  USDA may enter into agreements with private entities, states, tribes, or NGOs to carry out maintenance of an easement.  USDA will develop a conservation reserve easement plan to include the practices and activities necessary to maintain, protect and enhance the conservation value of the land.  USDA can delegate easement administration (management, monitoring and enforcement) to federal, state or local government agencies or conservation organizations

Allows USDA in consultation with a State Technical Committee to wave CRP program ineligibility related to: Federal Lands;; and land regulated by a tribe, state or local requirement for conservation practices and the owners and operators of the such land have been notified in writing of such requirements

Adds development of a comprehensive conservation plan, soil health planning and mitigation against weather volatility as conservation activities for CSP.  Adds descriptions to setting the Stewardship Threshold as using quality criteria under a resource management system, predictive analytics tools, data from past and current enrollment of the program

Extends the program through 2023

Provides for new ranking of applications to include the natural resource conservation and environmental benefits on all applicable priority resource concerns, and the degree to which the proposed activities will increase the benefits. USDA can select the lowest cost application.

Allows for enrollment of 8,797,000 acres each year

New payment for cover crops that are not less than 125% of the annual payment amount, and new supplemental payments not less than 150% of the annual payment for resource conserving crop rotations and advanced grazing management, new payment for development of comprehensive conservation plan

New allocation of funds to states to support organic production and transition to organic production

Secretary directed to manage the program to enhance soil health

Adds drought resiliency measures to purposes and changes wording of existing provisions to remove “cost effective”

Adds new conservation planning survey to assess rangeland and cropland function and describes conservation activities to enhance the economic and ecological management of that land; adds soil tests for heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other contaminates and biological and physical soil heath as conservation practices under EQIP; adds scientifically based soil remediation practices as a conservation practice under EQIP.

Adds conservation activities: resource conserving crop rotation planning, soil health planning and conservation planning survey.

Continues the EQIP program and adds the “CSP type” definitions to EQIP by defining priority resources concern as a national state, or local level priority for an area of a state that represents a significant concern.  Defines stewardship practice as a practice or set of practices approved by the Secretary that when implemented and maintained on eligible land address one or more priority resource concerns.

Allows for 10 year contracts for management practices that benefit wildlife, including post-harvest flooding and seasonal wetlands.  Disadvantaged farmers will receive 90% cost share and have 180 days to spend advanced payment funds (up from 90 days)

The secretary shall review all cost share rates and conservation practice standards within 1 year of enactment

States, in consultation with state technical committees can designate 10 practices for increased payments of not more than 90% of the costs associated with planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance or training.

The livestock funding set aside is reduced from 60% to 50%

The wildlife habitat funding set aside is increased from 5% to at least 10%.

USDA directed to review the process for determining annual funding allocation to the states

Modifies water conservation and irrigation system efficiency payments to allow USDA to enter into contracts with a state, irrigation district, water management district, acequia or similar entity to streamline contracting and USDA can waive AGI and payment limits.

Increase the payment limit for transition to organic production to $160,000 over the 5 years of the bill.

Establishes a new micro-EQIP pilot program that allows up to 10 states to establish a program that provides financial and technical assistance to small-scale agricultural producers

Adds stewardship payments for adopting, installing, managing, maintaining and improving stewardship practices with payments based on the level and extent of the practice, the cost of installation, income foregone and the extent to which compensation would ensure long-term continued maintenance, management, and improvement of the stewardship practice. Stewardship Payments are limited to $50,000 per year; and the overall EQIP payment limit of $450,000 over 5 years (FY19-23) remains (can have multiple contracts – stewardship type and regular EQIP type). Of the total EQIP funding provided each year, not more than 50% is to be used for stewardship payments.  The historical EQIP split of 60% livestock/40% crop funding is eliminated.

Adds provision to give priority to applications that use the most effective practices to address natural resource concerns

Directs USDA to streamline and coordinate EQIP and CSP

Slight modification

Extends current $450,000 payment limitation

Adds urban, indoor and other emerging ag practices; adds edge of field monitoring to the types of projects

Incudes $25 million per year for Air Quality issues

$25 million is provided for Conservation Innovation Grants administered by NRCS, $37.5 million is provided for Air Quality issues in EQIP; $25 million is provided for new On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials directly with producers or eligible entities (third party private entity the primary business of which is related to agriculture).

New provision directs USDA to carryout a soil health demonstration pilot project by providing producers financial incentives to adopt practices to improve soil health and to report back to congress.  $15 million from EQIP funding is dedicated to this pilot.

Clarifies that on-site visits should be in the presence of the affected person

Program is reauthorized through 2023

Program is reauthorized through 2023

New standalone program for improving soil, water, and wildlife resources with 3, 4, or 5 year contracts for up to 15% of eligible land on a farm.

Sign-up can only be held the first crop year beginning after the date of enactment.  Payment is 50% of the average CRP rental rate.  Appropriations authorized to fund the program

Program is continued with appropriations authorized for $25 million per year

Program is funding with $5 million and appropriations authorized through 2023

New program to mitigate the presence of contaminates in the soil and expands the scope of those eligible to include “small-scale” producers of food. USDA & EPA shall coordinate the development of a soil health testing protocol including:

o   optimum level of constituents in and characteristics of the soil such as organic matter, nutrients, and the potential of soil contamination from heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon or other contaminants

o   biological and physical characteristics indicative of proper soil functioning.

USDA will provide technical assistance to a producer carrying out a soil assessment or soil remediation practice

Reauthorized and funded at $40 million for the life of the bill.

Funding of $50 million is provided for the life of this bill.

Program terminates effective October 1, 2023.

Recommendation that EQIP should encourage the use of remote telemetry data systems for irrigation scheduling as a best management practice.

Authorizes appropriations of $200 million per year with $20 million in funding provided each fiscal year.

Funding of $100 million each fiscal year is provided.

Creates a joint NRCS/APHIS program to study, assess, develop methods for eradication, develop methods for restoration of damage and provide financial assistance. Funding of $10 million is provided for the life of this bill.

Maximum payment under ECP is $500,000, authorizes appropriations and creates a set-aside of 25% of funding per year for repair or replacement of fencing.

Adds provision on repair and replacement of fencing to the Emergency Conservation Program and includes a 75% cost share rate and limits total assistance to less than 50% of the agricultural value of the land.

Updates a provision for a Resource Conservation assessment by NRCS by December 31, 2023. Adds provision for conservation effects assessment project to quantify the environmental and economic effects of conservation practices. Establishes a national technical committee of USDA agencies, USGS, land grants, state agencies and others to guide in the monitoring and program evaluation to assess conservation programs progress in meeting goals.

$33 million for CRP-TIP

$400 million for Agricultural Conservation Easements (FY19-21); $425 million (FY2022) and $450 million (FY2023)

$1.473 billion for EQIP in FY19

$1.478 billion for EQIP in FY20

$1.541 billion for EQIP in FY21

$1.571 billion for EQIP in FY22

$1.595 billion for EQIP in FY23

Assistance to certain farmers and ranchers increased from 5% to 15%

Directs FSA to be consistent with the standards and requirements established by NRCS (practice standards, technical guides, payment rates for conservation practices)

$33 million for CRP-TIP

$500 million per year for Agricultural Conservation Easements

$2 billion for EQIP in FY19

$2.5 billion for EQIP in FY20

$2.75 billion for EQIP in FY21

$2.935 billion for EQIP in FY22

$3 billion for EQIP in FY23

Regional Equity is eliminated

Third Party Provider defined as: a commercial entity (including a farmer cooperative, agriculture retailer, or other commercial entity, as determined by the Secretary), a nonprofit entity, a state, a unit of local government (including a conservation district), or a Federal agency, that has expertise in a technical aspect of conservation planning, including nutrient management planning, watershed planning or environmental engineering

USDA shall certify third party providers and have streamlined certification for sustainability specialty certification and a 4R nutrient management specialty certification

Expedited revision of conservation standards

Creates new certification for CCAs

Exemption from Dun and SAMs requirement applied to commodities in addition to conservation

Sourcewater protection practices encouraged in EQIP

Payments to acequias – AGI waived

Secretary directed to encourage practices that protect drinking water sources

Political subdivision of a state; organized for the purpose of managing the operation of an irrigation ditch; and does not have the authority to impose taxes or levies

Authorizes $5 million per year

Report on the number of wetlands with an area not more than 1 acre that have been delineated in each of the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Wetland Reserve Easements – Adds Native vegetation and adds land owned by an acequia

Eliminates the agricultural land easement plan, adds forest land into the eligible land, defines monitoring report

Modifies existing program to define non-federal share as cash, charitable donation or other federal funding (non USDA); for grassland easements of special environmental significance USDA can provide 70%; modifies the agreement with eligible entities to say that UDA does not have a right of enforcement unless a monitoring report is submitted; allows for mineral development; allows for participation in environmental services markets; revises certification criteria for eligible entities.

Program reauthorized with a few modifications including allowing for grazing management plans on wetland easements

Alters provision on modification and termination of easements; AGI limits don’t apply to landowners from which an easement is to be purchased

Significant modifications to the partnership program to allow for flexibility in the use of program funds and a streamlined application process.  Eligible activities are activities under the covered programs (EQIP, CSP, Easements) and other related activity that an eligible partner determines will help address natural resource concerns, subject to the approval of the Secretary (source water protection, soil health, drought resilience)

Expands partner contributions can include: direct funding, in-kind support  or a combination; and “any amounts expended during the period beginning on the date on which the Secretary announces the approval of an application and ending on the day before the effective date of the partnership agreement by an eligible partner for staff salaries to development of the partnership agreement shall be considered to be a part of the contribution”

USDA directed to establish a program coordinator for the state to be responsible for providing assistance to eligible partners and eligible producers

USDA to provide semiannual reports to each partner with the status of pending and obligated contracts and how technical assistance was used

Partners can use new or modified conservation practice standards

New program provisions add grant agreements for: infrastructure investments; projects addressing water quality or quantity; innovative financing/leveraging federal investment; pilot testing of new conservation practices; sustainability & long term viability of ag through land and water protection strategies

o   Grant agreements not subject to AGI

o   Not more than 30% of the overall program funding

o   Annual reports required

Increased funding compared to baseline $200 million per year plus 7% of covered program funding (CSP, EQIP, Easements)

o   40% of funds for state based or multi state based competition

o   60% of funds for Critical Conservation Area competition

o   Eliminates national competition

Secretary is to directed to limit technical assistance funds used by USDA and make the amount public (to lower implantation/administrative cost by USDA)

Critical Conservation Area defined as the geographic area that contains a critical conservation condition that can be addressed through the program

Critical Conservation Condition defined as: condition of the land that would benefit for water quality improvement; water quantity improvement ; drought, water retention and flood control

Adds CRP and PL566 as covered programs (in addition to EQIP and Agricultural Land Easements); and adds resource conserving crop rotations and protecting source waters for drinking water as eligible activities for the program

Directs USDA to simplify the application process and allow for an expedited renewal of partnership agreements

Allows the secretary to waive AGI limitations and limitations on the maximum amount of payments for any covered program

Increases funding for the program to $250 million per year and eliminates the 7% “donation” from covered programs

USDA directed to provide guidance to eligible partners and producers on how to quantify and report on environmental outcomes of the projects/conservation practices

Old CSP program is repealed (original program)

Programs repealed, but existing contracts will be honored/continued, but cannot be renewed

Repeal of program

RC&D program terminates October 1, 2023

Expansion of Working Lands for Wildlife Model between USDA and DOI.  Regulatory certainty related to the adoption of conservation practices and the Endangered Species Act

Adds flexibility for larger watershed to address drought and creates waiver of the watershed plan.

Modification or exchange of a Wetland Reserve Easements for water management, general maintenance, vegetative cover control, wildlife habitat management of other purpose if the modification is approved by a state department of natural resources and the state technical committee

No additional costs

·        at least 16 hours of post-secondary education in a field related to agriculture;

·        successful completion of a farm management curriculum offered by the Cooperative Extension Service, a community college, an adult vocational agriculture program, a non-profit organization, or a land grant university;

·        at least 1 year of direct substantive management experience in a business;

·        an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States;

·        successful repayment of a youth loan made under section 311(b);

·        at least 1 year as hired farm labor with substantial management responsibilities;

·        successful completion of a farm mentorship, apprenticeship, or internship program with an emphasis on management requirements and day-to-day farm management decisions;

·        an established relationship with an individual participating as a counselor in a Service Corps of Retired Executives program authorized under section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), or with a local farm or ranch operator or organization, approved by the Secretary, that is committed to mentoring the farmer or rancher; and

·        successful completion of a military leadership course.

Increased authority to fund not more than 12 billion.

·        $4,000,000,000 shall be for direct loans of which:

-$2,000,000,000 shall be for farm ownership loans

-$2,000,000,000 shall be for farm operating loans

·        $8,000,000,000 shall be for guaranteed loans of which:

-4,000,000,000 shall be for farm ownership loans and

-4,000,000,000 shall be for farm operating loans

Reauthorizes existing funding levels for loan programs through 2023. (levels are lower than the increases seen on the Senate side).

Title VII: Research

Title VII: Research

Allows for funds appropriated under the section concerning extension at 1890 land-grant colleges to be carried over beyond the previous restriction of 20 percent and requires a report to Congress describing allocations made to and matching state funds received by the institutions eligible for extension.

Requires a report to Congress concerning agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges describing allocations made to and matching state funds received by eligible institutions for agricultural research.

Requires the Secretary to submit a report each year on the allocations of Federal funds made to, and matching funds received by, 1890 institutions that receive certain grant funding.

Reauthorizes grants for 1890 land-grand colleges and insular area land-grant institutions to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities.

Reauthorizes university research programs, including agricultural research at State agricultural experiment stations.

Reauthorizes appropriations through FY23 for research programs focused on agriculture, including research at State agricultural experiment stations.

Prevents additional entities from being designated as eligible to receive land grant funding, and notes that “no state shall receive an increase in funding under a covered program as a result of the State’s designation of additional entities as eligible to receive such funding”.

Special Authorization for biosecurity planning and response.

Authorizes an advanced research and development authority pilot program aimed at overcoming challenges related to long-term and high-risk agricultural and food related research and development. Establishes the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Fund in the Treasury and authorizes $50 million for each of fiscal years 2019-2023.

AGARDA.—The term ‘AGARDA’ means the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority.

Prohibits an increase in the amount of funding a State can receive due to the designation of additional entities as eligible to receive funds under a capacity program. Capacity programs are specified agricultural research, extension, education, and related programs.

Requires the Secretary to establish a grant program to award grants to land grant universities to support individuals intending to pursue a career in food and agricultural sciences. Authorizes $19 million for each fiscal year for 2019-2023.

Establishes a grant program for 1890 institutions for individuals who intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences. Authorizes $19 million each year for fiscal years 2019-2023.

National genetics resources program. Continues an advisory council to make recommendations on the state of public cultivar development, including an analysis of existing cultivar research investments; the research gaps relating to the development of cultivars across a diverse range of crops; and an assessment of the state of commercialization of federally funded cultivars; the training and resources needed to meet future breeding challenges; the appropriate levels of Federal funding for cultivar development for underserved crops and geographic areas.

Agricultural genome to phenome initiative.

Same as House SEC. 7207

Authorizes $30 M to be appropriated to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023

Agricultural genome to phenome initiative. Goals are to expand knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of crops of importance to US; understand how variable weather, environments, and production systems impact the growth and productivity of specific varieties of crops; support research that leverages plant genomic information with phenotypic and environmental data; promote and coordinate research linking genomics and predictive phenomics at different sites nationally to achieve advances in crops that generate societal benefits.

Authorizes $30 M to be appropriated to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

High-priority research and extension initiatives.

National turfgrass research initiative

Nutrient management

Macadamia tree health initiative

Chronic wasting disease

Pulse crop health initiative

Pollinator protection

Pollinator health task force.

Enhanced coordination of honeybee and pollinator research

Requires the establishment of at least three centers of excellence, each led by a land-grant university, to support activities to ensure students have the skills needed to work in the agriculture and food industries, carry out research and education programs, and share best practices with farmers, among other things. Authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2019-2023.

Support for research regarding diseases of wheat, triticale, and barley caused by fusarium graminearum or by tilletia indica.

Authorizes $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

Support for research regarding diseases of wheat, triticale, and barley caused by fusarium graminearum or by tilletia indica.

Reauthorizes $10M per year

Establishes a competitive grant program to support adaptive protype systems design for extension and education. Entities eligible to receive grants are State agricultural experiment stations and land-grant colleges or universities.

Repeals the Agricultural Research Service review commissioned in 2003.

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR).

The Foundation is directed to submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a strategic plan describing a path for the Foundation to become self-sustaining, one year after date of enactment.

Reinstates the matching requirements for Federal funds in place before the 2014 Farm Bill.

Public education on biotechnology in food and agriculture sectors. The Secretary shall develop and carry out a national science-based education campaign to increase public awareness regarding the use of technology in food and agriculture production, including biotechnology, developments in the science of plant and animal breeding over time and the impacts of such developments on farmers, consumers, the environment, and the rural economy; and the effects of the use of biotechnology on food security, nutrition, and the environment.

Other R&D provisions in this section include: a directive to review and modify Whole Farm Revenue to improve it’s effectiveness;

Also included is a section to define a beginning farmer or rancher for purchases of Whole Farm Revenue coverage to be a farmer or rancher who has not actively operated and managed a farm or ranch with a bona fide insurable interest in a cro por livestock as an owner-operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper for more than 10 crop years.