,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #dii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #b1 #bjag,mr4 ,thune introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe to address needs in the agriculture sector by establishing a voluntary1 short-term conserving use program for participating farmers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,soil ,health and ,income ,protection ,program ,act of #bjag or the ,,shipp ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,soil health and income protection program 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #e of subtitle ,d of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe is amended by inserting after section #abdj,m 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;bb7 the following3 #abdj,n4 ,soil health and income protection program 7a7 ,definition of eligible land ,in this section3 7#a7 ,in general ,the term eligible land means land that-- 7,a7 is selected by the owner or operator of the land for proposed enrollment in the program under this section2 and 7,b7 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7i7 had a cropping history or was considered to be planted during the #c crop years preceding the crop year described in subsection 7b77#b72 and 7ii7 is verified to be less-productive land1 as compared to other land on the applicable farm4 7#b7 ,exclusion ,the term eligible land does not include any land covered by a conservation reserve program contract under subchapter ,b of chapter #a that expires during the crop year described in subsection 7b77#b74 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a voluntary soil health and income protection program under which eligible land is enrolled through the use of agreements to assist owners and operators of eligible land to conserve and improve the soil1 water1 and wildlife resources of the eligible land4 7#b7 ,deadline for participation ,eligible land may be enrolled in the program under this section only during the first crop year beginning after the date of enactment of this section4 7c7 ,agreements 7#a7 ,requirements ,an agreement described in subsection 7b7 shall-- 7,a7 be entered into by the ,secretary1 the owner of the eligible land1 and 7if applicable7 the operator of the eligible land2 and 7,b7 provide that1 during the term of the agreement-- 7i7 the lowest practicable cost perennial conserving use cover crop for the eligible land1 as determined by the applicable ,state conservationist after considering the advice of the applicable ,state technical committee1 shall be planted on the eligible land2 7ii7 except as provided in paragraph 7#e71 the owner or operator of the eligible land shall pay the cost of planting the conserving use cover crop under clause 7i72 7iii7 subject to paragraph 7#f71 the eligible land may be harvested for seed1 hayed1 or grazed outside the nesting and brood-rearing period established for the applicable county2 7iv7 the eligible land may be eligible for a walk-in access program of the applicable ,state1 if any2 and 7v7 a nonprofit wildlife organization may provide to the owner or operator of the eligible land a payment in exchange for an agreement by the owner or operator not to harvest the conserving use cover4 7#b7 ,payments ,except as provided in paragraphs 7#e7 and 7#f77;,b77ii71 the annual rental rate for a payment under an agreement described in subsection 7b7 shall be equal to #ej percent of the average rental rate for the applicable county under section #abcd7;d71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,limitation on enrolled land ,not more than #ae percent of the eligible land on a farm may be enrolled in the program under this section4 7#d7 ,term 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 each agreement described in subsection 7b7 shall be for a term of #c1 #d1 or #e years1 as determined by the parties to the agreement4 7,b7 ,early termination 7i7 ,secretary ,the ,secretary may terminate an agreement described in subsection 7b7 before the end of the term described in subparagraph 7,a7 if the ,secretary determines that the early termination of the agreement is necessary4 7ii7 ,owners and operators ,an owner and 7if applicable7 an operator of eligible land enrolled in the program under this section may terminate an agreement described in subsection 7b7 before the end of the term described in subparagraph 7,a7 if the owner and 7if applicable7 the operator pay-- 7,i7 to the ,secretary an amount equal to the amount of rental payments received under the agreement2 and 7,,ii7 if applicable1 to the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,corporation the amount of the increase in premium discounts provided under subparagraph 7,b7 of section #ejh7;d77#c7 of the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aejh7;d77#c774 7#e7 ,beginning1 small1 socially disadvantaged1 young1 or veteran farmers and ranchers ,with respect to a beginning1 small1 socially disadvantaged1 young1 or veteran farmer or rancher1 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7,a7 an agreement described in subsection 7b7 shall provide that1 during the term of the agreement1 the beginning1 underserved1 or young farmer or rancher shall pay #ej percent of the cost of planting the conserving use cover crop under paragraph 7#a77;,b77i72 and 7,b7 the annual rental rate for a payment under an agreement described in subsection 7b7 shall be equal to #ge percent of the average rental rate for the applicable county under section #abcd7;d71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#f7 ,harvesting1 haying1 and grazing outside applicable period ,the harvesting for seed1 haying1 or grazing of eligible land under paragraph 7#a77;,b77iii7 outside of the nesting and brood-rearing period established for the applicable county shall be subject to the conditions that-- 7,a7 with respect to eligible land that is so hayed or grazed1 adequate stubble height shall be maintained to protect the soil on the eligible land1 as determined by the applicable ,state conservationist after considering the advice of the applicable ,state technical committee2 and 7,b7 with respect to eligible land that is so harvested for seed-- 7i7 the eligible land shall not be eligible to be insured or reinsured under the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aeja et seq472 and 7ii7 the rental payment otherwise applicable to the eligible land under this subsection shall be reduced by #be percent4 7d7 ,funding ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 4 7b7 ,adjustment of base acres ,section #aaab7;b77#a7 of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ijab7;b77#a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,a soil health and income protection program agreement entered into under section #abdj,n of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe with respect to the farm expires or is terminated4 4 7c7 ,crop insurance ,section #ejh7;d77#c7 of the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aejh7;d77#c77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,the ,corporation and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,corporation 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 ,increase for participation in soil health and income protection program 7i7 ,in general ,subject to clause 7ii71 the ,corporation may increase the amount of a premium discount provided under this paragraph by not more than #b percent 7or not more than #c percent with respect to a beginning1 small1 socially disadvantaged1 young1 or veteran farmer or rancher described in subsection 7c77#e7 of section #abdj,n of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe7 for any agricultural commodity planted in an insurable unit that contains any eligible land 7as defined in subsection 7a7 of that section7 that is enrolled in the soil health and income protection program under that section4 7ii7 ,applicability ,an increase in the amount of a premium discount provided pursuant to clause 7i7-- 7,i7 shall apply only for a premium discount equal to less than #hj percent2 and 7,,ii7 shall not apply to a catastrophic risk protection plan provided under subsection 7b74 7iii7 ,multiple insurable units ,with respect to an agricultural producer that owns or operates multiple insurable units on #a farm1 at least #a insurable unit of which contains eligible land 7as defined in subsection 7a7 of section #abdj,n of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe7 that is enrolled in the soil health and income protection program under that section1 an increase in the amount of a premium discount under this subparagraph shall apply to all insurable units of the agricultural producer on the farm4 4