,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eijb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #d1 #bjbe,mr4 ,beyer 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,lawler1 and ,ms4 ,pingree7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to promote innovative practices for soil health through ,,usda conservation programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,innovative ,practices for ,soil ,health ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,environmental quality incentives program 7a7 ,definitions ,section #abdj;,a of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#f77;,b7-- 7,a7 in clause 7v71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 by redesignating clause 7vi7 as clause 7vii72 and 7,c7 by inserting after clause 7v7 the following3 7vi7 greenhouse gas emissions reduction planning2 and 2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#g71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking natural resource concern or problem and inserting resource concern2 7#c7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#i7 and 7#aj7 as paragraphs 7#aj7 and 7#aa71 respectively2 and 7#d7 by inserting after paragraph 7#h7 the following3 7#i7 ,resource concern ,the term resource concern means a natural resource condition of the soil1 water1 air1 plant1 animal1 or energy resource base that impairs the sustainability or intended uses of the resource4 4 7b7 ,on-,farm conservation innovation trials ,section #abdj;,h7c77#a77;,b77i7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#h7;c77#a77;,b77i77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subclause 7,,ii71 by inserting on-farm nutrient recycling1 after plans12 7#b7 in subclause 7,,vi71 by striking and at the end2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,,viii7 perennial production systems1 including agroforestry and perennial forages and grain crops2 and 4 #c4 ,conservation stewardship program 7a7 ,definitions ,section #abdj;,i of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#ba7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting enhancements1 after practices12 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b77v71 by inserting and climate change before the period at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c77;,c71 by inserting maintained1 actively after implemented12 7#c7 in paragraph 7#e71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking natural resource concern or problem and inserting resource concern2 7#d7 by redesignating paragraph 7#g7 as paragraph 7#h72 and 7#e7 by inserting after paragraph 7#f7 the following3 7#g7 ,resource concern ,the term resource concern means a natural resource condition of the soil1 water1 air1 plant1 animal1 or energy resource base that impairs the sustainability or intended uses of the resource4 4 7b7 ,conservation ,stewardship ,program ,section #abdj;,j7a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bb7;a77 is amended by striking paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 and inserting the following3 7#a7 by maintaining1 actively managing1 and1 where practicable1 improving existing conservation activities2 and 7#b7 by undertaking additional conservation activities4 4 7c7 ,stewardship contracts 7#a7 ,submission of contract offers ,section #abdj,k7a77#b77;,b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bc7;a77#b77;,b77 is amended by striking improving1 maintaining1 and managing and inserting maintaining1 actively managing1 and1 where practicable1 improving4 7#b7 ,evaluation of contract offers ,section #abdj,k7b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bc7;b77 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by striking clause 7iii7 and inserting the following3 7iii7 other criteria consistent with an equal weighting of the factors described in clauses 7i7 and 7ii71 as determined by the ,secretary1 including criteria the ,secretary determines are necessary to ensure that-- 7,i7 the program effectively targets improvements to soil health1 increases in carbon sequestration1 and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions2 and 7,,ii7 other national1 ,state1 and local priority resource concerns are effectively addressed4 2 and 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,contract renewal ,section #abdj,k7e7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bc7;e77 is amended to read as follows3 7e7 ,contract ,renewal 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may provide the producer an opportunity to renew an existing contract in the first half of the fifth year of the contract period if the producer-- 7,a7 demonstrates compliance with the terms of the existing contract2 7,b7 agrees to adopt and continue to integrate new or improved conservation activities across the entire agricultural operation1 demonstrating continued improvement during the additional #e-year period1 as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,c7 agrees1 by the end of the contract period1 to meet the stewardship threshold of at least #b additional priority resource concerns on the agricultural operation1 if applicable4 7#b7 ,ranking and payments ,in determining whether to accept an application for contract renewal under this subsection1 and when calculating payments for those renewed contracts1 the ,secretary shall consider the full conservation benefits across the entire applicable agricultural operation1 including-- 7,a7 the number of priority resource concerns with respect to which the producer is expected to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold by the end of the contract period2 and 7,b7 the active management and maintenance of ongoing conservation activities1 including-- 7i7 the conservation activities adopted during a prior contract period2 and 7ii7 the new or improved conservation activities to be adopted if a contract is renewed4 4 7d7 ,duties of the ,secretary 7#a7 ,conservation stewardship payments ,section #abdj,l7c7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bd7;c77 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting on #a or more types of eligible land covered by the contract after activities2 and 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking improving1 maintaining1 and managing and inserting maintaining1 actively managing1 and improving2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting the following3 7,b7 ,income forgone by the producer1 including amounts that reflect-- 7i7 increased economic risk2 and 7ii7 loss in revenue due to-- 7,i7 production changes2 7,,ii7 anticipated reductions in yield2 7,,iii7 transitioning to an organic1 resource-conserving cropping or grazing1 or perennial production system2 or 7,,iv7 acreage converted to conservation uses4 2 and 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by inserting 1 actively managed1 and1 where applicable1 improved after maintained4 7#b7 ,supplemental payments ,section #abdj,l7d7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bd7;d77 is amended-- 7,a7 in the subsection heading1 by inserting 1 perennial production systems1 after rotations2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,d72 and 7ii7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,b7 the following3 7,c7 ,perennial production system ,the term perennial production system means-- 7i7 the use of cropland for agroforestry1 including alley cropping1 silvopasture1 and related production practices1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7ii7 the use of woodland for agroforestry1 including forest farming1 multistory cropping1 and related production practices1 as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7iii7 the use of cropland for perennial forages or perennial grain crops4 2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking or at the end2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 a perennial production system4 2 and 7,d7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking or advanced grazing management and inserting 1 advanced grazing management1 or a perennial production system4 7#c7 ,soil health ,section #abdj,l7k7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#bd7k77 is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the following3 1 including by-- 7#a7 conducting outreach to encourage the use of contracts to improve soil health and sequester carbon in the soil2 and 7#b7 offering payments for soil testing to provide producers and the ,secretary with information on the soil health and carbon sequestration impacts of conservation activities4 4 #d4 ,funding and administration ,section #abdb of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#b7-- 7,a7 by inserting an individual1 before a commercial entity2 7,b7 by striking ,state or local and inserting ,state1 local1 or ,tribal2 and 7,c7 by striking nutrient management planning1 and inserting soil health planning1 greenhouse gas emissions reduction planning1 nutrient management planning1 integrated pest management planning1 agroforestry planning1 organic transition planning12 7#b7 in subsection 7e7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#c77;,a7-- 7i7 by inserting individuals1 before commercial entities12 and 7ii7 by striking ,state or local and inserting ,state1 local1 or ,tribal2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#e71 by inserting or organic after sustainability2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7i7-- 7,a7 in the subsection heading1 by inserting perennial agriculture system1 after organic12 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting a perennial agriculture system1 after production1 each place it appears4 #e4 ,national and regional agroforestry centers ,section #abdc of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afdb note2 ,public ,law #aja-fbd7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking the section heading and inserting ,national and regional agroforestry centers2 7#b7 by redesignating subsections 7b71 7c71 and 7d7 as subsections 7c71 7d71 and 7e71 respectively2 7#c7 by striking subsection 7a7 and inserting the following3 7a7 ,definition of agroforestry ,in this section1 the term agroforestry means a management system that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to build more profitable and weather-resilient farms1 ranches1 and communities1 address natural resource concerns and conservation needs1 and establish productive and sustainable land use practices1 including-- 7#a7 riparian forest buffers2 7#b7 alley cropping2 7#c7 silvopasture2 7#d7 forest farming and multistory cropping2 and 7#e7 windbreaks1 shelterbelts1 hedgerows1 field borders1 and living snow fences4 7b7 ,national and ,regional ,agroforestry ,centers 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7-- 7,a7 shall establish at the ,forestry ,sciences ,laboratory of the ,forest ,service1 in ,lincoln1 ,nebraska1 a ,national ,agroforestry ,research1 ,development1 and ,demonstration ,center2 and 7,b7 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service and in cooperation with the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 shall establish not fewer than #c additional regional agroforestry centers at other locations1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,national and ,regional ,directors ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 in coordination with the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 shall appoint a ,national ,director and ,regional ,directors to manage and coordinate the program established under subsection 7c74 2 7#d7 in subsection 7c7 7as so redesignated7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by striking ,center and inserting ,centers established under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7b77#a7 7referred to in this section as the ,centers72 and 7ii7 by inserting and organizations after nonprofit foundations2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 by striking on semiarid lands that and inserting that build soil health and2 and 7ii7 by inserting 1 including agroforestry systems on semiarid land and other fragile agroecosystems where woody perennial plant communities can enhance carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions before the semicolon2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking forestry products for commercial sale from semiarid land and inserting agroforestry products for commercial sale2 7,d7 in paragraph 7#d7-- 7i7 by striking in semiarid regions2 and 7ii7 by striking the ,great ,plains region and inserting particular regions2 7,e7 in paragraph 7#e71 by inserting technical assistance and before technology2 7,f7 by striking paragraph 7#f7 and inserting the following3 7#f7 develop improved silvopasture1 alley cropping1 forest farming1 multistory cropping1 riparian buffer1 windbreak and shelterbelt1 and other perennial production and conservation systems and technologies to improve soil health1 carbon sequestration1 drought preparedness1 soil and water conservation1 environmental quality1 and biological diversity2 2 7,g7 in paragraph 7#g71 by striking on semiarid lands2 7,h7 in paragraph 7#h71 by striking on semiarid lands worldwide and inserting worldwide1 including on semiarid land2 and 7,i7 in paragraph 7#i7-- 7i7 by striking on semiarid lands2 and 7ii7 by inserting and climate change after pollution2 7#e7 in subsection 7d7 7as so redesignated7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,center and inserting ,centers2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and at the end2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 facilitate agroforestry adoption by disseminating comprehensive information on ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal programs that provide support for agroforestry4 2 and 7#f7 by amending subsection 7e7 7as so redesignated7 to read as follows3 7e7 ,grants ,the ,secretary may establish regional grant programs at each of the ,centers to support agroforestry projects1 including demonstration farms4 4