[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2518 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 258
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2518
[Report No. 117-344]
To leverage incentives for the adoption of costly precision agriculture
technology, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2021
Mrs. Hinson (for herself, Mr. Feenstra, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mrs.
Fischbach) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
June 3, 2022
Additional sponsors: Mr. Crawford, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Axne,
and Mr. Balderson
June 3, 2022
Reported from the Committee on Agriculture; committed to the Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To leverage incentives for the adoption of costly precision agriculture
technology, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Producing Responsible Energy and
Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act'' or the
``PRECISE Act''.
SEC. 2. CONSERVATION LOAN AND LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.
Section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1924) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(3), by redesignating subparagraphs
(F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively, and
inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) the adoption of precision agriculture
practices, and the acquisition of precision agriculture
technology;'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) producers who use the loans to adopt precision
agriculture practices or acquire precision agriculture
technology, 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.'';
(3) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
``(2) 90 percent of the principal amount of the loan in the
case of--
``(A) a producer that is a qualified socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a beginning farmer
or rancher; or
``(B) loans that are used for the purchase of
precision agriculture technology.''; and
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking ``(f) Administrative Provisions.--
The Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``(f) Administrative Provisions.--
``(1) Geographic diversity.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding after and below the end the
following:
``(2) Coordination with nrcs.--In making or guaranteeing
loans under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there
is coordination between the Farm Service Agency and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service.''.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO RURAL ENTITIES.
Section 310B(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D)
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) expanding precision agriculture practices,
including by financing equipment and farm-wide
broadband connectivity, in order to promote best-
practices, reduce costs, and improve the
environment.''.
SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--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''.
(b) Payments.--
(1) Other payments.--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:
``(A) Payments under this subtitle.--A producer
shall''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Conservation loan and loan guarantee program
payments.--
``(i) In general.--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 same practices on the same land.
``(ii) Notice to producer.--The Secretary
shall inform a producer participating in the
program in writing of the availability of 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.''.
(2) Increased payments for high-priority practices.--
Section 1240B(d)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839aa-2(d)(7)) is amended, in the subsection heading, by
inserting ``State-determined'' before ``high-priority''.
(3) Increased payments for precision agriculture.--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:
``(8) Increased payments for precision agriculture.--
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.''.
(c) Conservation Incentive Contracts.--Section 1240B(j)(2)(A)(i) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(j)(3)(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''.
SEC. 5. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Conservation Stewardship Payments.--Section 1240L(c)(3) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(c)(3)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(3) Exclusions.--A payment to a producer under this
subsection shall not be provided for conservation activities
for which there is no cost incurred or income forgone by the
producer.''.
(b) Supplemental Payments for Resource-Conserving Crop Rotations
and Advanced Grazing Management.--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:
``(C) precision agriculture.''; and
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or advanced grazing
management'' and inserting ``, advanced grazing management, or
precision agriculture''.
SEC. 6. DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
Section 1242(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3842(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Soil health planning.--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 conservation management,
comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other
innovative plans.''.
Union Calendar No. 258
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2518
[Report No. 117-344]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To leverage incentives for the adoption of costly precision agriculture
technology, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 3, 2022
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed