& SENATE PASSED IRA & — On August 7, the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included some changes from the previous version (linked to directly below). Please note that these bill changes, in the Senate-passed bill, are identified in the following way below:  “(& CHANGES &).”

****FURTHER UPDATE X4**** — As of July 28, 2022, a new FY22 budget reconciliation bill – the Inflation Reduction Act – was released with updated funding amounts for increased conservation spending (totaling nearly $20 billion) and changes to other program spending as well. Please note that these bill changes, from the Senate, are identified in the following way below: “(**** CHANGES ****).”

***FURTHER UPDATE CUBED*** — As of December 6, 2021, the Senate added $200 million to the Forest Legacy Program (total of $1.45 billion), $100 million for acquisition of urban forests – for the Community Forest and Open Space Program of the Forest Service (total of $200 million), $75 million for National Institute of Food and Agriculture and specifically the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (total of $285 million), $75 million for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (total of $285 million), $50 million for climate change adaptation and mitigation activities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service for Regional Climate Hubs (total of $100 million), and $2.15 billion for Conservation Technical Assistance through NRCS (total of $2.35 billion). Total increase of $2.65 billion in spending. Please note that these bill changes, from the Senate, are identified in the following way: “(*** CHANGES ***).”

**FURTHER, FURTHER UPDATE** — On November 3, 2021, another updated reconciliation bill was introduced in the House that included a few drafting changes, plus additional funding for REAP. Please find these bill changes in text identified in the following way: “** CHANGES **.” Agriculture section of Build Back Better Act estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to cost taxpayers up to $81.8 billion over ten years (in budget authority), with actual outlays estimated at $76.9 billion.

**FURTHER UPDATE** — On October 28, 2021, House Democrats released an updated budget reconciliation bill that included most forestry- and agriculture-related provisions that were previously proposed, albeit at lower funding levels – primarily for forestry. The most recent version of the agriculture and forestry sections of the bill total $69.88 billion, not counting up to an additional $5 billion in spending on cover crop payments. Most recent changes in bracketed text – […].

**UPDATE** – On September 27, 2021, House Agriculture Committee Republicans released an updated bill containing Conservation and Debt Forgiveness provisions that were not included in the bill the committee endorsed at its September 10th mark-up. While the final bill text submitted to the House Committee on Rules may still change, we have identified below instances where the updated bill – containing more than $90 billion in spending – differs from the committee-passed legislation. Changes from the previous version of the bill are noted in underlined, italicized text.

Originally posted September 10, 2021:

Below is a quick analysis of the House Agriculture Committee’s Committee Print reconciliation legislation as posted on the committee’s website. Notably the legislation lacks a Conservation subtitle, with reporting stating that final legislative details for this potentially $28 billion section were being ironed out prior to release of other sections of the bill. TCS will edit this analysis as the Committee marks-up its bill starting at 1:00 pm on Friday, September 10^th and as we dig further into details.

**** DECREASE FROM $27.2 billion **** [Cut from $39.8 billion] Subtitle D – Forestry = $5 billion (reduced by approximately $200 million initially, with another $12.6 billion cut on 10/28/2021)

**** DECREASE FROM $17.1 billion **** [Cut from $19.55 billion initially, and later, cut from $17.3 billion] Sec. 23001 National Forest System (NFS) Restoration and Fuels Reduction Projects = $2.15 billion

Authorization of FY22 appropriations (discretionary funding) for the following provisions:

• **** DECREASE FROM $10 billion **** $1,800,000,000 for hazardous fuels reduction projects within the wildland-urban interface 
• **** DECREASE FROM $1 billion **** $200,000,000 – vegetation management projects on National Forest System land
• ****DELETED**** [cut $100 million] $400,000,000 for vegetation management projects in accordance with 
  • a water source management plan, or 
  • a watershed protection and restoration plan 

• ****DELETED**** [cut $100 million] $400,000,000 for vegetation management projects that  
  • maintain old growth 
  • focus on small diameter and prescribed fire 
  • maximize retention of large trees 

• ****DELETED**** $450,000,000 for the Legacy Roads and Trails program of the Forest Service  
• ****DELETED**** $350,000,000 for National Forest System land management and planning 
• ****DELETED**** $100,000,000 for maintenance of trails on NFS  
• ****DELETED**** $100,000,000 for capital maintenance and improvements  
• $100,000,000 to provide for environmental reviews by the Chief of the Forest Service  
• $50,000,000 for the protection of older and mature forests on National Forest System land 
• ****DELETED**** $50,000,000 to develop and carry out activities and tactics for the maintenance and restoration of habitat conditions necessary for the protection and recovery of at-risk species on NFS 
• ****DELETED**** $50,000,000 to carry out post-fire recovery plans  
• ****DELETED**** $50,000,000 to develop and carry out nonlethal activities and tactics to reduce human-wildlife conflicts

****DELETED**** [DELETED] Sec. 11002 Civilian Climate Corps on National Forest System Land = $2.25 billion 

(moved from within forestry section to its own new section initially but later deleted)

• $2,250,000,000 to be used for staffing, salaries, and other workforce needs to support the development of a Civilian Climate Corps for the Civilian Climate Corps for the purpose of managing National Forest System land
  • In addition to amounts needed to carry out projects
  • CCC staffers compensated no less than 200% of federal poverty line 

**** DECREASED FROM $15.7 billion **** Sec. 23002. **** Changed from Non-Federal Land Forest Restoration and Fuels Reduction Projects and Research to Competitive Grants for Non-federal Forest Landowners**** = $0.55 billion 

• ****DELETED**** [Cut by $6.6 billion] $2,000,000,000 (reduced by $400 million initially but cut to $2 billion on 10/28/21) tribal, state, local, forest restoration and resilience 
• ****DELETED**** $1,000,000,000 community wildfire protection plans 
• ****DELETED**** $250,000,000 rehabilitation of burned areas 
• ****DELETED**** [Cut $75 million] $175,000,000 to expand equitable outdoor access 
• ****DELETED**** [Cut $100 million] $150,000,000 for the State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs established under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of  1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) 
• ****DELETED**** [Cut $100 million] $150,000,000 State-wide forest resource strategies (16 U.S.C. 2101a) 
• Authorization of FY22 appropriations (discretionary funding) for the following provisions:
  • ****DECREASE FROM $250 million**** $150,000,000 for 16 U.S.C. 2109a (to cover the cost share under a competitive program) for climate mitigation or forest resilience practices for underserved forest landowners
  • ****DECREASE FROM $250 million**** $150,000,000 grants to support the participation of underserved forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience 
  • ****DECREASE FROM $250 million**** $100,000,000 for landowners with less than 2500 acres = emerging private markets 
  • ****DECREASE FROM $500 million**** $50,000,000 provide payments to owners of private forest land for implementation of forestry practices on private forest land, that are determined by the Secretary, based on the best available science, to provide measurable increases in carbon sequestration and storage beyond customary practices on comparable land  
• [DELETED] $50,000,000 to carry out the healthy forests reserve program (16 U.S.C. 657) 
• ****DELETED**** $50,000,000 forest inventory and analysis for collaborative partnerships with the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs 
• ****DELETED**** $50,000,000 for activities and tactics to accelerate and expand existing research efforts to improve forest carbon monitoring technologies to better predict changes in forest carbon due to climate change 
• ****DELETED**** $100,000,000 carry out recommendations for a forest inventory and analysis program 
• ****DELETED**** $50,000,000 for enhancements to the technology managed and used by the forest inventory and analysis program, including cloud computing and remote sensing 
• **** DECREASE FROM $775 million **** $100,000,000 to provide grants under the wood innovation grant program – farm bill program 7 U.S.C. 7655d (TCS: no safeguards built into program to ensure it meets public interests, such as biomass sources reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For info on biomass subsidies, see our fact sheet.) 
• [DELETED] $50,000,000 research to accelerate and expand existing research efforts relating to strategies to increase carbon stocks on NFS land 
• [DELETED] $50,000,000 search efforts relating to the impacts of climate change and weather variability on national forest ecosystems 
• [DELETED] $50,000,000 research into adaptation  
• [DELETED] $50,000,000 or the research mission area of the Forest Service to assess the quantity of carbon sequestration and storage accomplished by different forest practices when applied in diverse ecological and geographic settings 
• **** DELETED**** $50,000,000 for the research mission area of the Forest Service to carry out greenhouse gas life cycle analyses of domestic wood products 
• [DELETED] $50,000,000 for the research for the Forest Health Monitoring Program of the Forest Service for activities and tactics to reduce the spread of invasive species on non-Federal forested land 
• [DELETED] $2,250,000,000 to be used for staffing, salaries, and other workforce needs and expenses to support the development of a Civilian Climate Corps for carrying out projects on non-Federal land through the Forest Service State and private forestry mission area and other Department of Agriculture programs, including rural and urban conservation and tree planting projects 

**** DECREASE FROM $4.15 billion **** Sec. 23003. State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs = $2.2 billion 

Authorization of FY22 appropriations (discretionary funding) for the following provisions:

• **** DECREASE FROM $1.45 billion **** (INCREASE FROM $1.25 billion) $700,000,000 in competitive grants to States through the Forest Legacy Program
• **** DECREASE FROM $3 billion **** $1,500,000,000 tree planting, Urban and Community Forestry Assistance program 
• **** DELETED **** $200,000,000 acquisition of urban forests 

Sec. 23004. Limitation (new section)

• No funds in subtitle should be for agreements with time periods after Sept. 30, 2031, and no other USDA funds should be used for programs initially made in the subtitle

Sec. 23005. Appropriations = $100 million (new section)

• ****DECREASED FROM $200 million**** $100 million in appropriations authorized for administrative costs to implement the subtitle

& SECTION ADDED BACK AFTER PRIOR DELETION & Subtitle C – Rural Development and Agricultural Credit = $18.175 billion 

[DELETED] Sec. 12001 Additional support for the USDA Business and Industry Loan Program 

• $40,000,000 loans and loan guarantees  

**** DELETED ****[Cut $333 million] Sec. 12001 USDA Rural Water Programs 

• $97,000,000 

**** DELETED **** [NEW] Sec. 12002 USDA Rural Water Grants for Lead Remediation

• $970,000,000 for grants

**** DECREASE FROM $2.88 billion **** Sec. 22001 [additional funding for electric loans for renewable energy]

• Appropriated funding of up to $1,000,000,000 for FY22

**** DELETED **** Sec. 12004 Rural Energy Savings Program 

• $200,000,000  

*** On 11-3-2021, $910 million was added back to REAP *** [previously, on 10-28-2021, REAP was cut $710 million] Sec. 12005 Rural Energy for America Program = $2.025 billion 

• A) REAP = $1,721,632,500 (TCS: if fully funded through appropriations, spending would be significantly higher than current mandatory funding levels Congress set in the 2018 Farm Bill, of $50 million per year) 
  • $820,250,000 for FY2022 appropriated spending
  • *** $180,276,500 for each FY 2023-2027 ($901,382,500) ***; [was $170,000,000 for each FY 2023-2027 ($850 million) on 10-28-2021]

• B) Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies within REAP – $303.75 million (TCS: the text appears to leave the definition of what would qualify for “underutilized” up to the Secretary of Agriculture. Potential for taxpayers to end up subsidizing more special interest, wasteful projects – such as those for bioenergy – that fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) 
  • $144,750,000 for FY2022 
  • *** $31,813,500 for each of FY2023 through 2027 ($159 million) ***; [was $30 million for FY23-27 ($150 million) on 10-28-2021]

Sec. 22003 – Biofuel Infrastructure and Agriculture Product Market Expansion 

• **** DECREASE FROM $960 million **** $500,000,000 – in potential FY22 appropriations for blender pumps and biofuels infrastructure (TCS: historic taxpayer spending on biofuels infrastructure – outside the tax code – totaled $303 million, so this would represent a significant increase despite the industry moving to electric vehicles and first generation biofuels failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) 
• Up to 75% federal share 
• & DELETED & Secretary cannot limit an individual entities’ payment 

Sec. 22004 [USDA Assistance for Rural Electric Cooperatives]

• $9,700,000,000 in FY22 appropriations to remain available until Sept. 30, 2031 (TCS: significant funding increase that could include biomass subsidies, depending on how it is implemented, even though some forms of biomass power increase – instead of decrease – climate risks) 
• *** On 11-3-2021, carbon capture and storage added to program eligibility ***
• & LANGUAGE ADDED IN BOLD & – “financial assistance to achieve the greatest reduction in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions associated with rural electric systems through the purchase of renewable energy, renewable energy systems, zero-emission systems, and carbon capture and storage systems, to deploy such systems, or to make energy efficiency improvements to electric generation and transmission systems”

**** DELETED**** [Cut from $3,500,000,000] Sec. 12008 Rural Partnership Program 

• $873,000,000  
• [Cut from $370,000,000] Rural Prosperity Innovation Grants 
  • $97,000,000 

& SECTION ADDED BACK, PREVIOUSLY $545 million & Section 22005. Additional USDA Rural Development Administrative Funds

• $100 million for administrative costs

& SECTION ADDED BACK & Section 22006. Farm Loan Immediate Relief for Borrowers With At-Risk Ag Operations

• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & $3.1 billion to provide payments to, for the cost of loans or loan modifications… with respect to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by the Farm Service Agency

& SECTION ADDED BACK & Section 22007. USDA Assistance & Support for Underserved Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters 

• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & American Rescue Plan amended & prior assistance repealed, $125,000,000 to “provide outreach, mediation, financial training, capacity building training, cooperative development and agricultural credit training and support, and other technical assistance….to underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, including veterans, limited resource producers, beginning farmers and ranchers, and farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners living in high poverty areas.”
• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & $250 million for Land Loss Assistance to improve land access “including heirs’ property and fractionated land issues) for underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, including veterans, limited resource producers, beginning farmers and ranchers, and farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners living in high poverty areas”
• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & $10 million for Equity Commissions for racial equity issues
• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & $250 million for related research, education and extension 
• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & $2.2 billion for Discrimination Financial Assistance for “a program to provide financial assistance, including the cost of any financial assistance, to farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners determined to have experienced discrimination prior to January 1, 2021, in Department of Agriculture farm lending programs”
• & NEW LANGUAGE AND FUNDING & $24 million for administrative costs 

**** DELETED**** [Increase from $2.05 billion] PART 2—Agricultural Credit and Outreach = $2.369 billion, plus additional costs for payments that are “such sums as necessary”

**** DELETED**** Sec. 12101. Assistance for Certain Farm Loan Borrowers = $1 billion+

• [Increase of $20 million] $1,020,000,000 in loans and loan guarantees for at risk borrowers, defined as limited resource farmers or ranchers, in addition to considerations for the amount of COVID-19 relief payments previously received.

• Such sums as necessary for indebtedness payments of up to $200,000 for economically distressed borrowers, including those residing in counties with high poverty rates, among other criteria.

• Payments may be reduced due to Market Facilitation Program (MFP) or Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments received since 2018.

• Replaces previous Farm Loan Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers program enacted in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) earlier in 2021, which was estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to cost $4 billion, since it is tied up with court challenges.

**** DELETED**** [Increase from $1.05 billion] Sec. 12102. USDA Assistance and Support for Underserved Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters = $1.349 billion

• $200,000,000 for “outreach, mediation, financial training, capacity building training, cooperative development training and support, and other technical assistance on issues concerning food, agriculture, agricultural credit, agricultural extension, rural development, or nutrition to historically underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, including veterans, limited resource producers, beginning farmers and ranchers, and farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners living in high poverty areas.”

• [Cut from $255,000,000] $200,000,000 to “provide grants and loans to eligible entities… to improve land access for farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, including heir’s property or fractionated land issues.”

• $10,000,000 for an equity commission at USDA

• [Cut from $200,000,000]  $189,000,000 to support and supplement agricultural research, education, and extension, as well as scholarships and programs at 1890 institutions

• [Increased from $350,000,000] $750,000,000 to entities related to past discrimination in USDA farm lending programs

• $35,000,000 for administrative costs

• Section replaces provision in ARP, which was estimated by CBO to cost $1 billion over ten years.

**** DELETED SECTION**** [Cut from $7.75 billion] Subtitle D – Research and Urban Agriculture = $2.15 billion 

Sec. 13001 Dept of Ag Research Funding 

• [DELETED] $250,000,000 Agricultural Research Service 
• [DELETED] $45,000,000 Economic Research Service 

• [DELETED] Office of Chief Economist = $16 million 
  • $3.2 million each FY2022-FY2026 

• [Cut from $54 million] National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) = $5 million for a survey
  • [DELETED] $40 million FY22 
  • [DELETED] $14 million (census of urban and emerging agriculture) 

• **** DELETED****[Cut from $500 million] (*** LATER, INCREASE OF $75 million***) National Institute of Food and Agriculture 
  • **** DELETED****7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) = $285 million 
    • [DELETED] $25,000,000 FY22 and FY23 
    • [DELETED] $150 million FY24-26 

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $500 million] 7 U.S.C. 5801, 5811, 5812, 5831, 5832 = $120 million for FY22
    • **** DELETED****Sustainable Ag Research Program 
    • [DELETED] Same breakdown as above  

• • [DELETED] 7 U.S.C. 7626 = $30 million FY22 
    • Crop protection, pest management 

• • [DELETED] 7 U.S.C. 5924 = $20 million FY22 
    • Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative 

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $200 million] 7 U.S.C. 5925b 
    • **** DELETED****Organic Ag Extension and Research 
    • **** DELETED****$60 million FY22 
    • [DELETED] $5 million FY23 
    • [DELETED] $60 million each FY24-26 

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $65 million] 7 U.S.C. 5925g 
    • **** DELETED****Urban, indoor, and emerging agricultural production research, education, and extension initiative 
    • **** DELETED****$5,000,000 for FY22 

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $15 million] 7 U.S.C. 5926(d) = 1890 centers for excellence 
    • **** DELETED****$5 million for FY22

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $200 million] 7 U.S.C. 7632 
    • **** DELETED****Specialty Crop Research Initiative 
    • **** DELETED****FY22 = $60 million 
    • [DELETED] FY24-26 = $60 million 

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $600 million] 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) = $80 million 
    • Tech assistance, tech adoption, other extension activities related to climate change  

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $40 million] 7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3) = $35 million 
    • Cooperative extension 

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $126 million] 7 U.S.C. 3221 = $40 million 
    • **** DELETED****Cooperative extension at 1890 Institutions 
    • **** DELETED****[Cut from $2,664,500,000] $1 billion in grants to construct, alter or acquire research facilities 
      • 100% federal 

• • • [DELETED] $985,500,000 grants to covered institutions to construct alter, or acquire research facilities 
      • 100% federal 

• • [DELETED] 7 U.S.C. 3310 = $100 million research equipment grants 
  • **** DELETED****[Cut from $190 million] 1890 scholarships and grants = $100 million 
  • **** DELETED****[Cut from $150 million] Tribal land grants = $15 million 
  • **** DELETED****[Cut from $50 million] Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program = $15 million 
  • **** DELETED****Office of Chief Scientist  

• • **** DELETED****[Cut from $380 million] 7 U.S.C. 3319k Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (A-ARDA) 
    • **** DELETED****$30 million 
    • **** DELETED****Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research 
      • [WAS $510 million, then $210 million] (***INCREASE OF $75 million***) 7 U.S.C. 5939 (g)(1)(a) = $285 million for FY22 
        • No non-federal match 

• • • • [DELETED] Biomass research = $5 million 
        • Biochar reference to 2002 FB 7 U.S.C. 8108 

• • • **** DELETED****[Cut from $124 million] Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production = $10 million 

**** DELETED**** Subtitle E – Miscellaneous = $205 million (increase from $5 million)

• **** DELETED**** Sec. 14001. USDA Office of Inspector General 
  • $5 million  
• **** DELETED**** Sec. 14002. Additional Support for Farmworker and Food Worker Relief Grant Program (New section)
  • $200,000,000 to for the Farmworker and Food Worker Relief Grant Program of USDA-ARS for additional COVID–19 assistance relief payments for frontline grocery workers.

Subtitle B – Conservation (Brand new Subtitle)

**** DELETED**** Sec. 15001. Soil Conservation Assistance = news reporting says up to $5 billion

• Such sums as necessary for $25/acre cover crop adoption by producers in crop years 2022-2026, not to exceed 1,000 acres per producer. Farm owners may receive $5/acre as part of this funding, again, not to exceed 1,000 acres per owner.

• Prevented planting payments in crop years 2022-2026 on acres where cover crops were previously planted; payments equal the crop insurance policy deductible (insurance guarantee for prevented planting minus crop insurance indemnity payment for the crop planted on the farmland).

& DECREASE FROM $21.25 billion & **** DECREASE FROM $22.3 billion **** Sec. 21001. Additional Agricultural Conservation Investments = $19.45 billion in added funding, not to mention extension of baseline funding

• **** DECREASE FROM $9 billion**** Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) = additional $8.45 billion
  • **** DELETED**** $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2022

• • **** DECREASE FROM $500 million **** $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2023

• • $1,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2024

• • $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025

• • $3,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2026

• • CCC funding of $2,025,000,000 for each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2031 (continued baseline)

• • Of the funding available, $37,500,000 is used for Conservation Innovation Grants, $50,000,000 used for on-farm conservation innovation trials

• • Current provision stating at least 50% of EQIP funding should be used for livestock projects does not apply, which is a step in the right direction given significant amounts of EQIP funding goes to Confined Animal Feeding Operations

• • & DELETED & Prioritization for projects that reduce methane emissions from livestock

• • & LANGUAGE CHANGED & Funds should be used for 1 or more practices that “improve soil carbon, reduce nitrogen losses or reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions, associated with agricultural production”

• • At least 10% of funding for wildlife.

• • Overall payment limit of $450,000 kept; payment limit for organic practices of $140,000 kept.

• • 5% of funding set aside for beginning farmers or ranchers and 5% for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers
• **** DECREASE FROM $4.1 billion **** Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) = additional $3.25 billion
  • **** DELETED**** $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2022

• • **** DECREASE FROM $500 million **** $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2023

• • **** DECREASE FROM $850 million **** [Increase from $750 million] $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2024

• • $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025

• • $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2026

• • CCC funding of $1,000,000,000 for each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2031.

• • & LANGUAGE CHANGED &  Funds should only be available for “1 or more practices that “improve soil carbon, reduce nitrogen losses or reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions, associated with agricultural production”

• • Payment limit of $200,000 is kept

• • 5% of funding set aside for beginning farmers or ranchers and 5% for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers
• **** DECREASE OF $100 million **** [Increase of $200 million] Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) = additional $1.4 billion
  • **** DELETED**** $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2022

• • ****DECREASE FROM $200 million **** $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2023

• • ****DECREASE FROM $300 million **** $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2024

• • [Increase from $400 million] $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025

• • [Increase from $500 million] $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2026

• • & LANGUAGE DELETED & Projects that mitigate or address climate change should be prioritized
  • & LANGUAGE ADDED & “for easements or interests in land that will most reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions associated with land eligible for the program”

• • CCC funding of $450,000,000 for each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2031 (continued baseline)
• & DECREASE FROM $6.75 billion & **** DECREASED FROM $7.5 billion **** Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) = additional $4.95 billion
  • **** DELETED**** $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2022

• • **** DECREASE FROM $500 million **** $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2023

• • & DECREASE FROM $1.2 billion & ****DECREASE FROM $1.5 billion **** $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2024

• • & DECREASE FROM $2.25 billion & $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025

• • & DECREASE FROM $3.05 billion & $2,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026

• • CCC funding of $300 million each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2031 (continued baseline)

• • & LANGUAGE CHANGED & Funding prioritization language changed to projects “improving soil carbon, reducing nitrogen losses or reducing, capturing, avoiding, or sequestering carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions, associated with agricultural production”

• • & LANGUAGE DELETED & May prioritize projects that leverage corporate supply-chain sustainability commitments or utilize models that pay for outcomes from targeting methane and nitrous oxide emissions associated with agricultural production systems.

• Conservation Reserve Program

• • Forest incentive payments would continue, in addition to provisions about transferring contracts/land

• Not less than 10% of conservation program funding (other than CRP) would continue to be used for practices related to water quality and water quantity protection

**** DECREASE FROM $3.15 billion **** Sec. 21002. Conservation Technical Assistance = $1.4 billion in discretionary funding

• **** DECREASE FROM $2.35 billion ****  (*** INCREASE OF $2.15 BILLION ***) $1,000,000,000 to provide conservation technical assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, including through the use of cooperative agreements, which could be provided through the FY22 appropriations process

• ****DELETED**** (*** INCREASE OF $50 MILLION ***) $100,000,000 to carry out climate change adaptation and mitigation activities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service working with Climate Hubs

• & LANGUAGE CHANGED & **** DECREASE FROM $600 million **** $300,000,000 to carry out a program to quantify carbon sequestration and carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions through which the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall collect field-based data to assess the carbon sequestration and reduction in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions outcomes associated with activities carried out pursuant to this section and use the data to monitor and track those carbon sequestration and emissions trends through the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Assessment Program of the Department of Agriculture.
• $100,000,000 for administering the section, which could be provided through the FY22 appropriations process