118th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To leverage incentives for the adoption of precision agriculture equipment and technology, and for other purposes.
March 8, 2023
Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To leverage incentives for the adoption of precision agriculture equipment and technology, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act of 2023” or the “PRECISE Act of 2023”.
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—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (1), respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)—
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
“(F) the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology;”; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so redesignated) the following:
“(2) PRECISION AGRICULTURE; PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY.—The terms ‘precision agriculture’ and ‘precision agriculture technology’ have the meanings given those terms in section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)).”;
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “1985.” and inserting “1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812); 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 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.).”;
(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) a loan that is used for the purchase of precision agriculture technology.”; and
(A) by striking “(f) Administrative provisions.—The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(f) Administrative provisions.—
“(1) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.—The Secretary”; and
(B) by adding at 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) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(a)) is amended—
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
“(B) PRECISION AGRICULTURE; PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY.—The terms ‘precision agriculture’ and ‘precision agriculture technology’ have the meanings given those terms in section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)).”; and
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
“(E) expanding the adoption of precision agriculture practices, including by financing the acquisition of precision agriculture technology, in order to promote best practices, reduce costs, and improve the environment.”.
SEC. 4. Food Security Act of 1985 definitions.
Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (20) through (27) as paragraphs (22) through (29), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
“(20) PRECISION AGRICULTURE.—The term ‘precision agriculture’ means managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality.
“(21) PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘precision agriculture technology’ means any technology (including equipment that is necessary for the deployment of such technology) that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, inputs used in crop or livestock production, including—
“(A) Global Positioning System-based or geospatial mapping;
“(B) satellite or aerial imagery;
“(C) yield monitors;
“(D) soil mapping;
“(E) sensors for gathering data on crop, soil, or livestock conditions;
“(F) Internet of Things and telematics technologies;
“(G) data management software and advanced analytics;
“(H) network connectivity products and solutions;
“(I) Global Positioning System guidance or auto-steer systems;
“(J) variable rate technology for applying inputs, such as section control; and
“(K) any other technology, as determined by the Secretary, that leads to a reduction in, or improves efficiency of, crop and livestock production inputs, which may include seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time.”.
SEC. 5. 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”.
(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 (7 U.S.C. 1924) to cover costs for the same practices on the same land.
“(ii) NOTICE TO PRODUCERS.—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 (7 U.S.C. 1924) as it relates to costs of implementing practices under the 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 paragraph 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)(2)(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. 6. Conservation Stewardship Program.
(a) Conservation stewardship payments.—Section 1240L(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
“(3) EXCLUSION.—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”;
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “or” at the end;
(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. 7. 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 relating to the use of cover crops, precision conservation management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other innovative plans.”.