Bill Summary
The "American Prairie Conservation Act" seeks to amend existing agricultural legislation, specifically the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, to enhance the management and reporting of native sod conversion for crop production in the United States.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Certification Requirements**: Producers who till native sod for insurable crop production must certify their acreage to the Secretary of Agriculture using specific forms and maps.
2. **Correction Protocols**: If there are any changes in the tilled native sod acreage, producers are required to promptly report these changes to the Secretary.
3. **Annual Reporting**: The Secretary of Agriculture is mandated to submit annual reports, starting in 2026 and continuing through 2030, to Congress detailing the certified tilled native sod acreage in each county and state.
Overall, the Act aims to ensure better tracking and management of native sod conversion, potentially contributing to conservation efforts and sustainable agricultural practices.
Possible Impacts
The "American Prairie Conservation Act," as outlined in the provided legislation, could affect people in several ways:
1. **Farmers and Agricultural Producers**: The requirement for farmers to certify native sod acreage before receiving federal crop insurance or disaster assistance can create additional administrative burdens. Farmers will need to submit specific forms and maps to the Secretary, which may require time, resources, and potentially lead to delays in receiving benefits. This could impact their financial stability, especially during periods when crops are vulnerable to failure.
2. **Environmental Impact and Conservation**: By emphasizing the certification of native sod and requiring reports on tilled acreage, the legislation aims to promote conservation practices. This could lead to better management of native ecosystems, which may benefit local communities by preserving biodiversity, improving soil health, and enhancing water quality. However, farmers may need to adapt their practices, which could affect their traditional farming methods and livelihoods.
3. **Policy Transparency and Accountability**: The mandate for annual reports from the Secretary to Congress regarding certified native sod acreage increases transparency in agricultural practices and the use of federal funds. This could lead to more informed policy decisions and allocation of resources, but it also places the onus on farmers to maintain accurate records and compliance, potentially affecting how they operate their farms and engage with federal programs.
These factors illustrate the complex interplay between agricultural practices, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance under the new legislation.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1209 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1209
To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to make the native sod provisions
applicable to the United States and to modify those provisions, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 31, 2025
Mr. Thune (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to make the native sod provisions
applicable to the United States and to modify those provisions, 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 ``American Prairie Conservation Act''.
SEC. 2. CROP PRODUCTION ON NATIVE SOD.
(a) Federal Crop Insurance.--Section 508(o) of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(o)) is amended by striking paragraph (3)
and inserting the following:
``(3) Native sod conversion certification.--
``(A) Certification.--As a condition on the receipt
of benefits under this subtitle, a producer that has
tilled native sod acreage for the production of an
insurable crop as described in paragraph (2)(A) shall
certify that acreage to the Secretary using--
``(i) an acreage report form of the Farm
Service Agency (FSA-578 or any successor form);
and
``(ii) 1 or more maps.
``(B) Corrections.--Beginning on the date on which
a producer submits a certification under subparagraph
(A), as soon as practicable after the producer
discovers a change in tilled native sod acreage
described in that subparagraph, the producer shall
submit to the Secretary any appropriate corrections to
a form or map described in clause (i) or (ii) of that
subparagraph.
``(C) Annual reports.--Not later than January 1,
2026, and each January 1 thereafter through January 1,
2030, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report that describes the tilled
native sod acreage that has been certified under
subparagraph (A) in each county and State as of the
date of submission of the report.''.
(b) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance.--Section 196(a)(4) of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C.
7333(a)(4)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the
following:
``(C) Native sod conversion certification.--
``(i) Certification.--As a condition on the
receipt of benefits under this section, a
producer that has tilled native sod acreage for
the production of an insurable crop as
described in subparagraph (B)(i) shall certify
that acreage to the Secretary using--
``(I) an acreage report form of the
Farm Service Agency (FSA-578 or any
successor form); and
``(II) 1 or more maps.
``(ii) Corrections.--Beginning on the date
on which a producer submits a certification
under clause (i), as soon as practicable after
the producer discovers a change in tilled
native sod acreage described in that clause,
the producer shall submit to the Secretary any
appropriate corrections to a form or map
described in subclause (I) or (II) of that
clause.
``(iii) Annual reports.--Not later than
January 1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter
through January 1, 2030, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report that describes the
tilled native sod acreage that has been
certified under clause (i) in each county and
State as of the date of submission of the
report.''.
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