The term “conservation plan” means the document that—
(A)
applies to highly erodible cropland;
(B)
describes the conservation system applicable to the highly erodible cropland and describes the decisions of the person with respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation treatment measures and schedule; and
(C)
section 590h(b)(5) of this title is approved by the local soil conservation district, in consultation with the local committees established under and the Secretary, or by the Secretary.
(4)
Conservation system .—
The term “conservation system” means a combination of 1 or more conservation measures or management practices that—
(A)
are based on local resource conditions, available conservation technology, and the standards and guidelines contained in the Natural Resources Conservation Service field office technical guides; and
(B)
are designed to achieve, in a cost effective and technically practicable manner, a substantial reduction in soil erosion or a substantial improvement in soil conditions on a field or group of fields containing highly erodible cropland when compared to the level of erosion or soil conditions that existed before the application of the conservation measures and management practices.
(5)
The term “conservation district” means any district or unit of State or local government formed under State or territorial law for the express purpose of developing and carrying out a local soil and water conservation program. Such district or unit of government may be referred to as a “conservation district”, “soil conservation district”, “soil and water conservation district”, “resource conservation district”, “natural resource district”, “land conservation committee”, or a similar name.
(6)
section 3834(b) of this title The term “cost sharing payment” means a payment made by the Secretary to an owner or operator of a farm or ranch containing highly erodible cropland under the provisions of .
(7)(A)
The term “converted wetland” means wetland that has been drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or otherwise manipulated (including any activity that results in impairing or reducing the flow, circulation, or reach of water) for the purpose or to have the effect of making the production of an agricultural commodity possible if—
(i)
such production would not have been possible but for such action; and
(ii)
before such action—
(I)
such land was wetland; and
(II)
such land was neither highly erodible land nor highly erodible cropland.
(B)
Wetland shall not be considered converted wetland if production of an agricultural commodity on such land during a crop year—
(i)
is possible as a result of a natural condition, such as drought; and
(ii)
is not assisted by an action of the producer that destroys natural wetland characteristics.
(8)
Farm .—
The term “farm” means a farm that—
(A)
is under the general control of one operator;
(B)
has one or more owners;
(C)
consists of one or more tracts of land, whether or not contiguous;
(D)
is located within a county or region, as determined by the Secretary; and
(E)
may contain lands that are incidental to the production of perennial crops, including conserving uses, forestry, and livestock, as determined by the Secretary.
(9)
Field .—
section 3812 of this titleThe term “field” means a part of a farm that is separated from the balance of the farm by permanent boundaries such as fences, roads, permanent waterways, or other similar features. At the option of the owner or operator of the farm, croplines may also be used to delineate a field if farming practices make it probable that the croplines are not subject to change. Any highly erodible land on which an agricultural commodity is produced after , and that is not exempt under , shall be considered as part of the field in which the land was included on , unless the owner and Secretary agree to modification of the boundaries of the field to carry out this chapter.
(10)
The term “highly erodible cropland” means highly erodible land that is in cropland use, as determined by the Secretary.
(11)(A)
The term “highly erodible land” means land—
(i)
that is classified by the Soil Conservation Service as class IV, VI, VII, or VIII land under the land capability classification system in effect on ; or
(ii)
that has, or that if used to produce an agricultural commodity, would have an excessive average annual rate of erosion in relation to the soil loss tolerance level, as established by the Secretary, and as determined by the Secretary through application of factors from the universal soil loss equation and the wind erosion equation, including factors for climate, soil erodibility, and field slope.
(B)
For purposes of this paragraph, the land capability class or rate of erosion for a field shall be that determined by the Secretary to be the predominant class or rate of erosion under regulations issued by the Secretary.
(C)
Equations .—
section 553 of title 5Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register the universal soil loss equation and wind erosion equation used by the Department of Agriculture as of that date. The Secretary may not change the equations after that date except following notice and comment in a manner consistent with .
(12)
The term “hydric soil” means soil that, in its undrained condition, is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during a growing season to develop an anaerobic condition that supports the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation.
(13)
The term “hydrophytic vegetation” means a plant growing in—
(A)
water; or
(B)
a substrate that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen during a growing season as a result of excessive water content.
The term “in-kind commodities” means commodities that are normally produced on land that is the subject of an agreement entered into under subchapter IV.
(16)
Integrated pest management .—
The term “integrated pest management” means a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
(17)
Livestock .—
The term “livestock” means all animals raised on farms, as determined by the Secretary.
(18)
Nonindustrial private forest land .—
The term “nonindustrial private forest land” means rural land, as determined by the Secretary, that—
(A)
has existing tree cover or is suitable for growing trees; and
(B)
is owned by any nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other private legal entity that has definitive decisionmaking authority over the land.
(19)
Person and legal entity .—
section 1308(a) of title 7For purposes of applying payment limitations under subchapter IV, the terms “person” and “legal entity” have the meanings given those terms in .
(20)
The term “rental payment” means a payment made by the Secretary to an owner or operator of a farm or ranch containing highly erodible cropland to compensate the owner or operator for retiring such land from crop production and placing such land in the conservation reserve in accordance with subchapter IV.
(21)
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(22)
The term “shelterbelt” means a vegetative barrier with a linear configuration composed of trees, shrubs, and other approved perennial vegetation.
(23)
Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher .—
11 See References in Text note below.The term “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” has the meaning given the term in section 2279(e)(2) of title 7.
(24)
The term “State” means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(25)
Technical assistance .—
The term “technical assistance” means technical expertise, information, and tools necessary for the conservation of natural resources on land active in agricultural, forestry, or related uses. The term includes the following:
(A)
Technical services provided directly to farmers, ranchers, and other eligible entities, such as conservation planning, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices.
(B)
Technical infrastructure, including activities, processes, tools, and agency functions needed to support delivery of technical services, such as technical standards, resource inventories, training, data, technology, monitoring, and effects analyses.
(26)
The term “vegetative cover” means—
(A)
perennial grasses, legumes, forbs, or shrubs with an expected life span of 5 or more years; or
(B)
trees.
(27)
The term “wetland”, except when such term is part of the term “converted wetland”, means land that—
(A)
has a predominance of hydric soils;
(B)
is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions; and
(C)
under normal circumstances does support a prevalence of such vegetation.
For purposes of this Act, and any other Act, this term shall not include lands in Alaska identified as having high potential for agricultural development which have a predominance of permafrost soils.
(b)
The Secretary shall develop—
(1)
criteria for the identification of hydric soils and hydrophytic vegetation; and
Pub. L. 99–198Pub. L. 104–127Section 3851 of this titlesection 1252 of Pub. L. 99–198Pub. L. 110–246section 3851 of this titleSubchapters I through VIII, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original a reference to subtitles A through I, meaning subtitles A through I of title XII of . Subtitles A through E and G through I are classified generally to subchapters I through V and VI through VIII of this chapter. Subtitle F of title XII was repealed by . , contained in subchapter V–A, is based on , which was directed to be added to the previously repealed subtitle F by . See Codification note set out under .
Pub. L. 99–198section 2005a of this titlesection 1981 of Title 7This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(9), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XII of , which enacted this chapter and former and amended sections 590g, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 of this title, sections 4207 and 4209 of Title 7, Agriculture, and provisions set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 104–127The date of enactment of this subparagraph, referred to in subsec. (a)(11)(C), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
Pub. L. 99–19899 Stat. 1354section 1281 of Title 7This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(27), is , , , known as the Food Security Act of 1985. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1985 Amendment note set out under , Agriculture, and Tables.
Pub. L. 113–792014—Subsec. (a). substituted “VIII” for “V” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 110–246, § 20012008—Subsec. (a)(2) to (27). , added pars. (2), (8), (14), (16) to (19), (23), and (25) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (18) as (3) to (7), (9) to (13), (15), (20) to (22), (24), (26), and (27), respectively.
Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(a)1996—Subsec. (a)(2) to (6). , added pars. (2) and (3) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (4) to (6), respectively. Former pars. (5) and (6) redesignated (7) and (8), respectively.
Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(b)section 3812 of this titleSubsec. (a)(7). , added par. (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: “The term ‘field’ means such term as is defined in section 718.2(b)(9) of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (as of ), except that any highly erodible land on which an agricultural commodity is produced after , and that is not exempt under shall be considered as part of the field in which such land was included on , unless the Secretary permits modification of the boundaries of the field to carry out subchapters I through V of this chapter.”
Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(a)(1)Subsec. (a)(10) to (18). , redesignated pars. (8) to (16) as (10) to (18), respectively.
Pub. L. 101–6241990—Subsec. (a)(16). substituted introductory provisions and subpars. (A) to (C) for “The term ‘wetland’, except when such term is part of the term ‘converted wetland’, means land that has a predominance of hydric soils and that is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.”
Pub. L. 99–3491986—Subsec. (a)(16). inserted provision that for purposes of this Act, and any other Act, the term “wetland” shall not include lands in Alaska identified as having high potential for agricultural development which have a predominance of permafrost soils.
section 3831 of this title“This title [amending sections 3831 and 3832 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘Conservation of Farmable Wetland Act of 2000’.”
“This title [enacting sections 1003a, 1010, 3824, 3830, 3835a, 3837 to 3837f, 3838 to 3838f, 3839 to 3839d, 3846, 3847, 3861, and 3862 of this title and sections 136i–1, 2814, 3130, 5401 to 5403, 5501 to 5506 and 5822 of Title 7, Agriculture, amending this section, sections 590p, 1002, 1003, 3459, 3461, 3811, 3812, 3821 to 3823, 3831, 3832, 3834, 3835, 3836, 3843, and 3845 of this title, and sections 136a, 136a–1, 136d, 136w–3, 3157, and 4202 of Title 7, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 2101 and 3831 of this title and sections 136a and 4201 of Title 7] may be cited as the ‘Conservation Program Improvements Act’.”
Except as otherwise provided in this title [see Tables for classification] or an amendment made by this title, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Commodity Credit Corporation, shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement this title.
“(b)
Applicable Authority .—
The promulgation of regulations under subsection (a) and administration of this title—
“(1)
shall be carried out without regard to—
“(A)
chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act); and
“(B)
the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture effective (36 Fed. Reg. 13804) relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and public participation in rulemaking; and
“(2)
may—
“(A)
be promulgated with an opportunity for notice and comment; or
“(B)
if determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Commodity Credit Corporation, as an interim rule effective on publication with an opportunity for notice and comment.
“(c)
Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking .—
section 808(2) of title 5In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall use the authority provided under , United States Code.”
, , , and , title II, § 2904, , , 1819, provided that:
Except as otherwise provided in this title [see Tables for classification] or an amendment made by this title, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Commodity Credit Corporation, shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement this title.
“(b)
Applicable Authority .—
The promulgation of regulations under subsection (a) and administration of this title—
“(1)
shall—
“(A)
be carried out without regard to chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act); and
“(B)
the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture effective (36 Fed. Reg. 13804) relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and public participation in rulemaking; and
“(2)
may—
“(A)
be promulgated with an opportunity for notice and comment; or
“(B)
if determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Commodity Credit Corporation, as an interim rule effective on publication with an opportunity for notice and comment.
“(c)
Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking .—
section 808(2) of title 5In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall use the authority provided under , United States Code.”
Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall use the applicable regulations in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [], to the extent that the terms and conditions of those regulations are consistent with the amendments made by this title [see Tables for classification], to carry out the programs under laws as amended by this title, including—
“(1)
16 U.S.C. 3831 the conservation reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( et seq.) (as amended by subtitle B);
“(2)
16 U.S.C. 3839aa the environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( et seq[.]) (as added by section 2301(a)(1) and amended by subtitle C);
“(3)
16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21 the conservation stewardship program under subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 [ et seq.] (as added by subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 2301 and amended by subtitle C); and
“(4)
16 U.S.C. 3865 the agricultural conservation easement program established under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( et seq.) (as amended by subtitle F).
“(b)
Regional Conservation Partnership Program .—
16 U.S.C. 3871ePub. L. 115–33416 U.S.C. 3871Notwithstanding subsection (e) of section 1271E of the Food Security Act of 1985 () (as amended by section 2706), and subject to subsection (d), for fiscal year 2019, the Secretary may use an availability of program funding announcement consistent with the amendments made by subtitle G [subtitle G (§§ 2701–2707) of title II of , amending sections 3871 to 3871f of this title] to carry out the regional conservation partnership program under subtitle I of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( et seq.) without issuing a regulation.
“(c)
Funding .—
The Secretary may only use funds authorized to be made available by this title or the amendments made by this title for the specific programs described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) and subsection (b), in accordance with any restrictions on the use of those funds, for the purposes described in subsections (a) and (b).
“(d)
Termination of Authority .—
The authority of the Secretary to carry out subsections (a) and (b) shall terminate on .
“(e)
Permanent Administration .—
Effective beginning on the termination date described in subsection (d), the Secretary shall carry out this title and the amendments made by this title in accordance with such final regulations as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title.”
section 3844 of this title the wetlands reserve program, the farmland protection program, and the farm viability program being merged into the agricultural conservation easement program under the amendment made by section 2301 [enacting sections 3865 to 3865d of this title and amending ];
“(2)
Pub. L. 113–79 the wildlife habitat incentive program being merged into the environmental quality incentives program under the amendments made by subtitle C [subtitle C (§§ 2201–2208) of title II of , amending sections 3839aa to 3839aa–4, 3839aa–7, and 3839aa–8 of this title];
“(3)
the agricultural water enhancement program, the Chesapeake Bay watershed program, the cooperative conservation partnership initiative, and the Great Lakes basin program being merged into the regional conservation partnership program under the amendment made by section 2401 [enacting sections 3871 to 3871f of this title]; and
“(4)
Pub. L. 113–79section 3835a of this title the grassland reserve program being merged into the conservation reserve program under the amendments made by subtitle A [subtitle A (§§ 2001–2008) of title II of , amending sections 3831, 3831b, and 3832 to 3835 of this title and repealing ] and into the agricultural conservation easement program under the amendment made by section 2301.
“(b)
Interim Administration .—
16 U.S.C. 386516 U.S.C. 3871Pub. L. 113–79Subject to subsection (d), with respect to the implementation of the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 [ et seq.], as added by section 2301, the amendments to the environmental quality incentives program made by subtitle C, the regional conservation partnership program under subtitle I of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 [ et seq.], as added by section 2401, and the amendments to the conservation reserve program made by subtitle A, the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall use the regulations in existence as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act [] that are applicable to the wetlands reserve program, the grassland reserve program, the farmland protection program, the farm viability program, the wildlife habitat incentive program, the agricultural water enhancement program, the Chesapeake Bay watershed program, the cooperative conservation partnership initiative, and the Great Lakes basin program repealed by this subtitle [subtitle H (§§ 2701–2713) of title II of , see Tables for classification], to the extent that the terms and conditions of such regulations are consistent with—
“(1)
the provisions of the agricultural conservation easement program and the regional conservation partnership program; and
“(2)
the amendments to the environmental quality incentives program and the conservation reserve program made by this title.
“(c)
Funding .—
The Secretary may only use funds authorized in this title [see Tables for classification] or in the amendments made by this title for the specific programs listed in subsection (b), including any restrictions on the use of those funds, for the purposes identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b).
“(d)
Termination of Authority .—
The authority of the Secretary to carry out subsection (b) shall terminate on the date that is 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
“(e)
Permanent Administration .—
Effective beginning on the termination date described in subsection (d), the Secretary shall provide technical assistance, financial assistance, and easement enrollment in accordance with any final regulations that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title.”
16 U.S.C. 3801“Except as otherwise provided by an amendment made by this title [see Tables for classification], the Secretary of Agriculture shall continue to carry out any program or activity covered by title XII of the Food Security Act ( et seq.) until , using the provisions of law applicable to the program or activity as they existed on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [] and using funds made available under such title for fiscal year 2008 for the program or activity.”
, , , and , title II, § 2903(a), , , 1819, provided that:
Pub. L. 107–171, title II, § 2005116 Stat. 237, , , required the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a plan to coordinate land retirement and agricultural working land conservation programs that are administered by the Secretary to achieve the goals of eliminating redundancy, streamlining program delivery, and improving services provided to agricultural producers and to submit to Congress a report on this plan by .
Pub. L. 107–171, title II116 Stat. 275Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2811(a)132 Stat. 4602, subtitle G, , , which related to a Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program to integrate agriculture and forestry conservation programs of the Department of Agriculture with State and local efforts to address farm conservation needs on the Delmarva Peninsula, was repealed by , , .
Cranberry Acreage Reserve Program
Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10608116 Stat. 515Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2812132 Stat. 4602, , , which authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to purchase permanent easements in wetlands or buffer strips that were used or had a history of being used for the cultivation of cranberries and that were located in environmentally sensitive areas, was repealed by , , .
Executive Documents
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
section 1681 of Title 48For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding , Territories and Insular Possessions.