Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act of 2023

Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act of 2023

This bill amends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) of the Farm Service Agency to provide for the enrollment of citrus land in the program. CRP is a land conservation program that provides an annual rental payment to farmers in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental health and quality.

Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include cropland in the program that is otherwise ineligible if the land has been used to plant a citrus crop during the 10-year period preceding the date of the bill's enactment. USDA must enroll citrus land using existing continuous enrollment procedures.

USDA may give priority to citrus land that is at risk of conversion or development, is of ecological significance, or is affected by huanglongbing (i.e., citrus greening, a bacterial disease spread by an insect that is known as the Asian citrus psyllida and feeds on citrus). The total acreage of citrus land enrolled in the conservation reserve must not exceed 100,000 acres for each of FY2024-FY2028.

Further, the bill excludes citrus land from existing adjusted gross income limitations for payments or benefits under CRP.

The Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 hr 2942, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The bill aims to make changes to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is a federal program that pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and instead plant species that will improve environmental quality.

Some key provisions of the bill include increasing the acreage cap for the CRP from 24 million acres to 30 million acres, allowing for more land to be enrolled in the program. Additionally, the bill seeks to prioritize enrollment of land that will provide the greatest environmental benefits, such as improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife.

The bill also includes provisions to streamline the enrollment process for farmers, making it easier for them to participate in the program. This includes simplifying the application process and providing technical assistance to help farmers implement conservation practices on their land. Overall, the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act of 2023 aims to strengthen and expand the CRP in order to promote environmental conservation and sustainability in agriculture. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it will help protect natural resources and improve the health of the land, while opponents raise concerns about the cost and effectiveness of the program.