BUFFER Act
3/13/2024, 9:15 PMSummary of Bill S 2798
The BUFFER Act, also known as Bill 118 s 2798, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to establish a program within the Department of Agriculture that would provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for the implementation of conservation practices that protect water quality and improve soil health.Specifically, the BUFFER Act aims to incentivize the establishment of riparian buffers, which are strips of vegetation along waterways that help filter out pollutants and prevent erosion. By providing financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for the establishment of these buffers, the bill seeks to improve water quality in rivers, streams, and lakes across the country.
In addition to riparian buffers, the BUFFER Act also encourages the implementation of other conservation practices, such as cover cropping, conservation tillage, and nutrient management. These practices are designed to reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, and protect water quality. Overall, the BUFFER Act is a bipartisan effort to promote conservation practices among farmers and ranchers in order to protect the environment and ensure the long-term sustainability of our natural resources. If passed, this legislation has the potential to have a positive impact on water quality and soil health throughout the United States.
Congressional Summary of S 2798
Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience Act or the BUFFER Act
This bill provides that certain land (that is under state regulations) is eligible to participate under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Under CRP, the Department of Agriculture provides annual payments to agricultural producers to take highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land out of production and install resource-conserving practices.
Specifically, land otherwise eligible under the program remains eligible for enrollment even if a tribal, state, or other local law, ordinance, or other regulation requires any resource-conserving or environmental protection measure or practice. The bill includes an exception that makes the land ineligible under the program if the implementation requirement has been imposed by an administrative order or a court order.
Current regulations exclude from enrollment eligibility (with exceptions) land that is subject to tribal, state, or other local laws, ordinances, or other regulations that require any resource-conserving or environmental protection measures or practices.
