Conservation reserve program

(a) Conservation reserve Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking the 2023 fiscal year and inserting fiscal year 2030; and (2) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (E) and inserting the following: (A) fiscal year 2026, not more than 28,000,000 acres; (B) fiscal year 2027, not more than 29,000,000 acres; (C) fiscal year 2028, not more than 30,000,000 acres; (D) fiscal year 2029, not more than 31,000,000 acres; and (E) fiscal year 2030, not more than 32,000,000 acres.; and (B) in paragraph (2)(A)— (i) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; (ii) in clause (ii)(III), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (iii) the Secretary shall enroll and maintain in the conservation reserve not fewer than 7,000,000 acres of land described in subsection (b)(3) by September 30, 2028, of which not fewer than 5,000,000 acres shall be reserved for the pilot program established under section 1231C(c).. (b) Pilot programs Section 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831c) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Grassland 30 contracts (1) Enrollment (A) In general The Secretary shall establish a pilot program to enroll land in the conservation reserve program through a 30-year conservation reserve contract (referred to in this subsection as a Grassland 30 contract) in accordance with this subsection. (B) Inclusion of acreage limitation For purposes of applying the limitations described in section 1231(d)(1), the Secretary shall include acres of land enrolled under this subsection. (2) Eligible land Eligible land for enrollment through a Grassland 30 contract— (A) is land that is eligible to be enrolled in the conservation reserve program under the grasslands initiative described in section 1231(d)(2); and (B) shall not be limited to land that is subject to a covered contract (as defined in paragraph (3)(A)). (3) Conservation contract election (A) Definition of covered contract In this paragraph, the term covered contract means a contract entered into under this subchapter that— (i) expires on or after the date of enactment of this subsection; and (ii) covers land enrolled in the conservation reserve program under the grasslands initiative described in section 1231(d)(2). (B) Expiring contracts On the expiration of a covered contract, an owner or operator party to the covered contract shall elect— (i) not to reenroll the land under the contract; (ii) to offer to reenroll the land under the contract if the land remains eligible under the terms in effect as of the date of expiration; or (iii) not to reenroll the land under the contract and to enroll that land through a Grassland 30 contract under this subsection. (C) Unexpired contracts Prior to the expiration of a covered contract, an owner or operator party to the covered contract may elect to terminate the contract and to enroll that land through a Grassland 30 contract under this subsection. (4) Term The term of a Grassland 30 contract shall be 30 years. (5) Agreements To be eligible to enroll land in the conservation reserve program through a Grassland 30 contract, the owner of the land shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary— (A) to implement a conservation reserve plan developed for the land; (B) to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract and any related agreements; and (C) to temporarily suspend the base history for the land covered by the contract. (6) Conditions and terms (A) In general A Grassland 30 contract— (i) shall include terms and conditions that promote sustainable grazing systems, protect and enhance soil carbon levels, and are compatible with wildlife habitat conservation, as determined by the Secretary; and (ii) may include any additional provision that the Secretary determines is appropriate to carry out this subsection or facilitate the practical administration of this subsection. (B) Violation On the violation of a term or condition of a Grassland 30 contract, the Secretary may require the owner to refund all or part of any payments received by the owner under the conservation reserve program, with interest on the payments, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (C) Compatible uses Land subject to a Grassland 30 contract may be used for compatible economic uses, including hunting and fishing, if the use— (i) is specifically permitted by the conservation reserve plan developed for the land; and (ii) is consistent with the long-term protection and enhancement of the conservation resources for which the contract was established. (7) Compensation (A) Amount of payments The Secretary shall provide payment under this subsection to an owner of land enrolled through a Grassland 30 contract using 30 annual payments in an amount equal to the amount that would be used if the land were to be enrolled in the conservation reserve program under section 1231(d)(2). (B) Form of payment Compensation for a Grassland 30 contract shall be provided by the Secretary in the form of a cash payment in an amount determined under subparagraph (A). (C) Timing The Secretary shall provide any annual payment obligation under subparagraph (A) as early as practicable in each fiscal year. (D) Payments to others The Secretary shall make a payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in a manner as the Secretary determines is fair and reasonable under the circumstances, if an owner that is entitled to a payment under this section— (i) dies; (ii) becomes incompetent; (iii) is succeeded by another person or entity that renders or completes the required performance; or (iv) is otherwise unable to receive the payment. (8) Technical assistance (A) In general The Secretary shall assist owners in complying with the terms and conditions of a Grassland 30 contract. (B) Contracts or agreements The Secretary may enter into 1 or more contracts with private entities or agreements with a State, nongovernmental organization, or Indian Tribe to carry out necessary maintenance of a Grassland 30 contract if the Secretary determines that the contract or agreement will advance the purposes of the conservation reserve program. (9) Administration (A) Conservation reserve plan The Secretary shall develop a conservation reserve plan for any land subject to a Grassland 30 contract, which shall include practices and activities necessary to maintain, protect, and enhance the conservation value of the enrolled land, including the protection and enhancement of soil carbon levels. (B) Delegation of contract administration (i) Federal, State, Tribal, or local government agencies The Secretary may delegate any of the management, monitoring, and enforcement responsibilities of the Secretary under this subsection to other Federal, State, Tribal, or local government agencies that have the appropriate authority, expertise, and resources necessary to carry out those delegated responsibilities. (ii) Conservation organizations The Secretary may delegate any management responsibilities of the Secretary under this subsection to conservation organizations if the Secretary determines the conservation organization has similar expertise and resources..