Stewardship contracts

(a) Evaluation of contract offers Section 1240K(b)(1)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–23(b)(1)(A)) is amended— (1) in clause (ii), by striking; and and inserting a semicolon; (2) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: (iii) other criteria consistent with an equal weighting of the factors described in clauses (i) and (ii), as determined by the Secretary, including criteria the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure that— (I) the program effectively targets improvements to soil health, increases in carbon sequestration, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; and (II) other national, State, and local priority resource concerns are effectively addressed; and. (b) Contract renewal Section 1240K(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–23(e)) is amended to read as follows: (e) Contract renewal (1) In general The Secretary may provide the producer an opportunity to renew an existing contract in the first half of the fifth year of the contract period if the producer— (A) demonstrates compliance with the terms of the existing contract; (B) agrees to adopt and continue to integrate new or improved conservation activities across the agricultural operation, demonstrating continued improvement during the additional 5-year period, as determined by the Secretary; and (C) agrees, by the end of the contract period, to meet the stewardship threshold of at least 1 additional priority resource concern on the agricultural operation, if applicable. (2) Ranking and payments In determining whether to renew an existing contract under paragraph (1), and in calculating payments for such existing contract, the Secretary shall consider the full conservation benefits across the entire agricultural operation on eligible land that is subject to such existing contract, including— (A) the number of priority resource concerns for which the producer is expected to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold by the end of the contract period of the existing contract; and (B) the active management and maintenance of ongoing conservation activities, including— (i) the conservation activities adopted during the contract period of the existing contract; and (ii) the new or improved conservation activities to be adopted if such existing contract is renewed. (3) Perennial production systems The Secretary may automatically renew an existing contract under paragraph (1) if— (A) the conditions under paragraph (1) are met; and (B) the producer installed or improved a perennial production system, as such term is defined in section 1240L(d)(1), during the contract period of the existing contract..