Emergency conservation program

Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting and other emergency conservation measures after fencing; and (B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) In general With respect to a payment to an agricultural producer under subsection (a) for the repair or replacement of fencing, or for other emergency measures to rehabilitate farmland or to repair or replace a farmland or conservation structure, the Secretary shall give the agricultural producer the option of receiving— (A) before carrying out such replacement or rehabilitation, not more than 75 percent of the payment for such replacement or rehabilitation, which shall be based on the fair market value of the replacement or rehabilitation, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) before carrying out such repair, not more than 50 percent of the payment for such repair, which shall be based on the fair market value of the repair, as determined by the Secretary.; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (3) New or emerging technologies Repair or replacement of fencing under this section may include updating of fencing to new or emerging technology if such updating does not increase the cost of the repair or replacement.; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Wildfires A wildfire that causes damage with respect to which a payment may be made under subsection (a) includes any wildfire that is not caused naturally, including a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government, if the damage is caused by the spread of the fire due to natural causes..