Sustainable agriculture research and education resilience initiative

(a) Sustainable agriculture research and education Section 1619 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (7) increase resilience in the context of a changing climate and related economic, social, and environmental shocks.; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking For purposes of and inserting In; (B) by striking shall have the same meaning given to that term by each place it appears and inserting has the meaning given that term in; (C) by striking paragraph (3); (D) in each of paragraphs (1), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9), by inserting a paragraph heading, the text of which comprises the term defined in that paragraph; (E) in paragraph (2)— (i) by striking the paragraph designation and all that follows through means and inserting the following: (2) Integrated crop and livestock management system or practice The term integrated crop and livestock management system or practice means; and (ii) by inserting resilience, after profitability,; (F) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5), and (9) as paragraphs (9), (3), (1), (2), and (4), respectively, and moving all paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order; and (G) by inserting before paragraph (6) the following: (5) Resilience The term resilience, with respect to an agricultural management system, means the ability of that system to absorb and recover from climate and other disturbances, such that the system is not impacted by a severe shock.. (b) Eligibility To enter into research and extension project agreements Section 1621(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5811(b)) is amended by striking or Federal or State and inserting 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382)), or Federal, State, or Tribal. (c) Agricultural and food system resilience initiative (1) In general Section 1627 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821) is amended to read as follows: 1627. Agricultural and food system resilience initiative (a) Establishment (1) In general In close conjunction with programs and projects established under sections 1621 and 1623, the Secretary shall establish a research, education, extension, and outreach initiative to increase the resilience and climate change mitigation potential of agriculture and the food system in the context of a changing climate and related economic, social, and environmental shocks, which may include— (A) farmer and rancher research and demonstration grants; and (B) the use of an interdisciplinary approach wherever appropriate. (2) Purposes The purposes of the initiative established under paragraph (1) shall be— (A) to equip farmers to prepare, adapt, and transform the farming systems of the farmers when confronted by shocks and stresses to the agricultural production and livelihoods of the farmers; (B) to support local and regional food systems that support resilience and enhance local access to and control over productive resources; (C) to encourage producers to adopt practices and systems that provide living cover year-round throughout the farm, including through the use of cover crops and perennial plants in diversified combinations, and that are designed to support crop, livestock, and crop-livestock integrated systems that— (i) minimize or abate adverse climate and environmental impacts; (ii) increase soil carbon sequestration and storage; (iii) reduce soil erosion and loss of water and nutrients; (iv) enhance soil quality and the efficient use of on-farm and off-farm inputs; (v) reduce dependency on fossil fuels; and (vi) maintain or increase profitability and long-term productivity; (D) to develop knowledge and information and conduct outreach on living cover systems and practices, including greater use of perennials, and integrated crop and livestock management systems and practices to increase resilience and assist agricultural producers in the adoption of those systems and practices; (E) to facilitate the adoption of year-round living cover and perennial production systems supporting whole-farm integrated crop and livestock management systems and practices through demonstration projects on individual farms, including small and limited resource farms, throughout the United States; and (F) to evaluate and recommend appropriate policies and programs to improve food and agricultural system resilience. (b) Funding (1) Mandatory funding Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. (2) Discretionary funding There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2030.. (2) Conforming amendment The chapter heading of chapter 2 of subtitle B of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821) is amended to read as follows: Agricultural and food system resilience initiative. (d) Technical guides and books Section 1628 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is amended— (1) by inserting and outreach resources and after educational each place it appears; (2) in subsection (a), by striking Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and inserting The Secretary; (3) in subsection (b), by striking the second sentence; (4) in subsection (d)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) adapting to, and mitigating the effects of, climate change;; (5) in subsection (e), by striking Soil Conservation and inserting Natural Resources Conservation; and (6) in subsection (f)(2), by striking 2023 and inserting 2030. (e) National training program Section 1629 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in the third sentence— (i) by inserting before the period at the end the following:, including employees of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other appropriate Department of Agriculture personnel, as determined by the Secretary, the activities of whom involve the provision of agricultural production and conservation information to agricultural producers; and (ii) by striking The coordinators and inserting the following: (B) Responsibilities The coordinators; (B) in the second sentence, by striking The Secretary and inserting the following: (2) Coordinators (A) In general The Secretary; and (C) in the first sentence, by striking The National and inserting the following: (1) In general The National; (2) in subsection (f), in the first sentence, by inserting of Agriculture after Department; (3) in subsection (g)— (A) by inserting of Agriculture after Department each place it appears; (B) in paragraph (5), by striking Soil Conservation Service and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service and inserting Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency; (C) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively; and (D) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following; (10) develop and provide information relating to climate change adaptation and mitigation developed under this subtitle and other research and education programs of the Department of Agriculture;; (4) by striking subsection (h); (5) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h); and (6) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by inserting, and $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 before the period at the end.