Conservation reserve enhancement program

(a) In general Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting (other than an agreement described in subsection (e)) after this subchapter; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2)(A)(vi), by inserting or other appropriate practices, such as dryland agricultural uses and grazing, after conservation practices; and (B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: (C) Updates to existing agreements (i) In general (I) Option to update The Secretary shall provide an option to signatories to an agreement under this subsection to update the agreement, without renegotiating other provisions of the agreement, to include new incentives made available under this subchapter beginning on January 1, 2018, such as riparian forest buffer management payments. (II) Matching funds Requirements for matching funds described in paragraph (2)(B) shall not apply to the updates to an agreement described in subclause (I). (ii) Drought and water conservation agreements In the case of an agreement covered by subparagraph (B) of subsection (c)(5) entered into before the date of enactment of that subparagraph under which the payment rate is lower than the payment rate that would be calculated for the agreement under that subparagraph, the Secretary shall modify the agreement by calculating the payment rate in accordance with that subparagraph.; (3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: (5) Drought and water conservation agreements (A) Retirement of water rights In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that includes a permanent retirement of water rights, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary. (B) Dryland agricultural uses In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that permits dryland agricultural uses pursuant to paragraph (2) of that subsection, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the difference between— (i) the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary; and (ii) the dryland acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.; and (4) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting subject to subsection (c)(5), before calculate. (b) Seasonally flooded working lands habitat conservation agreements Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) Seasonally flooded working lands habitat conservation agreements In the case of an agreement entered into under subsection (b)(1) that addresses diminished quantity and quality of wetland wildlife habitats, the Secretary, in consultation with the applicable State technical committee established under section 1261(a), may— (1) enroll other agricultural land on which the conservation concerns identified in the agreement can be addressed if the enrollment of such other agricultural land is critical to the accomplishment of the purposes of the agreement; (2) if the agreement involves the maintenance of habitat for 1 or more wetland-dependent species on working cropland, permit seasonally flooded agricultural uses on such working cropland with the adoption of seasonal flooding and at least 1 best management practice; and (3) calculate annual rental payments in a manner that— (A) is comparable with annual costs to maintain other seasonally-flooded wetland wildlife habitats in the region; and (B) ensures regional consistency in rental payment rates..