Establishment and administration

(a) Payments Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by striking shall and inserting may; (2) in paragraph (6)— (A) by striking A producer shall and inserting the following: (A) Payments under this subtitle A producer shall; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Conservation loan and loan guarantee program payments (i) In general A producer receiving payments for practices on eligible land under the program may also receive a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924) to cover costs for the same practices on the same land. (ii) Notice to producers The Secretary shall inform a producer participating in the program in writing of the availability of a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924) as it relates to the costs of implementing practices under the program.; (3) in paragraph (7), in the paragraph heading, by inserting State-determined before high-priority; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (8) Waiver of irrigation history requirement (A) Requests The Secretary shall provide an opportunity for a State technical committee established under section 1261(a) to submit to the Secretary a request to waive a requirement established by the Secretary that, to be eligible for a payment under the program, there shall be a history of irrigation on the applicable land. (B) Covered land A request submitted under subparagraph (A) may cover— (i) all of the land in a State; or (ii) 1 or more regions in the State, as described in the request. (C) Requirement of no adverse impact The Secretary may approve a request submitted under subparagraph (A) if the State technical committee demonstrates that the waiver would not create an adverse impact to aquifer depletion or surface streams experiencing decreased flow. (D) Efficiency requirement In the case of a contract entered into under the program that includes a payment pursuant to a waiver under this paragraph, the contract shall require the implementation of irrigation equipment and an irrigation water management conservation plan that is as efficient on water resources as practicable. (9) Cost-share payments for grassland enrolled in the conservation reserve program (A) In general The Secretary may provide payments under the program for costs associated with planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, or training, for the purpose of a wildlife corridor, with respect to eligible land that is— (i) enrolled in the conservation reserve program under section 1231(d)(2)(A); and (ii) of ecological significance, as described in section 1231(d)(2)(B)(iii). (B) Limitation A producer shall not be eligible for payments under subparagraph (A) for a practice if the producer receives payments or other benefits for the same practice on the same land under this title. (C) Emergency grazing and haying access preserved No priority resource concern, practice, or incentive relating to restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat connectivity and wildlife migration corridors on eligible land described in subparagraph (A) shall prevent or alter emergency grazing and haying access for that land under the conservation reserve program.. (b) Allocation of funding Section 1240B(f)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(f)(1)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2031. (c) Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Section 1240B(g) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(g)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking and at the end; (B) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: (F) practices enrolled under Working Lands for Wildlife initiatives; and; and (2) in paragraph (4)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking For the purpose and inserting the following: (A) Seasonal wetland habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds For the purpose; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (B) Forested habitat for upland birds For the purposes of providing forested habitat for upland birds, a practice that is eligible for payment under paragraph (1) and targeted for funding under subsection (f) may include a practice to establish native vegetation beneficial to upland wildlife, including soft-mast tree and shrub species and other vegetation found in early successional habitats, on eligible forest land.. (d) Water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice Section 1240B(h)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the following: (C) Payment limitations With respect to contracts entered into under this paragraph during the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, payments to an entity, directly or indirectly, may not exceed, in aggregate, $2,000,000.. (e) Payment limitations for payments for conservation practices related to organic production Section 1240B(i)(3)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(i)(3)(A)) is amended— (1) in clause (i)(II), by striking and at the end; (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (iii) during the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, $140,000.. (f) Requirements Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Requirements The Secretary shall not require as a term or condition of any contract or implementation of a practice for payment under the program— (1) soil testing, unless the practice standard for the practice requires soil testing; or (2) a whole-farm assessment, whole farm plan, or other conservation assessment or conservation plan beyond what is required to implement the practice..