Improving the 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; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting or for other emergency measures to replace or restore farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response (as determined by the Secretary), after replacement of fencing,; and (ii) by striking option of receiving and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: option of receiving, before the agricultural producer carries out the repair, replacement, or restoration— (A) with respect to a payment to the agricultural producer for a replacement, 75 percent of the cost of the replacement, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) with respect to a payment to the agricultural producer for a repair or restoration, 50 percent of the cost of the repair or restoration, as determined by the Secretary.; and (C) in paragraph (2), by striking 60-day and inserting 180-day; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Wildfire determination A wildfire that causes damage eligible for a payment under subsection (a) includes— (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government..