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S5309119th CongressWALLET

COWS Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would expand the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to fund alternative manure management and composting to cut farm methane and nitrous oxide emissions and boost soil and water health. It targets practices that avoid wet manure handling and support on-farm or shared compost production to improve carbon sequestration and reduce nitrate leaching.

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  • Small and medium dairy and livestock operations would be prioritized for most contracts, with special emphasis on beginning, limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers. Joint applications for shared composting facilities are allowed with proportional payment splits.
  • Participating producers could get EQIP payments covering costs up to 100 percent, and the Secretary must provide at least 50 percent of AMMP payments in advance to buy materials or hire services.
  • USDA would have to publish methods for estimating carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reductions, pay for design and implementation help, set a new on-farm compost standard, and can use cooperative agreements with third-party technical providers. Projects would be limited to a 3 year term.
  • The package aims to reduce methane and nitrous oxide, lower nitrate leaching risks to groundwater, and increase on-farm carbon storage.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Advance payments and support for manure projects

If enacted, you would be able to get payments for alternative manure management projects that cover up to 100% of eligible costs. You would be able to get at least a 50% advance for costs for buying materials or equipment and for technical help the Secretary provides. The Secretary would pay for design, implementation, training, and technical assistance and may work with third-party advisers. Contracts that include these manure practices would not last more than 3 years, and the Secretary could waive some statutory payment caps or set a separate cap for a contract.

How manure and compost projects win awards

If enacted, the Secretary would add award rules to favor projects that maximize carbon storage, greenhouse gas cuts, and water quality and quantity benefits. If enacted, the Secretary would, to the maximum extent practicable, give most AMMP contracts each year to small and medium dairy and livestock farms, including beginning, limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged producers. If enacted, groups of producers could apply together for a shared composting facility, sign one contract, and receive payments split among members. If enacted, the Secretary would publish factors to estimate carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reductions for each practice and review composting and soil carbon standards within one year, making a new on-farm compost standard if needed.

Which farms and practices qualify

If enacted, the bill would add a clear definition of alternative manure management practices (AMMPs). Examples listed include pasture-based grazing, compost-bedded pack barns, solid separation and scrape or vacuum systems, drying, composting, vermiculture, evaporation, and solid storage methods. If enacted, 'composting practice' would be defined to include making compost on a farm or bringing in organic waste from nearby communities and using compost to improve soil and water retention, following applicable laws. If enacted, the Secretary would explicitly consider producers using anaerobic lagoon systems when identifying who is eligible and would assess whether those producers can replace or supplement lagoons with AMMPs.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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