Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Martin Heinrich
Introduced
Summary
Bold goal: cut greenhouse gas pollution from U.S. agriculture to net zero by 2040 and at least 50% by 2030. The bill directs USDA to write and report on an Action Plan, expand research and extension, beef up conservation and soil health programs, and fund rural energy, manure alternatives, food‑waste reduction, and labeling rules to shrink emissions and boost climate resilience.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 11 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Farm energy, REAP, and hubs
If enacted, REAP funding would rise to $100 million in FY2026 and grow to $400 million a year by FY2029 and after. If enacted, grants would generally cover up to 50% of project cost (up to 75% for underserved producers) and loan guarantees would rise to 80% for loans $1M or more and 90% for smaller loans. If enacted, USDA must make carbon accounting rules within 2 years, list preapproved technologies starting FY2026, set up regional climate risk hubs to help producers, and set aside at least 1% of CCC funds for a special technical assistance initiative (FY2025–FY2030).
Manure and food waste funding
If enacted, USDA would create an Alternative Manure Management Program with $1.5 billion from the CCC for FY2026–2030 and payments that may cover up to 100% of eligible project costs, with a $825,000 cap per person over any 5‑year period. If enacted, producers getting these funds must implement listed manure practices and meet contract terms. If enacted, the bill would authorize $100 million a year for large food‑waste composting and digestion grants and set up a Food Waste Research Program with five regional partners and cost‑share rules. If enacted, federal contracts would be required to include food‑donation terms and the bill would authorize $10 million a year to run that program.
Uniform food dates and school grants
If enacted, packaged foods would use uniform date phrases like 'BEST If Used By' and 'USE By'. Final rules must be issued within two years and apply to products labeled two years after the rule is published. The bill would also create competitive school food waste grants that can pay up to 75 percent of project costs for participating local educational agencies.
Big new farm funding through CCC
If enacted, the bill would add multiple large Commodity Credit Corporation funding lines. Examples include a new $700 million a year line for FY2026–2033, and additional $3 billion and $4 billion annual lines for FY2026–2033. The bill also adds smaller $17 million and $70 million lines for FY2026–2030.
National farm climate goals
If enacted, the bill would set national farm-sector goals to cut net greenhouse gases at least 50% from 2010 levels by December 31, 2030 and reach net zero by December 31, 2040. If enacted, it would set subtargets (for example, soil carbon increases and nitrous oxide reductions) and research growth targets. If enacted, USDA would publish a public Action Plan within 18 months and report annually to Congress. If enacted, the bill would create an advisory committee and require a national soil health and GHG inventory within 18 months and then every 2 years.
30% help for disadvantaged farmers
If enacted, the bill would require that, where practicable, 30 percent of assistance funds be used to help beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. If enacted, the exact dollar amount each group gets would depend on the total assistance pool each year.
Help for small processors and markets
If enacted, small and very small meat and poultry processors could apply for competitive grants up to $500,000, with federal shares up to 90% for grants $100,000 or less and 75% for larger grants. If enacted, the bill would create Farm Viability and Local Climate Resiliency Centers and change Local Agriculture Market Program allocations so more funds go to farmers' market and local food promotion and 10% to resilience centers. If enacted, On‑Farm Innovation Grants would pay research and compensation for foregone income with AGI limits and partnership caps. If enacted, ATTRA would get extra funding to expand outreach to new and disadvantaged producers.
Higher organic certification cost-share
If enacted, the federal per-recipient organic certification cost-share minimum would increase from $750 to $1,500. The bill also changes funding text to allow the program to use such sums as are necessary to operate the program.
Stronger farmland protection and CRP
If enacted, CRP acreage caps would rise from 28 million acres in FY2026 to 32 million acres in FY2030. The Secretary must enroll at least 7 million specific acres by September 30, 2028, with 5 million reserved for a 30-year grassland pilot. The bill would also require federal programs to avoid converting named important farmland, with a narrow Secretary exemption if conversion truly cannot be avoided.
More climate research and training
If enacted, federal research law would add a goal to reach net-zero and carbon-negative agriculture. AFRI grant priorities would include climate adaptation and mitigation research. ARS would run internships for climate and agriculture students with up to $10 million a year from FY2026 to FY2030. The National Training Program would get $30 million a year for FY2026–2030 to expand training and include USDA staff.
More farm research and breeding
If enacted, USDA would fund new and expanded research centers and networks. If enacted, the bill would authorize $25 million a year (FY2026–2030) for national and regional agroforestry centers and $50 million a year (FY2026–2030) for a long‑term agroecosystem research network. If enacted, at least $50 million a year would support public plant and animal breeding and at least $75 million a year would be set aside for competitive public cultivar/breed grants with domestic production conditions on exclusive rights. If enacted, the bill would also create resilience research funding and require an agrivoltaics study and ARS demo sites.
New verification for animal claims
If enacted, the Secretary must set mandatory standards and verification for animal-raising claims within two years. Producers must have claims verified before using them in commerce, and compliance would begin three years after enactment. Imported products must meet an equivalent standard. Violations can carry civil fines up to $10,000 and possible criminal penalties for false statements.
Soil, CRP, and grazing rules
If enacted, States and Tribes could get yearly soil health grants from CCC, rising to $100 million a year by FY2030. If enacted, Conservation Stewardship Program payments would be at least $4,000 a year and cover organic and transitioning farms. If enacted, the bill would create a 30‑year Grassland 30 option with 30 annual payments and require contract terms that protect soil carbon. If enacted, EQIP and other conservation funds would target grazing and allow payments for carbon sequestration, but the bill would tighten conservation compliance rules and erosion standards that affect program eligibility.
More local farm technical help
If enacted, the bill would expand who can deliver farm technical help and add topics like soil health, agroforestry, and organic transition. The AgSTAR program would move from EPA to USDA within one year and be authorized up to $5 million a year.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Martin Heinrich
NM • D
Cosponsors
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Christopher Murphy
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Bernie Sanders
VT • I
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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