§3839aa–1 Definitions

Summary

Defines the key words used for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program so people know what each term means. Conservation planning assessment — a report (set by the Secretary) made by a State or local government (including a conservation district), a Federal agency, or a third-party certified under section 3842(e) (including a certified rangeland professional) that evaluates rangeland or cropland and can be used in the Department of Agriculture’s enrollment planning. Eligible land — land where agricultural commodities, livestock, or forest products are produced; includes cropland, grassland, rangeland, pasture, nonindustrial private forest land, and other agricultural lands like cropped woodland, marshes, and sensitive areas. Incentive practice — a practice approved by the Secretary that, when used on eligible land, fixes one or more priority resource concerns. Organic system plan — an organic plan approved under the national organic program created by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.). Payment — financial help to a producer that covers planning, design, materials, labor, maintenance, training, or income lost. Practice — improvements or conservation actions (like structural, land, vegetative, forest practices, soil testing, soil remediation) and planning activities (like nutrient, crop-rotation, soil health, precision conservation plans, and conservation planning assessments), as set by the Secretary and with reference to section 3839aa–24(d)(1). Priority resource concern — a natural resource problem the Secretary marks as a local, State, or national priority that is significant in the area. Program — the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Soil remediation — science-based actions that protect producers from soil contaminants, stop contaminants from getting into food, and restore soil. Soil testing — checking soil health, including levels of organic matter and nutrients, looking for contaminants such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and measuring biological and physical soil functions.