§3844 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture can offer incentives to get people into conservation programs. These incentives can help new farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, limited-resource farmers, Indian tribes, and veteran farmers. Information that farmers give the Department for help is normally kept private if it is the farm’s own secret business data. That information can only be shared outside the Department for law enforcement, with people or agencies who are working with the Department to give help or collect data, in anonymous statistics that do not name farms or sites, or if the owner agrees. A farmer cannot be forced to agree to release that information to get program help. Other rules about prohibited releases and about the National Resources Inventory, Congress, and the Government Accountability Office still apply. The Secretary must also avoid making farmers do the same conservation plan twice, protect tenants and sharecroppers so they fairly share payments, allow farmers to use approved outside technical help (and explain in writing if that help is rejected), and set up monitoring to check compliance, measure results, show long-term benefits, and track crops and livestock participation. The Secretary may encourage pollinator habitat and practices that help bees. The Secretary must limit how much cropland in any county can be put into certain programs: no more than 25 percent for the conservation reserve program and wetland reserve easements, and no more than 15 percent for wetland reserve easements alone, with some exceptions, waivers, and special cases noted and with December 20, 2018 rules kept in calculations. Application steps must be simplified so farmers enter programs more easily, and the Secretary had to tell Congress within 1 year after the 2008 farm law when that simplification was done. Starting within 1 year after December 20, 2018, and every October 1 after that, the Secretary must review practice cost estimates and payment rates to make sure they encourage participation, support the best practices for local needs, and reflect regional differences. States get guidance each year to adjust payments and will work with State technical committees. Payments under these conservation programs do not reduce other farm payments a person may get under the listed farm laws. Tribes may use alternative funding deals if the program goals are met and limits on individual contracts are respected. The Secretary must push water-protecting practices that help drinking-water sources and may offer higher payments for those practices—up to 90 percent of practice costs—and must spend at least 10 percent of available conservation program funds each year from fiscal years 2019 through 2031 on this work (without moving funds between programs). Farmers may still join environmental services markets. The Secretary can give technical help to other governments that are setting up regulatory assurances for farmers if the assurances include clear practices, on-site checks, periodic audits, and chances to fix problems. These actions do not replace other government authorities or legal rights.

Title 16, §3844

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide to a person or entity specified in paragraph (2) incentives to participate in the conservation program—

(A)to foster new farming and ranching opportunities; and

(B)to enhance long-term environmental goals.

(2)Incentives authorized by paragraph (1) may be provided to the following:

(A)Beginning farmers or ranchers.

(B)Socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

(C)Limited resource farmers or ranchers.

(D)Indian tribes.

(E)Veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 2279(e) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 7).

(b)(1)(A)In accordance with section 552(b)(3) of title 5, except as provided in subparagraph (C) and paragraph (2), information described in subparagraph (B)—

(i)shall not be considered to be public information; and

(ii)shall not be released to any person or Federal, State, local agency or Indian tribe (as defined by the Secretary) outside the Department of Agriculture.

(B)The information referred to in subparagraph (A) is information—

(i)provided to the Secretary or a contractor of the Secretary (including information provided under subchapter IV) for the purpose of providing technical or financial assistance to an owner, operator, or producer with respect to any natural resources conservation program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Farm Service Agency; and

(ii)that is proprietary (within the meaning of section 552(b)(4) of title 5) to the agricultural operation or land that is a part of an agricultural operation of the owner, operator, or producer.

(C)Nothing in this section affects the availability of payment information (including payment amounts and the names and addresses of recipients of payments) under section 552 of title 5.

(2)(A)The Secretary may release or disclose to the Attorney General information covered by paragraph (1) to the extent necessary to enforce the natural resources conservation programs referred to in paragraph (1)(B)(i).

(B)(i)The Secretary may release or disclose information covered by paragraph (1) to a person or Federal, State, local, or tribal agency working in cooperation with the Secretary in providing technical and financial assistance described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) or collecting information from data gathering sites.

(ii)The person or Federal, State, local, or tribal agency that receives information described in clause (i) may release the information only for the purpose of assisting the Secretary—

(I)in providing the requested technical or financial assistance; or

(II)in collecting information from data gathering sites.

(C)Information covered by paragraph (1) may be disclosed to the public if the information has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form without naming any—

(i)individual owner, operator, or producer; or

(ii)specific data gathering site.

(D)(i)An owner, operator, or producer may consent to the disclosure of information described in paragraph (1).

(ii)The participation of the owner, operator, or producer in, and the receipt of any benefit by the owner, operator, or producer under, this chapter or any other program administered by the Secretary may not be conditioned on the owner, operator, or producer providing consent under this paragraph.

(3)section 2276(c) of title 7 shall apply with respect to the release of information collected in any manner or for any purpose prohibited by this subsection.

(4)Nothing in this subsection—

(A)affects any procedure for data collection or disclosure through the National Resources Inventory; or

(B)limits the authority of Congress or the Government Accountability Office to review information collected or disclosed under this subsection.

(c)The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, avoid duplication in—

(1)the conservation plans required for—

(A)highly erodible land conservation under subchapter II; and

(B)the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV;

(2)the agricultural conservation easement program established under subchapter VII; and

(3)the environmental quality incentives program established under subpart A of part IV of subchapter IV.

(d)Except for a person who is a tenant on land that is subject to a conservation reserve contract that has been extended by the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including provision for sharing, on a fair and equitable basis, in payments under the programs established under subchapters II through IV, VII, and VIII.

(e)In the preparation and application of a conservation compliance plan under subchapter II or similar plan required as a condition for assistance from the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary shall permit persons to secure technical assistance from approved sources, as determined by the Secretary, other than the Natural Resources Conservation Service. If the Secretary rejects a technical determination made by such a source, the basis of the Secretary’s determination must be supported by documented evidence.

(f)(1)(A)The Secretary shall not enroll more than 25 percent of the cropland in any county in the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV and wetland reserve easements under section 3865c of this title.

(B)Not more than 15 percent of the cropland in a county may be subject to a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title.

(2)The Secretary may exceed the limitation in paragraph (1)(A), if the Secretary determines that—

(A)the action would not adversely affect the local economy of a county; and

(B)operators in the county are having difficulties complying with conservation plans implemented under section 3812 of this title.

(3)The Secretary may grant a waiver to exclude acreage enrolled under section 3831a of this title from the limitations in paragraph (1)(A) with the concurrence of the county government of the county involved.

(4)(A)The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an easement under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV that is used for the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.

(B)For the purposes of enrolling land in a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title, the limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland designated by the Secretary with subclass w in the land capability classes IV through VIII because of severe use limitations due to soil saturation or inundation.

(5)In calculating the percentages described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include any acreage that was included in calculations of percentages made under such paragraph, as in effect on the day before December 20, 2018, and that remains enrolled when the calculation is made after that date under paragraph (1).

(g)For each conservation program under subchapter IV, the Secretary shall develop procedures—

(1)to monitor compliance with program requirements;

(2)to measure program performance;

(3)to demonstrate whether the long-term conservation benefits of the program are being achieved;

(4)to track participation by crop and livestock types; and

(5)to coordinate activities described in this subsection with the national conservation program authorized under section 2004 of this title.

(h)In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may, as appropriate, encourage—

(1)the development of habitat for native and managed pollinators; and

(2)the use of conservation practices that benefit native and managed pollinators, including, to the extent practicable, practices that maximize benefits for honey bees.

(i)(1)In carrying out each conservation program under this chapter, the Secretary shall ensure that the application process used by producers and landowners is streamlined to minimize complexity and eliminate redundancy.

(2)(A)The Secretary shall carry out a review of the application forms and processes for each conservation program covered by this subsection.

(B)On completion of the review the Secretary shall revise application forms and processes, as necessary, to ensure that—

(i)all required application information is essential for the efficient, effective, and accountable implementation of conservation programs;

(ii)conservation program applicants are not required to provide information that is readily available to the Secretary through existing information systems of the Department of Agriculture;

(iii)information provided by the applicant is managed and delivered efficiently for use in all stages of the application process, or for multiple applications; and

(iv)information technology is used effectively to minimize data and information input requirements.

(3)Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a written notification of completion of the requirements of this subsection.

(j)(1)Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2018, and not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall—

(A)review the estimates for practice costs and rates of payments made to producers for practices on eligible land under this chapter; and

(B)evaluate whether those costs and rates reflect a payment that—

(i)encourages participation in a conservation program administered by the Secretary;

(ii)encourages implementation of the most effective practices to address local natural resource concerns on eligible land; and

(iii)accounts for regional, State, and local variability relating to the complexity, implementation, and adoption of practices on eligible land.

(2)The Secretary shall—

(A)issue guidance to States to annually review and adjust the estimates for practice costs and rates of payments made to producers to reflect the evaluation factors described in paragraph (1)(B); and

(B)determine the appropriate practice costs and rates of payments for each State by—

(i)annually reviewing each conservation program payment schedule and payment rate used in the State; and

(ii)consulting with the State technical committee established under section 3861(a) of this title in that State.

(k)In administrating a conservation program under this chapter, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(1)seek to reduce administrative burdens and costs to producers by streamlining conservation planning and program resources; and

(2)take advantage of new technologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

(l)Any payment received by an owner or operator under this chapter, including an easement payment or rental payment, shall be in addition to, and not affect, the total amount of payments that the owner or operator is otherwise eligible to receive under any of the following:

(1)This Act.

(2)The Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.).

(3)The Agricultural Act of 2014.

(4)Any law that succeeds a law specified in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).

(m)In carrying out the conservation stewardship program under subpart B of part IV of subchapter IV and the environmental quality incentives program under subpart A of part IV of subchapter IV, the Secretary shall enter into alternative funding arrangements with Indian tribes if the Secretary determines that—

(1)the goals and objectives of the programs will be met by such arrangements;

(2)a sufficient number of eligible participants will be aggregated under the alternative funding arrangement to accomplish the underlying purposes and objectives of the applicable program; and

(3)statutory limitations regarding contracts with individual producers will not be exceeded by any tribal member, except that the Secretary may approve a waiver if the Secretary is authorized to approve a waiver under the statutory authority of the applicable program.

(n)(1)In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall encourage practices that relate to water quality and water quantity that protect source water for drinking water (including protecting against public health threats) while also benefitting agricultural producers.

(2)(A)In encouraging practices under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(i)work collaboratively with community water systems and State technical committees established under section 3861(a) of this title to identify, in each State, local priority areas for the protection of source waters for drinking water; and

(ii)subject to subparagraph (B), for practices described in paragraph (1), offer to producers increased incentives and higher payment rates than are otherwise statutorily authorized by the applicable conservation program administered by the Secretary.

(B)An increased payment under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not exceed 90 percent of practice costs associated with planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, or training.

(3)(A)In each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031, the Secretary shall use to carry out this subsection not less than 10 percent of any funds available for conservation programs administered by the Secretary under this chapter (other than the conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV).

(B)Funds available for a specific conservation program shall not be transferred to fund a different conservation program under this chapter.

(o)The Secretary may not prohibit, through a contract, easement, or agreement under this chapter, a participant in a conservation program administered by the Secretary under this chapter from participating in, and receiving compensation from, an environmental services market if 1 of the purposes of the market is the facilitation of additional conservation benefits that are consistent with the purposes of the conservation program administered by the Secretary.

(p)(1)In addition to technical and programmatic information that the Secretary is otherwise authorized to provide, on request of a Federal agency, a State, an Indian tribe, or a unit of local government, the Secretary may provide technical and programmatic information—

(A)subject to paragraph (2), to the Federal agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government to support specifically the development of mechanisms that would provide regulatory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe harbor protection, or other similar regulatory assurances to a farmer, rancher, or private nonindustrial forest landowner under a regulatory requirement—

(i)that relates to soil, water, or wildlife; and

(ii)over which that Federal agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government has authority; and

(B)relating to conservation practices or activities that could be implemented by a farmer, rancher, or private nonindustrial forest landowner to address a targeted soil, water, or wildlife resource concern that is the direct subject of a regulatory requirement enforced by that Federal agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government, as applicable.

(2)The Secretary shall only provide additional technical and programmatic information under paragraph (1) if the mechanisms to be developed by the Federal agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government, as applicable, under paragraph (1)(A) are anticipated to include, at a minimum—

(A)the implementation of 1 or more conservation practices or activities that effectively addresses the soil, water, or wildlife resource concern identified under paragraph (1);

(B)the on-site confirmation that the applicable conservation practices or activities identified under subparagraph (A) have been implemented;

(C)a plan for a periodic audit, as appropriate, of the continued implementation or maintenance of each of the conservation practices or activities identified under subparagraph (A); and

(D)notification to a farmer, rancher, or private nonindustrial forest landowner of, and an opportunity to correct, any noncompliance with a requirement to obtain regulatory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe harbor protection, or other similar regulatory assurance.

(3)The Secretary shall—

(A)continue collaboration with Federal agencies, States, Indian tribes, or local units of government on existing regulatory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe harbor protection, or other similar regulatory assurances in accordance with paragraph (2); and

(B)continue collaboration with the Secretary of the Interior on consultation under section 1536(a)(2) of this title or conference under section 1536(a)(4) of this title, as applicable, for wildlife conservation efforts, including the Working Lands for Wildlife model of conservation on working landscapes, as implemented on the day before December 20, 2018, in accordance with—

(i)the document entitled “Partnership Agreement Between the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service”, numbered A–3A75–16–937, and formalized by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service on September 15, 2016, and by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on August 4, 2016, as in effect on September 15, 2016; and

(ii)United States Fish and Wildlife Service Director’s Order No. 217, dated August 9, 2016, as in effect on August 9, 2016.

(4)Nothing in this subsection—

(A)preempts, displaces, or supplants any authority or right of a Federal agency, a State, an Indian tribe, or a unit of local government;

(B)modifies or otherwise affects, preempts, or displaces—

(i)any cause of action; or

(ii)a provision of Federal or State law establishing a remedy for a civil or criminal cause of action; or

(C)applies to a case in which the Department of Agriculture is the originating agency requesting a consultation or other technical and programmatic information or assistance from another Federal agency in assisting farmers, ranchers, or nonindustrial private forest landowners participating in a conservation program administered by the Secretary.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 2279(e) of title 7, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(E), was redesignated section 2279(a) of title 7 by Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12301(b)(3), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4951. This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(D)(ii), (i)(1), (j)(1)(A), (k), (l), (n)(3), and (o), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XII of Pub. L. 99–198, which enacted this chapter and former section 2005a of this title and amended section 590g, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 of this title, section 4207 and 4209 of Title 7, Agriculture, and provisions set out as a note under section 1981 of Title 7. The date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (i)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008. This Act, referred to in subsec. (l)(1), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354, known as the Food Security Act of 1985. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of Title 7, Agriculture, and Tables. The Agricultural Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (l)(2), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051, which is classified principally to chapter 35A (§ 1421 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1421 of Title 7 and Tables. The Agricultural Act of 2014, referred to in subsec. (l)(3), is Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 649. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification The text of section 3843(a), (c), and (d) of this title, which was transferred to this section and redesignated as subsecs. (c), (d), and (e), respectively, by Pub. L. 110–246, § 2707(a), was based on Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1243(a), (c), (d), as added Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 341, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1008, 1009. Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical

Amendments

to this section. The

Amendments

by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3844, Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1244, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1515, related to issuance of

Regulations

to carry out subchapters I to V of this chapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–127.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (n)(3)(A). Pub. L. 117–169 substituted “2031” for “2023”. 2018—Subsec. (b)(4)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2821(f), substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2301(d)(1)(K), inserted “subpart A of” before “part IV”. Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(a)(1), substituted “15 percent” for “10 percent”. Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2202(b)(2), substituted “section 3831a” for “subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2) of section 3834”. Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(a)(2), substituted “

December 20, 2018,” for “

February 7, 2014,”. Subsecs. (j), (k). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(2), (3), added subsec. (j) and redesignated former subsec. (j) as (k). Former subsec. (k) redesignated (l). Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (k) as (l). Former subsec. (l) redesignated (m). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2301(d)(1)(L), substituted “subpart B of part IV of subchapter IV” for “subpart B of part II of subchapter IV” and “subpart A of part IV of subchapter IV” for “part IV of subchapter IV”. Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(c), designated existing provisions as introductory provisions and pars. (1) and (3) and added par. (2), substituted “shall” for “may” in introductory provisions and “arrangements;” for “arrangements, and that” in par. (1), and inserted “, except that the Secretary may approve a waiver if the Secretary is authorized to approve a waiver under the statutory authority of the applicable program” before period at end of par. (3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (l) as (m). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(b)(1), struck out subsec. (m) which related to exemption from certain reporting requirements. Pub. L. 115–141 added subsec. (m). Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(d), added subsec. (n). Subsec. (o). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(e), added subsec. (o). Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2503(f), added subsec. (p). 2014—Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(1), added subpar. (E). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(1)(A), inserted “and” after semicolon in subpar. (A), struck out “and” after semicolon in subpar. (B), and struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the wetlands reserve program established under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV; and”. Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(1)(B), (C), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(2), inserted “, VII, and VIII” before period at end. Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(A)(i), substituted “conservation reserve program established under subpart B of part I of subchapter IV and wetland reserve easements under section 3865c of this title” for “programs administered under subparts B and C of part I of subchapter IV”. Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(3)(A), substituted “county” for “country”. Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(A)(ii), substituted “a wetland reserve easement under section 3865c of this title” for “an easement acquired under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV”. Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(3)(B), substituted “subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii) or (g)(2)” for “subsection (c)(2)(B) or (f)(4)”. Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(B), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not apply to cropland that is subject to an easement under subpart C of part I of subchapter IV that is used for the establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks.” Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2301(b)(2)(C), added par. (5). Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(4), inserted “, including, to the extent practicable, practices that maximize benefits for honey bees” before period at end. Subsecs. (j) to (l). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2606(5), added subsecs. (j) to (l). 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2708(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In carrying out any conservation program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide to beginning farmers and ranchers and Indian tribes (as those terms are defined in section 3838 of this title) and limited resource agricultural producers incentives to participate in the conservation program to— “(1) foster new farming and ranching opportunities; and “(2) enhance environmental stewardship over the long term.” Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2707(a), transferred subsecs. (a), (c), and (d) of section 3843 of this title and redesignated them as subsecs. (c) to (e), respectively, of this section. See Codification note above. Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2708(2), added subsecs. (f) to (i).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

§3844 Administrative Requirements for Conservation Programs

Summary

Title 16, §3844

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Short Title

Short Title

Amendments

Amendments

Prior Provisions

Regulations

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata