[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2854 Introduced in House (IH)]
104th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2854
To modify the operation of certain agricultural programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 1996
Mr. Roberts (for himself, Mr. Emerson, Mr. Allard, Mr. Barrett of
Nebraska, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Combest, Mr. Boehner, Mr. Chambliss, and Mr.
Nethercutt) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modify the operation of certain agricultural programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION PROGRAM
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Production flexibility contracts.
Sec. 104. Nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency
payments.
Sec. 105. Payment limitations.
Sec. 106. Peanut program.
Sec. 107. Sugar program.
Sec. 108. Administration.
Sec. 109. Elimination of permanent price support authority.
Sec. 110. Effect of amendments.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION
Sec. 201. Conservation.
TITLE III--AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION AND EXPORT PROGRAMS
Sec. 301. Market promotion program.
Sec. 302. Export enhancement program.
TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 401. Crop insurance.
Sec. 402. Collection and use of agricultural quarantine and inspection
fees.
Sec. 403. Commodity Credit Corporation interest rate.
TITLE V--COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE
Sec. 501. Establishment.
Sec. 502. Composition.
Sec. 503. Comprehensive review of past and future of production
agriculture.
Sec. 504. Reports.
Sec. 505. Powers.
Sec. 506. Commission procedures.
Sec. 507. Personnel matters.
Sec. 508. Termination of Commission.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION PROGRAM
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Agricultural Market Transition
Act''.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Considered planted.--The term ``considered planted''
means acreage that is considered planted under title V of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) (as in effect
prior to the amendment made by section 109(b)(2)).
(2) Contract.--The term ``contract'' means a production
flexibility contract entered into under section 103.
(3) Contract acreage.--The term ``contract acreage'' means
1 or more crop acreage bases established for contract
commodities under title V of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (as
in effect prior to the amendment made by section 109(b)(2))
that would have been in effect for the 1996 crop (but for the
amendment made by section 109(b)(2)).
(4) Contract commodity.--The term ``contract commodity''
means wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton,
and rice.
(5) Contract payment.--The term ``contract payment'' means
a payment made under section 103 pursuant to a contract.
(6) Corn.--The term ``corn'' means field corn.
(7) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the United
States Department of Agriculture.
(8) Farm program payment yield.--The term ``farm program
payment yield'' means the farm program payment yield
established for the 1995 crop of a contract commodity under
title V of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (as in effect prior to
the amendment made by section 109(b)(2)).
(9) Loan commodity.--The term ``loan commodity'' means each
contract commodity, extra long staple cotton, and oilseeds.
(10) Oilseed.--The term ``oilseed'' means a crop of
soybeans, sunflower seed, rapeseed, canola, safflower,
flaxseed, mustard seed, or, if designated by the Secretary,
other oilseeds.
(11) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual,
partnership, firm, joint-stock company, corporation,
association, trust, estate, or State agency.
(12) Producer.--
(A) In general.--The term ``producer'' means a
person who, as owner, landlord, tenant, or
sharecropper, shares in the risk of producing a crop,
and is entitled to share in the crop available for
marketing from the farm, or would have shared had the
crop been produced.
(B) Hybrid seed.--The term ``producer'' includes a
person growing hybrid seed under contract. In
determining the interest of a grower of hybrid seed in
a crop, the Secretary shall not take into consideration
the existence of a hybrid seed contract.
(13) Program.--The term ``program'' means the agricultural
market transition program established under this title.
(14) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(15) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or
possession of the United States.
(16) United states.--The term ``United States'', when used
in a geographical sense, means all of the States.
SEC. 103. PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY CONTRACTS.
(a) Contracts Authorized.--
(1) Offer and terms.--Beginning as soon as practicable
after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary
shall offer to enter into a contract with an eligible owner or
operator described in paragraph (2) on a farm containing
eligible farmland. Under the terms of a contract, the owner or
operator shall agree, in exchange for annual contract payments,
to comply with--
(A) the conservation plan for the farm prepared in
accordance with section 1212 of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812);
(B) wetland protection requirements applicable to
the farm under subtitle C of title XII of the Act (16
U.S.C. 3821 et seq.); and
(C) the planting flexibility requirements of
subsection (j).
(2) Eligible owners and operators described.--The following
persons shall be considered to be an owner or operator eligible
to enter into a contract:
(A) An owner of eligible farmland who assumes all
of the risk of producing a crop.
(B) An owner of eligible farmland who shares in the
risk of producing a crop.
(C) An operator of eligible farmland with a share-
rent lease of the eligible farmland, regardless of the
length of the lease, if the owner enters into the same
contract.
(D) An operator of eligible farmland who cash rents
the eligible farmland under a lease expiring on or
after September 30, 2002, in which case the consent of
the owner is not required.
(E) An operator of eligible farmland who cash rents
the eligible farmland under a lease expiring before
September 30, 2002, if the owner consents to the
contract.
(F) An owner of eligible farmland who cash rents
the eligible farmland and the lease term expires before
September 30, 2002, but only if the actual operator of
the farm declines to enter into a contract. In the case
of an owner covered by this subparagraph, contract
payments shall not begin under a contract until the
fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the
lease held by the nonparticipating operator expires.
(G) An owner or operator described in a preceding
subparagraph regardless of whether the owner or
operator purchased catastrophic risk protection for a
fall-planted 1996 crop under section 508(b) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)).
(3) Tenants and sharecroppers.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to
protect the interests of operators who are tenants and
sharecroppers.
(b) Elements.--
(1) Time for contracting.--
(A) Deadline.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the Secretary may not enter into a contract after
April 15, 1996.
(B) Conservation reserve lands.--
(i) In general.--At the beginning of each
fiscal year, the Secretary shall allow an
eligible owner or operator on a farm covered by
a conservation reserve contract entered into
under section 1231 of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) that terminates after the
date specified in subparagraph (A) to enter
into or expand a production flexibility
contract to cover the contract acreage of the
farm that was subject to the former
conservation reserve contract.
(ii) Amount.--Contract payments made for
contract acreage under this subparagraph shall
be made at the rate and amount applicable to
the annual contract payment level for the
applicable crop.
(2) Duration of contract.--
(A) Beginning date.--A contract shall begin with--
(i) the 1996 crop of a contract commodity;
or
(ii) in the case of acreage that was
subject to a conservation reserve contract
described in paragraph (1)(B), the date the
production flexibility contract was entered
into or expanded to cover the acreage.
(B) Ending date.--A contract shall extend through
the 2002 crop.
(3) Estimation of contract payments.--At the time the
Secretary enters into a contract, the Secretary shall provide
an estimate of the minimum contract payments anticipated to be
made during at least the first fiscal year for which contract
payments will be made.
(c) Eligible Farmland Described.--Land shall be considered to be
farmland eligible for coverage under a contract only if the land has
contract acreage attributable to the land and--
(1) for at least 1 of the 1991 through 1995 crops, at least
a portion of the land was enrolled in the acreage reduction
program authorized for a crop of a contract commodity under
section 101B, 103B, 105B, or 107B of the Agricultural Act of
1949 (as in effect prior to the amendment made by section
109(b)(2)) or was considered planted;
(2) was subject to a conservation reserve contract under
section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831)
whose term expired, or was voluntarily terminated, on or after
January 1, 1995; or
(3) is released from coverage under a conservation reserve
contract by the Secretary during the period beginning on
January 1, 1995, and ending on the date specified in subsection
(b)(1)(A).
(d) Time for Payment.--
(1) In general.--An annual contract payment shall be made
not later than September 30 of each of fiscal years 1996
through 2002.
(2) Advance payments.--
(A) Fiscal year 1996.--At the option of the owner
or operator, 50 percent of the contract payment for
fiscal year 1996 shall be made not later than June 15,
1996.
(B) Subsequent fiscal years.--At the option of the
owner or operator for fiscal year 1997 and each
subsequent fiscal year, 50 percent of the annual
contract payment shall be made on December 15.
(e) Amounts Available for Contract Payments for Each Fiscal Year.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, expend on a fiscal year basis the following
amounts to satisfy the obligations of the Secretary under all
contracts:
(A) For fiscal year 1996, $5,570,000,000.
(B) For fiscal year 1997, $5,385,000,000.
(C) For fiscal year 1998, $5,800,000,000.
(D) For fiscal year 1999, $5,603,000,000.
(E) For fiscal year 2000, $5,130,000,000.
(F) For fiscal year 2001, $4,130,000,000.
(G) For fiscal year 2002, $4,008,000,000.
(2) Allocation.--The amount made available for a fiscal
year under paragraph (1) shall be allocated as follows:
(A) For wheat, 26.26 percent.
(B) For corn, 46.22 percent.
(C) For grain sorghum, 5.11 percent.
(D) For barley, 2.16 percent.
(E) For oats, 0.15 percent.
(F) For upland cotton, 11.63 percent.
(G) For rice, 8.47 percent.
(3) Adjustment.--The Secretary shall adjust the amounts
allocated for each contract commodity under paragraph (2) for a
particular fiscal year by--
(A) subtracting an amount equal to the amount, if
any, necessary to satisfy payment requirements under
sections 101B, 103B, 105B, and 107B of the Agricultural
Act of 1949 (as in effect prior to the amendment made
by section 109(b)(2)) for the 1994 and 1995 crops of
the commodity;
(B) adding an amount equal to the sum of all
repayments of deficiency payments received under
section 114(a)(2) of the Act (as so in effect) for the
commodity;
(C) to the maximum extent practicable, adding an
amount equal to the sum of all contract payments
withheld by the Secretary, at the request of an owner
or operator subject to a contract, as an offset against
repayments of deficiency payments otherwise required
under section 114(a)(2) of the Act (as so in effect)
for the commodity; and
(D) adding an amount equal to the sum of all
refunds of contract payments received during the
preceding fiscal year under subsection (h) for the
commodity.
(f) Determination of Contract Payments.--
(1) Individual payment quantity of contract commodities.--
For each contract, the payment quantity of a contract commodity
for each fiscal year shall be equal to the product of--
(A) 85 percent of the contract acreage; and
(B) the farm program payment yield.
(2) Annual payment quantity of contract commodities.--The
payment quantity of each contract commodity covered by all
contracts for each fiscal year shall equal the sum of the
amounts calculated under paragraph (1) for each individual
contract.
(3) Annual payment rate.--The payment rate for a contract
commodity for each fiscal year shall be equal to--
(A) the amount made available under subsection (e)
for the contract commodity for the fiscal year; divided
by
(B) the amount determined under paragraph (2) for
the fiscal year.
(4) Annual payment amount.--The amount to be paid under a
contract in effect for each fiscal year with respect to a
contract commodity shall be equal to the product of--
(A) the payment quantity determined under paragraph
(1) with respect to the contract; and
(B) the payment rate in effect under paragraph (3).
(5) Assignment of contract payments.--The provisions of
section 8(g) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment
Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)) (relating to assignment of payments)
shall apply to contract payments under this subsection. The
owner or operator making the assignment, or the assignee, shall
provide the Secretary with notice, in such manner as the
Secretary may require in the contract, of any assignment made
under this paragraph.
(6) Sharing of contract payments.--The Secretary shall
provide for the sharing of contract payments among the owners
and operators subject to the contract on a fair and equitable
basis.
(g) Payment Limitation.--The total amount of contract payments made
to a person under a contract during any fiscal year may not exceed the
payment limitations established under sections 1001 through 1001C of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308 through 1308-3).
(h) Effect of Violation.--
(1) Termination of contract.--Except as provided in
paragraph (2), if an owner or operator subject to a contract
violates the conservation plan for the farm containing eligible
farmland under the contract, wetland protection requirements
applicable to the farm, or the planting flexibility
requirements of subsection (j), the Secretary shall terminate
the contract with respect to the owner or operator on each farm
in which the owner or operator has an interest. On the
termination, the owner or operator shall forfeit all rights to
receive future contract payments on each farm in which the
owner or operator has an interest and shall refund to the
Secretary all contract payments received by the owner or
operator during the period of the violation, together with
interest on the contract payments as determined by the
Secretary.
(2) Refund or adjustment.--If the Secretary determines that
a violation does not warrant termination of the contract under
paragraph (1), the Secretary may require the owner or operator
subject to the contract--
(A) to refund to the Secretary that part of the
contract payments received by the owner or operator
during the period of the violation, together with
interest on the contract payments as determined by the
Secretary; or
(B) to accept a reduction in the amount of future
contract payments that is proportionate to the severity
of the violation, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Foreclosure.--An owner or operator subject to a
contract may not be required to make repayments to the
Secretary of amounts received under the contract if the
contract acreage has been foreclosed on and the Secretary
determines that forgiving the repayments is appropriate in
order to provide fair and equitable treatment. This paragraph
shall not void the responsibilities of such an owner or
operator under the contract if the owner or operator continues
or resumes operation, or control, of the contract acreage. On
the resumption of operation or control over the contract
acreage by the owner or operator, the provisions of the
contract in effect on the date of the foreclosure shall apply.
(4) Review.--A determination of the Secretary under this
subsection shall be considered to be an adverse decision for
purposes of the availability of administrative review of the
determination.
(i) Transfer of Interest in Lands Subject to Contract.--
(1) Effect of transfer.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), the transfer by an owner or operator subject to a contract
of the right and interest of the owner or operator in the
contract acreage shall result in the termination of the
contract with respect to the acreage, effective on the date of
the transfer, unless the transferee of the acreage agrees with
the Secretary to assume all obligations of the contract. At the
request of the transferee, the Secretary may modify the
contract if the modifications are consistent with the
objectives of this section as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Exception.--If an owner or operator who is entitled to
a contract payment dies, becomes incompetent, or is otherwise
unable to receive the contract payment, the Secretary shall
make the payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed by
the Secretary.
(j) Planting Flexibility.--
(1) Permitted crops.--Subject to paragraph (2)(A), any
commodity or crop may be planted on contract acreage.
(2) Limitations.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the planting of any fruit or vegetable, and
unlimited haying and grazing, shall be permitted on not
more than 15 percent of the contract acreage.
(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to
the planting of contract commodities, lentils, mung
beans, and dry peas on contract acreage.
(3) Alfalfa.--The planting and harvesting of alfalfa on
contract acreage shall be unlimited, except that the quantity
of acreage on which the contract payment of the owner or
operator would otherwise be based shall be reduced for each
acre planted to alfalfa in excess of the limitation in effect
under paragraph (2)(A) for the contract.
(4) Haying and grazing.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3),
haying and grazing of contract acreage shall be permitted,
except during any consecutive 5-month period that is
established by the State committee established under section
8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16
U.S.C. 590h(b)) for a State. The 5-month period shall be
established during the period beginning April 1, and ending
October 31, of a year. In the case of a natural disaster, the
Secretary may permit unlimited haying and grazing on the
contract acreage.
(k) Production Flexibility Contracts.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no order issued for any fiscal year under section 252
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2
U.S.C. 902) shall affect any payment under any production flexibility
contract.
SEC. 104. NONRECOURSE MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS AND LOAN DEFICIENCY
PAYMENTS.
(a) Availability of Nonrecourse Loans.--
(1) Availability.--For each of the 1996 through 2002 crops
of each loan commodity, the Secretary shall make available to
producers on a farm nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for
loan commodities produced on the farm. The loans shall be made
under terms and conditions that are prescribed by the Secretary
and at the loan rate established under subsection (b) for the
loan commodity.
(2) Eligible production.--The following production shall be
eligible for a marketing assistance loan under this section:
(A) In the case of a marketing assistance loan for
a contract commodity, any production by a producer who
has entered into a production flexibility contract.
(B) In the case of a marketing assistance loan for
extra long staple cotton and oilseeds, any production.
(b) Loan Rates.--
(1) Wheat.--
(A) Loan rate.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
loan rate for a marketing assistance loan for wheat
shall be--
(i) not less than 85 percent of the simple
average price received by producers of wheat,
as determined by the Secretary, during the
marketing years for the immediately preceding 5
crops of wheat, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in
which the average price was the lowest in the
period; but
(ii) not more than $2.58 per bushel.
(B) Stocks to use ratio adjustment.--If the
Secretary estimates for any marketing year that the
ratio of ending stocks of wheat to total use for the
marketing year will be--
(i) equal to or greater than 30 percent,
the Secretary may reduce the loan rate for
wheat for the corresponding crop by an amount
not to exceed 10 percent in any year;
(ii) less than 30 percent but not less than
15 percent, the Secretary may reduce the loan
rate for wheat for the corresponding crop by an
amount not to exceed 5 percent in any year; or
(iii) less than 15 percent, the Secretary
may not reduce the loan rate for wheat for the
corresponding crop.
(C) No effect on future years.--Any reduction in
the loan rate for wheat under subparagraph (B) shall
not be considered in determining the loan rate for
wheat for subsequent years.
(2) Feed grains.--
(A) Loan rate for corn.--Subject to subparagraph
(B), the loan rate for a marketing assistance loan for
corn shall be--
(i) not less than 85 percent of the simple
average price received by producers of corn, as
determined by the Secretary, during the
marketing years for the immediately preceding 5
crops of corn, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in
which the average price was the lowest in the
period; but
(ii) not more than $1.89 per bushel.
(B) Stocks to use ratio adjustment.--If the
Secretary estimates for any marketing year that the
ratio of ending stocks of corn to total use for the
marketing year will be--
(i) equal to or greater than 25 percent,
the Secretary may reduce the loan rate for corn
for the corresponding crop by an amount not to
exceed 10 percent in any year;
(ii) less than 25 percent but not less than
12.5 percent, the Secretary may reduce the loan
rate for corn for the corresponding crop by an
amount not to exceed 5 percent in any year; or
(iii) less than 12.5 percent the Secretary
may not reduce the loan rate for corn for the
corresponding crop.
(C) No effect on future years.--Any reduction in
the loan rate for corn under subparagraph (B) shall not
be considered in determining the loan rate for corn for
subsequent years.
(D) Other feed grains.--The loan rate for a
marketing assistance loan for grain sorghum, barley,
and oats, respectively, shall be established at such
level as the Secretary determines is fair and
reasonable in relation to the rate that loans are made
available for corn, taking into consideration the
feeding value of the commodity in relation to corn.
(3) Upland cotton.--
(A) Loan rate.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
loan rate for a marketing assistance loan for upland
cotton shall be established by the Secretary at such
loan rate, per pound, as will reflect for the base
quality of upland cotton, as determined by the
Secretary, at average locations in the United States a
rate that is not less than the smaller of--
(i) 85 percent of the average price
(weighted by market and month) of the base
quality of cotton as quoted in the designated
United States spot markets during 3 years of
the 5-year period ending July 31 in the year in
which the loan rate is announced, excluding the
year in which the average price was the highest
and the year in which the average price was the
lowest in the period; or
(ii) 90 percent of the average, for the 15-
week period beginning July 1 of the year in
which the loan rate is announced, of the 5
lowest-priced growths of the growths quoted for
Middling 1\3/32\-inch cotton C.I.F. Northern
Europe (adjusted downward by the average
difference during the period April 15 through
October 15 of the year in which the loan is
announced between the average Northern European
price quotation of such quality of cotton and
the market quotations in the designated United
States spot markets for the base quality of
upland cotton), as determined by the Secretary.
(B) Limitations.--The loan rate for a marketing
assistance loan for upland cotton shall not be less
than $0.50 per pound or more than $0.5192 per pound.
(4) Extra long staple cotton.--The loan rate for a
marketing assistance loan for extra long staple cotton shall
be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average
price received by producers of extra long staple
cotton, as determined by the Secretary, during 3 years
of the 5 previous marketing years, excluding the year
in which the average price was the highest and the year
in which the average price was the lowest in the
period; but
(B) not more than $0.7965 per pound.
(5) Rice.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance loan
for rice shall be $6.50 per hundredweight.
(6) Oilseeds.--
(A) Soybeans.--The loan rate for a marketing
assistance loan for soybeans shall be $4.92 per bushel.
(B) Sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, safflower,
mustard seed, and flaxseed.--The loan rates for a
marketing assistance loan for sunflower seed, canola,
rapeseed, safflower, mustard seed, and flaxseed,
individually, shall be $0.087 per pound.
(C) Other oilseeds.--The loan rates for a marketing
assistance loan for other oilseeds shall be established
at such level as the Secretary determines is fair and
reasonable in relation to the loan rate available for
soybeans, except in no event shall the rate for the
oilseeds (other than cottonseed) be less than the rate
established for soybeans on a per-pound basis for the
same crop.
(c) Term of Loan.--In the case of each loan commodity (other than
upland cotton or extra long staple cotton), a marketing assistance loan
under subsection (a) shall have a term of 9 months beginning on the
first day of the first month after the month in which the loan is made.
A marketing assistance loan for upland cotton or extra long staple
cotton shall have a term of 10 months beginning on the first day of the
first month after the month in which the loan is made. The Secretary
may not extend the term of a marketing assistance loan for any loan
commodity.
(d) Repayment.--
(1) Repayment rates for wheat and feed grains.--The
Secretary shall permit a producer to repay a marketing
assistance loan under subsection (a) for wheat, corn, grain
sorghum, barley, and oats at a level that the Secretary
determines will--
(A) minimize potential loan forfeitures;
(B) minimize the accumulation of stocks of the
commodities by the Federal Government;
(C) minimize the cost incurred by the Federal
Government in storing the commodities; and
(D) allow the commodities produced in the United
States to be marketed freely and competitively, both
domestically and internationally.
(2) Repayment rates for upland cotton and rice.--The
Secretary shall permit producers to repay a marketing
assistance loan under subsection (a) for upland cotton and rice
at a level that is the lesser of--
(A) the loan rate established for upland cotton and
rice, respectively, under subsection (b); or
(B) the prevailing world market price for upland
cotton and rice, respectively (adjusted to United
States quality and location), as determined by the
Secretary.
(3) Repayment rates for extra long staple cotton.--
Repayment of a marketing assistance loan for extra long staple
cotton shall be at the loan rate established for the commodity
under subsection (b), plus interest (as determined by the
Secretary).
(4) Prevailing world market price.--For purposes of
paragraph (2)(B) and subsection (f), the Secretary shall
prescribe by regulation--
(A) a formula to determine the prevailing world
market price for each loan commodity, adjusted to
United States quality and location; and
(B) a mechanism by which the Secretary shall
announce periodically the prevailing world market price
for each loan commodity.
(5) Adjustment of prevailing world market price for upland
cotton.--
(A) In general.--During the period ending July 31,
2003, the prevailing world market price for upland
cotton (adjusted to United States quality and location)
established under paragraph (4) shall be further
adjusted if--
(i) the adjusted prevailing world market
price is less than 115 percent of the loan rate
for upland cotton established under subsection
(b), as determined by the Secretary; and
(ii) the Friday through Thursday average
price quotation for the lowest-priced United
States growth as quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/
32\-inch cotton delivered C.I.F. Northern
Europe is greater than the Friday through
Thursday average price of the 5 lowest-priced
growths of upland cotton, as quoted for
Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch cotton, delivered
C.I.F. Northern Europe (referred to in this
subsection as the ``Northern Europe price'').
(B) Further adjustment.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (C), the adjusted prevailing world market
price for upland cotton shall be further adjusted on
the basis of some or all of the following data, as
available:
(i) The United States share of world
exports.
(ii) The current level of cotton export
sales and cotton export shipments.
(iii) Other data determined by the
Secretary to be relevant in establishing an
accurate prevailing world market price for
upland cotton (adjusted to United States
quality and location).
(C) Limitation on further adjustment.--The
adjustment under subparagraph (B) may not exceed the
difference between--
(i) the Friday through Thursday average
price for the lowest-priced United States
growth as quoted for Middling 1\3/32\-inch
cotton delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe; and
(ii) the Northern Europe price.
(e) Loan Deficiency Payments.--
(1) Availability.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), the
Secretary may make loan deficiency payments available to
producers who, although eligible to obtain a marketing
assistance loan under subsection (a) with respect to a loan
commodity, agree to forgo obtaining the loan for the commodity
in return for payments under this subsection.
(2) Computation.--A loan deficiency payment under this
subsection shall be computed by multiplying--
(A) the loan payment rate determined under
paragraph (3) for the loan commodity; by
(B) the quantity of the loan commodity that the
producers on a farm are eligible to place under loan
but for which the producers forgo obtaining the loan in
return for payments under this subsection.
(3) Loan payment rate.--For purposes of this subsection,
the loan payment rate shall be the amount by which--
(A) the loan rate established under subsection (b)
for the loan commodity; exceeds
(B) the rate at which a loan for the commodity may
be repaid under subsection (d).
(4) Exception for extra long staple cotton.--This
subsection shall not apply with respect to extra long staple
cotton.
(f) Special Marketing Loan Provisions for Upland Cotton.--
(1) First handler marketing certificates.--
(A) In general.--During the period ending on July
31, 2003, if the repayment rates provided in subsection
(d) for upland cotton or the availability of loan
deficiency payments for upland cotton under subsection
(e) fails to make United States upland cotton fully
competitive in world markets and the prevailing world
market price of upland cotton (adjusted to United
States quality and location) is below the current loan
repayment rate for upland cotton, to make United States
upland cotton competitive in world markets and to
maintain and expand domestic consumption and exports of
upland cotton produced in the United States, the
Secretary shall provide for the issuance of marketing
certificates or cash payments in accordance with this
paragraph.
(B) Payments.--The Commodity Credit Corporation,
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe,
shall make payments, through the issuance of marketing
certificates or cash payments, to first handlers of
upland cotton (persons regularly engaged in buying or
selling upland cotton) who have entered into an
agreement with the Commodity Credit Corporation to
participate in the program established under this
paragraph. The payments shall be made in such amounts
and subject to such terms and conditions as the
Secretary determines will make upland cotton produced
in the United States available at competitive prices,
consistent with the purposes of this paragraph.
(C) Value.--The value of each certificate or cash
payment issued under subparagraph (B) shall be based on
the difference between--
(i) the loan repayment rate for upland
cotton; and
(ii) the prevailing world market price of
upland cotton (adjusted to United States
quality and location), as determined by the
Secretary.
(D) Redemption, marketing, or exchange.--The
Commodity Credit Corporation, under regulations
prescribed by the Secretary, may assist any person
receiving marketing certificates under this paragraph
in the redemption of certificates for cash, or
marketing or exchange of the certificates for
agricultural commodities or products owned by the
Commodity Credit Corporation, at such times, in such
manner, and at such price levels as the Secretary
determines will best effectuate the purposes of the
program established under this paragraph. Any price
restrictions that may otherwise apply to the
disposition of agricultural commodities by the
Commodity Credit Corporation shall not apply to the
redemption of certificates under this paragraph.
(E) Designation of commodities and products;
charges.--Insofar as practicable, the Secretary shall
permit owners of certificates to designate the
commodities and products, including storage sites, the
owners would prefer to receive in exchange for
certificates. If any certificate is not presented for
redemption, marketing, or exchange within a reasonable
number of days after the issuance of the certificate
(as determined by the Secretary), reasonable costs of
storage and other carrying charges, as determined by
the Secretary, shall be deducted from the value of the
certificate for the period beginning after the
reasonable number of days and ending with the date of
the presentation of the certificate to the Commodity
Credit Corporation.
(F) Displacement.--The Secretary shall take such
measures as may be necessary to prevent the marketing
or exchange of agricultural commodities and products
for certificates under this subsection from adversely
affecting the income of producers of the commodities or
products.
(G) Transfers.--Under regulations prescribed by the
Secretary, certificates issued to cotton handlers under
this paragraph may be transferred to other handlers and
persons approved by the Secretary.
(2) Cotton user marketing certificates.--
(A) Issuance.--Subject to subparagraph (D), during
the period ending July 31, 2003, the Secretary shall
issue marketing certificates or cash payments to
domestic users and exporters for documented purchases
by domestic users and sales for export by exporters
made in the week following a consecutive 4-week period
in which--
(i) the Friday through Thursday average
price quotation for the lowest-priced United
States growth, as quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/
32\-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. Northern
Europe exceeds the Northern Europe price by
more than 1.25 cents per pound; and
(ii) the prevailing world market price for
upland cotton (adjusted to United States
quality and location) does not exceed 130
percent of the loan rate for upland cotton
established under subsection (b).
(B) Value of certificates or payments.--The value
of the marketing certificates or cash payments shall be
based on the amount of the difference (reduced by 1.25
cents per pound) in the prices during the 4th week of
the consecutive 4-week period multiplied by the
quantity of upland cotton included in the documented
sales.
(C) Administration.--Subparagraphs (D) through (G)
of paragraph (1) shall apply to marketing certificates
issued under this paragraph. Any such certificates may
be transferred to other persons in accordance with
regulations issued by the Secretary.
(D) Exception.--The Secretary shall not issue
marketing certificates or cash payments under
subparagraph (A) if, for the immediately preceding
consecutive 10-week period, the Friday through Thursday
average price quotation for the lowest priced United
States growth, as quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch
cotton, delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe, adjusted for
the value of any certificate issued under this
paragraph, exceeds the Northern Europe price by more
than 1.25 cents per pound.
(E) Limitation on expenditures.--Total expenditures
under this paragraph shall not exceed $701,000,000
during fiscal years 1996 through 2002.
(3) Special import quota.--
(A) Establishment.--The President shall carry out
an import quota program that provides that, during the
period ending July 31, 2003, whenever the Secretary
determines and announces that for any consecutive 10-
week period, the Friday through Thursday average price
quotation for the lowest-priced United States growth,
as quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch cotton,
delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe, adjusted for the
value of any certificates issued under paragraph (2),
exceeds the Northern Europe price by more than 1.25
cents per pound, there shall immediately be in effect a
special import quota.
(B) Quantity.--The quota shall be equal to 1 week's
consumption of upland cotton by domestic mills at the
seasonally adjusted average rate of the most recent 3
months for which data are available.
(C) Application.--The quota shall apply to upland
cotton purchased not later than 90 days after the date
of the Secretary's announcement under subparagraph (A)
and entered into the United States not later than 180
days after the date.
(D) Overlap.--A special quota period may be
established that overlaps any existing quota period if
required by subparagraph (A), except that a special
quota period may not be established under this
paragraph if a quota period has been established under
subsection (g).
(E) Preferential tariff treatment.--The quantity
under a special import quota shall be considered to be
an in-quota quantity for purposes of--
(i) section 213(d) of the Caribbean Basin
Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2703(d));
(ii) section 204 of the Andean Trade
Preference Act (19 U.S.C. 3203);
(iii) section 503(d) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(d)); and
(iv) General Note 3(a)(iv) to the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
(F) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term
``special import quota'' means a quantity of imports
that is not subject to the over-quota tariff rate of a
tariff-rate quota.
(g) Limited Global Import Quota for Upland Cotton.--
(1) In general.--The President shall carry out an import
quota program that provides that whenever the Secretary
determines and announces that the average price of the base
quality of upland cotton, as determined by the Secretary, in
the designated spot markets for a month exceeded 130 percent of
the average price of such quality of cotton in the markets for
the preceding 36 months, notwithstanding any other provision of
law, there shall immediately be in effect a limited global
import quota subject to the following conditions:
(A) Quantity.--The quantity of the quota shall be
equal to 21 days of domestic mill consumption of upland
cotton at the seasonally adjusted average rate of the
most recent 3 months for which data are available.
(B) Quantity if prior quota.--If a quota has been
established under this subsection during the preceding
12 months, the quantity of the quota next established
under this subsection shall be the smaller of 21 days
of domestic mill consumption calculated under
subparagraph (A) or the quantity required to increase
the supply to 130 percent of the demand.
(C) Preferential tariff treatment.--The quantity
under a limited global import quota shall be considered
to be an in-quota quantity for purposes of--
(i) section 213(d) of the Caribbean Basin
Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2703(d));
(ii) section 204 of the Andean Trade
Preference Act (19 U.S.C. 3203);
(iii) section 503(d) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(d)); and
(iv) General Note 3(a)(iv) to the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
(D) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(i) Supply.--The term ``supply'' means,
using the latest official data of the Bureau of
the Census, the Department of Agriculture, and
the Department of the Treasury--
(I) the carry-over of upland cotton
at the beginning of the marketing year
(adjusted to 480-pound bales) in which
the quota is established;
(II) production of the current
crop; and
(III) imports to the latest date
available during the marketing year.
(ii) Demand.--The term ``demand'' means--
(I) the average seasonally adjusted
annual rate of domestic mill
consumption in the most recent 3 months
for which data are available; and
(II) the larger of--
(aa) average exports of
upland cotton during the
preceding 6 marketing years; or
(bb) cumulative exports of
upland cotton plus outstanding
export sales for the marketing
year in which the quota is
established.
(iii) Limited global import quota.--The
term ``limited global import quota'' means a
quantity of imports that is not subject to the
over-quota tariff rate of a tariff-rate quota.
(E) Quota entry period.--When a quota is
established under this subsection, cotton may be
entered under the quota during the 90-day period
beginning on the date the quota is established by the
Secretary.
(2) No overlap.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a quota
period may not be established that overlaps an existing quota
period or a special quota period established under subsection
(f)(3).
(h) Source of Loans.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide the loans
authorized by this section and the Agricultural Adjustment Act
of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) through the Commodity Credit
Corporation and other means available to the Secretary.
(2) Processors.--Whenever any loan or surplus removal
operation for any agricultural commodity is carried out through
purchases from or loans or payments to processors, the
Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, obtain from the
processors such assurances as the Secretary considers adequate
that the producers of the commodity have received or will
receive maximum benefits from the loan or surplus removal
operation.
(i) Adjustments of Loans.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may make appropriate
adjustments in the loan levels for any commodity for
differences in grade, type, quality, location, and other
factors.
(2) Loan level.--The adjustments shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, be made in such manner that the average
loan level for the commodity will, on the basis of the
anticipated incidence of the factors, be equal to the level of
support determined as provided in this section or the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.).
(j) Personal Liability of Producers for Deficiencies.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no
producer shall be personally liable for any deficiency arising
from the sale of the collateral securing any nonrecourse loan
made under this section or the Agricultural Adjustment Act of
1938 (7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) unless the loan was obtained
through a fraudulent representation by the producer.
(2) Limitations.--Paragraph (1) shall not prevent the
Commodity Credit Corporation or the Secretary from requiring a
producer to assume liability for--
(A) a deficiency in the grade, quality, or quantity
of a commodity stored on a farm or delivered by the
producer;
(B) a failure to properly care for and preserve a
commodity; or
(C) a failure or refusal to deliver a commodity in
accordance with a program established under this
section or the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938.
(3) Acquisition of collateral.--The Secretary may include
in a contract for a nonrecourse loan made under this section or
the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 a provision that
permits the Commodity Credit Corporation, on and after the
maturity of the loan or any extension of the loan, to acquire
title to the unredeemed collateral without obligation to pay
for any market value that the collateral may have in excess of
the loan indebtedness.
(4) Sugarcane and sugar beets.--A security interest
obtained by the Commodity Credit Corporation as a result of the
execution of a security agreement by the processor of sugarcane
or sugar beets shall be superior to all statutory and common
law liens on raw cane sugar and refined beet sugar in favor of
the producers of sugarcane and sugar beets and all prior
recorded and unrecorded liens on the crops of sugarcane and
sugar beets from which the sugar was derived.
(k) Commodity Credit Corporation Sales Price Restrictions.--
(1) In general.--The Commodity Credit Corporation may sell
any commodity owned or controlled by the Corporation at any
price that the Secretary determines will maximize returns to
the Corporation.
(2) Nonapplication of sales price restrictions.--Paragraph
(1) shall not apply to--
(A) a sale for a new or byproduct use;
(B) a sale of peanuts or oilseeds for the
extraction of oil;
(C) a sale for seed or feed if the sale will not
substantially impair any loan program;
(D) a sale of a commodity that has substantially
deteriorated in quality or as to which there is a
danger of loss or waste through deterioration or
spoilage;
(E) a sale for the purpose of establishing a claim
arising out of a contract or against a person who has
committed fraud, misrepresentation, or other wrongful
act with respect to the commodity;
(F) a sale for export, as determined by the
Corporation; and
(G) a sale for other than a primary use.
(3) Presidential disaster areas.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), on
such terms and conditions as the Secretary may consider
in the public interest, the Corporation may make
available any commodity or product owned or controlled by the
Corporation for use in relieving distress--
(i) in any area in the United States
(including the Virgin Islands) declared by the
President to be an acute distress area because
of unemployment or other economic cause, if the
President finds that the use will not displace
or interfere with normal marketing of
agricultural commodities; and
(ii) in connection with any major disaster
determined by the President to warrant
assistance by the Federal Government under the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et
seq.).
(B) Costs.--Except on a reimbursable basis, the
Corporation shall not bear any costs in connection with
making a commodity available under subparagraph (A)
beyond the cost of the commodity to the Corporation
incurred in--
(i) the storage of the commodity; and
(ii) the handling and transportation costs
in making delivery of the commodity to
designated agencies at 1 or more central
locations in each State or other area.
(4) Efficient operations.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to
the sale of a commodity the disposition of which is desirable
in the interest of the effective and efficient conduct of the
operations of the Corporation because of the small quantity of
the commodity involved, or because of the age, location, or
questionable continued storability of the commodity.
SEC. 105. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and
inserting the following:
``(1) Limitation on payments under production flexibility
contracts.--The total amount of contract payments made under
section 103 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act to a
person under 1 or more production flexibility contracts during
any fiscal year may not exceed $40,000.
``(2) Limitation on marketing loan gains and loan
deficiency payments.--
``(A) Limitation.--The total amount of payments
specified in subparagraph (B) that a person shall be
entitled to receive under section 104 of the
Agricultural Market Transition Act for contract
commodities and oilseeds during any crop year may not
exceed $75,000.
``(B) Description of payments.--The payments
referred to in subparagraph (A) are the following:
``(i) Any gain realized by a producer from
repaying a marketing assistance loan for a crop
of any loan commodity at a lower level than the
original loan rate established for the
commodity under section 104(b) of the Act.
``(ii) Any loan deficiency payment received
for a loan commodity under section 104(e) of
the Act.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1308) (as amended by subsection (a)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7)
as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
(B) in the second sentence of paragraph (3)(A) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``paragraphs (6) and
(7)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (4) and (5)''.
(2) Section 1305(d) of the Agricultural Reconciliation Act
of 1987 (Public Law 100-203; 7 U.S.C. 1308 note) is amended by
striking ``paragraphs (5) through (7) of section 1001, as
amended by this subtitle,'' and inserting ``paragraphs (3)
through (5) of section 1001,''.
(3) Section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308-1(a)(1)) is amended--
(A) in the first sentence of subsection (a)(1)--
(i) by striking ``section 1001(5)(B)(i)''
and inserting ``section 1001(3)(B)(i)'';
(ii) by striking ``under the Agricultural
Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.)''; and
(iii) by striking ``section
1001(5)(B)(i)(II)'' and inserting ``section
1001(3)(B)(i)(II)''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``under the
Agricultural Act of 1949''; and
(II) by striking ``section
1001(5)(B)(i)'' and inserting ``section
1001(3)(B)(i)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking
``section 1001(5)(B)(i)(II)'' and inserting
``section 1001(3)(B)(i)(II)''.
(4) Section 1001C(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308-3(a)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``For each of the 1991 through 1997
crops, any'' and inserting ``Any'';
(B) by striking ``price support program loans,
payments, or benefits made available under the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.),'' and
inserting ``loans or payments made available under the
Agricultural Market Transition Act''; and
(C) by striking ``during the 1989 through 1997 crop
years''.
SEC. 106. PEANUT PROGRAM.
(a) Quota Peanuts.--
(1) Availability of loans.--The Secretary shall make
nonrecourse loans available to producers of quota peanuts.
(2) Loan rate.--The national average quota loan rate for
quota peanuts shall be $610 per ton.
(3) Inspection, handling, or storage.--The loan amount may
not be reduced by the Secretary by any deductions for
inspection, handling, or storage.
(4) Location and other factors.--The Secretary may make
adjustments in the loan rate for quota peanuts for location of
peanuts and such other factors as are authorized by section 411
of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938.
(5) Offers from Handlers.--The Secretary shall reduce the
support rate by 5 percent for any producer who had an offer,
within a county or contiguous county at the time and place of
delivery, from a handler to purchase quota peanuts from that
farm on which the peanuts were produced at a price equal to or
greater than the applicable quota support rate.
(b) Additional Peanuts.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make nonrecourse loans
available to producers of additional peanuts at such rates as
the Secretary finds appropriate, taking into consideration the
demand for peanut oil and peanut meal, expected prices of other
vegetable oils and protein meals, and the demand for peanuts in
foreign markets.
(2) Announcement.--The Secretary shall announce the loan
rate for additional peanuts of each crop not later than
February 15 preceding the marketing year for the crop for which
the loan rate is being determined.
(c) Area Marketing Associations.--
(1) Warehouse storage loans.--
(A) In general.--In carrying out subsections (a)
and (b), the Secretary shall make warehouse storage
loans available in each of the producing areas
(described in section 1446.95 of title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (January 1, 1989)) to a designated
area marketing association of peanut producers that is
selected and approved by the Secretary and that is
operated primarily for the purpose of conducting the
loan activities. The Secretary may not make warehouse
storage loans available to any cooperative that is
engaged in operations or activities concerning peanuts
other than those operations and activities specified in
this section and section 358e of the Agricultural
Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359a).
(B) Administrative and supervisory activities.--An
area marketing association shall be used in
administrative and supervisory activities relating to
loans and marketing activities under this section and
section 358e of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1359a).
(C) Association costs.--Loans made to the
association under this paragraph shall include such
costs as the area marketing association reasonably may
incur in carrying out the responsibilities, operations,
and activities of the association under this section
and section 358e of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of
1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359a).
(2) Pools for quota and additional peanuts.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require that
each area marketing association establish pools and
maintain complete and accurate records by area and
segregation for quota peanuts handled under loan and
for additional peanuts placed under loan, except that
separate pools shall be established for Valencia
peanuts produced in New Mexico. Bright hull and dark
hull Valencia peanuts shall be considered as separate
types for the purpose of establishing the pools.
(B) Net gains.--Net gains on peanuts in each pool,
unless otherwise approved by the Secretary, shall be
distributed only to producers who placed peanuts in the
pool and shall be distributed in proportion to the
value of the peanuts placed in the pool by each
producer. Net gains for peanuts in each pool shall
consist of the following:
(i) Quota peanuts.--For quota peanuts, the
net gains over and above the loan indebtedness
and other costs or losses incurred on peanuts
placed in the pool.
(ii) Additional peanuts.--For additional
peanuts, the net gains over and above the loan
indebtedness and other costs or losses incurred
on peanuts placed in the pool for additional
peanuts.
(d) Losses.--Losses in quota area pools shall be covered using the
following sources in the following order of priority:
(1) Transfers from additional loan pools.--The proceeds due
any producer from any pool shall be reduced by the amount of
any loss that is incurred with respect to peanuts transferred
from an additional loan pool to a quota loan pool by the
producer under section 358-1(b)(8) of the Agricultural
Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1358-1(b)(8)).
(2) Other producers in same pool.--Further losses in an
area quota pool shall be offset by reducing the gain of any
producer in the pool by the amount of pool gains attributed to
the same producer from the sale of additional peanuts for
domestic and export edible use.
(3) Use of marketing assessments.--The Secretary shall use
funds collected under subsection (g) (except funds attributable
to handlers) to offset further losses in area quota pools. The
Secretary shall transfer to the Treasury those funds collected
under subsection (g) and available for use under this
subsection that the Secretary determines are not required to
cover losses in area quota pools.
(4) Cross compliance.--Further losses in area quota pools,
other than losses incurred as a result of transfers from
additional loan pools to quota loan pools under section 358-
1(b)(8) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C.
1358-1(b)(8)), shall be offset by any gains or profits from
quota pools in other production areas (other than separate type
pools established under subsection (c)(2)(A) for Valencia
peanuts produced in New Mexico) in such manner as the Secretary
shall by regulation prescribe.
(5) Increased assessments.--If use of the authorities
provided in the preceding paragraphs is not sufficient to cover
losses in an area quota pool, the Secretary shall increase the
marketing assessment established under subsection (g) by such
an amount as the Secretary considers necessary to cover the
losses. The increased assessment shall apply only to quota
peanuts covered by that pool. Amounts collected under
subsection (g) as a result of the increased assessment shall be
retained by the Secretary to cover losses in that pool.
(e) Disapproval of Quotas.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no loan for quota peanuts may be made available by the Secretary
for any crop of peanuts with respect to which poundage quotas have been
disapproved by producers, as provided for in section 358-1(d) of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1358-1(d)).
(f) Quality Improvement.--
(1) In general.--With respect to peanuts under loan, the
Secretary shall--
(A) promote the crushing of peanuts at a greater
risk of deterioration before peanuts of a lesser risk
of deterioration;
(B) ensure that all Commodity Credit Corporation
inventories of peanuts sold for domestic edible use
must be shown to have been officially inspected by
licensed Department inspectors both as farmer stock and
shelled or cleaned in-shell peanuts;
(C) continue to endeavor to operate the peanut
program so as to improve the quality of domestic
peanuts and ensure the coordination of activities under
the Peanut Administrative Committee established under
Marketing Agreement No. 146, regulating the quality of
domestically produced peanuts (under the Agricultural
Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), reenacted with
amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act
of 1937); and
(D) ensure that any changes made in the peanut
program as a result of this subsection requiring
additional production or handling at the farm level
shall be reflected as an upward adjustment in the
Department loan schedule.
(2) Exports and other peanuts.--The Secretary shall require
that all peanuts in the domestic and export markets fully
comply with all quality standards under Marketing Agreement No.
146.
(g) Marketing Assessment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for a
nonrefundable marketing assessment. The assessment shall be
made on a per pound basis in an amount equal to 1.1 percent for
each of the 1994 and 1995 crops, 1.15 percent for the 1996
crop, and 1.2 percent for each of the 1997 through 2002 crops,
of the national average quota or additional peanut loan rate
for the applicable crop.
(2) First purchasers.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided under
paragraphs (3) and (4), the first purchaser of peanuts
shall--
(i) collect from the producer a marketing
assessment equal to the quantity of peanuts
acquired multiplied by--
(I) in the case of each of the 1994
and 1995 crops, .55 percent of the
applicable national average loan rate;
(II) in the case of the 1996 crop,
.6 percent of the applicable national
average loan rate; and
(III) in the case of each of the
1997 through 2002 crops, .65 percent of
the applicable national average loan
rate;
(ii) pay, in addition to the amount
collected under clause (i), a marketing
assessment in an amount equal to the quantity
of peanuts acquired multiplied by .55 percent
of the applicable national average loan rate;
and
(iii) remit the amounts required under
clauses (i) and (ii) to the Commodity Credit
Corporation in a manner specified by the
Secretary.
(B) Definition of first purchaser.--In this
subsection, the term ``first purchaser'' means a person
acquiring peanuts from a producer except that in the
case of peanuts forfeited by a producer to the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the term means the person
acquiring the peanuts from the Commodity Credit
Corporation.
(3) Other private marketings.--In the case of a private
marketing by a producer directly to a consumer through a retail
or wholesale outlet or in the case of a marketing by the
producer outside of the continental United States, the producer
shall be responsible for the full amount of the assessment and
shall remit the assessment by such time as is specified by the
Secretary.
(4) Loan peanuts.--In the case of peanuts that are pledged
as collateral for a loan made under this section, \1/2\ of the
assessment shall be deducted from the proceeds of the loan. The
remainder of the assessment shall be paid by the first
purchaser of the peanuts. For purposes of computing net gains
on peanuts under this section, the reduction in loan proceeds
shall be treated as having been paid to the producer.
(5) Penalties.--If any person fails to collect or remit the
reduction required by this subsection or fails to comply with
the requirements for recordkeeping or otherwise as are required
by the Secretary to carry out this subsection, the person
shall be liable to the Secretary for a civil penalty up to an amount
determined by multiplying--
(A) the quantity of peanuts involved in the
violation; by
(B) the national average quota peanut rate for the
applicable crop year.
(6) Enforcement.--The Secretary may enforce this subsection
in the courts of the United States.
(h) Crops.--Subsections (a) through (f) shall be effective only for
the 1996 through 2002 crops of peanuts.
(i) Marketing Quotas.--
(1) In general.--Part VI of subtitle B of title III of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 is amended--
(A) in section 358-1 (7 U.S.C. 1358-1)--
(i) in the section heading, by striking
``1991 through 1997 crops of'';
(ii) in subsections (a)(1), (b)(1)(B),
(b)(2)(A), (b)(2)(C), and (b)(3)(A), by
striking ``of the 1991 through 1997 marketing
years'' each place it appears and inserting
``marketing year'';
(iii) in subsection (a)(3), by striking
``1990'' and inserting ``1990, for the 1991
through 1995 marketing years, and 1995, for the
1996 through 2002 marketing years'';
(iv) in subsection (b)(1)(A)--
(I) by striking ``each of the 1991
through 1997 marketing years'' and
inserting ``each marketing year''; and
(II) in clause (i), by inserting
before the semicolon the following: ``,
in the case of the 1991 through 1995
marketing years, and the 1995 marketing
year, in the case of the 1996 through
2002 marketing years''; and
(v) in subsection (f), by striking ``1997''
and inserting ``2002'';
(B) in section 358b (7 U.S.C. 1358b)--
(i) in the section heading, by striking
``1991 through 1995 crops of''; and
(ii) in subsection (c), by striking
``1995'' and inserting ``2002'';
(C) in section 358c(d) (7 U.S.C. 1358c(d)), by
striking ``1995'' and inserting ``2002''; and
(D) in section 358e (7 U.S.C. 1359a)--
(i) in the section heading, by striking
``for 1991 through 1997 crops of peanuts''; and
(ii) in subsection (i), by striking
``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
(2) Prioritized quota reductions.--Section 358-1(b)(2)(C)
of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1358-
1(b)(2)(C)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``all the''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
sentence: ``Rather than allocating the decrease among
all the farms in a State, the Secretary shall allocate
the decrease among farms in the following order of
priority:
``(i) Farms owned or controlled by
municipalities, airport authorities, schools,
colleges, refuges, and other public entities
(not including universities for research
purposes).
``(ii) Farms for which the quota holder is
not a producer and resides in another State.
``(iii) Other farms described in the first
sentence of this subparagraph.''.
(3) Elimination of quota floor.--Section 358-1(a)(1) of the
Act (7 U.S.C. 1358-1(a)(1)) is amended by striking the second
sentence.
(4) Temporary quota allocation.--Section 358-1 of the Act
(7 U.S.C. 1358-1) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``domestic
edible, seed,'' and inserting ``domestic edible use'';
(B) in subsection (b)(2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``subparagraph (B) and subject to''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) Temporary quota allocation.--
``(i) Allocation related to seed peanuts.--
Temporary allocation of quota pounds for the
marketing year only in which the crop is
planted shall be made to producers for each of
the 1996 through 2002 marketing years as
provided in this subparagraph.
``(ii) Quantity.--The temporary quota
allocation shall be equal to the pounds of seed
peanuts planted on the farm, as may be adjusted
under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
``(iii) Additional quota.--The temporary
allocation of quota pounds under this paragraph
shall be in addition to the farm poundage quota
otherwise established under this subsection and
shall be credited, for the applicable marketing
year only, in total to the producer of the
peanuts on the farm in a manner prescribed by
the Secretary.
``(iv) Effect of other requirements.--
Nothing in this section alters or changes the
requirements regarding the use of quota and
additional peanuts established by section
358e(b).''; and
(C) in subsection (e)(3), strike ``and seed and use
on a farm''.
(5) Spring and fall transfers within a state.--Section
358b(a)(1) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C.
1358b(a)(1)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``any such lease'' in the matter
preceding the subparagraphs and inserting ``any such
sale or lease''; and
(B) by striking ``in the fall or after the normal
planting season--'' and subparagraphs (A) and (B) and
inserting the following: ``in the spring (or before the
normal planting season) or in the fall (or after the
normal planting season) with the owner or operator of a
farm located within any county in the same State. In
the case of a fall transfer or a transfer after the
normal planting season, the transfer may be made only
if not less than 90 percent of the basic quota (the
farm quota exclusive of temporary quota transfers),
plus any poundage quota transferred to the farm under
this subsection, has been planted or considered planted
on the farm from which the quota is to be leased.''.
(6) Undermarketings.--Part VI of subtitle B of title III of
the Act is amended--
(A) in section 358-1(b) (7 U.S.C. 1358-1(b))--
(i) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking
``including--'' and clauses (i) and (ii) and
inserting ``including any increases resulting
from the allocation of quotas voluntarily
released for 1 year under paragraph (7).'';
(ii) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking
``include--'' and clauses (i) and (ii) and
inserting ``include any increase resulting from
the allocation of quotas voluntarily released
for 1 year under paragraph (7).''; and
(iii) by striking paragraphs (8) and (9);
and
(B) in section 358b(a) (7 U.S.C. 1358b(a))--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking
``(including any applicable under marketings)''
both places it appears;
(ii) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``of
undermarketings and'';
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking
``(including any applicable under
marketings)''; and
(iv) in paragraph (3), by striking
``(including any applicable undermarketings)''.
(7) Disaster transfers.--Section 358-1(b) of the Act (7
U.S.C. 1358-1(b)), as amended by paragraph (4)(A)(iii), is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Disaster transfers.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), additional peanuts produced on a farm
from which the quota poundage was not harvested and
marketed because of drought, flood, or any other
natural disaster, or any other condition beyond the
control of the producer, may be transferred to the
quota loan pool for pricing purposes on such basis as
the Secretary shall by regulation provide.
``(B) Limitation.--The poundage of peanuts
transferred under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed the
difference between--
``(i) the total quantity of peanuts meeting
quality requirements for domestic edible use,
as determined by the Secretary, marketed from
the farm; and
``(ii) the total farm poundage quota,
excluding quota pounds transferred to the farm
in the fall.
``(C) Support rate.--Peanuts transferred under this
paragraph shall be supported at 70 percent of the quota
support rate for the marketing years in which the
transfers occur. The transfers for a farm shall not
exceed 25 percent of the total farm quota pounds,
excluding pounds transferred in the fall.''.
SEC. 107. SUGAR PROGRAM.
(a) Sugarcane.--The Secretary shall make loans available to
processors of domestically grown sugarcane at a rate equal to 18 cents
per pound for raw cane sugar.
(b) Sugar Beets.--The Secretary shall make loans available to
processors of domestically grown sugar beets at a rate equal to 22.9
cents per pound for refined beet sugar.
(c) Reduction in Loan Rates.--
(1) Reduction required.--The Secretary shall reduce the
loan rate specified in subsection (a) for domestically grown
sugarcane and subsection (b) for domestically grown sugar beets
if the Secretary determines that negotiated reductions in
export subsidies and domestic subsidies provided for sugar of
the European Union and other major sugar growing, producing,
and exporting countries in the aggregate exceed the commitments
made as part of the Agreement on Agriculture.
(2) Extent of reduction.--The Secretary shall not reduce
the loan rate under subsection (a) or (b) below a rate that
provides an equal measure of support to that provided by the
European Union and other major sugar growing, producing, and
exporting countries, based on an examination of both domestic
and export subsidies subject to reduction in the Agreement on
Agriculture.
(3) Announcement of reduction.--The Secretary shall
announce any loan rate reduction to be made under this
subsection as far in advance as is practicable.
(4) Major sugar countries defined.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term ``major sugar growing, producing, and
exporting countries'' means--
(A) the countries of the European Union; and
(B) the ten foreign countries not covered by
subparagraph (A) that the Secretary determines produce
the greatest amount of sugar.
(5) Agreement on agriculture defined.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term ``Agreement on Agriculture'' means the
Agreement on Agriculture referred to in section 101(d)(2) of
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(2)).
(d) Term of Loans.--
(1) In general.--Loans under this section during any fiscal
year shall be made available not earlier than the beginning of
the fiscal year and shall mature at the earlier of--
(A) the end of 9 months; or
(B) the end of the fiscal year.
(2) Supplemental loans.--In the case of loans made under
this section in the last 3 months of a fiscal year, the
processor may repledge the sugar as collateral for a second
loan in the subsequent fiscal year, except that the second loan
shall--
(A) be made at the loan rate in effect at the time
the second loan is made; and
(B) mature in 9 months less the quantity of time
that the first loan was in effect.
(e) Loan Type; Processor Assurances.--
(1) Recourse loans.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall carry out this section through the use of
recourse loans.
(2) Nonrecourse loans.--During any fiscal year in which the
tariff rate quota for imports of sugar into the United States
is established at, or is increased to, a level in excess of
1,500,000 short tons raw value, the Secretary shall carry out
this section by making available nonrecourse loans. Any
recourse loan previously made available by the Secretary under
this section during the fiscal year shall be changed by the
Secretary into a nonrecourse loan.
(3) Processor assurances.--If the Secretary is required
under paragraph (2) to make nonrecourse loans available during
a fiscal year or to change recourse loans into nonrecourse
loans, the Secretary shall obtain from each processor that
receives a loan under this section such assurances as the
Secretary considers adequate to ensure that the processor will
provide payments to producers that are proportional to the
value of the loan received by the processor for sugar beets and
sugarcane delivered by producers served by the processor. The
Secretary may establish appropriate minimum payments for
purposes of this paragraph.
(f) Marketing Assessment.--
(1) Sugarcane.--Effective for marketings of raw cane sugar
during the 1996 through 2003 fiscal years, the first processor
of sugarcane shall remit to the Commodity Credit Corporation a
nonrefundable marketing assessment in an amount equal to--
(A) in the case of marketings during fiscal year
1996, 1.1 percent of the loan rate established under
subsection (a) per pound of raw cane sugar, processed
by the processor from domestically produced sugarcane
or sugarcane molasses, that has been marketed
(including the transfer or delivery of the sugar to a
refinery for further processing or marketing); and
(B) in the case of marketings during each of fiscal
years 1997 through 2003, 1.375 percent of the loan rate
established under subsection (a) per pound of raw cane
sugar, processed by the processor from domestically
produced sugarcane or sugarcane molasses, that has been
marketed (including the transfer or delivery of the
sugar to a refinery for further processing or
marketing).
(2) Sugar beets.--Effective for marketings of beet sugar
during the 1996 through 2003 fiscal years, the first processor
of sugar beets shall remit to the Commodity Credit Corporation
a nonrefundable marketing assessment in an amount equal to--
(A) in the case of marketings during fiscal year
1996, 1.1794 percent of the loan rate established under
subsection (a) per pound of beet sugar, processed by
the processor from domestically produced sugar beets or
sugar beet molasses, that has been marketed; and
(B) in the case of marketings during each of fiscal
years 1997 through 2003, 1.47425 percent of the loan
rate established under subsection (a) per pound of beet
sugar, processed by the processor from domestically
produced sugar beets or sugar beet molasses, that has
been marketed.
(3) Collection.--
(A) Timing.--A marketing assessment required under
this subsection shall be collected on a monthly basis
and shall be remitted to the Commodity Credit
Corporation not later than 30 days after the end of
each month. Any cane sugar or beet sugar processed
during a fiscal year that has not been marketed by
September 30 of the year shall be subject to assessment
on that date. The sugar shall not be subject to a
second assessment at the time that it is marketed.
(B) Manner.--Subject to subparagraph (A), marketing
assessments shall be collected under this subsection in
the manner prescribed by the Secretary and shall be
nonrefundable.
(4) Penalties.--If any person fails to remit the assessment
required by this subsection or fails to comply with such
requirements for recordkeeping or otherwise as are required by
the Secretary to carry out this subsection, the person shall be
liable to the Secretary for a civil penalty up to an amount
determined by multiplying--
(A) the quantity of cane sugar or beet sugar
involved in the violation; by
(B) the loan rate for the applicable crop of
sugarcane or sugar beets.
(5) Enforcement.--The Secretary may enforce this subsection
in a court of the United States.
(g) Forfeiture Penalty.--
(1) In general.--A penalty shall be assessed on the
forfeiture of any sugar pledged as collateral for a nonrecourse
loan under this section.
(2) Cane sugar.--The penalty for cane sugar shall be 1 cent
per pound.
(3) Beet sugar.--The penalty for beet sugar shall bear the
same relation to the penalty for cane sugar as the marketing
assessment for sugar beets bears to the marketing assessment
for sugarcane.
(4) Effect of forfeiture.--Any payments owed producers by a
processor that forfeits of any sugar pledged as collateral for
a nonrecourse loan shall be reduced in proportion to the loan
forfeiture penalty incurred by the processor.
(h) Information Reporting.--
(1) Duty of processors and refiners to report.--A sugarcane
processor, cane sugar refiner, and sugar beet processor shall
furnish the Secretary, on a monthly basis, such information as
the Secretary may require to administer sugar programs,
including the quantity of purchases of sugarcane, sugar beets,
and sugar, and production, importation, distribution, and stock
levels of sugar.
(2) Penalty.--Any person willfully failing or refusing to
furnish the information, or furnishing willfully any false
information, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more
than $10,000 for each such violation.
(3) Monthly reports.--Taking into consideration the
information received under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
publish on a monthly basis composite data on production,
imports, distribution, and stock levels of sugar.
(i) Marketing Allotments.--Part VII of subtitle B of title III of
the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359aa et seq.) is
repealed.
(j) Crops.--This section (other than subsection (i)) shall be
effective only for the 1996 through 2002 crops of sugar beets and
sugarcane.
SEC. 108. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Commodity Credit Corporation.--
(1) Use of corporation.--The Secretary shall carry out this
title through the Commodity Credit Corporation.
(2) Prohibition on salaries and expenses.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, no funds of the Corporation shall
be used for any salary or expense of any officer or employee of
the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Determinations by Secretary.--A determination made by the
Secretary under this title or the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) shall be final and conclusive.
(c) Regulations.--The Secretary may issue such regulations as the
Secretary determines necessary to carry out this title.
SEC. 109. ELIMINATION OF PERMANENT PRICE SUPPORT AUTHORITY.
(a) Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938.--The Agricultural
Adjustment Act of 1938 is amended--
(1) in title III--
(A) in subtitle B--
(i) by striking parts II through V (7
U.S.C. 1326-1351); and
(ii) in part VI--
(I) by moving subsection (c) of
section 358d (7 U.S.C. 1358d(c)) to
appear after section 301(b)(17) (7
U.S.C. 1301(b)(17)) and redesignating
the subsection as paragraph (18); and
(II) by striking sections 358,
358a, and 358d (7 U.S.C. 1358, 1358a,
and 1359); and
(B) by striking subtitle D (7 U.S.C. 1379a-1379j);
and
(2) by striking title IV (7 U.S.C. 1401-1407).
(b) Agricultural Act of 1949.--
(1) Transfer of certain sections.--The Agricultural Act of
1949 is amended--
(A) by transferring sections 106, 106A, and 106B (7
U.S.C. 1445, 1445-1, 1445-2) to appear after section
314A of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7
U.S.C. 1314-1) and redesignating the transferred
sections as sections 315, 315A, and 315B, respectively;
(B) by transferring sections 111, 201(c), and 204
(7 U.S.C. 1445f, 1446(c), 1446e) to appear after
section 304 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1304) and redesignating the transferred
sections as sections 305, 306, and 307, respectively;
and
(C) by transferring sections 404 and 416 (7 U.S.C.
1424 and 1431) to appear after section 390 of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1390) and
redesignating the transferred sections as sections 390A
and 390B, respectively.
(2) Repeal.--The Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et
seq.) (as amended by paragraph (1)) is repealed.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 306 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(as transferred and redesignated by subsection (b)(1)(B)) is
amended by striking ``204'' and inserting ``307''.
(2) Section 361 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1361) is amended by striking ``, corn, wheat, cotton,
peanuts, and rice, established''.
(3) Section 371 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1371) is amended--
(A) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by
striking ``cotton, rice, peanuts, or''; and
(B) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by
striking ``cotton, rice, peanuts or''.
SEC. 110. EFFECT OF AMENDMENTS.
(a) Effect on Prior Crops.--Except as otherwise specifically
provided and notwithstanding any other provision of law, this title and
the amendments made by this title shall not affect the authority of the
Secretary to carry out a price support or production adjustment program
for any of the 1991 through 1995 crops of an agricultural commodity
established under a provision of law in effect immediately before the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Liability.--A provision of this title or an amendment made by
this title shall not affect the liability of any person under any
provision of law as in effect before the date of the enactment of this
Act.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION
SEC. 201. CONSERVATION.
(a) Funding.--Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
``Subtitle E--Funding
``SEC. 1241. FUNDING.
``(a) Mandatory Expenses.--For each of fiscal years 1996 through
2002, the Secretary shall use the funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation to carry out the programs authorized by--
``(1) subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D (including
contracts extended by the Secretary pursuant to section 1437 of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
(Public Law 101-624; 16 U.S.C. 3831 note));
``(2) subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle D; and
``(3) chapter 4 of subtitle D.
``(b) Livestock Environmental Assistance Program.--For each of
fiscal years 1996 through 2002, $100,000,000 of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation shall be available for providing technical
assistance, cost-sharing payments, and incentive payments for practices
relating to livestock production under the livestock environmental
assistance program under chapter 4 of subtitle D.''.
(b) Livestock Environmental Assistance Program.--To carry out the
programs funded under the amendment made by subsection (a), subtitle D
of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``CHAPTER 4--LIVESTOCK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
``SEC. 1240. DEFINITIONS.
``In this chapter:
``(1) Land management practice.--The term `land management
practice' means a site-specific nutrient or manure management,
irrigation management, tillage or residue management, grazing
management, or other land management practice that the
Secretary determines is needed to protect, in the most cost
effective manner, water, soil, or related resources from
degradation due to livestock production.
``(2) Large confined livestock operation.--The term `large
confined livestock operation' means an operation that--
``(A) is a confined animal feeding operation; and
``(B) has more than--
``(i) 55 mature dairy cattle;
``(ii) 10,000 beef cattle;
``(iii) 30,000 laying hens or broilers (if
the facility has continuous overflow watering);
``(iv) 100,000 laying hens or broilers (if
the facility has a liquid manure system);
``(v) 55,000 turkeys;
``(vi) 15,000 swine; or
``(vii) 10,000 sheep or lambs.
``(3) Livestock.--The term `livestock' means dairy cows,
beef cattle, laying hens, broilers, turkeys, swine, sheep,
lambs, and such other animals as determined by the Secretary.
``(4) Operator.--The term `operator' means a person who is
engaged in livestock production (as defined by the Secretary).
``(5) Structural practice.--The term `structural practice'
means the establishment of an animal waste management facility,
terrace, grassed waterway, contour grass strip, filterstrip, or
other structural practice that the Secretary determines is
needed to protect, in the most cost effective manner, water,
soil, or related resources from degradation due to livestock
production.
``SEC. 1240A. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF LIVESTOCK
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--During the 1996 through 2002 fiscal
years, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance, cost-
sharing payments, and incentive payments to operators who enter
into contracts with the Secretary, through a livestock
environmental assistance program.
``(2) Eligible practices.--
``(A) Structural practices.--An operator who
implements a structural practice shall be eligible for
technical assistance or cost-sharing payments, or both.
``(B) Land management practices.--An operator who
performs a land management practice shall be eligible
for technical assistance or incentive payments, or
both.
``(3) Eligible land.--Assistance under this chapter may be
provided with respect to land that is used for livestock
production and on which a serious threat to water, soil, or
related resources exists, as determined by the Secretary, by
reason of the soil types, terrain, climatic, soil, topographic,
flood, or saline characteristics, or other factors or natural
hazards.
``(4) Selection criteria.--In providing technical
assistance, cost-sharing payments, and incentive payments to
operators in a region, watershed, or conservation priority area
in which an agricultural operation is located, the Secretary
shall consider--
``(A) the significance of the water, soil, and
related natural resource problems; and
``(B) the maximization of environmental benefits
per dollar expended.
``(b) Application and Term.--
``(1) In general.--A contract between an operator and the
Secretary under this chapter may--
``(A) apply to 1 or more structural practices or 1
or more land management practices, or both; and
``(B) have a term of not less than 5, nor more than
10, years, as determined appropriate by the Secretary,
depending on the practice or practices that are the
basis of the contract.
``(2) Duties of operators and secretary.--To receive cost-
sharing or incentive payments, or technical assistance,
participating operators shall comply with all terms and
conditions of the contract and a plan, as established by the
Secretary.
``(c) Structural Practices.--
``(1) Competitive offer.--The Secretary shall administer a
competitive offer system for operators proposing to receive
cost-sharing payments in exchange for the implementation of 1
or more structural practices by the operator. The competitive
offer system shall consist of--
``(A) the submission of a competitive offer by the
operator in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe;
and
``(B) evaluation of the offer in light of the
selection criteria established under subsection (a)(4)
and the projected cost of the proposal, as determined
by the Secretary.
``(2) Concurrence of owner.--If the operator making an
offer to implement a structural practice is a tenant of the
land involved in agricultural production, for the offer to be
acceptable, the operator shall obtain the concurrence of the
owner of the land with respect to the offer.
``(d) Land Management Practices.--The Secretary shall establish an
application and evaluation process for awarding technical assistance or
incentive payments, or both, to an operator in exchange for the
performance of 1 or more land management practices by the operator.
``(e) Cost-Sharing, Incentive Payments, and Technical Assistance.--
``(1) Cost-sharing payments.--
``(A) In general.--The Federal share of cost-
sharing payments to an operator proposing to implement
1 or more structural practices shall not be greater
than 75 percent of the projected cost of each practice,
as determined by the Secretary, taking into
consideration any payment received by the operator from
a State or local government.
``(B) Limitation.--An operator of a large confined
livestock operation shall not be eligible for cost-
sharing payments to construct an animal waste
management facility.
``(C) Other payments.--An operator shall not be
eligible for cost-sharing payments for structural
practices on eligible land under this chapter if the
operator receives cost-sharing payments or other
benefits for the same land under chapter 1, 2, or 3.
``(2) Incentive payments.--The Secretary shall make
incentive payments in an amount and at a rate determined by the
Secretary to be necessary to encourage an operator to perform 1
or more land management practices.
``(3) Technical assistance.--
``(A) Funding.--The Secretary shall allocate
funding under this chapter for the provision of
technical assistance according to the purpose and
projected cost for which the technical assistance is
provided for a fiscal year. The allocated amount may
vary according to the type of expertise required,
quantity of time involved, and other factors as
determined appropriate by the Secretary. Funding shall
not exceed the projected cost to the Secretary of the
technical assistance provided for a fiscal year.
``(B) Other authorities.--The receipt of technical
assistance under this chapter shall not affect the
eligibility of the operator to receive technical
assistance under other authorities of law available to
the Secretary.
``(f) Limitation on Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The total amount of cost-sharing and
incentive payments paid to a person under this chapter may not
exceed--
``(A) $10,000 for any fiscal year; or
``(B) $50,000 for any multiyear contract.
``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations
that are consistent with section 1001 for the purpose of--
``(A) defining the term `person' as used in
paragraph (1); and
``(B) prescribing such rules as the Secretary
determines necessary to ensure a fair and reasonable
application of the limitations established under this
subsection.
``(g) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the effective
date of this subsection, the Secretary shall issue regulations to
implement the livestock environmental assistance program established
under this chapter.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.--Section 1241 of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(a) The Secretary may use facilities, services, authorities, and
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out subtitle D.
Except for the purpose of carrying out subchapter B of chapter 1 of
such subtitle, the Secretary may not use funds of the Corporation to
carry out such subtitle unless the Corporation has received funds to
cover such expenditures from appropriations made to carry out this
subtitle.''.
(2) Wetlands reserve program.--
(A) In general.--Section 1237 of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837) is amended--
(i) in subsection (b)(2)--
(I) by striking ``not less'' and
inserting ``not more''; and
(II) by striking ``2000'' and
inserting ``2002''; and
(ii) in subsection (c), by striking
``2000'' and inserting ``2002''.
(B) Length of easement.--Section 1237A(e) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837a(e)) is
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) shall be for 15 years, but in no case shall be a
permanent easement.''.
(3) Conservation reserve program.--
(A) In general.--Section 1231(d) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)) is amended by
striking ``total of'' and all that follows through the
period at the end of the subsection and inserting
``total of 36,400,000 acres.''.
(B) Optional contract termination by producers.--
Section 1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3835) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(e) Termination by Owner or Operator.--
``(1) Notice of termination.--An owner or operator of land
subject to a contract entered into under this subchapter may
terminate the contract by submitting to the Secretary written
notice of the intention of the owner or operator to terminate
the contract.
``(2) Effective date.--The contract termination shall take
effect 60 days after the date on which the owner or operator
submits the written notice under paragraph (1).
``(3) Prorated rental payment.--If a contract entered into
under this subchapter is terminated under this subsection
before the end of the fiscal year for which a rental payment is
due, the Secretary shall provide a prorated rental payment
covering the portion of the fiscal year during which the
contract was in effect.
``(4) Renewed enrollment.--The termination of a contract
entered into under this subchapter shall not affect the ability
of the owner or operator who requested the termination to
submit a subsequent bid to enroll the land that was subject to
the contract into the conservation reserve.
``(5) Conservation requirements.--If land that was subject
to a contract is returned to production of an agricultural
commodity, the conservation requirements under subtitles B and
C shall apply to the use of the land to the extent that the
requirements are similar to those requirements imposed on other
similar lands in the area, except that the requirements may not
be more onerous that the requirements imposed on other lands.
``(6) Repayment of cost share.--A person who terminates a
contract entered into under this subchapter within less than 3
years after entering into the contract shall reimburse the
Secretary for any cost share assistance provided under the
contract.''.
(C) Limitation.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no new acres shall be enrolled in the
conservation reserve program established under
subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.)
in calendar year 1997.
TITLE III--AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION AND EXPORT PROGRAMS
SEC. 301. MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM.
Effective October 1, 1995, section 211(c)(1) of the Agricultural
Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641(c)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after ``1991 through 1993,''; and
(2) by striking ``through 1997,'' and inserting ``through
1995, and not more than $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years
1996 through 2002,''.
SEC. 302. EXPORT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
Effective October 1, 1995, section 301(e)(1) of the Agricultural
Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5651(e)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--The Commodity Credit Corporation shall
make available to carry out the program established under this
section not more than--
``(A) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
``(B) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
``(C) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
``(D) $550,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
``(E) $579,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
``(F) $478,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
``(G) $478,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.''.
TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 401. CROP INSURANCE.
(a) Catastrophic Risk Protection.--Section 508(b) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Delivery of coverage.--
``(i) In general.--In full consultation
with approved insurance providers, the
Secretary may continue to offer catastrophic
risk protection in a State (or a portion of a
State) through local offices of the Department
if the Secretary determines that there is an
insufficient number of approved insurance
providers operating in the State or portion to adequately provide
catastrophic risk protection coverage to producers.
``(ii) Coverage by approved insurance
providers.--To the extent that catastrophic
risk protection coverage by approved insurance
providers is sufficiently available in a State
as determined by the Secretary, only approved
insurance providers may provide the coverage in
the State.
``(iii) Current policies.--Subject to
clause (ii), all catastrophic risk protection
policies written by local offices of the
Department shall be transferred (including all
fees collected for the crop year in which the
approved insurance provider will assume the
policies) to the approved insurance provider
for performance of all sales, service, and loss
adjustment functions.''; and
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--Effective for the spring-planted
1996 and subsequent crops, to be eligible for any
payment or loan under the Agricultural Market
Transition Act, the conservation reserve program, or
any benefit described in section 371 of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
2008f), a person shall--
``(i) obtain at least the catastrophic
level of insurance for each crop of economic
significance in which the person has an
interest; or
``(ii) provide a written waiver to the
Secretary that waives any eligibility for
emergency crop loss assistance in connection
with the crop.''.
(b) Coverage of Seed Crops.--Section 519(a)(2)(B) of the Act (7
U.S.C. 1519(a)(2)(B)) is amended by inserting ``seed crops,'' after
``turfgrass sod,''.
SEC. 402. COLLECTION AND USE OF AGRICULTURAL QUARANTINE AND INSPECTION
FEES.
Subsection (a) of section 2509 of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (21 U.S.C. 136a) is amended to read
as follows:
``(a) Quarantine and Inspection Fees.--
``(1) Fees authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may
prescribe and collect fees sufficient--
``(A) to cover the cost of providing agricultural
quarantine and inspection services in connection with
the arrival at a port in the customs territory of the
United States, or the preclearance or preinspection at
a site outside the customs territory of the United
States, of an international passenger, commercial
vessel, commercial aircraft, commercial truck, or
railroad car;
``(B) to cover the cost of administering this
subsection; and
``(C) through fiscal year 2002, to maintain a
reasonable balance in the Agricultural Quarantine
Inspection User Fee Account established under paragraph
(5).
``(2) Limitation.--In setting the fees under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall ensure that the amount of the fees are
commensurate with the costs of agricultural quarantine and
inspection services with respect to the class of persons or
entities paying the fees. The costs of the services with
respect to passengers as a class includes the costs of related
inspections of the aircraft or other vehicle.
``(3) Status of fees.--Fees collected under this subsection
by any person on behalf of the Secretary are held in trust for
the United States and shall be remitted to the Secretary in
such manner and at such times as the Secretary may prescribe.
``(4) Late payment penalties.--If a person subject to a fee
under this subsection fails to pay the fee when due, the
Secretary shall assess a late payment penalty, and the overdue
fees shall accrue interest, as required by section 3717 of
title 31, United States Code.
``(5) Agricultural quarantine inspection user fee
account.--
``(A) Establishment.--There is established in the
Treasury of the United States a no-year fund, to be
known as the `Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User
Fee Account', which shall contain all of the fees
collected under this subsection and late payment
penalties and interest charges collected under
paragraph (4) through fiscal year 2002.
``(B) Use of account.--For each of the fiscal years
1996 through 2002, funds in the Agricultural Quarantine
Inspection User Fee Account shall be available, in such
amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations
Acts, to cover the costs associated with the
provision of agricultural quarantine and inspection services and the
administration of this subsection. Amounts made available under this
subparagraph shall be available until expended.
``(C) Excess fees.--Fees and other amounts
collected under this subsection in any of the fiscal
years 1996 through 2002 in excess of $100,000,000 shall
be available for the purposes specified in subparagraph
(B) until expended, without further appropriation.
``(6) Use of amounts collected after fiscal year 2002.--
After September 30, 2002, the unobligated balance in the
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee Account and fees
and other amounts collected under this subsection shall be
credited to the Department of Agriculture accounts that incur
the costs associated with the provision of agricultural
quarantine and inspection services and the administration of
this subsection. The fees and other amounts shall remain
available to the Secretary until expended without fiscal year
limitation.
``(7) Staff years.--The number of full-time equivalent
positions in the Department of Agriculture attributable to the
provision of agricultural quarantine and inspection services
and the administration of this subsection shall not be counted
toward the limitation on the total number of full-time
equivalent positions in all agencies specified in section 5(b)
of the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994 (Public Law
103-226; 5 U.S.C. 3101 note) or other limitation on the total
number of full-time equivalent positions.''.
SEC. 403. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION INTEREST RATE.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the monthly Commodity
Credit Corporation interest rate applicable to loans provided for
agricultural commodities by the Corporation shall be 100 basis points
greater than the rate determined under the applicable interest rate
formula in effect on October 1, 1995.
TITLE V--COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE
SEC. 501. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is hereby established a commission to be known as the
``Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture'' (hereinafter in
this title referred to as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 502. COMPOSITION.
(a) Membership and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed
of 11 members, appointed as follows:
(1) Three members shall be appointed by the President.
(2) Four members shall be appointed by the Chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives in
consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee.
(3) Four members shall be appointed by the Chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
in consultation with the ranking minority member of the
Committee.
(b) Qualifications.--At least one of the members appointed under
each of the paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) shall be an
individual who is primarily involved in production agriculture. All
other members of the Commission shall be appointed from among
individuals having knowledge and experience in agricultural production,
marketing, finance, or trade.
(c) Term of Members; Vacancies.--Members of the Commission shall be
appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy on the Commission
shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment was made.
(d) Time for Appointment; First Meeting.--The members of the
Commission shall be appointed not later than October 1, 1997. The
Commission shall convene its first meeting to carry out its duties
under this Act 30 days after six members of the Commission have been
appointed.
(e) Chairman.--The chairman of the Commission shall be designated
jointly by the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate from among the members of the
Commission.
SEC. 503. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PAST AND FUTURE OF PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURE.
(a) Initial Review.--The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive
review of changes in the condition of production agriculture in the
United States since the date of the enactment of this Act and the
extent to which such changes are the result of the amendments made by
this Act. The review shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the initial success of production
flexibility contracts under section 102 in supporting the
economic viability of farming in the United States.
(2) An assessment of the food security situation in the
United States in the areas of trade, consumer prices,
international competitiveness of United States production
agriculture, food supplies, and humanitarian relief.
(3) An assessment of the changes in farmland values and
agricultural producer incomes since the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(4) An assessment of the extent to which regulatory relief
for agricultural producers has been enacted and implemented,
including the application of cost/benefit principles in the
issuance of agricultural regulations.
(5) An assessment of the extent to which tax relief for
agricultural producers has been enacted in the form of capital
gains tax reductions, estate tax exemptions, and mechanisms to
average tax loads over high and low income years.
(6) An assessment of the effect of any Government
interference in agricultural export markets, such as the
imposition of trade embargoes, and the degree of implementation
and success of international trade agreements.
(7) An assessment of the likely affect of the sale, lease,
or transfer of farm poundage quota for peanuts across State
lines.
(b) Subsequent Review.--The Commission shall conduct a
comprehensive review of the future of production agriculture in the
United States and the appropriate role of the Federal Government in
support of production agriculture. The review shall include the
following:
(1) An assessment of changes in the condition of production
agriculture in the United States since the initial review
conducted under subsection (a).
(2) Identification of the appropriate future relationship
of the Federal Government with production agriculture after
2002.
(3) An assessment of the personnel and infrastructure
requirements of the Department of Agriculture necessary to
support the future relationship of the Federal Government with
production agriculture.
(c) Recommendations.--In carrying out the subsequent review under
subsection (b), the Commission shall develop specific recommendations
for legislation to achieve the appropriate future relationship of the
Federal Government with production agriculture identified under
subsection (a)(2).
SEC. 504. REPORTS.
(a) Report on Initial Review.--Not later than June 1, 1998, the
Commission shall submit to the President, the Committee on Agriculture
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing the results
of the initial review conducted under section 503(a).
(b) Report on Subsequent Review.--Not later than January 1, 2001,
the Commission shall submit to the President and the congressional
committees specified in subsection (a) a report containing the results
of the subsequent review conducted under section 503(b).
SEC. 505. POWERS.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out
this Act, conduct such hearings, sit and act at such times, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers
appropriate.
(b) Assistance From Other Agencies.--The Commission may secure
directly from any department or agency of the Federal Government such
information as may be necessary for the Commission to carry out its
duties under this Act. Upon request of the chairman of the Commission,
the head of the department or agency shall, to the extent permitted by
law, furnish such information to the Commission.
(c) Mail.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as the departments and
agencies of the Federal Government.
(d) Assistance From Secretary.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
provide to the Commission appropriate office space and such reasonable
administrative and support services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 506. COMMISSION PROCEDURES.
(a) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet on a regular basis (as
determined by the chairman) and at the call of the chairman or a
majority of its members.
(b) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
SEC. 507. PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission shall serve
without compensation, but shall be allowed travel expenses including
per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title
5, United States Code, when engaged in the performance of Commission
duties.
(b) Staff.--The Commission shall appoint a staff director, who
shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay
under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code, and such
professional and clerical personnel as may be reasonable and necessary
to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title, or any other provision of law, relating to the number,
classification, and General Schedule rates. No employee appointed under
this subsection (other than the staff director) may be compensated at a
rate to exceed the maximum rate applicable to level GS-15 of the
General Schedule.
(c) Detailed Personnel.--Upon request of the chairman of the
Commission, the head of any department or agency of the Federal
Government is authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any
personnel of such department or agency to the Commission to assist the
Commission in carrying out its duties under this section. The detail of
any such personnel may not result in the interruption or loss of civil
service status or privilege of such personnel.
SEC. 508. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate upon submission of the final report
required by section 504.
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