[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6064 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6064

   To reauthorize Department of Agriculture conservation and energy 
 programs and certain other programs of the Department, to modify the 
operation and administration of these programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 13, 2006

Mr. Kind (for himself, Mr. Saxton, Mr. Allen, Mr. Andrews, Ms. Baldwin, 
  Mr. Bass, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Bradley of New 
     Hampshire, Mr. Case, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Farr, Mr. 
 Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. Holt, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. 
Kelly, Mr. Kolbe, Mr. LoBiondo, Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. Michaud, 
Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mrs. Tauscher, 
 Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Walsh) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and 
  in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 reauthorize Department of Agriculture conservation and energy 
 programs and certain other programs of the Department, to modify the 
operation and administration of these programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Farms, 
Foods, and Fuels Act of 2006''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The tables of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
                         TITLE I--CONSERVATION

Sec. 101. Conservation reserve program.
Sec. 102. Wetlands reserve program.
Sec. 103. Conservation security program.
Sec. 104. Reauthorization of and increased enrollment authority for 
                            grassland reserve program.
Sec. 105. Environmental quality incentives program.
Sec. 106. Reauthorization of and increased funding for wildlife habitat 
                            incentive program.
Sec. 107. Cooperative conservation partnership initiative.
Sec. 108. Regional equity in funding of certain Department of 
                            Agriculture conservation programs.
Sec. 109. Exclusion of payments under Department of Agriculture 
                            conservation programs from adjusted gross 
                            income limitation.
Sec. 110. Reauthorization of and additional funding for agricultural 
                            management assistance program.
Sec. 111. Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Program.
Sec. 112. Farmland protection and farm viability programs.
Sec. 113. Healthy forests reserve program.
Sec. 114. Integrated pest management initiative.
Sec. 115. National organic certification and transition cost share 
                            program.
Sec. 116. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative.
Sec. 117. Funding for education grants programs for Hispanic-serving 
                            institutions.
Sec. 118. Initiative to encourage greater participation by socially 
                            disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in 
                            conservation programs.
                            TITLE II--ENERGY

Sec. 201. Definition of biomass.
Sec. 202. Support for development of biorefineries.
Sec. 203. Reauthorization of energy audit and renewable energy 
                            development program.
Sec. 204. Reauthorization of and increased funding for renewable energy 
                            systems and energy efficiency improvements 
                            program.
Sec. 205. Reauthorization of Department of Agriculture bioenergy 
                            program.
Sec. 206. Reauthorization of and increased funding for biomass research 
                            and development.
Sec. 207. Reauthorization of carbon cycle research.
                    TITLE III--HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES

Sec. 301. Reauthorization of and increased funding for community food 
                            project grants.
Sec. 302. Expansion of fresh fruit and vegetable program.
Sec. 303. Authorization level for farm-to-cafeteria activities.
Sec. 304. Extension of WIC farmer's market nutrition program.
Sec. 305. Senior farmers' market nutrition program.
Sec. 306. Farmers' market promotion program.

                         TITLE I--CONSERVATION

SEC. 101. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension.--
            (1) Funding extension.--Section 1241(a) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2013''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The'' and 
                inserting ``For each of fiscal years 2002 through 2013, 
                the''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 1231 of such Act (16 
        U.S.C. 3831) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``2007'' and 
                inserting ``2013'';
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``2007'' and 
                inserting ``2013'';
                    (C) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``2002'' and 
                inserting ``2008''; and
                    (D) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``2007'' and 
                inserting ``2013''.
    (b) Eligible Land.--Section 1231(b) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (1) and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``or'' at the end of 
        subparagraph (C);
            (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(6) marginal pasture land or hay land that is otherwise 
        ineligible, if the land is located in the Longleaf Pine 
        National Conservation Priority Area and will be devoted to long 
        leaf pine; or
            ``(7) marginal pasture land or hay land that is otherwise 
        ineligible, if the land is to be devoted to native vegetation 
        appropriate to the locale and will provide suitable habitat for 
        a State or federally listed threatened or endangered species or 
        a species determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be 
        species of concern.''.
    (c) Enrollment Goals.--Section 1231(d) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3831(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting:
            ``(1) Acreage authorized.--The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(2) Enrollment goals.--For the period beginning on the 
        date of the enactment of this paragraph and ending on December 
        31, 2013, the Secretary shall establish a goal--
                    ``(A) to enroll not less than 7,000,000 acres of 
                eligible land through the continuous enrollment program 
                and the conservation reserve enhancement program; and
                    ``(B) to maintain enrollment of at least 7,800,000 
                acres in the Prairie Pothole Region National 
                Conservation Priority Area.''.
    (d) Balance of Natural Resource Purposes.--Section 1231(j) of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3831(j)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In determining'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) Equitable balance of conservation purposes.--In 
        determining'';
            (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``, but 
        need not balance all conservation purposes with respect to each 
        particular contract offer.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(2) Wildlife.--In considering the extent to which a 
        contract offer will achieve the conservation purposes of the 
        program related to wildlife habitat, the Secretary shall 
        consider the extent to which the contract offer will contribute 
        to increased populations of wildlife, including waterfowl, 
        nongame grassland birds and neotropical migrants, and assist in 
        the recovery of at-risk species.''.
    (e) Duties of Participants.--Section 1232(a) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3832(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
                redesignated, the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) approved vegetative cover shall not include 
                vegetative cover inappropriate to the locale;'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (10) as 
        paragraphs (6) through (11), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) to undertake appropriate management activities on the 
        land as needed throughout the term of the contract to achieve 
        the purposes of the conservation reserve program;''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of paragraph (8), as so 
        redesignated, by inserting after ``may be conducted'' the 
        following: ``, taking into account grassland types and species, 
        location, weather conditions, and other factors that determine 
        to what extent harvesting and grazing activities will advance 
        the conservation purposes of the program''.
    (f) Conservation Plan.--Section 1232(b)(1) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3832(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting ``, including appropriate management activities 
        required by subsection (a)(5);'' and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) criteria for conducting any commercial use to 
                be permitted, including criteria for managed harvesting 
                and grazing specifying frequency, timing, number of 
                animal units, percentage of field, and other criteria 
                to ensure that managed harvesting and grazing advances 
                the conservation purposes of the program; and''.
    (g) Cost-Share and Management Assistance.--Section 1234(b) of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the period at the 
        end the following: ``, except that the Secretary shall pay 75 
        percent of the cost of establishing bottomland hardwood trees 
        and longleaf pine''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Management costs.--The Secretary shall pay 75 percent 
        of the cost of management activities, including control of 
        invasive species, required under a contract entered into under 
        this subchapter, subject to such limits as the Secretary may 
        establish.''.
    (h) Acceptance of Contract Offers.--Section 1234(c)(3) of such Act 
(16 U.S.C. 3834(c)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In determining'' and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Maximizing environmental benefits.--In 
                determining'';
            (2) by striking ``may'' and all that follows through ``take 
        into consideration'' and inserting ``shall take into 
        consideration'';
            (3) by striking ``benefits; and'' and inserting ``benefits. 
        The Secretary shall establish criteria for the acceptance of 
        contract offers that will maximize environmental benefits, 
        including criteria related to the characteristics of the land 
        that is the subject of the contract offer, its location, 
        proposed cover and proposed management practices.'';
            (4) by striking ``(B) establish'' and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(B) Flexibility.--The Secretary may establish'';
            (5) by striking ``abated.'' and inserting ``abated, in 
        order to more effectively address specific State or regional 
        resource concerns and conservation priorities.''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Relationship to other conservation 
                programs.--In the enrollment of land in the 
                conservation reserve established under this subchapter, 
                the Secretary shall give a priority to land that cannot 
                produce comparable environmental benefits if maintained 
                in agricultural production and enrolled in the 
                environmental quality incentives program or other 
                program designed to assist producers in improving the 
                environmental performance of working agricultural 
                land.''.
    (i) Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.--Section 1234(f)(1) 
of such Act is (16 U.S.C. 3834(f)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ``The Secretary may waive this payment 
limitation for persons participating in a conservation reserve 
enhancement program if the Secretary determines such a waiver is 
necessary to achieve the objectives of the conservation reserve 
enhancement program.''.

SEC. 102. WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension.--
            (1) Funding extension.--Section 1241(a)(2) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(2)) is amended by 
        striking ``The'' and inserting ``For each of fiscal years 2002 
        through 2013, the''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1237(c) of such Act (16 
        U.S.C. 3837(c)) is amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting 
        ``2013''.
    (b) Maximum and Yearly Enrollment.--Section 1237(b)(1) of such Act 
(16 U.S.C. 3837(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``2,275,000 acres'' and inserting 
        ``5,000,000 acres''; and
            (2) by striking ``250,000 acres in each calendar year'' and 
        inserting ``350,000 acres in each of calendar years 2008 and 
        2009 and 250,000 acres in each of calendar years 2010 through 
        2013''.
    (c) Wetland Easement Conservation Plan.--Section 1237A(b)(3) of 
such Act (16 U.S.C. 3837a(b)(3)) is amended by inserting before the 
semicolon at the end the following: ``and management activities 
necessary to maintain the functional values of the wetlands''.
    (d) Cost-Share and Management Assistance.--Section 1237C of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3837c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``including 
        management activities,'' after ``values,''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) Management costs.--The Secretary may make payments to 
        owners to cover up to the full actual cost of undertaking any 
        ongoing or periodic management activities necessary to maintain 
        the functional values of wetland enrolled in the wetlands 
        reserve program.''.

SEC. 103. CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM.

    (a) Repeal of Funding Cap.--Section 1241(a)(3) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``, using not 
more than'' and all that follows through ``2015''.
    (b) Program Extension.--Section 1238A(a) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838a(a)) is amended by striking ``2011'' and 
inserting ``2013''.
    (c) Three Tiers of Conservation Security Contracts.--Section 
1238A(d) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3838a(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (R) and (S) as 
                subparagraphs (S) and (T), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (Q), the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(R) enhancement of in-stream flows;'';
            (2) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``paragraph (6)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
                (7)'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I), by striking ``1 
                significant resource'' and inserting ``2 significant 
                resources''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I), by striking ``1 
                significant resource'' and inserting ``3 significant 
                resources''; and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(6) Soil quality requirements for certain producers.--
        Certified organic producers and producers implementing a 
        resource-conserving crop rotation shall be deemed to meet any 
        minimum requirements related to soil quality and the 
        preservation of soil carbon that the Secretary may establish 
        for each tier of conservation security contracts.''.
    (d) Contract Renewal.--Section 1238A(e)(4) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3838a(e)(4)) is amended----
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' 
        and inserting ``subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D)''; and
            (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
        following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(B) Tier i renewals.--In the case of land 
                enrolled under a Tier I conservation security contract 
                of a producer, the producer may--
                            ``(i) renew the contract if the producer 
                        agrees to a new conservation security plan that 
                        addresses at least one additional significant 
                        resource concern and includes significant new 
                        conservation practices and activities, as 
                        determined by the Secretary; or
                            ``(ii) enroll the land under a Tier II or 
                        Tier III conservation security contract at the 
                        time the Tier I contract expires if the 
                        producer demonstrates that the eligibility 
                        criteria for a Tier III conservation security 
                        contract are met.
                    ``(C) Tier ii renewals.--In the case of land 
                enrolled under a Tier II conservation security contract 
                of a producer, the producer may--
                            ``(i) renew the contract if the producer 
                        agrees to a new conservation security plan that 
                        includes significant new conservation practices 
                        or activities, as determined by the Secretary; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) enroll the land under a Tier III 
                        conservation security contract at the time the 
                        Tier II contract expires if the producer 
                        demonstrates that the eligibility criteria for 
                        a Tier III conservation security contract are 
                        met.
                    ``(D) Tier iii renewals.--In the case of land 
                enrolled under a Tier III conservation security 
                contract of a producer, the producer may renew the 
                contract, subject to a benchmark assessment by the 
                Secretary to determine whether the producer fully 
                complied with the requirements of the Tier III 
                conservation security plan.''.
    (e) Elimination of Maintenance Payments.--Section 1238C(b)(1)(B) of 
such Act (16 U.S.C. 3838c(b)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ``Effective for payments made after October 1, 
2006, payments under a conservation security contract may not include 
amounts for the maintenance of existing land management and vegetative 
practices or the maintenance of existing land-based structural 
practices.''.
    (f) Minimum Contract Payment.--Section 1238C(b) of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3838c(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(4) Minimum payment.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        in this subsection, a producer participating in the 
        conservation security program shall be entitled to an annual 
        payment of not less than $1,500 under a conservation security 
        contract.''.
    (g) Enrollment Procedures.--Subsection (f) of section 1238C of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3838c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Enrollment Procedures.--
            ``(1) No use of competitive bidding.--In entering into 
        conservation security contracts with producers under this 
        subchapter, the Secretary shall not use competitive bidding or 
        any similar procedure.
            ``(2) Continuous enrollment for tier iii contracts.--The 
        Secretary shall enroll lands that meet Tier III enrollment 
        criteria on a continuous basis.
            ``(3) Periodic enrollment opportunities for tier i and ii 
        contracts.--The Secretary shall ensure that producers whose 
        land meets the eligibility criteria for enrollment under a Tier 
        I or Tier II conservation security contract have the 
        opportunity to enroll the land in the conservation security 
        program once every three years.''.
    (h) Technical Assistance.--Subsection (f) of section 1238C of such 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3838c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(g) Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) Provision of technical assistance.--For each of 
        fiscal years 2003 through 2013, the Secretary shall provide 
        appropriate technical assistance to producers for the 
        development and implementation of conservation security 
        contracts.
            ``(2) Limitation.--The amount expended to provide technical 
        assistance with respect to a conservation security contract 
        over the life of the contract may not exceed 15 percent of the 
        total amount expended over the life of the contract.''.

SEC. 104. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND INCREASED ENROLLMENT AUTHORITY FOR 
              GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension and Funding.--Section 1241(a) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) 
and inserting the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) For each of fiscal years 2002 through 2013, the 
        grassland reserve program under subchapter C of chapter 2.''.
    (b) Maximum Enrollment and Limitation on Use of Rental 
Agreements.--Subsection (b) of section 1238N of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
3838N) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2,000,000 acres'' and 
        inserting ``5,000,000 acres''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(3) Limitation on use of rental agreements.--Of the total 
        number of acres enrolled in the program at any one time through 
        the methods described in paragraph (2)(A), not more than 30 
        percent of the acres shall be enrolled through the use of 
        rental agreements described in clause (i) of such paragraph.''.
    (c) Enrollment Goal.--Subsection (b) of such section is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Enrollment goal.--For the period beginning on the 
        date of the enactment of this paragraph and ending on December 
        31, 2013, the Secretary shall establish a goal to enroll not 
        less than 1,000,000 acres of native grasslands in the 
        program.''.
    (d) Equity for Pasture-Based Operations.--Such section is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Equity for Pasture-Based Operations.--Consistent with the 
other requirements of the program, the Secretary shall implement the 
program in a manner that ensures that, to the greatest extent 
practicable, landowners operating pasture-based systems have an equal 
opportunity to enroll in the program.''.

SEC. 105. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension.--
            (1) Funding extension and increase.--Section 1241(a) of the 
        Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended by 
        striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(6) The environmental quality incentives program under 
        chapter 4, using, to the maximum extent practicable, 
        $2,000,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 1240B of such Act is 
        amended (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``2010'' and 
                inserting ``2013''; and
                    (B) in subsection (g), by striking ``2007'' and 
                inserting ``2013''.
    (b) Purposes.--Section 1240 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839aa) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, conserving energy,'' 
        after ``resources''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and conserve energy,'' 
        after ``wildlife''.
    (c) Bidding Down.--Subsection (c) of section 1240B of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa-2) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Bidding Down.--The Secretary shall not assign a higher 
priority to any application because the applicant is willing to accept 
a lower cost-share or incentive payment than the applicant would 
otherwise be entitled to receive. Nothing in this subsection shall be 
construed to relieve the Secretary of the obligation, when evaluating 
applications for cost-share payments and incentive payments, to 
evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed conservation practices, 
systems, and approaches described in the applications and to prioritize 
the most cost-effective applications, as required by section 
1240C(1).''.
    (d) Evaluation of Applications for Cost-Share Payments and 
Incentive Payments.--Section 1240C of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-3) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1240C. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR COST-SHARE PAYMENTS AND 
              INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

    ``In evaluating applications for cost-share payments and incentive 
payments, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) prioritize applications based on their overall level 
        of cost-effectiveness to ensure that the conservation 
        practices, systems, and approaches proposed are the most 
        efficient means of achieving the anticipated environmental 
        benefits of the project;
            ``(2) prioritize applications based on how effectively and 
        comprehensively the project addresses the designated resource 
        concern or resource concerns;
            ``(3) reward higher levels of environmental performance, 
        such as advanced levels of management within land management 
        practices;
            ``(4) develop criteria for evaluating applications that 
        will ensure that national, State, and local conservation 
        priorities are effectively addressed; and
            ``(5) prioritize applications that will improve 
        environmental performance on existing operations.''.
    (e) Conservation Innovation Grants.--Section 1240H of such Act (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa-8) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``may'' and inserting 
        ``shall'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (2);
                    (C) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (3) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) include a plan for technology transfer.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(d) Technology Transfer.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall ensure efficient, effective transfer of innovative 
technologies and approaches demonstrated through projects that receive 
funding under this section.
    ``(e) Funding.--In addition to amounts made available under section 
1241(a)(6) to carry out this chapter, the Secretary shall use funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section in the 
following amounts:
            ``(1) 40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            ``(2) 50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            ``(3) 60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            ``(4) 75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 
        2013.''.
    (f) Funding Under Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program.--
Subsection (c) section 1240I of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-9) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $100,000,000 of the funds 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2013. These funds are in addition to 
amounts made available under section 1241(a)(6) to carry out this 
chapter.''.
    (g) Forest Conservation and Performance Incentives for States.--
Chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of such Act is amended by adding 
at the end the following new sections:

``SEC. 1240J. PROMOTION OF FOREST STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES.

    ``(a) Cost-Share Payments and Incentive Payments.--In carrying out 
the program under this chapter, the Secretary shall promote forest 
stewardship by providing cost-share payments and incentive payments to 
non-industrial private forest owners to carry out eligible conservation 
activities, to--
            ``(1) improve water quality;
            ``(2) improve habitat for at-risk species;
            ``(3) restore ecologically important forest types; or
            ``(4) control invasive species.
    ``(b) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to projects that 
involve multiple landowners implementing eligible conservation 
activities in a coordinated way to address the purposes described in 
subsection (a).
    ``(c) Funding.--
            ``(1) Amounts.--The Secretary shall use funds of the 
        Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section in the 
        following amounts:
                    ``(A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(C) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
                    ``(D) $75,000,000 million for each of fiscal years 
                2011 and 2012; and
                    ``(E) $100 million for fiscal year 2013.
            ``(2) Relation to other funds.--The funds made available 
        under paragraph (1) are in addition to amounts made available 
        under section 1241(a)(6) to carry out this chapter.

``SEC. 1240K. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES FOR STATES.

    ``(a) High Level of Performance Bonus.--For each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2013, 10 percent of the funds made available under this 
chapter shall be reserved by the Secretary for bonus allocations to 
States that demonstrate a high level of performance in implementing the 
environmental quality incentives program.
    ``(b) Special Considerations.--In evaluating State performance 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall reward States that--
            ``(1) consistently meet the requirements of section 1240C 
        in evaluating offers and payments;
            ``(2) dedicate a portion of their annual environmental 
        quality incentives program allocation to multi-producer 
        cooperative efforts to address specific resource concerns;
            ``(3) collaborate with other Federal and State agencies, 
        local governments, educational institutions, and for-profit and 
        nonprofit organizations to monitor and evaluate the 
        environmental outcomes associated with implementation of the 
        environmental quality incentives program;
            ``(4) demonstrate effective and efficient program delivery, 
        including the provision of adequate technical assistance to all 
        program participants through appropriate staffing and through 
        cooperation with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
        agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and 
        individuals with demonstrated expertise in the planning and 
        implementation of conservation practices, systems, and 
        approaches;
            ``(5) support and encourage innovative approaches to 
        addressing resource concerns; and
            ``(6) demonstrate effective outreach and innovative 
        approaches to reaching and serving beginning farmers and 
        ranchers, limited-resource producers, and operators with lower 
        rates of historical participation in Federal farm and 
        conservation programs.''.

SEC. 106. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT 
              INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension and Funding.--Section 1241(a)(7) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(7)) is amended by striking subparagraphs 
(A) through (D) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(A) $85,000,000 in fiscal year 2007;
                    ``(B) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(C) $140,000,000 in fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(D) $200,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                2011; and
                    ``(E) $300,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2012 and 
                2013.''.
    (b) Incentive Payments for Agreements Benefitting Listed Species.--
Section 1240N of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-1) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Incentive Payments for Certain Agreements and Applications.--
In a case in which the Secretary enters into an agreement or contract 
to protect or restore habitat for a federally or State-listed 
endangered, threatened, or candidate species or for applications that 
further the goals and objectives of a State's comprehensive wildlife 
conservation plan, the Secretary may provide incentive payments to 
landowners to protect or restore the habitat, including the cost of 
management activities needed during the term of the agreement or 
contract.''.
    (c) Fish Habitat.--Section 1240N of such Act (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-1) 
is further amended by inserting after subsection (d), as added by 
subsection (b), the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Development of Fish Habitat.--
            ``(1) Purposes of cost-share payments.--Subsection 
        (b)(1)(D) authorizes the Secretary to make cost-share payments 
        to landowners to develop fish habitat. The development of fish 
        habitat using such cost-share payments may include activities--
                    ``(A) to protect streamside areas, including 
                through the installation of riparian fencing and 
                improved stream crossings;
                    ``(B) to repair in-stream habitat;
                    ``(C) to improve water flows and water quality, 
                including through channel restoration;
                    ``(D) to initiate watershed management and planning 
                in areas in which streams are in a degraded condition 
                due to past agricultural or forestry practices; and
                    ``(E) to undertake other types of stream habitat 
                improvement approved by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Priority projects.--When considering applications 
        describing projects to protect or restore fish habitat, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to applicants who will use the 
        cost-share payments to carry out a project--
                    ``(A) to remove a small dam or in-stream structure;
                    ``(B) to improve fish passage, including through 
                culvert repair and maintenance;
                    ``(C) to protect streamside areas;
                    ``(D) to improve water flows, including through 
                irrigation efficiency improvements; or
                    ``(E) to improve in-stream flow quality or timing 
                or temperature regimes.
            ``(3) Priority for projects including upland 
        improvements.--In addition to the priority projects described 
        in paragraph (2), to ensure that projects intended to protect 
        or restore fish habitat also address the causes of stream 
        habitat degradation, the Secretary shall give priority among 
        applications describing such projects to applicants who 
        demonstrate that upland improvements associated with the stream 
        habitat improvement, including erosion and nutrient management 
        have been, or will be, carried out.''.

SEC. 107. COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment of Grant Program.--Subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by adding at the end the following 
new chapter:

      ``CHAPTER 6--COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE

``SEC. 1240W. COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Agreements.--The Secretary shall enter into agreements for 
not shorter than three-year or longer than five-year terms with 
eligible entities specified in subsection (c) to preferentially enroll 
producers in one or more of the programs specified in subsection (b) to 
carry out special projects and initiatives through which multiple 
producers and other interested persons cooperate to improve water 
quality or address other specific resources of concern related to 
agricultural production on a local, State, or regional scale.
    ``(b) Covered Programs.--The conservation programs referred to in 
subsection (a) are the following:
            ``(1) Farmland protection program.
            ``(2) Grassland reserve program.
            ``(3) Environmental quality incentives program.
            ``(4) Ground and surface water conservation program.
            ``(5) Wildlife habitat incentive program.
    ``(c) Eligible Partners.--Agreements may be entered into under this 
section with any of the following (or a combination thereof):
            ``(1) States and agencies of States.
            ``(2) Political subdivisions of States, including State-
        sponsored conservation districts.
            ``(3) Indian tribes.
            ``(4) Nongovernmental organizations and associations, 
        including conservation organizations and producer associations 
        and cooperatives.
    ``(d) Applications.--
            ``(1) Competitive process.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        competitive process for considering applications for agreements 
        under this section consistent with the evaluation criteria 
        listed in subsection (e).
            ``(2) Program allocation.--Applications shall include--
                    ``(A) specification of the amount of funding or 
                acres of one or more covered programs specified in 
                subsection (b) proposed to be allocated to carry out 
                the special project or initiative; and
                    ``(B) a schedule for utilization of funding or 
                acres over the life of the proposed project or 
                initiative.
    ``(e) Evaluation Criteria.--In evaluating applications for 
agreements under this section the Secretary shall consider the extent 
to which--
            ``(1) preferential enrollment in the covered programs 
        specified in the application will effectively address the 
        environmental objectives established for the special project or 
        initiative; and
            ``(2) the special project or initiative covered by the 
        application--
                    ``(A) enjoys broad local and regional support from 
                producers and other interested persons, including 
                governmental and nongovernmental organizations with 
                appropriate expertise on the issues the project or 
                initiative seeks to address;
                    ``(B) includes clear environmental objectives and a 
                high likelihood of success;
                    ``(C) includes a well defined project or initiative 
                plan that identifies sensitive areas requiring 
                treatment and prioritizes conservation systems, 
                practices, and activities needed to achieve 
                environmental objectives;
                    ``(D) promises adequate and coordinated 
                participation to achieve the objectives of the project 
                or initiative;
                    ``(E) coordinates integration of local, State, and 
                Federal efforts to make the best use of available 
                resources and maximize cost-effective investments;
                    ``(F) leverages financial and technical resources 
                from sources other than the programs authorized by this 
                subtitle, including financial and technical resources 
                provided by Federal and State agencies, local 
                governments, nongovernmental organizations and 
                associations, and other private sector entities;
                    ``(G) describes how all necessary technical 
                assistance will be provided to each producer 
                participating in the project or initiative, including 
                cost estimates for technical assistance and whether 
                such assistance will be provided by technical service 
                providers;
                    ``(H) addresses a local, State, regional, or 
                national environmental priority or priorities, with 
                particular emphasis on any priority for which there is 
                an existing State or federally approved plan in place 
                for addressing that priority;
                    ``(I) links environmental and conservation 
                objectives with other objectives, such as spurring 
                rural economic development through increased 
                opportunities in the project area for recreation, 
                value-added enterprises, or direct marketing of 
                agricultural products, and assisting beginning, limited 
                resource, tribal, and other producers maintain the 
                viability of their operations;
                    ``(J) includes a plan to evaluate progress and 
                measure results; and
                    ``(K) clearly demonstrates that enrollment of 
                producers in covered programs will be consistent with 
                the purposes and policies of each individual program, 
                as established in statute, rules and regulations, and 
                program guidance promulgated by implementing agencies.
    ``(f) Priorities.--To the maximum extent practicable, consistent 
with the requirements of subsection (d), the Secretary shall ensure 
that, each fiscal year, agreements are entered into under this section 
to support projects and initiatives that collectively address the full 
range of resource concerns facing producers, ranchers, and small 
private forest landowners, including specifically projects and 
initiatives that are designed--
            ``(1) to achieve improvements in water quality in 
        watersheds impacted by agriculture, particularly by increasing 
        the participation of producers in implementing best management 
        practices in a watershed or developing environmentally and 
        economically viable alternative uses for manure and litter;
            ``(2) to achieve improvements in air quality in a 
        geographical area where agricultural operations impact air 
        quality, especially an area that, as determined by the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is a 
        nonattainment area with respect to any of the national ambient 
        air quality standards promulgated by the Administrator under 
        section 109 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7409);
            ``(3) to conserve water for environmental purposes such as 
        enhanced in stream flows or aquifer recharge in regions, 
        States, or local areas where water quantity is a concern;
            ``(4) to assist in the recovery of Federal or State-listed 
        endangered species or species of special concern or to further 
        the goals and objectives of a State's comprehensive wildlife 
        conservation plan through the cooperative efforts of multiple 
        producers;
            ``(5) to control invasive species on rangeland or other 
        agricultural land through the cooperative efforts of multiple 
        producers in a geographical area;
            ``(6) to address a specific resource concern or set of 
        concerns on private, non-industrial forest land;
            ``(7) to reduce losses of pesticides to the environment by 
        engaging multiple producers in a geographic area in adoption of 
        integrated pest management practices and approaches; and
            ``(8) to keep working farms and ranches facing development 
        pressures in agricultural use.
    ``(g) Selection Process.--In evaluating applications under this 
section, the Secretary shall consider recommendations from scientists 
and others with appropriate expertise from agencies within the 
Department of Agriculture, other Federal and State agencies, and 
interest groups, including producer associations and conservation and 
environmental organizations.
    ``(h) Cost Share.--
            ``(1) Maximum; exceptions.--The Secretary shall not require 
        more than 25 percent of the cost of a project or initiative 
        supported under an agreement entered into under this section to 
        come from non-Federal sources. However, the Secretary may award 
        more points to projects or initiatives offering to cover a 
        higher percentage of the cost of the project or initiative from 
        non-Federal sources.
            ``(2) In-kind contributions.--If the Secretary establishes 
        a cost-share requirement for a project or initiative, the 
        Secretary shall allow the use of in-kind contributions to meet 
        that requirement.
    ``(i) Administration With Conservation Reserve Enhancement 
Program.--In implementing this section, the Secretary shall ensure that 
States or other applicants seeking to combine an application for 
project or initiative under this section with an application for a 
conservation reserve enhancement program may do so in a manner that 
does not impose additional paperwork or other burdens on the applicant.
    ``(j) Funding.--
            ``(1) Set-aside.--Of the funds provided each fiscal year to 
        implement the programs specified in subsection (b), the 
        Secretary shall use 20 percent to provide funds under 
        agreements entered into under this section.
            ``(2) Allocation to states.--The Secretary shall allocate 
        to States 50 percent of the funds reserved under paragraph (1) 
        to allow State Conservationists, with the advice of State 
        Technical Committees, scientists, and other persons with 
        appropriate expertise, to select projects and initiatives for 
        funding under this section at the State level.
            ``(3) Water quality.--To the maximum extent practicable and 
        consistent with the other requirements of this section, the 
        Secretary shall ensure that 50 percent of the funds awarded 
        each year under this section are awarded to projects and 
        initiatives that will improve water quality.''.
    (b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 1243 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3843) is amended by striking subsection (f).

SEC. 108. REGIONAL EQUITY IN FUNDING OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF 
              AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

    Subsection (d) of section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Regional Equity.--In allocating funds to States to implement 
the conservation programs under subtitle D (excluding the conservation 
reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1, the wetlands reserve 
program under subchapter C of chapter 1, and the conservation security 
program under subchapter A of chapter 2), the Secretary shall ensure 
that each State receives, at a minimum, $15,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2007 through 2013.''.

SEC. 109. EXCLUSION OF PAYMENTS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
              CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FROM ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME 
              LIMITATION.

    (a) Exclusion.--Subsection (b)(2) of section 1001D of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308-3a) is amended by striking 
subparagraph (C).
    (b) Duration of Adjusted Gross Income Limitation.--Such section is 
further amended by striking subsection (e).

SEC. 110. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURAL 
              MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Reauthorization.--Subsection (b)(4)(B) of section 524 of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``fiscal years 2003 through 
        2007'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2008 through 2013''; and
            (2) in clause (iii), by striking ``fiscal years 2004 
        through 2007'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2008 through 
        2013''.
    (b) Funding Levels.--Such subsection is further amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``$20,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$40,000,000''; and
            (2) in clause (iii)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``$14,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$28,000,000'';
                    (B) in subclause (II), by striking ``$1,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$2,000,000''; and
                    (C) in subclause (III), by striking ``$5,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$10,000,000''.

SEC. 111. SUBURBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM.

    The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 21. SUBURBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Committee.--The term `Committee' means a State Forest 
        Stewardship Coordinating Committee established under section 
        19(b).
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        unit of local government or a nonprofit organization that--
                    ``(A) the Secretary determines, in accordance with 
                the criteria established under subsection (c)(2)(B) is 
                eligible to receive a grant under subsection (d); and
                    ``(B) the State forester, in consultation with the 
                Committee, determines--
                            ``(i) has the abilities necessary to 
                        acquire and manage interests in real property; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) has the resources necessary to 
                        monitor and enforce any terms applicable to the 
                        eligible project.
            ``(3) Eligible project.--The term `eligible project' means 
        a fee purchase, easement, or donation of land to conserve 
        private forest land identified for conservation under 
        subsection (c)(2)(A).
            ``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            ``(5) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit 
        organization' means any organization that is--
                    ``(A) described in section 501(c) of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986; and
                    ``(B) exempt from taxation under 501(a) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            ``(6) Private forest land.--The term `private forest land' 
        means land that--
                    ``(A) consists of at least 50 percent forest cover, 
                with the remainder made up of--
                            ``(i) compatible non-forest uses, including 
                        cultivated farmlands, pastures, orchards, shrub 
                        lands, grasslands, wetlands, or open waters; or
                            ``(ii) preexisting structures that are 
                        inseparable from the landholding and do not 
                        have a detrimental effect on conservation 
                        values;
                    ``(B) is capable of producing commercial forest 
                products; and
                    ``(C) is owned by a private entity or an Indian 
                tribe.
            ``(7) Program.--The term `program' means the Suburban and 
        Community Forestry and Open Space Program established by 
        subsection (b).
            ``(8) Relevant local government.--The term `relevant local 
        government' means the governing body of a unit of local 
        government that has the authority to adopt a plan for 
        development of an area and within which an identified eligible 
        project would be carried out.
            ``(9) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
    ``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--There is established within the 
Forest Service a program to be known as the `Suburban and Community 
Forestry and Open Space Program'. The purpose of the program is to 
provide assistance to eligible entities to carry out eligible projects 
in States in which less than 25 percent of the land is owned by the 
United States to--
            ``(1) conserve private forest land and maintain working 
        forests in suburban areas;
            ``(2) provide communities a means by which to create 
        community forests; and
            ``(3) support primary and secondary value-added forest 
        products industries and employment in areas threatened by 
        conversion of forest land to nonforest uses.
    ``(c) Identification of Eligible Private Forest Land and 
Entities.--
            ``(1) National criteria.--The Secretary shall establish 
        national criteria--
                    ``(A) for the identification of private forest land 
                eligible for conservation under the program; and
                    ``(B) for the identification of eligible entities.
            ``(2) Conditions for eligible private forest land.--Private 
        forest land identified for conservation using the criteria 
        established under paragraph (2)(A) shall be land that--
                    ``(A) is located in a State in which less than 25 
                percent of the land is owned by the United States;
                    ``(B) is appropriate for conservation under a 
                comprehensive plan for development adopted by the 
                relevant local government; and
                    ``(C) is determined by the relevant local 
                government to be located in an area threatened by 
                conversion of forest land to nonforest uses.
    ``(d) Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Grants for eligible projects.--In carrying out the 
        program, the Secretary shall award competitive grants to 
        eligible entities to carry out eligible projects.
            ``(2) Public access.--Eligible entities are encouraged to 
        provide public access to land on which an eligible project is 
        carried out, consistent with State law and preexisting access 
        agreements.
    ``(e) Application and Stewardship Plan.--
            ``(1) Submission.--An eligible entity that seeks to receive 
        a grant under the program shall submit to the appropriate State 
        forester and relevant local government--
                    ``(A) at such time and in such form as the 
                Secretary shall prescribe, an application for the grant 
                (including a description of any private forest land to 
                be conserved using funds from the grant and a 
                description of the extent of the threat of conversion 
                of the land to nonforest use); and
                    ``(B) a stewardship plan that describes--
                            ``(i) the manner in which any private 
                        forest land to be conserved using funds from 
                        the grant will be managed in accordance with 
                        this section;
                            ``(ii) the manner in which the stewardship 
                        plan will be implemented; and
                            ``(iii) the public benefits, including 
                        economic and noneconomic benefits, to be 
                        achieved from implementation of the stewardship 
                        plan.
            ``(2) Assessment of need.--With respect to an application 
        submitted under paragraph (1)(A), the State forester shall--
                    ``(A) assess the need for preserving working 
                suburban forest land and open space and community 
                forests in the State, taking into account the housing 
                needs of the area in which the eligible project is to 
                be carried out;
                    ``(B) certify that the preservation of suburban 
                forest land as contemplated by the application is 
                consistent with any comprehensive plan for development 
                adopted by the relevant local government; and
                    ``(C) if approved by the relevant local government, 
                submit the application and the assessment of need to 
                the Secretary.
    ``(f) Review of Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date on 
        which the Secretary receives an application under subsection 
        (e), or a resubmission of an application under subparagraph 
        (B), the Secretary shall review the application and--
                    ``(A) award a grant to the applicant; or
                    ``(B) disapprove the application and provide the 
                applicant with a statement that describes the reasons 
                why the application was disapproved and specifies a 
                deadline by which the applicant may resubmit the 
                application under this subsection.
            ``(2) Considerations; priority.--In awarding grants under 
        the program, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) consider the need for the eligible project 
                based on the assessment of need submitted under 
                subsection (e)(2) and subject to the criteria 
                established under subsection (c);
                    ``(B) give priority to applicants that propose to 
                fund eligible projects that promote--
                            ``(i) the preservation of suburban forest 
                        land;
                            ``(ii) the creation of community forests;
                            ``(iii) the sustainable management of 
                        private forest land;
                            ``(iv) community involvement in determining 
                        the objectives for eligible projects that are 
                        funded under this section;
                            ``(v) primary and secondary value-added 
                        forest products industries and employment;
                            ``(vi) the protection of water, wildlife, 
                        scenic, and recreational resources on private 
                        forest lands; and
                            ``(vii) the protection of forestlands 
                        recognized as conservation priorities within 
                        Federal, regional, State, or local watershed, 
                        open space, or other resource protection plans; 
                        and
                    ``(C) require a certification from the relevant 
                local government that the preservation of suburban 
                forest land as contemplated by the application is 
                consistent with any comprehensive plan for development 
                adopted by the local government.
    ``(g) Cost Sharing.--
            ``(1) In general.--The amount of a grant awarded under the 
        program to carry out an eligible project shall not exceed 50 
        percent of the total cost of the eligible project.
            ``(2) Assurances.--As a condition of receipt of a grant 
        under the program, an eligible entity shall provide to the 
        Secretary such assurances as the Secretary determines are 
        sufficient to demonstrate that the share of the cost of each 
        eligible project that is not funded by the grant awarded under 
        this section has been secured.
            ``(3) Form.--The share of the cost of carrying out any 
        eligible project that is not funded by a grant awarded under 
        the program may be provided in cash or in kind (including a 
        donation of land).
    ``(h) Use of Grant Funds for Purchases of Land or Easements.--
            ``(1) Purchases.--
                    ``(A) Purchase at fair market value.--Except as 
                provided in subparagraph (B), funds made available, and 
                grants awarded, under the program may be used to 
                purchase private forest land or interests in private 
                forest land (including conservation easements) only 
                from willing sellers at fair market value.
                    ``(B) Purchase at less than fair market value.--A 
                sale of private forest land or an interest in private 
                forest land at less than fair market value shall be 
                permitted only on certification by the landowner that 
                the sale is being entered into willingly and without 
                coercion.
            ``(2) Title.--Title to private forest land or an interest 
        in private forest land purchased under paragraph (1) may be 
        held, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the State and relevant local government, by--
                    ``(A) a State;
                    ``(B) a unit of local government; or
                    ``(C) a nonprofit organization.
            ``(3) Termination of easement.--Except as provided in 
        paragraph (4), all right, title, and interest of a unit of 
        local government or nonprofit organization in and to a 
        conservation easement purchased under paragraph (1) shall 
        terminate and vest in the State if the State determines that--
                    ``(A) the unit of local government or nonprofit 
                organization is unable or unwilling to enforce the 
                terms of the conservation easement; or
                    ``(B) the conservation easement has been modified 
                in a way that is inconsistent with the purposes of the 
                program.
            ``(4) Conveyance to another unit of local government or 
        nonprofit organization.--If a State makes a determination under 
        paragraph (3), the State may convey or authorize the unit of 
        local government or nonprofit organization to convey the 
        conservation easement to another unit of local government or 
        nonprofit organization.
    ``(i) Administrative Costs.--The State, on approval of the 
Secretary and subject to any regulations promulgated by the Secretary, 
may use amounts made available under subsection (k) to pay the 
administrative costs of the State relating to the program.
    ``(j) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the eligible projects carried out under this section in accordance with 
section 8(c) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning 
Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1606(c)).
    ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2008 through 2013.
    ``(l) Private Property Protections.--
            ``(1) Access.--Nothing in this section--
                    ``(A) requires a private property owner to permit 
                public access (including Federal, State, or local 
                government access) to private property; or
                    ``(B) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or 
                local law with regard to public access to, or use of, 
                private land.
            ``(2) Liability.--Nothing in this section creates any 
        liability, or has any effect on liability under any other law, 
        of a private property owner with respect to any persons injured 
        on the private property.
            ``(3) Recognition of authority to control land use.--
        Nothing in this section modifies any authority of Federal, 
        State, or local governments to regulate land use.
            ``(4) Participation of private property owners.--Nothing in 
        this section requires a private property owner to participate 
        in private forest conservation under this section.''.

SEC. 112. FARMLAND PROTECTION AND FARM VIABILITY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Land Eligible for Protection.--Paragraph (2) of section 1238H 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838h) is amended to read 
as follows:
            ``(2) Eligible land.--The term `eligible land' means land 
        on a farm or ranch that is--
                    ``(A) cropland;
                    ``(B) rangeland;
                    ``(C) grassland;
                    ``(D) pasture land; or
                    ``(E) forest land that is an incidental part of an 
                agricultural operation, as determined by the 
                Secretary.''.
    (b) Qualified State or Local Entity Defined.--Such section is 
further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(4) Qualified state or local entity.--The term `qualified 
        State or local entity' means an eligible entity, public or 
        private, that operates a farm and ranchland protection program 
        under authority of State law, which has--
                    ``(A) for at least 3 calendar or fiscal years used 
                or provided public or private funds to purchase 
                perpetual conservation easements or other interests in 
                land on a cumulative total of at least 10 properties 
                for the primary purpose of protecting the agricultural 
                production capacity of eligible land;
                    ``(B) the necessary authority under State law, as 
                well as the technical and financial capacity, to 
                monitor and enforce the terms of such conservation 
                easements or other interests in land so that their 
                purpose is carried out in perpetuity, or in the case of 
                a governmental entity, to legally require other public 
                or private holders of such easements or interests in 
                land acquired with public funding to hold, monitor, and 
                enforce them for the same purpose; and
                    ``(C) financial control policies in place to assure 
                that on average the purchase price of conservation 
                easements and other interests in land purchased by the 
                eligible entity or purchased using funds provided by 
                the eligible entity does not exceed their appraised 
                fair market value.''.
    (c) Farmland Protection Program Changes.--Section 1238I of such Act 
(16 U.S.C. 3838i) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1238I. FARMLAND PROTECTION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, shall establish and carry out a farm 
and ranchland protection program under which the Secretary shall 
facilitate and fund the purchase of conservation easements or other 
interests in eligible land for the purpose of protecting the 
agricultural production capacity of the land by limiting incompatible 
nonagricultural uses of the land.
    ``(b) Protection Priorities.--The program shall give the highest 
priority to protecting eligible land with prime, unique, or other 
productive soils that are at risk of non-farm development.
    ``(c) Grants.--
            ``(1) Grants to qualified state or local entities.--Not 
        less than 75 percent of the funds made available to carry out 
        the program shall be awarded as grants, administered by Natural 
        Resources Conservation Service state conservationists, to 
        qualified State and local entities. The Secretary shall 
        distribute such grant funds among States based on demonstrated 
        need for farm and ranch land protection and on the relative 
        contribution of funds dedicated by States and eligible entities 
        for this purpose.
            ``(2) Multiple transactions.--Grants may be made under the 
        program for multiple transactions without regard for whether 
        pending purchase offers are outstanding, so long as all grant 
        funds are used for the purpose of purchasing conservation 
        easements or other interests in eligible land.
            ``(3) Distribution of excess funds.--Any funds not granted 
        to qualified State or local entities under the program shall be 
        available for distribution to other eligible entities as 
        matching funds for individual purchases of conservation 
        easements and other interests in eligible land.
    ``(d) Grant Agreements.--
            ``(1) Agreements authorized.--The Secretary, acting through 
        the Natural Resources Conservation Service, may enter into an 
        agreement with a qualified State or local entity, under which 
        the State or local entity may purchase conservation easements 
        or other interests in eligible land using a combination of 
        grant funds provided under subsection (c) and other funds 
        available to the entity.
            ``(2) Terms and conditions.--An agreement under this 
        subsection shall stipulate the terms and conditions under which 
        the qualified State or local entity shall use funds provided by 
        the Secretary under the program, subject to the following:
                    ``(A) The qualified State or local entity shall be 
                authorized to determine their own criteria and 
                priorities for purchasing conservation easements and 
                other interests in eligible land.
                    ``(B) The qualified State or local entity may 
                determine the terms and conditions for conservation 
                easements and other interests in eligible land 
                purchased using grant funds, if the attorney general of 
                the State in which the land is located certifies that 
                such terms and conditions are adequate under State law 
                to achieve and permit effective enforcement of the 
                conservation purposes of such easements or other 
                interests.
                    ``(C) No Federal contingent right of enforcement or 
                reversionary interest in a conservation easement or 
                other purchase of an interest in land shall be 
                required.
    ``(e) Individual Purchases.--The Secretary may enter into 
agreements with eligible entities under which the Secretary shall 
provide matching funds for the purpose of purchasing conservation 
easements or other interests in eligible land on individual farm and 
ranch properties. The Secretary may agree to such terms as the 
Secretary considers appropriate to assure that the purpose of the 
program is carried out, except that subsection (d)(2)(C) shall apply to 
any easement held by a State or local agency or in which a qualified 
State or local entity will hold a contingent right of enforcement.
    ``(f) Conservation Plan.--Notwithstanding subsection (d)(2)(B), any 
highly erodible cropland for which a conservation easement or other 
interest in land is purchased using funds made available under the 
program shall be subject to the requirements of a conservation plan, 
except that, for easements and other interests in land that are 
perpetual in duration, the Secretary may not require the conversion of 
the cropland to less intensive uses if, under the conservation plan, 
soil erosion can be reduced to `T' or below.
    ``(g) Cost Sharing.--
            ``(1) Maximum cost share using section 1241(d) funds.--The 
        share of the cost of purchasing a conservation easement or 
        other interest in eligible land under the program using funds 
        provided under section 1241(d) shall not exceed the greater 
        of--
                    ``(A) 50 percent of the appraised fair market value 
                of the conservation easement or other interest in 
                eligible land; or
                    ``(B) if a qualified conservation contribution, as 
                defined by section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue Code 
                of 1986, of at least 25 percent of the market value of 
                the conservation easement or other interest in eligible 
                land is made by the landowner in connection with the 
                purchase of the easement or other interest in land, 
                two-thirds of the actual cost of purchasing the 
                conservation easement or other interest in land.
            ``(2) Maximum cost share using other funds.--As part of the 
        share of the cost of purchasing a conservation easement or 
        other interest in eligible land under the program using funds 
        that are not provided under section 1241(d), a qualified State 
        or local agency or other eligible entity may include a 
        qualified conservation contribution by the private landowner 
        from which the eligible land is to be purchased of not more 
        than 50 percent of the fair market value of the conservation 
        easement or other interest in eligible land.
            ``(3) Bidding down.--If the Secretary determines that two 
        or more applications under the program for the purchase of a 
        conservation easement or other interest in eligible land are 
        comparable in achieving the purposes of the program, the 
        Secretary shall not assign a higher priority to any one of 
        those applications solely on the basis of lesser cost to the 
        program.''.
    (d) Funding for Farmland Protection Program.--Paragraph (4) of 
subsection (a) of section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) The farmland protection program under subchapter B of 
        chapter 2, using, to the maximum extent practicable, 
        $300,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.
    (e) Farm Viability Program.--
            (1) Program required.--Subsection (a) of section 1238J of 
        the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838j) is amended by 
        striking ``The Secretary may'' and inserting ``Using amounts 
        made available under subsection (b), the Secretary shall''.
            (2) Funding.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended to 
        read as follows:
    ``(b) Funding.--In addition to other funds made available to carry 
out this subchapter for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, the 
Secretary shall use $50,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation each fiscal year to make grants to eligible entities under 
subsection (a).''.

SEC. 113. HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Methods of Enrollment.--Section 502(f)(1)of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6572(f)(1)) is amended by striking 
subparagraph (C) and inserting the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) a permanent easement.''.
    (b) Funding.--Section 508 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6578) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 508. FUNDING FOR HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Funding Source.--For each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, 
the Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the healthy forests reserve 
program, including the provision of technical assistance under the 
program.
    ``(b) Section 11 Cap.--The use of Commodity Credit Corporation 
funds under subsection (a) to provide technical assistance under the 
healthy forests reserve program shall not be considered an allotment or 
fund transfer from the Commodity Credit Corporation for purposes of the 
limitation on expenditures for technical assistance imposed by section 
11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i).''.

SEC. 114. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Initiative Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
implement an integrated pest management initiative in priority areas 
identified by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) for the purpose 
of assisting agricultural producers operating in a priority area to 
comply with pest management regulations and alleviate the need for 
additional regulations regarding pest management activities.
    (b) Identification of Priority Areas.--
            (1) Identification.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        identify priority areas where the adoption by agricultural 
        producers of integrated pest management practices and 
        approaches offers the greatest potential benefit to producers 
        seeking to comply with pest management regulations and 
        alleviate the need for additional regulations regarding pest 
        management activities. At a minimum, priority areas shall 
        include agricultural lands dominated by the production of 
        specialty crops and agricultural lands where agricultural pest 
        management activities are regulated for the purpose of 
        mitigating specific impacts to human health or the environment, 
        such as an area in which pollutants exceed authorized total 
        maximum daily load or an air quality non-attainment area.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall identify priority 
        areas in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, 
        the United States Geological Service, the United States Fish 
        and Wildlife Service, agricultural producers, appropriated 
        State agencies, and other interested persons.
    (c) Activities in Priority Areas.--
            (1) Expedited approval of management practices.--The 
        Secretary of Agriculture shall develop the best-available 
        integrated pest management practices for the primary 
        agricultural commodities and significant pests in each priority 
        area identified under subsection (b) and expedite approval of 
        these practices for implementation by agricultural producers.
            (2) Improved evaluation of management plans.--The Secretary 
        shall develop and make available criteria to enable staff of 
        the Natural Resources Conservation Service and agricultural 
        producers operating in priority areas identified under 
        subsection (b) to effectively compare pest management plans, 
        considering relative risks and potential benefits to multiple 
        resources of concern, including air, surface water, ground 
        water, bees and other pollinators, wildlife, and worker safety.
            (3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may enter in 
        cooperative agreements, memorandums of understanding, and 
        contracts for services with technical service providers, other 
        agencies, and non-Federal organizations, as necessary, to 
        assist in providing technical assistance regarding integrated 
        pest management planning and implementation to producers 
        operating in priority areas identified under subsection (b).
            (4) Marketing.--The Secretary may market the availability 
        of integrated pest management tools and training to 
        agricultural producers in the priority areas identified under 
        subsection (b).
            (5) Program integration.--The Secretary shall set goals for 
        integrating the integrated pest management initiative with the 
        environmental quality incentives program established under 
        chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
        of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) and other conservation 
        programs in each priority area identified under subsection (b), 
        including indicators of the extent to which these programs fund 
        integrated pest management practices and the extent to which 
        supported integrated pest management practices reduce pesticide 
        use and risk.
    (d) Annual Report.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to 
Congress an annual report on the integrated pest management initiative, 
including progress in meeting the program integration goals set under 
subsection (c)(5).
    (e) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture may use resources 
provided for programs under subtitle D of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq.) to implement the 
integrated pest management initiative.

SEC. 115. NATIONAL ORGANIC CERTIFICATION AND TRANSITION COST SHARE 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 10606 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 6523) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 10606. NATIONAL ORGANIC CERTIFICATION AND TRANSITION COST SHARE 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service) shall use $37,500,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2008 through 2013 to establish a national organic 
certification and transition cost-share program to assist producers and 
handlers of agricultural products in obtaining certification under the 
national organic production program established under the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and to assist producers 
and handlers in making the transition to organic production under the 
such program.
    ``(b) Certification Costs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall pay under this 
        section a portion of the costs incurred by a producer or 
        handler in obtaining certification under the national organic 
        production program, as certified to and approved by the 
        Secretary.
            ``(2) Maximum amount.--The amount of a payment made to a 
        producer or handler for certification under this section shall 
        be $750 per year.
            ``(3) Funding.--Of the funds made available under 
        subsection (a), the Secretary (acting through the Agricultural 
        Marketing Service) shall use $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2008 through 2013 to share up to 75 percent of the cost 
        of certification.
    ``(c) Accreditation and Enforcement Costs.--Of the funds made 
available under subsection (a), the Secretary (acting through the 
Agricultural Marketing Service) shall use $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2008 through 2013 to fund the accreditation and 
enforcement programs operated by the National Organic Program to 
implement the accreditation and enforcement provisions of the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990.
    ``(d) Reimbursements for Infrastructure Necessary to Implement 
Organic Practice Standards.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        establish a program to reimburse producers and handlers for the 
        costs of transition to organic production.
            ``(2) Program.--Under the program established under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary (acting through the Natural 
        Resources Conservation Service) shall use $35,000,000 for each 
        of the fiscal years 2008 through 2013 to assist producers and 
        handlers developing and implementing infrastructure and 
        practices necessary to transition land and animals to meet the 
        requirements of the Organic Food Production Act of 1990.
            ``(3) Plan submission.--The Secretary may only reimburse a 
        producer or handler under this section if the producer or 
        handler submits to the Secretary an organic transition plan 
        that contains the expected costs for infrastructure and 
        practices, the environmental and economic benefits derived from 
        the infrastructure or implementing organic practice standards, 
        and a demonstration of the existence of a market or the 
        reasonable expectation of a future market for the products to 
        be produced or handled.
            ``(4) Appropriate infrastructure and practice standards.--
        The Secretary shall only reimburse producers and handlers under 
        this subsection for the costs of the following:
                    ``(A) Organic practices and activities during 
                transition to certified organic production consistent 
                with an approved plan to transition to certified 
                organic production.
                    ``(B) Farm infrastructure necessary to implement 
                organic practice standards, including livestock 
                watering facilities and fencing, so long as such 
                infrastructure is consistent with an approved plan to 
                transition to certified organic production.
                    ``(C) Organic livestock welfare measures, so long 
                as such infrastructure or practices and activities are 
                necessary to implement an organic practice standard and 
                are consistent with an approved plan to transition to 
                certified organic production.
                    ``(D) Advanced organic practices consistent with 
                approved certified organic production.
                    ``(E) Technical assistance, including the costs of 
                developing an approved transition plan under this 
                section.
                    ``(F) Other measures the Secretary, after 
                consultation with the National Organic Standards Board, 
                determines are appropriate.
            ``(5) Organic transition technical advice.--The Secretary 
        shall consult with the National Organic Standards Board 
        regarding the elements of an approved organic transition plan 
        and to identify and recommend ways that the Secretary may 
        generally use the resources provided for programs under 
        subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
        U.S.C. 3830 et seq.) to facilitate transition to organic 
        production, including the resources provided by the 
        Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation 
        Security Program.
            ``(6) Maximum amount for transition reimbursement.--The 
        maximum amount of reimbursement paid to a producer or handler 
        for transition to organic production under this section shall 
        be $10,000 per fiscal year.
            ``(7) Eligible fiscal years.--A producer or handler may 
        only receive payments--
                    ``(A) in four fiscal years; and
                    ``(B) after the first payment, in the fiscal year 
                in which such payment was made and the three subsequent 
                fiscal years.
            ``(8) Transition reimbursements.--A certified organic 
        producer or handler under the national organic production 
        program shall be eligible for reimbursements to make the 
        transition to organic production for new lands and livestock.
            ``(9) Limitation on reimbursements.--The Secretary shall 
        not enroll a producer or handler under this subsection if, for 
        any particular agricultural product, the producers and handlers 
        currently enrolled in the program produce a number of that 
        agricultural product that is greater than 10 percent of the 
        amount of that agricultural product produced by all producers 
        and handlers certified under the Organic Foods Production Act 
        of 1990 on the date of the enactment of this section.
            ``(10) Appeals.--An applicant seeking transition assistance 
        under this section has the right to appeal an adverse decision 
        by Secretary with regard to an application for assistance, as 
        provided in section 275 of the Department of Agriculture 
        Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6995).
    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical 
assistance to producers and handlers to carry out this section, 
including entering into cooperative agreements with qualified entities 
to implement the transition to organic production.
    ``(f) Reporting.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress and the National Organic Standards 
Board a report detailing State-by-State expenditures on certification, 
including the number of producers and handlers served by the program, 
and State-by-State expenditures on transition assistance, including the 
number of producers and handlers served by the program, the practices 
implemented, an assessment of the impacts of the program on organic 
production, and recommended reforms, if any.''.

SEC. 116. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    Section 1672B(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b(e)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) Funding.--Of the funds available to the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, the Secretary shall use $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2013 to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 117. FUNDING FOR EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC-SERVING 
              INSTITUTIONS.

    Subsection (c) of section 1455 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3241) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Funding.--Of the funds available to the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, the Secretary shall use $25,000,000 for each fiscal year 
to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 118. INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE GREATER PARTICIPATION BY SOCIALLY 
              DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN CONSERVATION 
              PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Socially disadvantaged group.--The term ``socially 
        disadvantaged group'' means a group of persons whose members 
        have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of 
        their identity as members of a group without regard to their 
        individual qualities.
            (2) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.--The term 
        ``socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher'' means a farmer or 
        rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
        any of the following:
                    (A) Any community-based organization, network, or 
                coalition of community-based organizations that--
                            (i) has demonstrated experience in 
                        providing agricultural education or other 
                        agriculturally related services to socially 
                        disadvantaged farmers or ranchers;
                            (ii) has provided to the Secretary of 
                        Agriculture documentary evidence of work with 
                        socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers for 
                        not less than a five-year period preceding the 
                        submission of an application for assistance 
                        under this section; and
                            (iii) does not engage in activities 
                        prohibited under section 501(c)(3) of the 
                        Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                    (B) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
                Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
                (25 U.S.C. 450b)) or a national tribal organization 
                that has demonstrated experience in providing 
                agriculture education or other agriculturally related 
                services to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers 
                in a region.
                    (C) An 1890 institution or 1994 institution (as 
                defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
                7601)), including West Virginia State College.
                    (D) An Indian tribal community college or an Alaska 
                Native cooperative college.
                    (E) An Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in 
                section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
                3103)).
                    (F) Any other institution of higher education (as 
                defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that has demonstrated experience 
                in providing agriculture education or other 
                agriculturally related services to socially 
                disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in a region.
    (b) Initiative.--With respect to all programs authorized or amended 
by this title, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a 
conservation initiative for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. 
With respect to such programs that serve an Indian tribe, the Secretary 
shall be required to pay the costs of office space to carry out 
conservation functions authorized under this section.
    (c) Special Rule for Cost-Share Payments.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall pay 100 percent of the costs incurred by a socially 
disadvantaged farmer or rancher entitled to participate in a program 
authorized or amended by this title.
    (d) Outreach and Assistance.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
carry out an outreach and technical assistance program to encourage and 
assist socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to participate 
equitably in the full range of agricultural programs authorized or 
amended by this title.
    (e) Grants and Contracts.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
grants to, and enter into contracts and other agreements with, an 
eligible entity to provide information and technical assistance to 
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers so that they can participate 
equitably in the full range of agricultural programs authorized or 
amended by this title.
    (f) Relationship to Other Law.--The authority to carry out this 
section shall be in addition to any other authority provided in this or 
any other Act.
    (g) Funding.--
            (1) Availability of funds.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall use not less $25,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013 to 
        carry out this section.
            (2) Interagency funding.--In addition to funds made 
        available by paragraph (1), any agency of the Department of 
        Agriculture may participate in any grant, contract, or 
        agreement entered into under this section by contributing 
        funds, if the agency determines that the objectives of the 
        grant, contract, or agreement will further the authorized 
        programs of the contributing agency.

                            TITLE II--ENERGY

SEC. 201. DEFINITION OF BIOMASS.

    Section 9001(3)(B)(i) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101(3)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting ``and crop 
waste'' after ``agricultural crops''.

SEC. 202. SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BIOREFINERIES.

    (a) Assistance Methods.--Subsection (c) of section 9003 of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) to read as 
follows:
    ``(c) Assistance.--The Secretary shall award grants and make loans 
and loan guarantees to eligible entities to assist in covering the cost 
of development and construction of biorefineries to carry out projects 
to demonstrate the commercial viability of 1 or more processes for 
converting biomass to fuels or chemicals.''.
    (b) Environmental Goals.--Subsection (e)(2) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
            (2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
            (3) by striking after clause (i) the following new clause:
                            ``(ii) shall select projects based upon the 
                        extent to which the projects meet environmental 
                        goals for feed stocks and refineries, developed 
                        by the Secretary in consultation with the 
                        Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of 
                        Energy, and the National Academy of Sciences; 
                        and''.
    (c) Cost Sharing.--Subsection (f) of such section is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(f) Cost Sharing and Interest Rates.--
            ``(1) In general.--The combined amount of a grant and loan 
        made or guaranteed under this section shall not exceed 50 
        percent of the cost of the project.
            ``(2) Form of recipient share.--The recipient share of the 
        cost of a project may be made in the form of cash or the 
        provision of services, material, or other in-kind 
        contributions. The amount of the recipient share made in the 
        form of the provision of services, material, or other in-kind 
        contributions shall not exceed 25 percent of the amount of the 
        share determined under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Interest rate.--A loan made under subsection (c) 
        shall bear interest at the rate equivalent to the rate of 
        interest charged on Treasury securities of comparable maturity 
        on the date the loan is approved. The interest rate shall 
        remain in effect for the term of the loan.''.
    (d) Energy Reserve Program.--Such section is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections 
        (h) and (i), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(g) Energy Reserve Program.--
            ``(1) Program required.--Until December 31, 2013, the 
        Secretary shall carry out an energy reserve program under which 
        not more than 100,000 acres of land may be enrolled through the 
        use of five-year contracts to assist owners and operators with 
        the production of feed stocks for the projects carried out 
        pursuant to this section.
            ``(2) Eligible lands.--The Secretary may include any land, 
        regardless of a cropping history, so long as the feed stock is 
        produced and harvested consistent with the needs of the 
        environment, as provided in paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Duties of owners and operators.--Under a contract 
        entered into under this subsection, an owner or operator of 
        land shall implement a feed stock conservation plan to ensure 
        that lands enrolled are managed consistent with the needs of 
        the environment, including the needs of wildlife. Paragraphs 
        (5) and (6) of section 1232(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
        (16 U.S.C. 3832(a)) shall apply to the contracts
            ``(4) Payments.--The Secretary shall provide annual rental 
        payments to owners and operators of lands of amounts not 
        greater than $25,000 for any fiscal year, and shall establish 
        the amounts of payments through--
                    ``(A) the submission of bids for such contracts by 
                owners and operators in such manner as the Secretary 
                may prescribe; or
                    ``(B) such other means as the Secretary determines 
                are appropriate.''.
    (e) Funding.--Subsection (i) of such section, as amended by 
subsection (d)(1), is amended to read as follows:
    ``(i) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section 
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.
    (f) Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``grants'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``a grant'' and 
        inserting ``assistance''; and
            (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``grants'' both places 
        it appears and inserting ``assistance''.

SEC. 203. REAUTHORIZATION OF ENERGY AUDIT AND RENEWABLE ENERGY 
              DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 9005(i) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8105(f)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2002 
through 2007'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2008 through 2013''.

SEC. 204. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY 
              SYSTEMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM.

    Subsection (f) of section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Funding.--
            ``(1) Availability of funds.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry 
        out this section the following amounts:
                    ``(A) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
                    ``(B) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
                    ``(C) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
                    ``(D) $180,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
                    ``(E) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
            ``(2) Duration.--Funds made available under paragraph (1) 
        shall remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 205. REAUTHORIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BIOENERGY 
              PROGRAM.

    Subsection (c) of section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8108) is amended:
    ``(c) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
the Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than 
$150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.

SEC. 206. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR BIOMASS RESEARCH 
              AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 310 of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (7 
U.S.C. 7624 note; Public Law 106-224) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 310. FUNDING.

    ``(a) Funding.--Of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary shall make available to carry out this title--
            ``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            ``(2) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
        2013.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
transferred under subsection (a), there are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this title $200,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2015.
    ``(c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts made available under 
subsection (a) or appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
appropriations in subsection (b) shall remain available until 
expended.''.

SEC. 207. REAUTHORIZATION OF CARBON CYCLE RESEARCH.

    (a) Research Conducted Through Consortium for Agricultural Soils 
Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases.--
            (1) Participants in consortium.--Subsection (b) of section 
        221 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 
        6711) is amended by striking ``are'' in the matter preceding 
        paragraph (1) and inserting ``include''.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Subsection (g) of 
        such section is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2002 through 
        2007'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2007 through 2012''.
    (b) Cooperative Research Projects.--Subsection (d)(4) of such 
section is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2002 through 2007'' and 
inserting ``fiscal years 2008 through 2013''.
    (c) Extension Projects.--Subsection (e)(3) of such section is 
amended by striking ``fiscal years 2002 through 2007'' and inserting 
``fiscal years 2008 through 2013''.

                    TITLE III--HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES

SEC. 301. REAUTHORIZATION OF AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY FOOD 
              PROJECT GRANTS.

    (a) Reauthorization and Funding.--Subsection (b) of section 25 of 
the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``From amounts made 
        available to carry out this Act, the Secretary may'' and 
        inserting ``The Secretary shall''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(2) Funding amounts.--From amounts made available to 
        carry out this Act, the Secretary shall use $20,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013 to make grants under 
        this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (h)(4) of such section is 
amended by striking ``fiscal years 2003 through 2007'' and inserting 
``fiscal years 2008 through 2013''.

SEC. 302. EXPANSION OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM.

    (a) Expansion of Program.--Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended in subsection 
(g)(1)--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``For the school year beginning 
                July 2004 and each subsequent school year,'' and 
                inserting ``For each school year,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``to--'' and inserting ``as 
                follows:'';
            (2) in each of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), by 
        inserting ``Starting with the school year beginning July 2004, 
        to'' before ``25 elementary or secondary schools'';
            (3) in subparagraph (A), by striking the semicolon and 
        inserting a period;
            (4) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a period; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Starting with the school year beginning July 
                2007, to 100 elementary or secondary schools in each 
                State.''.
    (b) Funding.--Such section is further amended in subsection 
(g)(6)(B)(i)--
            (1) by inserting after ``thereafter'' the following: 
        ``through October 1, 2006''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following: ``On October 1, 
        2007, and on each October 1 thereafter, the Secretary of the 
        Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture to 
        carry out this subsection $200,000,000, to remain available 
        until expended.''.

SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION LEVEL FOR FARM-TO-CAFETERIA ACTIVITIES.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended in subsection (i)(2) by striking ``such sums as 
are necessary'' and all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ``to carry out this subsection $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2013.''.

SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF WIC FARMER'S MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

    Section 17(m)(9)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(m)(9)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``2009'' and inserting 
        ``2013''; and
            (2) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
                            ``(ii) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of 
                        the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
                        shall make available to carry out this 
                        subsection $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
                        $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $45,000,000 
                        for fiscal year 2010, $60,000,000 for fiscal 
                        year 2011, and $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 
                        and each fiscal year  thereafter. Such funds 
                        shall remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 305. SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

    Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 3007) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``$5,000,000'' and all 
        that follows through ``2007'', and inserting ``$20,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $45,000,000 
        for fiscal year 2010, $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and 
        $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter'', and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end,
                    (B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) to promote the transition to organic and other 
        environmentally beneficial food production systems.''.

SEC. 306. FARMERS' MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM.

    Subsections (d) and (e) of section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer 
Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005) are amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(d) Criteria and Guidelines.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish criteria 
        and guidelines for the submission, evaluation, and funding of 
        proposed projects under the Program.
            ``(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize for funding 
        projects that will support, encourage, or promote the 
        transition to organic and other environmentally beneficial 
        forms of agricultural production.
    ``(e) Funding.--The Secretary shall use $20,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section in each of the 
fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.
                                 <all>