Conservation reserve program improvements

(a)

State acres for wildlife enhancement continuous enrollment

Section 1231(d)(6)(A)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(6)(A)(i)) is amended—(1)in subclause (II), by striking and at the end; and(2)by adding at the end the following:

(IV)land that will be enrolled under the State acres for wildlife enhancement practice established by the Secretary; and

(b)

Cost sharing payments for establishment of grazing infrastructure

(1)

In general

Section 1234(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)(1)) is amended—(A)by striking establishing water and inserting the following: “establishing—

(A)water

;

(B)in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(C)by adding at the end the following:

(B)grazing infrastructure, including interior cross fencing, perimeter fencing, and water infrastructure (such as rural water connections, water wells, pipelines, and water tanks), under each contract, for all practices, if grazing is included in the conservation plan and addresses a resource concern.

(2)

Reenrollment of land with grazing infrastructure

Section 1231(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Land with grazing infrastructure

On the expiration of a contract entered into under this subchapter that covers land that includes grazing infrastructure established with cost sharing assistance under section 1234(b)(1)(B)—(A)the Secretary shall consider that land to be planted for purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B); and(B)that land shall be eligible for reenrollment in the conservation reserve, subject to the requirements of this subchapter.

(c)

Mid-Contract management for activities not relating to haying or grazing

(1)

Definition of management

Section 1232(a)(5) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832(a)(5)) is amended by inserting (as defined in section 1231A(a)) after management.(2)

Management payments

Section 1234(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B)

Management payments

The Secretary shall make cost sharing payments to an owner or operator under this subchapter for any management activity described in section 1232(a)(5), except for those management activities relating to haying or grazing.

(d)

Payment limitation for rental payments

Section 1234(g)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(g)(1)) is amended by striking $50,000 and inserting $125,000.