HR1459-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act or the PRECISE Act.

2. Conservation loan and loan guarantee program Section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924) is amended— in subsection (b)— in paragraph (3), by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively, and inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: the adoption of precision agriculture practices, and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology; by adding at the end the following: The terms precision agriculture and precision agriculture technology have the meanings given those terms in section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985. in subsection (d)— in paragraph (2), by striking and; in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: producers who use the loans to adopt precision agriculture practices or acquire precision agriculture technology, including adoption or acquisition for the purpose of participating in the environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985. in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: 90 percent of the principal amount of the loan in the case of— a producer that is a qualified socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a beginning farmer or rancher; or loans that are used for the purchase of precision agriculture technology. in subsection (f)— by striking (f) Administrative provisions.—The Secretary and inserting the following: The Secretary by adding after and below the end the following: In making or guaranteeing loans under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there is coordination between the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. (F)the adoption of precision agriculture practices, and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology;; and (4)Precision agriculture; precision agriculture technologyThe terms precision agriculture and precision agriculture technology have the meanings given those terms in section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985.; (4)producers who use the loans to adopt precision agriculture practices or acquire precision agriculture technology, including adoption or acquisition for the purpose of participating in the environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985.; (2)90 percent of the principal amount of the loan in the case of— (A)a producer that is a qualified socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a beginning farmer or rancher; or (B)loans that are used for the purchase of precision agriculture technology. ; and (f)Administrative provisions (1)Geographic diversityThe Secretary; and (2)Coordination with NRCSIn making or guaranteeing loans under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there is coordination between the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. .

3. Assistance to rural entities Section 310B(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(a)) is amended— in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: The terms precision agriculture and precision agriculture technology have the meanings given those terms in section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985. in paragraph (2)— by striking and at the end of subparagraph (C); by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: expanding the adoption of precision agriculture practices, including by financing the acquisition of precision agriculture technology, in order to promote best practices, reduce costs, and improve the environment. (C)Precision agriculture; precision agriculture technologyThe terms precision agriculture and precision agriculture technology have the meanings given those terms in section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985.; and (E)expanding the adoption of precision agriculture practices, including by financing the acquisition of precision agriculture technology, in order to promote best practices, reduce costs, and improve the environment..

4. Food Security Act of 1985 definitions Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended— by redesignating paragraphs (20) through (27) as paragraphs (22) through (29), respectively; and by inserting after paragraph (19) the following: The term precision agriculture means managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality. The term precision agriculture technology means any technology (including equipment that is necessary for the deployment of such technology) that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, inputs used in crop or livestock production, including— Global Positioning System-based or geospatial mapping technology; satellite or aerial imagery technology; yield monitors; soil mapping technology; sensors for gathering data on crop, soil, or livestock conditions; Internet of Things and telematics technologies; data management software and advanced analytics; network connectivity products and solutions; Global Positioning System guidance or auto-steer systems; variable rate technology for applying inputs, such as section control; and any other technology, as determined by the Secretary, that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, crop or livestock production inputs, which may include seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time. (20)Precision agricultureThe term precision agriculture means managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality. (21)Precision agriculture technologyThe term precision agriculture technology means any technology (including equipment that is necessary for the deployment of such technology) that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, inputs used in crop or livestock production, including— (A)Global Positioning System-based or geospatial mapping technology; (B)satellite or aerial imagery technology; (C)yield monitors; (D)soil mapping technology; (E)sensors for gathering data on crop, soil, or livestock conditions; (F)Internet of Things and telematics technologies; (G)data management software and advanced analytics; (H)network connectivity products and solutions; (I)Global Positioning System guidance or auto-steer systems; (J)variable rate technology for applying inputs, such as section control; and (K)any other technology, as determined by the Secretary, that directly contributes to a reduction in, or improved efficiency of, crop or livestock production inputs, which may include seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time..

5. Environmental Quality Incentives Program Section 1240A(6)(B)(v) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1(6)(B)(v)) is amended by inserting (including the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology) after planning. Section 1240B(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(6)) is amended— by striking A producer shall and inserting the following: A producer shall by adding at the end the following: A producer receiving payments for practices on eligible land under the program may also receive a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to cover costs for the same practices on the same land. The Secretary shall inform a producer participating in the program in writing of the availability of a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act as it relates to costs of implementing practices under this program. Section 1240B(d)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(7)) is amended, in the paragraph heading, by inserting state-determined before high-priority. Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary may increase the amount that would otherwise be provided for a practice under this subsection to not more than 90 percent of the costs associated with adopting precision agriculture practices and acquiring precision agriculture technology. Section 1240B(j)(2)(A)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(j)(3)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting (which may include the adoption of precision agriculture practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture technology) after incentive practices. (A)Payments under this subtitleA producer shall; and (B)Conservation loan and loan guarantee program payments (i)In generalA producer receiving payments for practices on eligible land under the program may also receive a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to cover costs for the same practices on the same land. (ii)Notice to producerThe Secretary shall inform a producer participating in the program in writing of the availability of a loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act as it relates to costs of implementing practices under this program.. (8)Increased payments for precision agricultureNotwithstanding paragraph (2), the Secretary may increase the amount that would otherwise be provided for a practice under this subsection to not more than 90 percent of the costs associated with adopting precision agriculture practices and acquiring precision agriculture technology..

6. Conservation Stewardship Program Section 1240L(c)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows: A payment to a producer under this subsection shall not be provided for conservation activities for which there is no cost incurred or income forgone by the producer. Section 1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d)) is amended— in the subsection heading, by striking and advanced grazing management and inserting , advanced grazing management, and precision agriculture; in paragraph (2)— in subparagraph (A), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and by adding at the end the following: precision agriculture. in paragraph (3), by striking or advanced grazing management and inserting , advanced grazing management, or precision agriculture. (3)ExclusionA payment to a producer under this subsection shall not be provided for conservation activities for which there is no cost incurred or income forgone by the producer.. (C)precision agriculture.; and

7. Delivery of technical assistance Section 1242(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall emphasize the use of third-party providers in providing technical assistance for soil health planning, including planning related to the use of cover crops, precision conservation management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other innovative plans. (6)Soil health planningThe Secretary shall emphasize the use of third-party providers in providing technical assistance for soil health planning, including planning related to the use of cover crops, precision conservation management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other innovative plans..