16 USC 3839aa-25 - Grassland conservation initiative

U.S Code last checked for updates: Jan 19, 2025

§ 3839aa–25.

Grassland conservation initiative

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Eligible land

(2)

Initiative

(b)

Establishment and purpose

(c)

Election

(d)

Method of enrollment

The Secretary shall—

(1)

notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 3839aa–23 of this title, determine under subsection (c) of that section that eligible land ranks sufficiently high under the evaluation criteria described in subsection (b) of that section; and

(2)

enroll the eligible land in the initiative under a contract described in subsection (e).

(e)

Grassland conservation contract

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding section 3839aa–23(a)(1) of this title, to enroll eligible land in the initiative under a grassland conservation contract, a producer shall agree—

(A)

to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for not less than 1 priority resource concern by the date on which the contract expires; and

(B)

to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract.

(2)

Terms

A grassland conservation contract entered into under this section shall—

(A)

(i)

be for a single 5-year term; and

(ii)

not be subject to renewal or reenrollment under section 3839aa–23(e) of this title; and

(B)

be subject to section 3839aa–23(d) of this title.

(3)

Early termination

The Secretary shall allow a producer that enters into a grassland conservation contract under this section—

(A)

to terminate the contract at any time; and

(B)

to retain payments already received under the contract.

(f)

Grassland conservation plan

The grassland conservation plan developed for eligible land shall be limited to—

(1)

eligible land; and

(2)

resource concerns and activities relating to grassland.

(g)

Payments

(1)

In general

(2)

Payment noneligibility

A grassland conservation contract under this section shall not be—

(A)

eligible for payments under section 3839aa–24(d) of this title; or

(B)

subject to the payment limitations under this subpart.

(3)

Limitation

(h)

Considered planted

(i)

Other contracts

A producer with an agricultural operation that contains land eligible under this section and land eligible under section 3839aa–23 of this title—

(1)

may enroll the land eligible under this section through a contract under this section or under section 3839aa–23 of this title; and

(2)

shall not be prohibited from enrolling the land eligible under section 3839aa–23 of this title through a contract under section 3839aa–23 of this title.

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1240L–1, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2309, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4569.)

cite as: 16 USC 3839aa-25