To amend the Food Security Act of 1985, to give producers greater flexibility
in enrolling certain marginal land in the conservation reserve, and for
other purposes. (Introduced in the House)
HR 2779 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2779
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985, to give producers greater
flexibility in enrolling certain marginal land in the conservation reserve,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 1999
Mr. MORAN of Kansas introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985, to give producers greater
flexibility in enrolling certain marginal land in the conservation reserve,
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. ENROLLMENT OF LAND IN THE CONSERVATION RESERVE.
(a) MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT- Section 1231(d) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)) is amended by striking `36,400,000 acres' and
inserting `40,000,000 acres'.
(b) INCLUSION OF LANDS ADJACENT TO HIGHLY ERODIBLE CROPLANDS- Section
1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
`(h) INCLUSION OF LANDS ADJACENT TO HIGHLY ERODIBLE CROPLANDS- In the
case of highly erodible croplands described in subsection (b)(1) that are
eligible for enrollment in the conservation reserve, the Secretary may
permit the owner or operator of the lands to include a small quantity of
additional acreage (not otherwise eligible for enrollment in the reserve)
as part of the parcel to be enrolled if--
`(1) the additional land is located adjacent to the eligible highly
erodible croplands;
`(2) it is not economically viable to use the additional land as cropland
given the enrollment of the adjacent highly erodible croplands; and
`(3) the resulting parcel does not exceed 30 acres.'.
(c) TREATMENT OF CONTOUR GRASS STRIPS- Section 1234(c)(4) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(c)(4)) is amended by inserting `or
contour grass strips (including grass strips established on terraces)'
after `hardwood trees'.
(d) INCLUSION OF UNIRRIGATED CORNERS OF IRRIGATED FIELDS- Section 1231(b)(4)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)(4)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:
`(D) if the croplands consist of the unirrigated corners of fields
that are irrigated using center pivot irrigation systems; or'.