Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025”.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025
A BILL
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to modify the conservation reserve enhancement program.
Sec. 2 Conservation reserve enhancement program
in subsection (a)(4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “(other than an agreement described in subsection (e))” after “this subchapter”;
in subsection (b)(2)(A)(vi), by inserting “or other appropriate practices, such as dryland agricultural uses and grazing,” after “conservation practices”;
in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
“(5) Variable allocation—An owner or operator may elect to determine the amounts of annual payments under this section allocated to each year of the agreement under subsection (b)(1).
“(6) Drought and water conservation agreements
“(A) Retirement of water rights—In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that includes a permanent retirement of water rights, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.
“(B) Dryland agricultural uses
“(i) In general—In the case of an agreement described in subsection (e) that permits dryland agricultural uses pursuant to paragraph (2) of that subsection, the payment rates for annual payments shall be equal to the difference between—
“(I) the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Secretary; and
“(II) the dryland acre payment rates determined by the Secretary.
“(ii) Retroactive application—In the case of an agreement covered by clause (i) entered into before the date of enactment of this paragraph under which the payment rate is lower than the payment rate that would be calculated for the agreement under that clause, the Secretary shall modify the agreement by calculating the payment rate in accordance with that clause.”
in subsection (e)—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “may—” and inserting “shall—”;
in paragraph (1), by inserting “(including agricultural land on which a continuous crop or crop rotation is maintained)” after “agricultural land”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “with the adoption of best management practices on” and inserting “in accordance with a conservation plan adopted with respect to”; and
in paragraph (3), by inserting “subject to subsection (c)(6),” before “calculate”.
Exemption from payment limitation— Section 1234(g) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(g)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “paragraph (2)” and inserting “paragraphs (2) and (3)”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Conservation reserve enhancement program—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to rental payments received under agreements entered into under section 1231A.”