Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 Section-by-Section Summary
Below is a comprehensive summary of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, proposed by Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA-15) of the House Agriculture Committee. In addition to the below report, please see these other resources for more information on the Farm Bill:
Title II – Conservation
Subtitle B – Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) (Page 70)
Sec. 2101. Conservation Reserves (70)
Incentivizes the enrollment of marginal lands by basing rental rates on the land capability classification instead of the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) and paying a higher rental rate for land capability classes III through VII than other eligible lands.
Sec. 2103. Partnership Initiatives (83)
Encourages the program to be more locally led by codifying the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative and combining it with the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to create a new State Partnership Initiative enrollment option that maintains all the existing authorities of both programs.
Maintains an acreage cap for the program and requires state allocations to be based on historical allocations.
Clarifies that activities eligible for cost-share payments include establishing vegetation, stabilizing vegetation for erosion control, installing fencing, adopting practices to exclude livestock from riparian areas, implementing fencing and water practices to transition to grazing on grasslands, allowing mid-contract management for permanent cover, and implementing water quality conservation practices.
Increases the payment limitation from $50,000 to $125,000 per year.
Subtitle C – Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) (Page 111)
Sec. 2201.Conservation Innovation Grants and Payments (116)
Enhances EQIP by incorporating proven technologies and innovative programs
Incorporates precision agriculture into EQIP based on provisions from H.R. 1459, the PRECISE Act by adding precision agriculture technologies to the 90% payment, water conservation and irrigation efficiency practices , incentive contracts, and conservation innovation grants.
Restores the EQIP minimum livestock allocation at 50% and maintains the wildlife habitat minimum allocation at 10%.
Title III – Trade
Subtitle B – Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (Page 254)
Sec. 3201. Agricultural Trade Promotion and Facilitation (Page 243)
Upon the enactment of the bill, funding will double for MAP/FMD, addressing the need for heightened market access and trade promotion.
Sec. 3203. Establishes an interagency seasonal and perishable fruit and vegetable working group with the Secretary of Agriculture, the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies.
Title IV – Nutrition
Subtitle A – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (263)
Allows certain States to directly purchase commodities for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), similar to H.R. 5059.
Codifies the Elderly Simplified Application Project, as seen in both H.R. 8199 and H.R. 3474, streamlining access for households that do not have earned income and in which all adult members are over the age of 60 and/or have a disability.
Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to operationalize SNAP, as seen in H.R. 5970.
Expands the offerings of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), as seen in H.R. 7667.
Expands access to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program through a standard deduction of Social Security Medicare Part B, a program delivery pilot that prioritizes rural communities similar to H.R. 4745, and through a Demonstration Program for Tribal Organizations.
Increases the earned income deduction for purposes of SNAP eligibility, allowing families to keep more of their earned wages.
Excludes specific SNAP Employment and Training allowances, earnings, and payments when determining eligibility for SNAP, as championed by H.R. 3087.
Corrects the option to allow individuals with past drug offenses to receive SNAP, as seen in H.R. 3479, aligning federal policy with the will of dozens of states across the nation.
Subtitle C – Miscellaneous (Page 317)
Sec. 4301 Purchase of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Distribution to Schools and Service Institutions
Extends authorization to 2029.
Sec. 4306. Reauthorization of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (Page 324)
Increases funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), and improves year-round availability of incentives through the use of all forms of produce (frozen, fresh, canned and dried), and corrects the inequities in program availability by waiving the federal match in persistent poverty countries.
Title VI – Rural Development
Subtitle B – Connecting Rural Americans to High Speed Broadband (Page 374)
Sec. 6201. Rural Broadband Program Loans and Grants (Begins Page 374)
ReConnect Rural Broadband Program
Integrates the ReConnect Program into the Farm Bill Broadband Program, now renamed the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program.
Raises the minimum eligibility speeds from 25/3 Mbps to 50/25 Mbps.
To qualify for a loan or loan guarantee, 75% of the proposed service area must lack 50/25 Mbps.
To qualify for a grant, 90% of the proposed service area must lack 50/25 Mbps.
Provides the Secretary the authority to adjust the minimum eligibility speed, within limitations, through a 30-day notice and comment period.
Provides the highest priority for proposed project areas that have less than 25/3 Mbps connectivity.
Increases the project buildout speed agreements, based on a multiple of the minimum eligibility speed, similar to a concept found in the 2018 Farm Bill
For broadband project buildout agreement of less than 8 years, providers must build out to 100/50 Mbps (2 times the minimum eligibility speed).
For broadband project buildout agreement between 8-14 years, providers must build out to 250/125 Mbps (5 times the minimum eligibility speed).
For broadband project buildout agreements of more than 14 years, providers must build out to 500/250 Mbps (10 times the minimum eligibility speed).
Sunsets ReConnect and requires any unobligated dollars from ReConnect to be transferred to the new ReConnect Rural Broadband Program.
Authorizes the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program at $350 million per year for 5 years.
Subtitle D – Additional Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Page 437)
Sec. 6401. Water, Waste Disposal and Wastewater Facility Grants (Page 437)
Reauthorizes the Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program, which provides funding for essential water infrastructure such as clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, solid waste management, and stormwater drainage in rural communities.
Allows the Secretary to issue zero and low-interest loans, modify existing loans, and forgive principal for distressed water systems, while requiring recipients of assistance develop long-term financial plans and receive financial planning assistance.
Title VII – Research, Extension, and Related Matters
Sec. 7125. Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (Page 502)
Reauthorizes the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) and makes improvements based on H.R. 2385 and H.R. 3844.
Sec. 7305. Specialty Crop Research Initiative (Page 538)
Increases the mandatory funding level for the Special Crop Research Initiative to $175 million per year, a $95 million increase per year from the 2018 Farm Bill.
Allows the Secretary to waive the matching funds requirement for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
Provides $20 million per year from the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to fund a new Specialty Crop Mechanization and Automation Research and Extension Program.
Establishes a High-Priority Research and Extension Initiative for Specialty Crop Mechanization and Automation Research.
Maintains funding for the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program by providing $25 million per year from the Specialty crop Research Initiative.
Sec. 7502. Research Facilities Act (Page 550)
The bill supports the modernization of agricultural research facilities by providing funding for the Research facilities Act. It provides at least $1 billion in mandatory funding for the competitive grant program that was established in the 2018 Farm Bill under the Research Facilities Act.
Sec. 7601. Foundations for food and Agriculture Research (Page 562)
Reauthorizes the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and refines priorities to ensure the program reflects the current needs of the agriculture industry, including:
Regionally adapted cultivars and breeding for environmental resilience.
Methods of increasing survival rate and adaptability of shellfish.
Hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, and other production technologies used in controlled environment agriculture production.
Supply chain coordination and capacity building; and workforce training and development, including meat and poultry processing, rendering, and precision agriculture.
Title X – Horticulture
Subtitle A – Horticulture (Page 732)
Sec. 10002. Specialty Crop Block Grants (Page 733)
Provides additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and directs program administration to consult with specialty crop producers when setting priorities for the program.
Increases the mandatory funding level for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to $100 million per year, a $15 million increase per year from the 2018 Farm Bill.
Establishes a stakeholder consultation process.
Title XI – Crop Insurance
Sec. 1101. Specialty Crop Advisory Committee (Page 800)
Establishes a specialty crop advisory committee to ensure the unique perspectives of the specialty crop industry has a seat at the table for policy development and expansion.
Will consist of at least 5 producers from all geographic regions of the country and up to 10 total members.
The Chairperson will have a seat on the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board.
Will have the ability to prioritize R&D and influence education and outreach regarding crop insurance for specialty crop policies and producers.
Will be overseen by the Specialty Crops Coordinator, a position created in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Directs RMA undergo Research and Development such as:
Conduct a pilot to review the effectiveness of the coverage penalty for late planted corn and other commodities.
Annual review of limitations under Whole Farm Revenue Protection.
Revenue policies for sugar beets, certain oilseeds, alfalfa, and pulse crops.
Wine grape losses due to smoke exposure, H.R. 4308.
Mushrooms, H.R. 3815.
Expanding hurricane and tropical storm coverage options.
Frost or freeze index coverage, H.R. 6186.
Double cropping coverage for winter oilseeds, H.R. 8179.
Harvest incentives.
Revenue or mortality insurance for poultry
To ensure successful policy development and ultimately better adoption, enhances the development process for privately submitted insurance policies, ensures adequate time and training for their deployment, and mandates routine reviews for actuarial soundness.
Title XII – Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 1201. Thrifty Food Plan (Begins Page 902)
Beginning in 2027, Congressional intent will be reasserted by prescribing a cost neutral process by which future thrifty food plan updates are to be conducted.
Updates will continue to reflect food prices and composition, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance, and will include annual cost-of-living adjustments per the Consumer Price Index.
All updates will be subject to public notice and comment.
Please see a full explanation for the cuts to the Thrifty Food Plan on pages 10 -11 of summary from the House Agriculture Committee.
Sec. 12402. Establishment of Dietary Guidelines (Page 906)
Reforms the Dietary Guidelines for Americans process to emphasize science, integrity, and transparency, and de-emphasize politics and issues irrelevant to food and nutrition science from impacting consumer choice and behavior.
Refocuses the purpose of SNAP as defined in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to a program that promotes a healthy lifestyle, and for the first time, calls attention to diet-related chronic disease that has impacted military readiness, health care costs, and increased disability claims.
Strengthens nutrition education’s impact by highlighting the need for expanded partnerships and pragmatic consultation with health care practitioners, community health workers, and educators.
Requires USDA to annually report on the food security and diet quality of both participants and nonparticipants in SNAP, including how any legislative or executive branch action impacts each
Expands the reach, funding, and impact of dairy incentive and school meals programs by including full fat fluid milk, flavored or unflavored, as seen in both H.R. 5099 and H.R. 1147.