Bill > S1209

This bill amends existing federal agricultural laws to establish new reporting requirements for farmers who convert native grasslands (native sod) into cropland. Specifically, producers who till native sod for crop production must now submit detailed certification to the Secretary of Agriculture using Farm Service Agency (FSA) forms and maps. Farmers will be required to quickly report any changes in their tilled native sod acreage, and the Secretary must provide annual reports to Congressional agriculture committees from 2026 to 2030 detailing the amount of native sod that has been converted to cropland in each county and state. These requirements apply to both federal crop insurance and noninsured crop disaster assistance programs, aiming to create a comprehensive tracking mechanism for the conversion of native grasslands to agricultural production. The bill, called the "American Prairie Conservation Act," appears designed to monitor and potentially manage the transformation of native landscapes for agricultural purposes.