Bill > HR5627

This bill, the Farmers CARE Act or the Farmers Conserving Agricultural Resources through EQIP Act, amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The key provisions include: Expanding the purposes of EQIP to include additional environmental and conservation goals, such as improving water quality, conserving ground and surface water, enhancing soil health, controlling invasive species, reducing pesticides and antibiotics, and addressing climate change. Modifying the program, including prioritizing practices that are lower in cost but still achieve environmental benefits, limiting payments for certain practices like animal waste management facilities, and allocating funding to target wildlife habitat and independent animal welfare certification programs. Providing additional payments and technical assistance for certain high-impact conservation practices like cover cropping and integrated pest management. Authorizing payments to assist livestock producers in transitioning to modified management systems to reduce antibiotic use, and payments for conservation practices related to pasture-based production systems. Requiring comprehensive conservation planning assistance for participating producers. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the environmental and conservation benefits of EQIP by focusing on priority resource concerns and incentivizing a broader set of sustainable agricultural practices.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5627/all-info