S.Amdt. 3077

SA 3077. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill H.R. 2, to provide for the reform and continuation
of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture
through fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes; which was ordered to
lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:

SEC. 2__. NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) fertilizer is a significant cost input in many
agricultural operations;
(2) opportunities exist for agricultural producers--
(A) to reduce the amount of fertilizer inputs; and
(B) to increase the efficiency of fertilizer use through
the development of more effective fertilizer application
protocols that maximize the uptake of fertilizer by crops
while maintaining or increasing yields; and

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(3) improving the application of nitrogen fertilizers at
the correct rate, in the correct manner, at the correct time,
and in the correct place will provide significant benefits to
the environment, including reductions of--
(A) nitrogen runoff, which will improve water quality; and
(B) emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas
associated with climate change.
(b) Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reductions.--Chapter 5 of
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:

``SEC. 1240S. NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.

``(a) Agricultural Research Data.--
``(1) Federally funded research data.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall make available
all relevant data relating to fertilizer application in a
format that is--
``(i) aggregated so as not to divulge proprietary or
confidential business information; and
``(ii) searchable and accessible to the public, including,
to the maximum extent practicable, all federally funded
research data, including data of--

``(I) the Department of Agriculture; and
``(II) land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in
section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).

``(B) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the
release of data or information in a format that may divulge
proprietary or confidential business information.
``(2) Non-federally funded research data.--The Secretary
shall develop incentives to encourage the sharing of non-
federally funded research data relating to fertilizer
application, including data from--
``(A) research funded through a State program; and
``(B) independent or privately held research.
``(b) Nitrogen Uptake Pilot Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry
out a 5-year pilot program for the development and
optimization of nitrogen fertilizer application rates,
timing, location, and formulation for--
``(A) corn;
``(B) soybeans;
``(C) wheat;
``(D) barley;
``(E) cotton;
``(F) oats;
``(G) sorghum;
``(H) rice; and
``(I) potatoes.
``(2) Requirements.--The pilot program described in
paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) consist of projects in a diverse range of--
``(i) geographies;
``(ii) soil types;
``(iii) drainage conditions;
``(iv) tillage practices; and
``(v) climatic conditions; and
``(B) take into consideration--
``(i) the effect of crop rotation;
``(ii) the use of cover crops;
``(iii) the use of soil amendments; and
``(iv) any other factor that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate--

``(I) to enhance the optimization of fertilizer application
practices that reduce the generation of nitrous oxide and
leached nitrogen; and
``(II) to support high agricultural yields.

``(c) Environmental Quality Incentives Program.--The Chief
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall carry out
a nitrous oxide reduction initiative within the environmental
quality incentives program established under chapter 4 to
foster the adoption and continued use of fertilizer
application protocols that reduce the production of nitrous
oxide associated with the use of nitrogen fertilizer.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
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