H.R. 6180

To amend the conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 to promote the conservation and improvement of the soil, water, and wildlife resources of lands containing muck soils, and for other purposes.

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I

111th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6180

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 22, 2010

Mr. Hall of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 to promote the conservation and improvement of the soil, water, and wildlife resources of lands containing muck soils, and for other purposes.

1.

Muck soils conservation

Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240R (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5) the following new section:

1240S.

Conservation of land containing muck soils

(a)

Establishment of program

The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out a conservation program under which the Secretary makes payments to assist owners and operators of eligible land specified in subsection (b) to conserve and improve the soil, water, and wildlife resources of such land.

(b)

Eligible land

To be eligible for inclusion in the program established under this section, the land must—

(1)

be comprised of soil that qualifies as muck, as determined by the Secretary;

(2)

be used for production of an agricultural crop;

(3)

have a spring cover crop planted in conjunction with the primary agricultural crop referred to in paragraph (2);

(4)

have a winter crop planted; and

(5)

have ditch banks seeded with grass that is maintained on a year-round basis.

(c)

Payment amounts

The Secretary may provide payments of not less than $300, but not more than $500, per acre per year under the program.

(d)

Authorization of Appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

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