H.R. 6143 — PRECISE Act

This section amends the conservation loan program (7 U.S.C. 1924), which provides loans or guarantees to eligible farmers, ranchers, and related entities to implement approved conservation plans addressing soil, water, and related resources, by (1) adding to eligible conservation activities the adoption of precision agriculture practices and acquisition of precision agriculture technology—terms defined by reference to section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801)—and (2) adding as a loan priority producers who use the loans for such adoption or acquisition, including to participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

This section (1) defines the terms "precision agriculture" and "precision agriculture technology" by reference to section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985 and (2) adds as an eligible purpose for loans to rural public, private, nonprofit, or cooperative organizations (including private investment funds investing primarily in cooperatives), Indian tribes, and individuals under the rural business loan program the expansion of precision agriculture practices, including financing the acquisition of precision agriculture technology, to promote best practices, reduce costs, and improve the environment.

This section establishes definitions applicable to conservation programs under subchapters I through VIII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (i.e., programs addressing highly erodible cropland, wetlands, and related activities)—(1) "precision agriculture" as managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production inputs (including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and time) at heightened spatial and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality; and (2) "precision agriculture technology" as any technology (including necessary equipment) that reduces or improves efficiency of such inputs (e.g., GPS-based mapping, satellite imagery, yield monitors, sensors, variable rate technology).

This section amends the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)—which provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and promote environmental benefits on working lands—as follows: (1) expands the definition of conservation planning to include adoption of precision agriculture practices and acquisition of precision agriculture technology; (2) authorizes producers receiving EQIP payments for practices on eligible land to also receive loans or loan guarantees under the conservation loan program (7 U.S.C. 1924) for costs of the same practices on the same land, with a written notice requirement to participants; (3) specifies that increased payments for high-priority practices are for State-determined practices; (4) authorizes increased payments of up to 90% of costs for adopting precision agriculture practices and acquiring related technology to implement conservation practices; and (5) expands eligible incentive practices under conservation incentive contracts to include precision agriculture practices and technology.

This section expands the definition of conservation activities under the Conservation Stewardship Program to include precision agriculture conservation activities (in addition to advanced grazing management). (The Conservation Stewardship Program provides payments to producers for implementing and maintaining conservation practices on agricultural and forested lands to achieve higher levels of environmental performance.)

This section directs the Secretary, in certifying third-party providers of technical assistance for conservation programs, to emphasize their use for soil health planning, including planning related to cover crops, precision agriculture practices, comprehensive nutrient management planning, and other innovative plans. (As background, third-party providers are commercial entities, nonprofits, state/local governments, or federal agencies certified to deliver technical expertise—such as conservation planning—for USDA conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.)