View all text of Subchapter VIII [§ 3871 - § 3871f]
§ 3871c. Assistance to producers
(a) In general
(b) Program contracts
(1) In general
(2) Application bundles
(A) In general
(B) Priority
(c) Payments
(1) In general
(2) Payments to certain producersThe Secretary may provide payments for a period of 5 years—
(A) to producers participating in a project that addresses water quantity concerns and in an amount sufficient to encourage conversion from irrigated to dryland farming; and
(B) to producers participating in a project that addresses water quality concerns and in an amount sufficient to encourage adoption of conservation practices and systems that improve nutrient management.
(3) Waiver authority
(d) Funding through alternative funding arrangements or grant agreements
(1) In general
(2) Duties of the SecretaryThe Secretary shall—
(A) under a funding agreement under paragraph (1)—
(i) use funding made available to carry out this subchapter to provide funding directly to the eligible partner; and
(ii) provide technical and administrative assistance, as mutually agreed by the parties; and
(B) enter into not more than 15 alternative funding arrangements or grant agreements with 1 or more eligible partners each fiscal year.
(3) Duties of eligible partnersUnder a funding agreement under paragraph (1), the eligible partner shall—
(A) carry out eligible activities on eligible land in agreement with producers to achieve conservation benefits on a regional or watershed scale, such as—
(i) infrastructure investments relating to agricultural or nonindustrial private forest production that would—(I) benefit multiple producers; and(II) address natural resource concerns such as drought, wildfire, or water quality impairment on the land covered by the project;
(ii) projects addressing natural resources concerns in coordination with producers, including the development and implementation of watershed, habitat, or other area restoration plans;
(iii) projects that use innovative approaches to leveraging the Federal investment in conservation with private financial mechanisms, in conjunction with agricultural production or forest resource management, such as—(I) the provision of performance-based payments to producers; and(II) support for an environmental market; or
(iv) other projects for which the Secretary determines that the goals and objectives of the program would be easier to achieve through the funding agreement under paragraph (1); and
(B) submit to the Secretary, in addition to any information that the Secretary requires to prepare the report under section 3871e(b) of this title, an annual report that describes the status of the project, including a description of—
(i) the use of the funds awarded under paragraph (1);
(ii) any subcontracts awarded;
(iii) the producers receiving funding through the funding agreement under paragraph (1);
(iv)(I) the progress made by the project in addressing each natural resource concern defined in the funding agreement under paragraph (1), including in a quantified form to the extent practicable; and(II) as appropriate, other outcomes of the project; and
(v) any other reporting data the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure compliance with the program rules.
(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1271C, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title II, § 2401, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 747; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2704, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4596.)