NASULGC's Farm Bill Provisions

481. Environmental
Quality Incentives

Summary

Amends the purposes for the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program to clarify that assistance to producers be provided
“by employing all applicable and appropriate departmental resources,
including research, technical assistance, education, extension, and financial
agencies and organizations, in a coordinated effort.” Also requires the
Secretary of Agriculture to work with the heads of all appropriate departmental
agencies and organizations to develop a coordinated, integrated approach to
provide farmers and ranchers state-of-the-art research, information,
technical assistance, education, extension, and access to resources to
implement EQIP practices.

Legislative
Language

SEC. 481. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES.

(a) COORDINATED
EFFORT.—Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 USC 3839aa)
is amended –

(1) in paragraph (3), by
inserting after “assistance to producers” the following:
agencies and organizations, in a coordinated effort”; and

(2) in
paragraph (4), by inserting after “assisting producers” the
following: “by employing the coordinated effort described in paragraph
(3)”.

(b) COORDINATED
EFFORT.—Section 1240B(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 USC
3839aa-2(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “The
Secretary shall work with the heads of all appropriate departmental agencies
and organizations to develop a coordinated effort, using an integrated team
approach, to provide farmers and ranchers state-of-the-art research,
information, technical assistance, education, extension, and access to
resources to implement eligible practices under this chapter.”.