March 31, 2025
Mr. Thune (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to make the native sod provisions applicable to the United States and to modify those provisions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the American Prairie Conservation Act
.
Sec. 2. Crop production on native sod
(a) Federal crop insurance
Section 508(o) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(o)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
(3) Native sod conversion certification
(A) Certification
As a condition on the receipt of benefits under this subtitle, a producer that has tilled native sod acreage for the production of an insurable crop as described in paragraph (2)(A) shall certify that acreage to the Secretary using—
(i)
an acreage report form of the Farm Service Agency (FSA–578 or any successor form); and
(ii)
1 or more maps.
(B) Corrections
Beginning on the date on which a producer submits a certification under subparagraph (A), as soon as practicable after the producer discovers a change in tilled native sod acreage described in that subparagraph, the producer shall submit to the Secretary any appropriate corrections to a form or map described in clause (i) or (ii) of that subparagraph.
(C) Annual reports
Not later than January 1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that describes the tilled native sod acreage that has been certified under subparagraph (A) in each county and State as of the date of submission of the report.
(b) Noninsured crop disaster assistance
Section 196(a)(4) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(a)(4)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
(C) Native sod conversion certification
(i) Certification
As a condition on the receipt of benefits under this section, a producer that has tilled native sod acreage for the production of an insurable crop as described in subparagraph (B)(i) shall certify that acreage to the Secretary using—
(I)
an acreage report form of the Farm Service Agency (FSA–578 or any successor form); and
(II)
1 or more maps.
(ii) Corrections
Beginning on the date on which a producer submits a certification under clause (i), as soon as practicable after the producer discovers a change in tilled native sod acreage described in that clause, the producer shall submit to the Secretary any appropriate corrections to a form or map described in subclause (I) or (II) of that clause.
(iii) Annual reports
Not later than January 1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that describes the tilled native sod acreage that has been certified under clause (i) in each county and State as of the date of submission of the report.