S 499 — SHIPP Act of 2017

Summary

Soil Health and Income Protection Program Act of 2017 or the SHIPP Act of 2017 This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a voluntary soil health and income protection program. Landowners and operators may enroll eligible land in the program by agreeing to adopt certain practices to conserve and improve the soil, water, and wildlife resources of the land for a period of three to five years in exchange for rental payments and additional crop insurance premium discounts. During the period of the agreement: the lowest practicable cost perennial conserving use cover crop must be planted on the enrolled land at the expense of the enrollee; the land may be harvested for seed, hayed, or grazed outside the nesting and brood-rearing period, but may not be insured and is subject to a 25% reduction in rental payments if the land is harvested for seed; the land may be eligible for a walk-in access program of the applicable state; and a nonprofit wildlife organization may provide to the owner or operator of the eligible land a payment in exchange for an agreement by the owner or operator not to harvest the conserving use cover. Beginning, small, socially disadvantaged, young, or veteran farmers and ranchers are only required to pay 50% of the cost of planting the conserving using cover crop and are eligible for increased payments and crop insurance premium discounts under the program. A maximum of 15% of the eligible land on a farm may be enrolled in the program.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html March 02, 2017

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a voluntary soil health and income protection program for participating farmers and modifies existing provisions related to crop insurance and base acre adjustments.

• 7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(3)

  The Corporation → (A) In general.--The Corporation

  This change clarifies the introductory phrase of a section regarding the Corporation's responsibilities in crop insurance.

• 7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(3)

  (B) Increase for participation in soil health and income protection program.--

  This addition creates a new subsection outlining how premium discounts may be increased for participation in the new soil health and income protection program.

• 7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(3)(B)

  (i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), the Corporation may increase the amount of a premium discount provided under this paragraph by not more than 2 percent (or not more than 3 percent with respect to a beginning, small, socially disadvantaged, young, or veteran farmer or rancher described in subsection (c)(5) of section 1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985) for any agricultural commodity planted in an insurable unit that contains any eligible land (as defined in subsection (a) of that section) that is enrolled in the soil health and income protection program under that section.

  This stipulates conditions under which premium discounts can be increased for crop insurance when producers participate in the new program.

• 7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(3)(B)

  (ii) Applicability.--An increase in the amount of a premium discount provided pursuant to clause (i)--

  This clause frames conditions under which the increased premium discount applies.

• 7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(3)(B)

  (iii) Multiple insurable units.--With respect to an agricultural producer that owns or operates multiple insurable units on 1 farm, at least 1 insurable unit of which contains eligible land (as defined in subsection (a) of section 1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985) that is enrolled in the soil health and income protection program under that section, an increase in the amount of a premium discount under this subparagraph shall apply to all insurable units of the agricultural producer on the farm.

  This adds a provision for how premium discounts are applied across multiple insurable units belonging to a single producer.

• 7 U.S.C. 9012(b)(1)

  (D) A soil health and income protection program agreement entered into under section 1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the farm expires or is terminated.

  This adds a condition for adjusting base acres that relates to the expiration or termination of agreements from the new soil health and income protection program.

• 16 U.S.C. 3839bb

  SEC. 1240N. SOIL HEALTH AND INCOME PROTECTION PROGRAM.

  This introduces a new section defining and establishing the Soil Health and Income Protection Program.

Action History

1. March 02, 2017

   Introduced in Senate

2. March 02, 2017

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsors

• John Thune · Primary

Subjects