Agricultural Act of 2014 - Title I: Commodities - Subtitle A: Repeals and Reforms - Part I: Repeals - (Sec. 1101) Repeals: (1) direct payments under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; and (2) countercyclical payments and the average crop revenue election program (ACRE) under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Continues countercyclical payments and ACRE, however, for crop year 2013.
Part II: Commodity Policy - (Sec. 1111) Includes peanuts as a covered commodity.
(Sec. 1112) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) (the Secretary in this bill unless otherwise indicated) to notify farm owners regarding their opportunity to elect to:
Deems a non-electing farm owner to have elected to retain base acres, including generic acres.
Applies such election, or deemed election, to all covered commodities on a farm.
Sets forth the reallocation formula.Directs the Secretary to provide for a farm's base acreage adjustment for covered commodities if: (1) a conservation reserve contract expires or is voluntarily terminated, (2) cropland is released from conservation reserve contract coverage, or (3) the producer has eligible oilseed acreage.
Requires a farm owner, for the crop year in which a base acres adjustment is first made, to elect to receive either price loss coverage (PLC) or agriculture risk coverage (ARC) for the acreage added to the farm, or a prorated payment under the conservation reserve contract.
Requires the Secretary to reduce the base acres for one or more covered commodities on a farm if the sum of the base acres and certain other conservation and oilseed acreage exceeds the farm's actual cropland acreage. Exempts double-cropped acreage from such requirement. Permits the farm owner to select the base acres to be reduced.
Authorizes a farm owner to reduce the base acres for any covered commodity, whose reduction shall be permanent.
Directs the Secretary to reduce a farm's base acres for land that has been subdivided and developed for multiple residential units or other nonfarming uses if the size of the tracts and the density of the subdivision is such that the land is unlikely to return to the previous agricultural use, unless it: (1) remains devoted to commercial agricultural production, or (2) is likely to be returned to the previous agricultural use.
(Sec. 1113) Directs the Secretary to establish a yield for each farm for any designated oilseed for which a payment yield was not established.
Sets forth payment yield determination requirements, including the use of county average yields.
Grants a farm owner a one-time opportunity to update, on a commodity-by-commodity basis, the payment yield used in calculating the price loss coverage payment for each covered commodity for which the election is made.
(Sec. 1114) Declares that the payment acres:
Requires reduction of payment acres in any crop year in which fruits, vegetables (other than mung beans and pulse crops), or wild rice have been planted on base acres.
Prohibits PLC or ARC payments to a producer whose farm's base acres is 10 acres or less unless the producer is a socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmer or rancher.
Prohibits payment acre reductions if:
(Sec. 1115) Requires all producers on a farm to make a one-time, irrevocable election for crop years 2014-2018 to obtain:
Declares that if all producers on a farm fail to make a unanimous election for crop year 2014:
Directs the Secretary to ensure that producers on a farm do not reconstitute the farm to void or change an election or selection made under this section.
(Sec. 1116) Directs the Secretary to make PLC payments to producers on a farm on a commodity-by-commodity basis if for any of crop years 2014-2018 the covered commodity's effective price is less than its reference price.
Sets forth effective price, payment rate, and payment amount requirements.
(Sec. 1117) Directs the Secretary to make ARC payments to producers on a farm on a covered commodity-by-covered-commodity basis if for any of crop years 2014-2018 the actual crop revenue is less than the ARC guarantee.
Sets forth actual crop revenue requirements for county and individual coverages.
Sets the agriculture risk coverage guarantee for a crop year for a covered commodity at 86% of the benchmark revenue.
Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) benchmark revenue for county and individual coverages, and (2) payment rate and payment amounts.
(Sec. 1118) Requires producers to comply with specified conservation requirements in order to qualify for payments under this subtitle.
Requires termination of payments upon a change in the interest of the producer unless the transferee assumes such obligations.
Directs the Secretary provide adequate safeguards for tenants and sharecroppers.
(Sec. 1119) Directs the Secretary to provide transition assistance to producers for the 2014 crop of upland cotton on a farm for which cotton base acres were in existence for crop year 2013.
Directs the Secretary to provide transition assistance to producers for the 2015 crop of upland cotton on a farm:
Prescribes requirements for transition assistance rate, transition assistance amounts, and payment limitations.
Subtitle B: Marketing Loans - (Sec. 1201) Defines "loan commodity" as wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, extra long staple cotton, long grain rice, medium grain rice, peanuts, soybeans, other oilseeds, graded wool, nongraded wool, mohair, honey, dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas, and large chickpeas.
Authorizes nonrecourse marketing assistance loans for loan commodities through crop year 2018, with special rules for peanuts.
Requires compliance with specified conservation and wetland requirements.
(Sec. 1202) Authorizes nonrecourse marketing assistance loans through crop year 2018 for:
Establishes a single loan rate in each county for each kind of other oilseed.
(Sec. 1203) Establishes a nine-month marketing assistance loan term, with extensions prohibited.
(Sec. 1204) Authorizes producers to repay a marketing assistance loan for a commodity (other than upland cotton, long grain rice, medium grain rice, extra long staple cotton, peanuts and confectionery and each other kind of non-oil sunflower seed) at a rate that is the lesser of:
Authorizes producers to repay a marketing assistance loan for upland cotton, long grain rice, and medium grain rice at a rate that is the lesser of: (1) the loan rate established for the commodity plus interest, or (2) the prevailing world market price for the commodity.
Authorizes producers to repay a marketing assistance loan for extra long staple cotton at a rate established for the commodity plus interest.
Directs the Secretary to prescribe formulas to determine the prevailing world market price for upland cotton, long grain rice, and medium grain rice.
Directs the Secretary to adjust prevailing world market prices for upland cotton, long grain rice, and medium grain rice to U.S. quality and location.
Authorizes producers to repay a marketing assistance loan for confectionery and each other kind of non-oil sunflower seed at a rate that is the lesser of: (1) the loan rate established for the commodity plus interest, or (2) the repayment rate for oil sunflower seed.
Directs the Secretary to make cotton storage payments for the 2014-2018 crop years in the same manner and at the same rates as made available for the 2006 crop of cotton, except with the rates reduced by 10%.
Authorizes producers to repay a marketing assistance loan for peanuts at a rate that is the lesser of:
Authorizes temporary repayment rate adjustments in the event of severe marketing, transportation, or infrastructure disruptions.
(Sec. 1205) Authorizes the Secretary to make loan deficiency payments to:
Establishes the loan deficiency payment computation as the payment rate for the commodity multiplied by the quantity of the commodity produced.
Sets forth payment rate computations for unshorn pelts and for hay and silage.
Excludes extra long staple cotton from loan deficiency payments.
(Sec. 1206) Directs the Secretary to make payments in lieu of deficiency payments to producers electing to use wheat, barley, or oat acreage for livestock grazing through crop year 2018.
Makes payments through crop year 2018 available to producers of triticale acreage used for grazing if such producers forgo any other triticale harvesting on such acreage.
Makes such acreage ineligible for crop insurance indemnity or non-insured crop assistance coverage.
(Sec. 1207) Directs the President to carry out a special import quota program for upland cotton beginning on August 1, 2014, and a limited global import quota program for it based upon specified price conditions.
Directs the Secretary to make monthly adjustment assistance payments of 3 cents per pound beginning on August 1, 2013, to domestic users of upland cotton during the previous monthly period regardless of the cotton's origin. Requires that such assistance be used for acquisition, construction, installation, modernization, conversion, or expansion of land, plant, buildings, equipment, facilities, or machinery.
(Sec. 1208) Directs the Secretary to make payments through July 31, 2019, to domestic users and exporters of U.S.-produced extra long staple cotton to expand its domestic use and exports. Requires payments to be made when:
(Sec. 1209) Makes recourse loans available through crop year 2018 for: (1) high moisture feed grains (corn and grain sorghum with high moisture content), and (2) seed cotton.
(Sec. 1210) Authorizes the Secretary to make loan rate adjustments for: (1) any loan commodity (other than cotton) for differences in grade, type, quality, and location; (2) cotton for differences in quality; and (3) long grain rice and medium grain rice for differences in grade and quality.
Subtitle C: Sugar - (Sec. 1301) Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to make nonrecourse loans through crop year 2018 to processors of domestically grown sugarcane at $0.1875 per pound and sugar beets at $0.2409 per pound.
Directs the Secretary to make sugarcane and sugar beet quantity estimates through crop year 2018 for: (1) human consumption, (2) carryover stocks, (3) carry-in stocks, (4) domestic processing, and (5) imports.
Subtitle D: Dairy - Part I: Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers - (Sec. 1402) Directs the Secretary to calculate: (1) the national average feed cost for each month using specified data, and (2) the actual dairy production margin for each consecutive two-month period by subtracting the average feed cost from the all-milk price.
(Sec. 1403) Directs the Secretary to establish a margin protection program by September 1, 2014, under which participating dairy operations are paid a margin protection payment when actual dairy production margins are less than specified threshold levels.
(Sec. 1404) Makes all participating dairy producers eligible to participate in the margin protection program.
States that if:
Establishes an annual $100 program fee.
States that a dairy operation may participate in either the margin protection program or the livestock gross margin for dairy program (under the Federal Crop Insurance Act).
(Sec. 1405) Establishes a participating dairy operation's production history as its highest annual milk marketings during any one of 2011, 2012, or 2013.
Establishes the production history for a participating dairy operation that has been in operation for less than a year as either:
(Sec. 1406) Provides a participating dairy operation with a margin protection payment whenever the average actual dairy production margin for a consecutive two-month period is less than the coverage level threshold selected by the participating dairy operation.
(Sec. 1407) Sets forth program premium requirements.
(Sec. 1408) States that a participating dairy operation that fails to pay the annual administrative fee or is in arrears on premium payments: (1) remains legally obligated to pay the fee or premiums, and (2) may not receive margin protection payments until they are paid.
(Sec. 1409) Terminates the program on December 31, 2018.
Part II: Repeal or Reauthorization of Other Dairy-Related requirements - (Sec. 1421) Repeals: (1) the dairy products price support program, (2) the dairy export incentive program, and (3) the Federal Milk Marketing Order Review Commission.
(Sec. 1422) Terminates the milk income loss contract program on the earlier of: (1) the date that the margin protection program becomes operational, or (2) September 1, 2014.
(Sec. 1424) Extends through FY2018: (1) the dairy forward pricing program, (2) the dairy indemnity program, and (3) the dairy promotion and research program.
Part III: Dairy Product Donation Program - (Sec. 1431) Directs the Secretary to establish a dairy product donation program to:
Requires dairy product program purchases whenever the actual dairy production margin is $4.00/per hundredweight of milk or less for each of the immediately preceding 2 months.
Sets forth program termination criteria.
Directs the Secretary to utilize public and private nonprofit organizations to distribute such products.
Terminates the program on December 31, 2018.
Subtitle E: Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs - (Sec. 1501) Prescribes livestock indemnity payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred excess livestock death losses due to: (1) attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, or (2) adverse weather.
Sets the payment rate at 75% of the market value of livestock.
Directs the Secretary to pay compensation under a livestock forage disaster program to eligible livestock producers for grazing losses caused by drought on land that is: (1) native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover, or (2) planted to a crop planted for the purpose of providing grazing for covered livestock.
Allows compensation to eligible livestock producers for grazing losses caused by fire on land that is: (1) federally-managed rangeland, and (2) on which the producer is prohibited by a federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock due to fire.
Sets forth payment rates for drought- and fire-caused grazing losses.
Prohibits duplicative payments.
Requires the Secrtary to pay emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires.
Requires payment of tree assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers that:
Limits assistance to those producers only with a tree mortality rate in excess of 15%, and for not more than 500 acres.
Caps tree assistance payments to a person or legal entity (excluding joint ventures or general partnerships) for any crop year at $125,000 or an equivalent value in tree seedlings.
Sets forth payment requirements.
Subtitle F: Administration - (Sec. 1601) Directs the Secretary to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds, facilities, and authorities to carry out this title.
(Sec. 1602) Suspends permanent price support authority under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agricultural Act of 1949 for covered commodities, cotton, and sugar through crop year 2018, and for milk through December 31, 2018.
Suspends certain quota requirements for the 2014-2018 wheat crops.
(Sec. 1603) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to set agriculture risk coverage, price loss coverage, marketing loan gains, and loan deficiency payments for:
(Sec. 1604) Directs the Secretary by regulation to define "significant contribution of active personal management " for purposes of agriculture risk coverage, price loss coverage, marketing loan gains, and loan deficiency payments eligibility. Exempts family farms from such regulations.
(Sec. 1605) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to prohibit a person or legal entity from receiving specified agricultural benefits during a crop, fiscal, or program year if the average adjusted gross income of such person or entity exceeds $900,000.
(Sec. 1606) Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to extend specified direct reimbursement payments for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(Sec. 1607) Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to extend to loans made under this title the personal liability protection for a deficiency arising from the sale of collateral securing any nonrecourse loan.
(Sec. 1608) Directs the Secretary to: (1) reconcile with the Social Security Administration (SSA) at least twice each year the Social Security numbers of all individuals who receive benefits under this title to determine if the individuals are alive, and (2) preclude the issuance of payments to, and on behalf of, deceased individuals not eligible for payments.
(Sec. 1609) Makes specified technical corrections to to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
(Sec. 1610) Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to extend and revise certain administrative and appeals requirements regarding the USDA National Appeals Division.
(Sec. 1611) Requires that assignment of certain conservation and environmental payments be done in accordance with USDA regulations.
(Sec. 1612) Authorizes the Secretary to track the benefits provided to individuals and entities under titles I and II of this Act.
(Sec. 1613) Prohibits the Secretary, in carrying out this title and title II, from determining subsequently that a previously approved document is inadequate or invalid because of the lack of authority of any person signing the document on behalf of the applicant or any other individual, entity, general partnership, or joint venture, or because the documents relied upon were determined inadequate or invalid, unless the person signing the document knowingly falsified the evidence of signature authority or a signature.
(Sec. 1614) Directs the Secretary to maintain, for each covered commodity and upland cotton, base acres and payment yields on a farm as in effect on September 30, 2013.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) reduce administrative burdens and costs to producers by streamlining and reducing paperwork, forms, and other administrative requirements; and (2) make $100 million available to the Farm Service Agency to carry out this title. Obligates specified funds from such amount for education and web-based decision aids for farmers and ranchers.
(Sec. 1615) States that CCC funds disbursed pursuant to the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Brazil regarding a fund for technical assistance and capacity building with respect to dispute WT/DS 267 in the World Trade Organization may, upon resolution of the dispute, be used for research conducted in collaboration with USDA or with a college, university, or research foundation in the United States.
Title II: Conservation - Subtitle A: Conservation Reserve Program - (Sec. 2001) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend the conservation reserve program (CRP) through FY2018.
Sets forth maximum CRP acreage enrollments for FY2014- FY2018.
Makes grasslands eligible for CRP enrollment, but limits enrollment to 2 million acres at any one time during FY2014-FY2018.
Revises contract duration requirements for land devoted to hardwood trees, shelter belts, windbreaks, or wildlife corridors.
Eliminates designation of the Chesapeake Bay Region, the Great Lakes Region, and the Long Island Sound Region as watershed areas.
(Sec. 2002) Extends the farmable wetland program through FY2018. Eliminates the program's pilot program designation.
Reduces the acreage limitation from 1 million acres to 750,000 acres.
(Secs. 2003-2004) Revises and sets forth CRP duties of owners and operators and the Secretary.
(Sec. 2005) Authorizes limited incentive payments for thinning and other practices to improve the condition of land planted to trees, windbreaks, shelter belts, and wildlife corridors.
Revises rental calculation requirements.
Directs the Secretary to make annual grassland payments in an amount that is not more than 75% of the land's grazing value.
Eliminates payment-in-commodity authority. (Permits cash payments only.)
(Sec. 2006) Authorizes producers with a CRP contract in place for five or more years to terminate the contract in FY2015.
Expands the list of land that may not be subject to early termination, including farmable wetland and restored wetland as well as land:
Makes veteran farmers or ranchers eligible for the CRP transition option.
Authorizes landowners to enroll in the conservation stewardship program (CSP) and conduct CSP activities in the final year of a CRP contract.
Authorizes the Secretary to terminate or modify a CRP contract if the land is transferred into the agricultural conservation easement program.
(Sec. 2007) Repeals authority for conversion of CRP land from vegetative cover to hardwood trees or restored wetlands.
Subtitle B: Conservation Stewardship Program - (Sec. 2101) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise and extend the CSP through FY2018.
Includes among program changes the following:
Limits aggregate payments to a person or entity to $200,000 during FY2014-FY2018.
Subtitle C: Environmental Quality Incentives Program - (Sec. 2201) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to include wildlife habitat development among the purposes of the environmental quality incentives program.
(Sec. 2203) Extends the environmental quality incentives program through FY2018.
Eliminates the minimum one-year contract requirement.
Makes veteran farmers or ranchers eligible for increased program payments.
Increases the amount of advanced payments available for limited resource, socially disadvantaged, beginning, or veteran farmers or ranchers.
Requires that: (1) 60% of FY2014-FY2018 program funds be used for livestock production practices, and (2) 5% of such funds be used for wildlife habitat practices.
Provides payments for wildlife habitat development.
(Sec. 2206) Extends funding through FY2018 (with an aggregate $450,000 individual person/entity limit) for grants for innovative conservation approaches.
(Sec. 2207) Provides funding through FY2018 for competitive grants for innovative conservation approaches.
Permits grants to be made to facilitate: (1) on-farm conservation research and demonstration activities, and (2) pilot testing of new technologies or innovative conservation practices.
Subtitle D: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - (Sec. 2301) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish the agricultural conservation easement program for the conservation of eligible land and natural resources through easements or other interests in land. (Combines the purposes and coordinates the functions of the wetlands reserve program, the grassland reserve program, and the farmland protection program.)
Sets forth agricultural land and wetland easement requirements.
Subtitle E: Regional Conservation Partnership Program - (Sec. 2401) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a regional conservation partnership program to:
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a partnership agreement (to assist producers with installing and maintaining an eligible activity on eligible land) for up to 5 years, with a one-time extension for up to 12 months.
Directs the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistance to producers: (1) participating in a project with an eligible partner, or (2) seeking to implement an eligible activity on eligible land independent of an eligible partner.
Directs the Secretary to designate up to eight critical conservation areas.
Directs the Secretary to give critical conservation area priority to a geographical area that:
Provides CCC program funding for FY2014-FY2018. Reserves additional funds for FY2014-FY2018 from covered programs for such contracts.
Subtitle F: Other Conservation Programs - (Sec. 2501) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize appropriations through FY2018 for the conservation of private grazing land program.
(Sec. 2502) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for the grass roots source water protection program.
Makes specified CCC funds available for the program.
(Sec. 2503) Requires CCC funding through FY2018 for the voluntary public access and habitat incentive program.
(Sec. 2504) Prohibits CRP funds from being used to carry out the agriculture conservation experienced services program.
(Sec. 2505) Amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act with respect to the small watershed rehabilitation program to: (1) authorize appropriations through FY2018, and (2) require CCC funds for FY2014.
(Sec. 2506) Amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary to modify and terminate floodplain easements if: (1) the current landowner agrees; and (2) the modification or termination addresses a compelling public need for which there is no practical alternative, and is in the public interest.
(Sec. 2507) Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to revise the water for at-risk desert terminal lakes program.
Directs the Secretary to:
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from using such authority to deliver assistance to the Great Salt Lake in Utah, dry lakes, or other lakes that do not meet the purposes of this section.
Authorizes appropriations for land purchase grants.
Requires CCC funding for water assistance.
(Sec. 2508) Amends the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 to make Indian tribes eligible to cooperate with and participate in the soil and water conservation program.
Subtitle G: Funding and Administration - (Sec. 2601) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize the use of CCC funds through FY2018 for:
(Sec. 2602) Prohibits CCC funds for conservation programs from being used for CRP technical assistance.
Gives priority to producers who request technical assistance in order to comply for the first time with the requirements of subtitle B and subtitle C of this title.
(Sec. 2603) Replaces priority funding requirements to provide regional equity for certain conservation program funding with one to ensure equitable program participation proportional to historical funding allocations and usage by all states.
(Sec. 2604) Extends through FY2018 the annual set-aside in the environmental quality incentives program and the CSP for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
Gives preference to such farmers or ranchers who are also veterans.
(Sec. 2605) Revises specified reporting requirements.
(Sec. 2606) Makes veteran farmers and ranchers eligible to receive conservation program incentives.
States that any payment received by an owner or operator under this title shall be in addition to and not affect the total amount of payments that the owner or operator is eligible to receive under this Act, the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Agricultural Act of 2014, or any law succeeding such Acts.
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into alternative funding arrangements with Indian tribes in carrying out the CSP and the environmental quality incentives program.
(Secs. 2607-2608) Directs the Secretary to: (1) review and update standard operating procedures for state technical committees, and (2) promulgate regulations necessary to implement programs under this title.
(Sec. 2609) Makes the wetland mitigation banking pilot program permanent.
Requires CCC program funding.
Directs the Secretary to develop policy and criteria that will allow persons to access existing mitigation banks without requiring the Secretary to hold an easement in a mitigation bank.
(Sec. 2610) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress regarding conservation of the lesser prairie-chicken.
(Sec. 2611) Adds the federally funded portion of crop insurance premiums to the list of program benefits that could be lost by a producer who grows an agricultural commodity on certain converted wetlands or highly erodible land without an approved conservation plan or qualifying exemption.
Applies such penalty to reinsurance years subsequent to the date of final determination of a violation.
Subtitle H: Repeal of Superseded Program Authorities and Transitional Provisions; Technical Amendments - (Secs. 2701-2711) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to repeal (subject to specified transitional requirements):
(Sec. 2712) Prescribes requirements for the temporary administration of conservation programs.
Grants the Secretary 270 days to continue using existing regulations to implement new and amended programs in the absence of new regulations.
Title III: Trade - Subtitle A: Food for Peace Act - (Sec. 3001) Amends the Food for Peace Act to state that title II emergency and nonemergency assistance is to be implemented by the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
(Sec. 3002) Increases funds available to eligible organizations for program, administrative, and distribution activities.
Permits an eligible organization to invest such funds pending their use.
(Sec. 3003) Includes among activities to ensure donated food quality:
Extends funding through FY2018 for food quality activities.
(Sec. 3004) Extends annual minimum levels of assistance through FY2018 for title II assistance, including assistance for nonemergency programs.
(Sec. 3005) Extends the Food Aid Consultative Group through December 31, 2018.
Includes representatives from the U.S. agricultural processing sector in the Group.
Requires the Administrator to consult with the Group before issuing implementation regulations, handbooks, and guidelines.
(Sec. 3006) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for additional, discretionary monitoring of emergency food assistance, including amounts for upgraded information technology systems.
Requires USAID to report to Congress regarding: (1) implementation of regulations and guidance; and (2) monitoring, reporting and audits of programs conducted by an eligible nonprofit organization and an eligible intergovernmental organization.
(Sec. 3007) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for stockpiling and rapid transportation, delivery, and distribution of shelf-stable prepackaged foods.
(Sec. 3008) Directs the Secretary or the Administrator to seek information, as part of the regular proposal and submission process, from implementing agencies on the potential costs and benefits to the local economy of agricultural commodity sales within the recipient country.
Directs the Administrator to report annually to Congress: (1) specifying the amount and use of funds provided to each recipient organization in the previous fiscal year, and (2) describing each commodity's actual rate of return.
(Sec. 3009) Authorizes:
(Sec. 3010) Requires that the annual agricultural trade programs and activities report to Congress includes the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program.
(Sec. 3011) Extends authority to enter into agreements until December 31, 2018.
(Sec. 3012) Requires that: (1) between 20% and 30% of title II funds be expended for nonemergency food assistance (under title II), and (2) the amount for such nonemergency food assistance programs be at least $350 million per fiscal year.
(Sec. 3013) Extends micronutrient fortification program authority until September 30, 2018.
(Sec. 3014) Requires that at least the greater of $15 million or 0.6% of available funds be used through FY2018 for the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter farmer-to-farmer program.
Extends the authorization of appropriations through FY2018 for programs in: (1) sub-Saharan African and Caribbean Basin countries, and (2) other developing or middle-income countries or emerging markets.
Requires the Government Accountabiity Office (GAO) to review the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter farmer-to-farmer program.
(Sec. 3015) Eliminates language requiring a report on improved procurement planning.
Subtitle B: Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 - (Sec. 3101) Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to reduce the maximum CCC export loan guarantee term from 3 years to 24 months.
Makes CCC credit guarantees of $5.5 billion available for each fiscal year.
(Secs. 3102-3103) Makes CCC funds available through FY2018 for: (1) the market access program, and (2) the foreign market cooperator program.
Subtitle C: Other Agricultural Trade Laws - (Sec. 3201) Amends the Food for Progress Act of 1985 to make CCC funds available through FY2018 for the food for progress program.
Extends the program through December 31, 2018.
(Sec. 3202) Amends the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act to extend authority through FY2018 for stock replenishment of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Extends the Trust through September 30, 2018.
(Sec. 3203) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to extend through FY2018: (1) CCC direct credits or export credit guarantees for exports to emerging markets, and (2) the E. (Kika) de la Garza Agricultural Fellowship Program.
(Secs. 3204-3205) Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to: (1) authorize appropriations through FY2018 for the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program, and (2) provide CCC funding through FY2018 for specialty crop technical assistance.
Directs the Secretary to conduct an economic study of the U.S. market for U.S. Atlantic spiny dogfish.
(Sec. 3206) Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to authorize appropriations through FY2018 for the Global Crop Diversity Trust.
(Sec. 3207) Authorizes: (1) appropriations through FY2018 for local and regional food aid procurement projects; and (2) preference to be given to eligible organizations that have, or are working toward, projects under the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program.
(Sec. 3208) Authorizes the Secretary to establish the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Foreign Agricultural Services.
Title IV: Nutrition - Subtitle A: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - (Sec. 4001) Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to prohibit the payment of a deposit fee in excess of any state fee reimbursement to recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) for the return of empty bottles and cans used to contain food purchased with SNAP benefits.
(Sec. 4002) Requires participating retail food stores to: (1) offer perishable goods in at least three staple food categories, and (2) provide adequate electronic benefit transfer (EBT) service.
Requires participating retail food stores (including restaurants participating in a state option restaurant program intended to serve the elderly, disabled, and homeless), with certain exceptions, to pay 100% of the costs of acquiring and arranging for the implementation of EBT point-of-sale equipment and supplies. Exempts from such requirement farmers' markets and other direct-to-consumer markets, military commissaries, nonprofit food buying cooperatives, and certain establishments, organizations, programs, or group living arrangements.
Prohibits a state from issuing manual vouchers unless the Secretary determines that they are necessary.
Requires parties providing EBT transfer services to maintain a unique terminal identification number through the SNAP routing system.
(Sec. 4003) Includes as eligible retailers governmental or nonprofit food purchasing delivery services that serve elderly or disabled individuals who are unable to shop for food.
(Sec. 4004) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for the Indian reservation food distribution program.
Directs the Secretary to determine the feasibility of tribal administration of federal food assistance programs in lieu of state or other administrating entities. Obligates specified FY2014 funds for such study.
Directs the Secretary to pilot a demonstration project by awarding a grant to one or more tribal organizations authorized to administer the food distribution program on Indian reservations to purchase traditional foods and foods produced locally by Indian producers for distribution to recipients of foods distributed under the Indian reservation food distribution program.
(Sec. 4005) Excludes medical marijuana as an excess medical expense deduction.
(Sec. 4006) Requires a household to receive a low-income heating and energy assistance program payment of $20 or more annually in order to receive the SNAP utility allowance deduction.
Authorizes a state to delay implementation of this section for up to five months for households that currently receive such allowance.
(Sec. 4007) Limits SNAP eligibility for post secondary students to students participating in career and technical training programs that may be completed in not more than four years, including remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a second language.
(Sec. 4008) Disqualifies from SNAP eligibility any person who: (1) has been convicted of certain felonies on or after enactment of this Act, and (2) is not in compliance with the terms of the sentence for such felonies.
(Sec. 4009) Makes any household in which a member receives substantial lottery or gambling winnings ineligible for SNAP benefits until the household meets financial resources and income eligibility requirements.
(Sec. 4010) States that, if a household makes excessive requests for replacement of its EBT card, the Secretary may require a state agency to decline to issue a replacement card unless the household explains the card's loss. Requires states in implementing this practice to protect vulnerable persons.
(Sec. 4011) Requires pilot projects, which shall be completed by July 1, 2016, to test the feasibility of allowing qualifying retailers to accept SNAP benefits through mobile transactions and on-line transactions.
Requires the Secretary, by January 1, 2017, to: (1) authorize implementation of such projects in all states unless the Secretary makes a finding that implementation is not in the best interest of SNAP, and (2) report to Congress regarding the basis for any finding to not authorize.
(Sec. 4012) Authorizes the use of SNAP benefits for shares of community-supported agriculture.
(Sec. 4013) Requires states at the time of certification to data-match with the National Directory of New Hires for eligibility and benefit calculation purposes.
(Sec. 4014) Sets forth: (1) additional responsibilities for state agencies before restaurants may participate in a restaurant meals program, and (2) related reporting requirements.
(Sec. 4015) Requires a state agency to use: (1) an income and eligibility verification system, and (2) an immigration status verification system.
(Sec. 4016) Directs the Secretary to designate data exchange standards to govern:
(Sec. 4017) Requires the Secretary to carry out pilot projects to test innovative federal-state partnerships to reduce SNAP fraud by retail food stores and wholesale food concerns, including by allowing states to operate investigative programs. Requires at least one pilot project in a large urban area that administers its own SNAP program.
(Sec. 4018) Prohibits: (1) the use of federal funds to recruit SNAP recipients, and (2) recruitment activities by entities that receive SNAP funds.
(Sec. 4019) Sets: (1) $37 as the threshold level for reporting SNAP errors for FY2014, and (2) $37 adjusted for inflation (based on the growth of the cost of the thrifty food plan) in subsequent fiscal years.
(Sec. 4020) Eliminates the Secretary's authority to waive a state agency's responsibility to pay all or any portion of the liability for a state with a high payment error rate.
(Sec. 4021) Authorizes a state agency to use high performance bonus payments only to carry out SNAP, including investments in: (1) technology; (2) improvements in administration and distribution; and (3) actions to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
(Sec. 4022) Extends to 24 months the length of time that the Secretary shall reserve annual funding for state allocation for employment and training programs.
Directs the Secretary to establish up to 10 pilot projects to identify best practices for employment and training programs to increase the number of work registrants who obtain unsubsidized employment and reduce public assistance dependence.
Provides FY2014-FY2015 funding (which shall be available through FY2018).
Prescribes requirements for oversight and monitoring of employment and training activities.
Requires each state agency to report annually to the Secretary on its employment and training program, including the numbers of SNAP participants who have gained employment skills, training, work, or experience. Authorizes the Secretary to require a state agency to modify its plan to improve outcomes.
(Sec. 4023) Requires states, state agencies, local agencies, institutions, facilities such as data consortiums, and contractors participating in programs under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to cooperate with USDA officials and contractors in conducting evaluations and studies under this Act.
(Sec. 4024) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for SNAP and related programs.
(Sec. 4025) Directs the Secretary to review the provision of nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico in the form of cash benefits. Makes FY2014 funds available for such review and a report.
Phases out Puerto Rico's cash practice during FY2017-FY2021. Permits approval, however, of any assistance plan exempting participants, or categories of them, if discontinuation of benefits in the form of cash is likely to have significant adverse effects.
(Sec. 4026) Makes gleaners, public food program service providers, and tribal organizations eligible grantees to carry out community food projects.
Increases fiscal year total grant amounts beginning in FY2015.
Eliminates grants and contracts for: (1) the healthy urban food enterprise development center, and (2) innovative programs for addressing common community problems.
(Sec. 4027) Extends commodity purchase authority through FY2018 for the emergency food assistance program.
Makes annual commodity entitlement funding available for a two-fiscal year period.
Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for emergency food program infrastructure grants.
(Sec. 4028) Includes promotion of physical activity as part of the nutrition education and obesity prevention program.
(Sec. 4029) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018, and makes FY2014 funds available to supplement USDA retail food store and recipient program integrity activities and prevent store and recipient trafficking.
(Sec. 4031) Requires: (1) a study to assess the capabilities of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to operate the SNAP program in the same manner it is operated in the states, and alternative models that best meet CNMI needs; and (2) establishment of a pilot program if the study determines that it is feasible for the CNMI to operate a SNAP program as operated in the states.
Provides: (1) FY2014-FY2015 funding for such study, and (2) FY2016-FY2018 funding for any pilot program that may be established.
(Sec. 4032) Requires a state agency to report annually to the Secretary evidence that it has not issued SNAP benefits to: (1) a deceased individual, and (2) an individual who was permanently disqualified from receiving benefits. Reduces the federal share of administrative costs by up to 50% for noncompliance.
Requires the Secretary, after completion of a multi-state pilot program to test the prevention of duplicate SNAP participation, to assess the feasibility of expanding such program nationwide.
(Sec. 4033) Directs the Secretary and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA) to allow the donation to and serving of traditional food through food service programs at public facilities and nonprofit facilities (including facilities operated by Indian tribes and tribal organizations) that primarily serve Indians, if the operator of the food service program meets specified conditions.
Exempts the United States, an Indian tribe, and a tribal organization from civil liability for any damage, injury, or death caused by the donation to or serving of traditional foods through food service programs.
Subtitle B: Commodity Distribution Programs - (Sec. 4101) Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to extend the commodity distribution program through FY2018.
(Sec. 4102) Extends the commodity supplemental food program through FY2018.
Limits commodity supplemental food program eligibility to low-income persons 60 years or older. Permits persons under 60 years old currently being served by the program to remain in the program until they no longer meet eligibility requirements.
(Sec. 4103) Extends the distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition projects program through FY2018.
(Sec. 4104) Amends the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987 to authorize the Secretary to retain title to commodities delivered to a processor until such time as end products containing the commodities are delivered to a state distributing agency or to a recipient agency.
Subtitle C: Miscellaneous - (Sec. 4201) Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend through FY2018 the program for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions.
(Sec. 4202) Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Secretary to conduct a pilot project in not more than eight states participating in the national school lunch program to have additional flexibility by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from multiple suppliers and allowing for geographic preference.
Requires that at least one project be located in a state in:
(Sec. 4203) Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to provide CCC funding through FY2018 for the senior farmers' market nutrition program.
(Sec. 4204) Amends the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 to require the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, by the 2020 report and in each ensuing report, to include national nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for pregnant women and children from birth until the age of two.
(Sec. 4205) Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to direct the Secretary to: (1) establish in the office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services a multiagency task force to coordinate commodity programs; and (2) report annually to Congress on task force recommendations and policies implemented to improve such programs.
(Sec. 4206) Establishes a healthy food financing initiative to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities by providing loans and grants to fresh food retailers to overcome higher entry costs in such areas.
Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 4207) Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to: (1) provide for the increased purchase of Kosher and Halal food if such food is cost-neutral as compared to food that is not from food manufacturers with a Kosher or Halal certification, and (2) modify the labeling of the commodities list under the emergency food assistance program to enable Kosher and Halal food bank operators to identify which commodities to obtain from local food banks.
(Sec. 4208) Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to replace the hunger-free communities collaborative grant program with the food insecurity nutrition incentive grant program.
Limits federal cost share to 50%.
Gives priority to projects that:
States that such assistance shall not be considered part of a household's SNAP benefits.
Authorizes appropriations, and provides CCC funding, through FY2018.
(Sec. 4209) Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary, through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to administer a competitively awarded food and agriculture service learning grant program to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children.
Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 4210) Repeals the nutrition information and awareness pilot program.
(Sec. 4211) Declares null and void, upon the enactment of this Act, the memorandum of understanding (the Partnership for Nutrition Assistance Initiative) entered into on July 22, 2004, by the Secretary and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mexico.
(Sec. 4212) Directs the Secretary to evaluate sole-source contracts in federal nutrition programs and the effects of these contracts on program participation, program goals, nonprogram consumers, retailers, and free market dynamics.
(Sec. 4213) Directs the Secretary, in addition to the commodities delivered under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, to purchase eligible pulse crops (dry beans, dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas) and pulse crop products for the school lunch and school breakfast programs.
Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 4214) Directs the Secretary to:
Requires specified funding.
Title V: Credit - Subtitle A: Farm Ownership Loans - (Sec. 5001) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to allow: (1) additional legal entities to qualify for farm ownership loans, and (2) other acceptable experiences to qualify for the three-year farming eligibility requirement for direct loans.
Sets forth special owner-operator requirements for: (1) operating-only entities with at least 50% ownership, and (2) embedded entities with at least 75% family ownership.
(Sec. 5002) Authorizes appropriations through FY2018 for the conservation loan and loan guarantee program.
Allows additional legal entities to qualify for the program.
Increases loan guarantees to 80%. Provides a 90% guarantee for socially disadvantaged or beginning farmers or ranchers.
(Sec. 5003) Revises the interest rate for joint financing arrangements to: (1) the difference between 2% and the interest rate for farm ownership loans, or (2) 2.5%.
(Sec. 5004) Eliminates the appraisal requirement for inclusion of mineral rights in collateral for a farm ownership loan.
(Sec. 5005) Increases the maximum down payment loan from 45% of $500,000 to 45% of $667,000.
Subtitle B: Operating Loans - (Sec. 5101) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to allow additional legal entities to qualify for farm operating loans.
Sets forth special owner-operator requirements for embedded entities with at least 75% family ownership.
(Sec. 5102) Eliminates the rural residency requirement for operating loans to youth.
(Sec. 5103) Authorizes the Secretary to waive the personal liability of a youth borrower for a loan due to circumstances beyond the borrower's control.
States that debt forgiveness does not affect eligibility for federal educational loans or other federal agency loans.
(Sec. 5104) Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the impact of term limits on direct loan borrowers.
(Sec. 5105) Directs the Secretary to develop ways to determine unit prices for crops and other agricultural products intended to be in locally or regionally produced agricultural food products in order to facilitate lending to local and regional food producers.
(Sec. 5106) Authorizes a micro loan program for direct or guaranteed loans with a maximum micro loan of $50,000 per borrower.
Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a FY2014-FY2018 pilot project for loans to community development financial institutions to: (1) make or guarantee microloans; and (2) provide microloan borrowers with business, financial, marketing, and credit management services.