Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024

This bill reforms and continues U.S. Department of Agriculture programs through fiscal year 2029, covering commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, horticulture, crop insurance, and miscellaneous provisions.

Title I, Commodities: Updates reference prices for commodity support programs, offers a one-time opportunity to add base acres, allows producer elections for price loss coverage and agriculture risk coverage through 2029, modifies marketing loan rates and repayment rates for cotton and rice, adjusts sugar loan rates and storage rates, modernizes beet sugar allotments, reallocates tariff rate quota shortfalls, clarifies tariff rate quota adjustments, changes dairy margin coverage production history and premium tiers, mandates reporting of dairy processing costs, adjusts the Class I skim milk price formula, extends certain dairy programs, and requires annual dairy reports. It also revises livestock indemnity payment rates, adjusts emergency assistance for honeybees, modifies the tree assistance program, and includes administrative provisions on payment limitations and storage facility loans.

Title II, Conservation: Defines terms, reauthorizes the Conservation Reserve Program with partnership initiatives, updates the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program, addresses other conservation programs like feral swine eradication and source water protection, provides funding and administration rules, establishes an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, a Forest Conservation Easement Program, and a Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and repeals superseded authorities.

Title III, Trade: Amends the Food for Peace Act to ensure food aid quality and minimum assistance levels, updates the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 for trade promotion and preserving foreign markets, and modifies other trade laws including the Growing American Food Exports program and the Food for Progress Act.

Title IV, Nutrition: Modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by updating income exclusions, earned income deductions, and employment training referrals, and adjusts commodity distribution programs including a demonstration project for Tribal organizations, and includes miscellaneous provisions on fresh fruit purchases and a food box pilot program.

Title V, Credit: Revises farm ownership loan eligibility and experience requirements, updates operating loan limits and microloan amounts, establishes cooperative lending pilot projects, modifies emergency loan eligibility, and includes administrative provisions for beginning farmer accounts and loan fund set-asides.

Title VI, Rural Development: Prioritizes distance learning and telemedicine programs, expands rural broadband loans and grants, includes middle mile infrastructure and innovative broadband programs, reauthorizes regional commissions, promotes precision agriculture, provides food supply chain loans and meat processing grants, and amends water and wastewater facility grants and rural electrification programs.

Title VII, Research, Extension, and Related Matters: Updates the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, specialty crop committee, and veterinary medicine loan repayment, reauthorizes sustainable agriculture research, the National Genetics Resources Program, and organic research, and includes provisions on food safety training, grazinglands research, and the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.

Title VIII, Forestry: Supports state forest resource assessments, the Forest Legacy Program, and landscape-scale restoration, promotes cross-boundary wildfire mitigation and hazardous fuel reduction, establishes National and Regional Agroforestry Centers, and includes management provisions for giant sequoias and rural revitalization technologies.

Title IX, Energy: Defines advanced biofuel, reauthorizes the biobased markets program, biorefinery assistance, and bioenergy programs, and includes a biodiesel education program and rural energy programs.

Title X, Horticulture, Marketing, and Regulatory Reform: Addresses plant pest management, specialty crop block grants, urban agriculture, marketing orders, organic certification, and regulatory reform including pesticide labeling and state authority.

Title XI, Crop Insurance: Establishes a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee, requires identification of substantial interest holders, ensures actuarial soundness of new products, and enhances coverage for revenue losses.

Title XII, Miscellaneous Provisions: Covers animal disease prevention, the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, and dog detection training, reorganizes Department of Agriculture offices, improves agricultural foreign investment disclosure, addresses national security concerns, and includes provisions on the thrifty food plan, dietary guidelines, and a commission on farm transitions.