Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024

The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 reforms and continues U.S. Department of Agriculture programs through fiscal year 2029. It covers commodity support, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, horticulture, crop insurance, and miscellaneous provisions.

Title I, Commodities: Updates commodity policy for base acres, payment yields, price loss coverage, and agriculture risk coverage; extends marketing loan rates and nonrecourse loans through 2029; modifies sugar and dairy programs, including dairy margin coverage and a dairy products donation program; reauthorizes disaster assistance and the noninsured crop assistance program; suspends permanent price support authority through 2029; and makes foreign persons ineligible for certain program benefits.

Title II, Conservation: Amends wetland conservation, the Conservation Reserve Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Conservation Stewardship Program; addresses watershed protection, emergency conservation, private grazing land, and source water protection; provides funding and administrative rules; and modifies the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Title III, Trade: Amends the Food for Peace Act to update agricultural commodity provisions and assistance levels; modifies the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to preserve foreign markets for common-name goods and improve infrastructure; and updates other trade laws including Food for Progress, the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, and programs to promote exports and food security.

Title IV, Nutrition: Modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to ensure transparency in the thrifty food plan and adjust income exclusions; updates the Emergency Food Assistance Program with farm-to-food bank projects and culturally relevant foods; and adjusts commodity distribution programs and the senior farmers' market nutrition program.

Title V, Credit: Modifies farm ownership loans to adjust experience requirements and create a conservation and precision agriculture loan program; updates operating loan limits and microloans; revises emergency loan factors; provides for distressed borrowers and a beginning farmer pilot program; and adjusts loan authorization levels and set-asides.

Title VI, Rural Development: Improves rural healthcare and childcare access; establishes rural partnership program grants and the Rural Partners Network; expands rural broadband through the ReConnect Program and middle mile infrastructure; amends the Rural Electrification Act for bonds and 911 access; and provides water, waste disposal, and distance learning grants.

Title VII, Research, Extension, and Related Matters: Updates the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act for advisory boards and specialty crop committees; amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act for biological applications and sustainable agriculture; modifies the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act for food safety and competitive grants; addresses agricultural biosecurity and the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network; and supports the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and heirs property legal clinics.

Title VIII, Forestry: Modernizes forest inventory and data collection; manages forest health through hazardous fuel reduction and invasive species protection; supports state and private forest partnerships and timber innovation grants; establishes agroforestry centers and a rural forest market investment program; designates specific wilderness and recreation areas; and addresses urban forestry and rural revitalization technologies.

Title IX, Energy: Defines terms and continues the biobased markets program, biorefinery assistance, the bioenergy program for advanced biofuels, biodiesel education, and the Rural Energy for America Program.

Title X, Horticulture: Allocates specialty crops market news; establishes food loss and waste process verification; continues the Local Agriculture Market Program and local food purchase agreements; and creates an organic market development grant.

Title XI, Crop Insurance: Enhances subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers; expands area-based premium subsidies and performance discounts; improves producer accessibility and whole farm insurance; updates agent incentives and options; adds specialty crop insurance policies; ensures program integrity through actuarial soundness and data reporting; and addresses native sod and technical amendments.

Title XII, Miscellaneous: Addresses animal disease prevention and sheep production grants; supports historically underserved producers through training and civil rights accountability; amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act for cost-benefit analyses and customer experience; strengthens agriculture and food defense through foreign investment disclosure and cybersecurity risk assessment; and includes provisions for maple research, animal shelter protection, the Beagle Brigade, dog importation, and veterinary medicine loan repayment.