S. 629: Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025, aims to improve the current Emergency Conservation Program established under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978. Here are the key points about what the bill proposes:

Amendments to the Emergency Conservation Program

The bill amends the existing Emergency Conservation Program by:

• Expanding the types of support available for agricultural producers by adding "other emergency conservation measures" alongside existing support for fencing.
• Allowing agricultural producers to receive financial assistance upfront before carrying out repairs, replacements, or restorations due to emergencies, specifically allowing:
  • 75% of the cost of replacement before it's done.
  • 50% of the cost for repairs or restorations before they're carried out.
• Extending the application period for financial assistance from 60 days to 180 days, giving producers more time to apply for funds.

Clarification on Wildfire Damage

The bill clarifies that damage from wildfires eligible for assistance includes:

• Wildfires caused by human actions if the spread of the fire occurs due to natural causes.
• Wildfires that are caused by Federal Government actions.

Enhancements to the Emergency Forest Restoration Program

Changes are also made to the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, including:

• Expanding the definition of wildfires in program eligibility to include both naturally and non-naturally caused wildfires, as well as wildfires caused by federal actions.
• Establishing a provision allowing owners of nonindustrial private forest land to receive up to 75% of the costs for emergency measures before implementation, similar to the provisions for agricultural producers.
• Requiring that any funds not spent within 180 days of receipt be returned, ensuring timely use of provided resources.

Overall, this bill seeks to streamline access to financial assistance for farmers and forest landowners dealing with emergency situations caused by wildfires or other urgent conservation needs, thereby encouraging quicker recovery and restoration efforts.

Relevant Companies

• DE (Deere & Company): Deere may be impacted due to its role in providing machinery and technology for agricultural restoration and maintenance.
• ADM (Archer-Daniels-Midland Company): As a major agricultural processor, ADM could be affected by changes in agricultural producer operations due to the availability of emergency funds.