Sponsors (5)
The bill makes it materially easier and cheaper for many farmers—particularly small and disadvantaged operations—to adopt alternative manure management that can cut emissions, improve soil and local water/air quality, and build shared infrastructure, while increasing federal spending and creating implementation, oversight, and equity risks that could limit environmental effectiveness or unevenly distribute benefits.
Farmers — especially those adopting new manure-management practices — can receive substantial federal payments and up-front cost coverage that lower or eliminate capital and cash‑flow barriers to switching practices.
Farm operations and nearby communities can see reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased soil carbon and soil health from broader adoption of on‑farm composting and alternative manure management practices.
Communities near livestock operations may experience improved local air and water quality (less odor, pathogens, and nutrient runoff) as producers replace lagoons or improve manure handling.
Taxpayers could face materially higher federal outlays as the bill expands eligible practices, increases payment caps/advance payments, and funds technical assistance and program administration.
Smaller, limited‑resource, or remote producers may still struggle to access funds or implement practices despite prioritization, risking uneven adoption and benefits across regions and operations.
New ranking systems, standards, deadlines, and program features increase administrative complexity and could strain USDA capacity, slowing awards, increasing costs, or producing rushed guidance.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
Adds composting and alternative manure management to USDA conservation practice lists and authorizes payments (including up to 100% of costs and advance payments) with prioritization for small/mid-sized producers.
Official title: To provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2029, and for other purposes.
Introduced October 31, 2025 by Jim Costa · Last progress October 31, 2025
Amends USDA conservation authorities in the Food Security Act to explicitly add composting and a set of “alternative manure management practices” as eligible conservation practices, and creates targeted financial and technical support to deploy those practices. The bill authorizes payments to cover planning, equipment, installation, training, and maintenance (up to 100% of costs in some cases), requires advance payment of at least 50% for certain costs, sets contract terms up to three years, and directs USDA to prioritize awards to small and mid-sized livestock and dairy operations, beginning and limited‑resource producers, and cluster projects for shared facilities. The measure also requires USDA to develop practice standards and carbon/GHG estimation factors for composting and other manure alternatives, allows limited waiver of payment limits for alternative manure contracts, and establishes application ranking criteria to maximize carbon sequestration, GHG reductions, water quality, and public health benefits while promoting geographic and scale diversity.