Summary

Makes changes to federal conservation programs to prioritize soil health, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction planning; expands allowable on‑farm trials to include perennial production systems; strengthens Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contract priorities, payments, and renewal rules; explicitly includes Tribal governments as eligible third‑party technical providers and adds soil health and related planning topics; and creates a permanent national agroforestry research and demonstration center in Lincoln, Nebraska with additional regional centers and grant authority.

• Adds a statutory definition of "resource concern" and inserts climate and greenhouse gas planning into conservation program language.
• Explicitly adds perennial production systems (including agroforestry and perennial grains) to eligible on‑farm conservation trials and payment programs.
• Refocuses the Conservation Stewardship Program on active management, soil health, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas reductions, and creates a discretionary early renewal pathway.
• Expands payment categories to explicitly cover income‑forgone items and conversions to conservation or perennial systems, and requires soil testing outreach and payments.
• Recognizes Tribal governments as eligible third‑party technical providers and adds soil health, GHG reduction, agroforestry, and organic transition planning to technical assistance topics.
• Creates a National Agroforestry Research, Development, and Demonstration Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, requires at least three regional centers, and authorizes regional grant programs.
• Directs Forest Service (with NRCS coordination) to appoint a National Director and Regional Directors for agroforestry centers and broadens research priorities beyond semiarid lands.
• Authorizes program expansions and new centers but does not specify appropriations—implementation will require future funding and administrative action.