“To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research and development with respect to winter canola, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states the purposes of the Act, including (1) ensuring growth of clean and sustainable feedstocks via new crop insurance products for double-cropping systems, (2) recognizing the regional importance and benefits of winter canola grown rotationally or as a double-crop, and (3) investing in lower carbon-intensity renewable fuels such as those from winter canola to provide sustainable fuels, create jobs, enhance rural communities, and bolster national security; and declares congressional findings that winter canola improves farm economics, serves as a feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and jet biofuel, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 50% compared to conventional fuels, and expands renewable fuel feedstocks without new land.
This section directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development—or enter into contracts for such—on including covered oilseed crops (rapeseed and canola requiring vernalization and planted on otherwise idle rotational land) under double cropping and rotational cropping policies. The research, conducted in consultation with stakeholders, must evaluate (1) factors impacting crop insurance availability and cost from such inclusion and (2) potential risk management benefits, including to soil health, biodiversity, and farm profitability; contracts may emphasize qualified persons with prior experience on these crops and access to research facilities.
This section (1) authorizes $10 million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029 for the supplemental and alternative crops research program (i.e., a National Institute of Food and Agriculture initiative to develop crops such as canola for agronomic rotation and pollinator habitat); and (2) adds to the program's authorized activities an examination of potential benefits and opportunities for supplemental and alternative crops, including winter rapeseed and winter canola.
This section directs the Corporation to submit to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, not later than 13 months after enactment, a report describing (1) the results of research and development carried out under the amendments made by section 3, and (2) recommendations with respect to those results.