“To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 with respect to the tree assistance program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), which provides cost-share payments to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, shrubs, or vines damaged by natural disasters, insects, diseases, or other qualifying events, as follows: (1) expanding the definition of eligible production to include biennial crops (previously annual only) and eligible tree loss due to pests (in addition to insects); (2) broadening the economic viability standard to include trees that no longer produce an economically viable crop regardless of production history (previously required specified production thresholds) and striking the prior alternative crops provision; (3) authorizing the Secretary to modify or waive acreage limitations on assistance; (4) requiring replanting or rehabilitation activities within two years of approval notice (or longer if needed for tree survival); (5) permitting assistance for replanting with alternative tree varieties, stand densities, or locations, subject to cost-share limits not exceeding amounts for the original specifications; and (6) requiring the Secretary to approve or deny applications and notify applicants within 120 days.