RANCH Act

This bill would create a federal ranchland program run by the Secretary of Agriculture. Owners and operators could enroll cropland farmed in at least 4 of the past 6 years under 10- to 15-year contracts that require planting perennial grass and forb cover and following an approved grazing plan. Enrolled landowners would receive annual rent equal to 75 percent of the county average dryland cash rent, plus cost-sharing and incentive payments for planting cover, with payments capped at $155,000 per person per year. Up to 20 million acres could be enrolled, and when a contract ends the land would be automatically moved into a Conservation Reserve Program grassland contract unless the owner opts out.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mike Rounds Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors