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Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-2479| Senate 
| Updated: 7/25/2023
Alex Padilla

Alex Padilla

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (3)
Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023 This bill establishes an alternative manure management program for eligible dairy and livestock producers and provides specified funds to the program for FY2024 through FY2028. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an alternative manure management program to award producers contracts to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Producers must implement management measures that include adopting pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage practices; a solid separation system (or installing a new, higher efficiency solid separation system); or scrape technologies, including vacuum technologies. USDA may provide a 100% federal cost share. Further, the bill caps the maximum payment to a person or legal entity in any five-year period at $825,000. USDA must prioritize contracts to entities that address public health concerns (e.g., air quality and water quality) associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities. Further, USDA must ensure geographical diversity when awarding contracts. USDA must also use a majority of the program's funds for small and mid-sized dairy and livestock operations, including beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The bill also includes composting practices as eligible projects under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. Finally, USDA must review practice standards for composting facilities and soil carbon amendments (e.g., compost) and develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost.
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Timeline
Jul 25, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Jul 25, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3525-3526)
Aug 21, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-4327
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
  • July 25, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 25, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3525-3526)


  • August 21, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-4327
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • S 118-1016: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023
  • HR 118-4327: Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023
Agricultural conservation and pollutionAgricultural practices and innovationsClimate change and greenhouse gasesFarmlandLivestockMammals

Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-2479| Senate 
| Updated: 7/25/2023
Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023 This bill establishes an alternative manure management program for eligible dairy and livestock producers and provides specified funds to the program for FY2024 through FY2028. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an alternative manure management program to award producers contracts to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Producers must implement management measures that include adopting pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage practices; a solid separation system (or installing a new, higher efficiency solid separation system); or scrape technologies, including vacuum technologies. USDA may provide a 100% federal cost share. Further, the bill caps the maximum payment to a person or legal entity in any five-year period at $825,000. USDA must prioritize contracts to entities that address public health concerns (e.g., air quality and water quality) associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities. Further, USDA must ensure geographical diversity when awarding contracts. USDA must also use a majority of the program's funds for small and mid-sized dairy and livestock operations, including beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The bill also includes composting practices as eligible projects under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. Finally, USDA must review practice standards for composting facilities and soil carbon amendments (e.g., compost) and develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 25, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Jul 25, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3525-3526)
Aug 21, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-4327
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
  • July 25, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 25, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3525-3526)


  • August 21, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-4327
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Alex Padilla

Alex Padilla

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (3)
Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • S 118-1016: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023
  • HR 118-4327: Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Agricultural conservation and pollutionAgricultural practices and innovationsClimate change and greenhouse gasesFarmlandLivestockMammals