Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill would do:** This legislation aims to reduce carbon emissions from American agriculture by requiring the USDA to create and implement a plan to achieve net-zero emissions from the agricultural sector by 2040. The bill would expand existing USDA programs related to research, education, conservation, and livestock management to focus more on climate change solutions. It also modifies rural renewable energy programs to better address agricultural emissions, including a new focus on reducing methane from livestock waste. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily impacts farmers, ranchers, agricultural researchers, and rural communities.
It would also affect USDA operations and budget priorities, as the department would need to dedicate resources to implementing these new climate-focused initiatives. **Key provisions:** Major elements include establishing soil health improvements, farmland and grassland preservation efforts, expansion of the AgSTAR program (which reduces methane emissions from livestock), and yearly progress reports on meeting the 2040 net-zero goal. The bill requires USDA to periodically review and update its implementation plan. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (S 1507 in the 119th Congress), sponsored by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025 This bill establishes, expands, and revises multiple programs and activities of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) primarily to reduce carbon emissions from the agricultural sector.Specifically, USDA must finalize and implement a plan to achieve net-zero emissions from the sector by 2040. USDA must periodically review and revise the plan, as necessary, and annually report on its implementation.Additionally, the bill expands the scope of various USDA research, extension, and education programs; conservation programs; and livestock programs to incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation. Expanded activities include efforts to improve soil health and preserve farmland and grassland.Further, the bill changes programs that support renewable energy in rural areas to address carbon emissions in the agricultural sector. Among these changes, the bill provides statutory authority for the AgSTAR program for reducing methane emissions from livestock waste and requires the program to be moved from the Environmental Protection Agency to USDA.The bill also addresses food waste, for example, by (1) standardizing the voluntary labels used by food producers to indicate the date by which food should be used or discarded, and (2) making composting activities eligible for support through USDA conservation programs. Moreover, the bill establishes grants to reduce and prevent food waste in landfills and in schools.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.