Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

The bill would amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to make two sets of changes. First, under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), it would raise advance cost-sharing payment options for farmers: up to 75 percent of the cost of farmland rehabilitation or replacement of a farmland or conservation structure (before carrying out the work), and up to 50 percent of the cost of repairs. Current law limits advance payments to 25 percent of fencing repair or replacement costs. The bill would also extend ECP eligibility to damage from non-naturally caused wildfires — including those started by the federal government — as long as the damage results from the natural spread of the fire.

Second, under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), the bill would create a new advance payment option allowing owners of nonindustrial private forest land to receive up to 75 percent of emergency measure costs before carrying out the work. Recipients would be required to spend the funds within 180 days of receiving them, or return any unspent balance within a reasonable timeframe set by the Secretary.

Agricultural producers (farmers) whose farmland, fencing, or conservation structures are damaged by natural disasters or qualifying wildfires, and owners of nonindustrial private forest land — that is, small private timber and forest landowners who do not operate industrial-scale forestry businesses — impacted by natural disasters. Both groups must be eligible for their respective USDA cost-sharing programs to benefit.

Under current law, farmers can only receive a 25 percent advance on fencing costs, and forest landowners cannot receive any advance at all. The changes would let affected producers access significantly more upfront cash before completing repairs, reducing the financial strain of fronting large restoration costs after a disaster. The wildfire eligibility expansion could benefit producers in areas affected by fires started by federal land management operations or other human causes.

The Secretary of Agriculture would administer both programs. For ECP advances, the Secretary would determine fair market value of the proposed repair, replacement, or rehabilitation and offer the advance option to qualifying producers. For EFRP advances, the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Field Office Technical Guide cost estimates for each state would set the baseline for the 75 percent advance calculation. The Secretary would also determine what constitutes a "reasonable timeframe" for returning unspent EFRP advance funds after the 180-day expenditure window closes. No new rulemaking timeline is specified in the bill.