Jeff Hurd (R-CO)
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to consider certain acreage not planted due to a lack of irrigation water to be eligible for prevented planting payments, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make certain unplanted farm acreage eligible for prevented planting payments when there is a lack of irrigation water. To qualify, producers must have reasonably expected insufficient irrigation water, and the land must have functional irrigation infrastructure. Additionally, the land must have been irrigated and planted with the same crop in one of the previous four years when water was sufficient. The land must also be unable to support dryland farming for that specific crop. Payments will be reduced over time if the lack of planting continues for multiple consecutive years. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary to revise specific federal regulations regarding drought conditions and disaster determinations.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill makes unplanted farm acreage due to a lack of irrigation water eligible for prevented planting payments.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill supports agricultural communities facing water shortages by expanding eligibility for prevented planting payments.
- Scored +5
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill revises federal regulations regarding drought conditions and disaster determinations to better assist farmers affected by water scarcity.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 1(b) ensures that producers on a farm who cannot plant crops due to a lack of irrigation water can still be considered eligible for prevented planting payments, helping farmers who face water shortages.
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Section 1(d)(1) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to revise regulations so that a lack of water resulting from drought conditions includes a lack of water at the source of an irrigation supply, which could make it easier to qualify for assistance during droughts.
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Section 1(d)(2) requires the Commodity Credit Corporation to consult with Farm Service Agency county committees and State technical committees when determining natural disasters, giving local experts a voice in the process.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 1(c)(1)(A) reduces payment amounts by 50 percent for the fifth through eighth consecutive crop years of not planting due to this issue, which lowers financial support for long-term water shortages.
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Section 1(c)(1)(B) reduces payment amounts by 75 percent for the ninth and tenth consecutive crop years, further cutting down financial help for affected producers.
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Section 1(c)(1)(C) and Section 1(c)(2) completely eliminate payments by 100 percent for the eleventh consecutive crop year and permanently strip away eligibility for payments for those acres going forward.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill makes unplanted farm acreage due to a lack of irrigation water eligible for prevented planting payments. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The legislation directly aids agricultural producers and rural areas impacted by drought and water shortages.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill revises federal regulations regarding drought conditions and disaster determinations to better assist farmers affected by water scarcity. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill supports agricultural communities facing water shortages by expanding eligibility for prevented planting payments.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill requires consultation with State technical committees when determining natural disasters. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates consultation with local Farm Service Agency county committees and State technical committees for disaster determinations.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides agricultural producers with prevented planting payments when facing a lack of irrigation water.
- 9/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Gabe EvansRepublican · Colorado