Sustainable Agriculture Act of 2023 – Section 172

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Sustainable Agriculture Act of 2023 – Section 172

Direct Link to the Bill: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119s1713is

Section 172. Producers’ Tools and Data Collection

The Secretary shall provide technical assistance, including through internet-based tools, based on the analysis conducted in carrying out this section and other sources of relevant data, to assist producers in improving sustainable production practices that increase yields and enhance environmental outcomes.

Funding and Administration

The Secretary shall use the existing funds and authorities of the Department to carry out this section.

Effect on Privacy Protection Laws

Nothing in this section affects the applicability to this section of—

section 1770;
section 1619 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8791);
section 502(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(c));
section 552a of title 5, United States Code; or
any other applicable privacy law that protects personally identifiable information of producers.

Funding and Administration (continued)

Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to compel a producer—

to provide data to the Department;
to receive technical assistance.

This legislation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for official government sources or advice.

Reporting

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that includes—

a summary of the analysis conducted under this section;
the number and regions of producers that voluntarily provided data under subsection (c)(4);
a description of any additional or new activities planned to be conducted under this section in the next fiscal year, including—

research relating to any additional conservation practices;
any new types of data to be collected;
any improved or streamlined data collection efforts associated with this section; and
any new research projects;

a summary of the procedures for the operation and use of the secure data center under subsection (c)(6), including procedures for protecting the security and confidentiality of proprietary producer data; and

<li,in the case of the first 2 reports submitted under this subsection, a description of the current status of the implementation of activities under subsection (c).