The Rebuilding America's National Cow Herd Act creates a new federal program that pays landowners and farmers to convert cropland into pasture for cattle grazing. Eligible participants must have land that was actively farmed for at least four of the previous six years, and they agree to restore it with perennial grasses and native plants for grazing use under a contract lasting ten to fifteen years. The program offers three types of payments: annual rental payments equal to 75 percent of the typical local crop rental rate, cost-sharing payments covering half the expense of planting native grasses, and additional incentive payments for using high-quality seed mixes or for beginning farmers and ranchers. The program prioritizes beginning farmers, those with existing livestock operations, land prone to erosion, and properties that support wildlife habitat, with enrollment capped at 20 million acres nationwide. The bill allows landowners to earn up to $155,000 annually per person and requires the Department of Agriculture to provide technical assistance for grazing management plans and monitor the restored grasslands throughout each contract period.
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