COWS Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 5875

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Last Updated

2026-06-04T08:08:05Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act of 2025 (COWS Act) aims to expand and reform U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to promote sustainable manure management on farms. It focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (like methane and nitrous oxide from livestock waste), improving soil and water quality, and supporting environmentally friendly farming practices. The bill draws inspiration from California's successful Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), which has funded 195 projects reducing 1.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, and extends similar efforts nationwide through fiscal year 2029.

Key Provisions

• New Definitions and Eligible Practices:
• Adds "composting practice" to the Food Security Act of 1985, defined as creating compost from on-farm or nearby community organic waste, including its use to boost soil health and water retention (must comply with federal, state, and local laws).
• Defines "alternative manure management practices" as methods to cut emissions and pollution, such as rotational grazing (rotating livestock across pastures for better grass management), compost-bedded barns (where manure is composted in animal housing), and technologies like solid separation or solar drying to avoid liquid storage that produces methane.
• Funding and Payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
• Allows payments up to 100% of costs for planning, installation, and maintenance of these practices, with at least 50% paid in advance for materials, equipment, or technical help.
• Contracts limited to 3 years.
• Prioritizes state-determined high-priority practices that increase carbon storage in soil or reduce emissions.
• Application Prioritization:
• USDA must rank applications based on benefits like carbon sequestration (storing carbon in soil), emission cuts, and improvements in water quality and public health.
• Ensures diversity: Supports small and medium-sized dairy/livestock farms, geographic spread, and operations with a history of conservation.
• Allows "cluster applications" where groups of farmers apply jointly for shared facilities (e.g., a community composting site), with payments split among participants.
• Targets most contracts to small/mid-sized operations, including beginners, those with limited resources, and socially disadvantaged farmers (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, or gender).
• USDA Duties:
• Publish estimates for emission reductions from each practice.
• Identify eligible farms (e.g., those using liquid manure storage that causes high emissions).
• Provide technical assistance, training, and partnerships with experts; review and update conservation standards if needed.
• Payment Limits and Innovations:
• USDA can waive standard payment caps (e.g., $450,000 lifetime limit per person) for these projects if needed to meet goals, but may set separate limits.
• Includes these practices in programs for innovative conservation approaches.
• Technical Standards:
• Within 1 year of enactment, USDA must review and create a new standard for on-farm composting to support waste-to-compost conversion.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 (which funds EQIP and other conservation programs) by inserting new definitions, expanding eligible practices, and adding specific rules for manure management—previously, EQIP covered grazing and waste systems broadly but lacked targeted support for composting or emission-focused alternatives.
• Introduces advanced payments and waivers not previously emphasized for these practices, making funding more accessible.
• Shifts prioritization from general criteria (e.g., soil erosion control) to include explicit focus on climate benefits like emission reductions, with new procedures for joint applications and equity for underserved farmers.
• Mandates new composting standards, building on existing ones for facilities and soil amendments.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: USDA will administer more targeted grants and technical support, potentially increasing short-term costs but aligning with national climate goals (e.g., reducing farm-related emissions, which contribute about 10% of U.S. total). This could streamline program delivery through partnerships with experts.
• On Citizens: Livestock farmers gain financial incentives to adopt eco-friendly methods, lowering operational costs long-term (e.g., turning waste into fertilizer) and creating healthier soils for better crop yields. Rural communities benefit from reduced air pollution and groundwater contamination; underserved farmers get prioritized access, promoting equity in agriculture.
• On International Relations: Indirectly supports U.S. commitments under global climate agreements (e.g., Paris Accord) by cutting agricultural emissions, enhancing America's leadership in sustainable farming without direct foreign policy changes.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Farmers and Ranchers: Especially small/mid-sized dairy and livestock operations, including beginners, limited-resource producers, and socially disadvantaged groups (e.g., women, minorities in farming).
• USDA and Related Agencies: Responsible for implementation, funding allocation, and standard-setting under EQIP.
• Environmental and Community Groups: Benefit from emission reductions and improved local air/water quality; may partner in technical assistance.
• Livestock Industry: Gains tools for sustainable practices, potentially reducing regulatory pressures on emissions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Builds on existing farm bill authority (e.g., EQIP under the 2018 Farm Bill) without creating new programs, ensuring smooth integration; emphasizes compliance with environmental laws, reducing litigation risks over pollution.
• Constitutional: Relies on Congress's power to regulate agriculture and spend on conservation (Article I, Section 8), with no apparent free speech or property rights issues.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and Republicans) signals broad support for climate-friendly farming amid debates on agriculture's environmental role; could set precedent for extending farm programs beyond 2029, influencing reauthorizations and equity-focused policies in rural America.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
• 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
• 2025-10-31: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-10-31: Introduced in House
• 2025-10-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-31 — PDF (13 pages)