COST SHARING PAYMENTS RELATING TO TREES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERBELTS, AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.

SEC. 2109. COST SHARING PAYMENTS RELATING TO TREES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERBELTS, AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS. Section 1234(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraph:“(3) Trees, windbreaks, shelterbelts, and wildlife corridors.—“(A) Applicability.—This paragraph applies to—“(i) land devoted to the production of hardwood trees, windbreaks, shelterbelts, or wildlife corridors under a contract entered into under this subchapter after November 28, 1990;“(ii) land converted to such production under section 1235A; and“(iii) land on which an owner or operator agrees to conduct thinning authorized by section 1232(a)(9), if the thinning is necessary to improve the condition of resources on the land.“(B) Payments.—“(i) Percentage.—In making cost share payments to an owner or operator of land described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall pay 50 percent of the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the owner or operator for maintaining trees or shrubs, including the cost of replanting (if the trees or shrubs were lost due to conditions beyond the control of the owner or operator) or thinning.“(ii) Duration.—The Secretary shall make payments as described in clause (i) for a period of not less than 2 years, but not more than 4 years, beginning on the date of—“(I) the planting of the trees or shrubs; or“(II) the thinning of existing stands to improve the condition of resources on the land.”.