A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide payments for alternative manure management practices under the environmental quality incentives program, and for other purposes.

S5309 was introduced in the Senate on August 6, 2026, by Sen. Padilla (D-CA) with original cosponsors Sens. Heinrich (D-NM) and Schiff (D-CA). It has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize payments under EQIP for alternative manure management practices.

The money trail: EQIP is an authorized program under the Farm Bill with annual appropriated funds. This bill expands the definition of eligible practices to include alternative manure management (e.g., anaerobic digesters, composting). It does not authorize new funding; rather, it reallocates existing EQIP resources. Actual adoption depends on USDA rulemaking and appropriations levels. The Congressional Budget Office would score costs if the bill advances.

Structural winners: Equipment manufacturers that supply manure handling and processing equipment. Deere & Company is the largest publicly traded farm equipment maker with a full line of manure spreaders, loaders, and separators. Increased cost-share reduces farmer capital outlay, which historically lifts equipment demand. The bill's current early stage and lack of explicit funding dampens immediate impact.

Timeline: Next steps include committee hearings and markup, potential floor consideration, and then House passage or companion bill. Given the sponsors' seniority (Padilla and Schiff are not committee chairs) and only two cosponsors, passage is uncertain. Near-term market catalysts are low.