The Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act of 2024 amends the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 to establish a comprehensive framework for assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of federal conservation programs. The bill creates a conservation effects assessment project to quantify environmental and economic impacts of conservation practices and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to identify specific natural resource objectives for major conservation programs, including the Conservation Stewardship Program and agricultural conservation easement programs. It requires the Secretary to establish a coordinated monitoring and evaluation process using up to 1 percent of annual conservation program funding, with oversight from a national technical committee that includes federal agencies, state and tribal representatives, universities, nongovernmental organizations, and farmers. The bill also mandates biennial reporting to Congress on conservation outcomes and requires voluntary on-farm monitoring activities with potential producer compensation.
