Support Water-Efficient Strategies and Technologies Act of 2023

This bill increases financial support for farmers and ranchers adopting water-saving agricultural practices. It allows the USDA to pay up to 85% of costs for drought-resilient or water-conserving methods, such as reducing irrigation use or improving rainwater absorption on eligible land. It also expands eligibility for payments to include perennial production systems (like agroforestry and perennial crops) and adds requirements to enhance soil health through outreach and soil testing. Payments are capped at $200,000 over any five-year period per farm operation. The changes apply to existing USDA conservation programs under the Food Security Act of 1985.