Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023

The Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 establishes a new USDA pilot program (2025-2031) targeting dissolved reactive phosphorus pollution in specific waterways like the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. It directs the Natural Resources Conservation Service to create action plans for designated "priority watersheds," prioritizing practices that reduce phosphorus runoff from farms - such as changing manure handling or managing high-phosphorus soils - and offering incentive payments based on measurable reductions. The program directly affects farmers and agricultural landowners in these priority watersheds, supplementing existing conservation programs without replacing them. Key mechanisms include requiring data-driven action plans, coordinating with state water quality plans, and mandating annual reports to Congress on implementation progress.