; and (B) not less than 5 percent shall be provided to producers who participate in an independent animal welfare certification program. (2) Independent animal welfare certification program In this subsection, the term independent animal welfare certification program means an entity approved by the Secretary of Agriculture that uses qualified third-party on-farm auditors to routinely assess a producer’s 100-percent compliance with specific animal welfare standards exceeding industry standards (based on industry guidelines), subject to the following conditions: (A) The standards’ protocols are made public. (B) The standards include, at a minimum, provisions for space allowance, environmental enrichment and ability to engage in natural behaviors, pain control and physical alternations, handling, and responsible antibiotic use. (C) Routine caging, crating or tethering of animals is prohibited. (D) Auditors have no vested or financial interest in audit outcomes. (E) Auditors possess a background in animal welfare science or have received equivalent training, and are able to recognize, review, and apply established farm animal welfare standards and protocols. . (f) Water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice (1) Availability of payments Section 1240B(h)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)(1) ) is amended to read as follows: (1) Availability of payments The Secretary may provide payments under this subsection to a producer for a water conservation or irrigation practice that promotes ground and surface water conservation on the agricultural operation of the producer by— (A) improvements to irrigation systems; (B) enhancement of irrigation efficiencies; (C) conversion of the agricultural operation to— (i) the production of less water-intensive agricultural commodities; or (ii) dryland farming; (D) improvement of the storage of water through measures such as water banking and groundwater recharge