1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Conservation for Very Erodible Row Cropland Act of 2018 or the COVER Act . 2. Soil health initiative Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Soil health initiative (1) Definition of cover crop In this subsection, the term cover crop means a grass, legume, or forb that is planted for seasonal vegetative cover. (2) Soil health initiative (A) In general The Secretary shall provide payments under the program for practices that— (i) improve soil health; (ii) enhance the ability of a farmer to absorb and recover from shocks and stresses to production; (iii) increase the storage of carbon on agricultural land; and (iv) achieve other conservation outcomes, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Diversity The Secretary shall ensure that producers receiving payments for practices described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A) are located in areas that reflect diverse conditions with respect to region, water quantity, and agricultural practice. (3) Soil health practices (A) In general Practices that improve soil health under paragraph (2)(A)(i) shall— (i) reflect regional soil and climate conditions; and (ii) include— (I) any practice that improves soil health, as determined by the Secretary; and (II) not fewer than two of the practices described in subparagraph (B). (B) Practices described The practices referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) are the following: (i) The planting of a regionally appropriate cover crop. (ii) No-till or reduced-till agriculture. (iii) Resource-conserving crop rotation. (iv) The use of organic soil amendments, including compost, biochar, and digestate. (v) The integration of livestock grazing. . 3. Cover crop pilot program Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d)