§ 3319f. Beginning farmer and rancher development program

(a) Definition of beginning farmer or rancher

In this section, the term “beginning farmer or rancher” means a person that—

(1)

(A) has not operated a farm or ranch; or

(B) has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; and

(2) meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.

(b) Program

The Secretary shall establish a beginning farmer and rancher development program to provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers.

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall make competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers, including programs and services (as appropriate) relating to—

(A) mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships;

(B) resources and referral;

(D) innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies;

(E) entrepreneurship and business training;

(F) model land leasing contracts;

(G) financial management training;

(H) whole farm planning;

(I) conservation assistance;

(J) risk management education;

(K) diversification and marketing strategies;

(L) curriculum development;

(M) understanding the impact of concentration and globalization;

(N) basic livestock and crop farming practices;

(O) the acquisition and management of agricultural credit;

(P) environmental compliance;

(Q) information processing; and

(R) other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers.

(2) Eligibility

To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, the recipient shall be a collaborative State, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public or private entities, which may include—

(A) a State cooperative extension service;

(B) a Federal, State, or tribal agency;

(D) a college or university (including an institution awarding an associate’s degree) or foundation maintained by a college or university; or

(E) any other appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary.

(3) Maximum term and size of grant

(A) In general

A grant under this subsection shall—

(i) have a term that is not more than 3 years; and

(ii) be in an amount that is not more than $250,000 for each year.

(B) Consecutive grants

An eligible recipient may receive consecutive grants under this subsection.

(4) Matching requirement

To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a recipient shall provide a match in the form of cash or in-kind contributions in an amount equal to 25 percent of the funds provided by the grant.

(5) Evaluation criteria

In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall evaluate—

(A) relevancy;

(B) technical merit;

(D) the expertise and track record of 1 or more applicants;

(E) the adequacy of plans for the participatory evaluation process, outcome-based reporting, and the communication of findings and results beyond the immediate target audience; and

(F) other appropriate factors, as determined by the Secretary.

(6) Regional balance

In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographical diversity.

(7) Priority

In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach.

(8) Set-aside

Not less than 25 percent of funds used to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services that address the needs of—

(A) limited resource beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined by the Secretary);

(B) socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 2003 (e) of this title); and

(9) Prohibition

A grant made under this subsection may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

(10) Administrative costs

The Secretary shall use not more than 4 percent of the funds made available to carry out this subsection for administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this section.

(d) Education teams

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall establish beginning farmer and rancher education teams to develop curricula and conduct educational programs and workshops for beginning farmers or ranchers in diverse geographical areas of the United States.

(2) Curriculum

In promoting the development of curricula, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, include modules tailored to specific audiences of beginning farmers or ranchers, based on crop or regional diversity.

(3) Composition

In establishing an education team for a specific program or workshop, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) obtain the short-term services of specialists with knowledge and expertise in programs serving beginning farmers or ranchers; and

(B) use officers and employees of the Department with direct experience in programs of the Department that may be taught as part of the curriculum for the program or workshop.

(4) Cooperation

(A) In general

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with—

(i) State cooperative extension services;

(ii) Federal and State agencies;

(iii) community-based and nongovernmental organizations;

(iv) colleges and universities (including an institution awarding an associate’s degree) or foundations maintained by a college or university; and

(v) other appropriate partners, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) Cooperative agreement

Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement to reflect the terms of any cooperation under subparagraph (A).

(e) Curriculum and training clearinghouse

The Secretary shall establish an online clearinghouse that makes available to beginning farmers or ranchers education curricula and training materials and programs, which may include online courses for direct use by beginning farmers or ranchers.

(f) Stakeholder input

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall seek stakeholder input from—

(1) beginning farmers and ranchers;

(2) national, State, tribal, and local organizations and other persons with expertise in operating beginning farmer and rancher programs; and

(3) the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers established under section 5 of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929 note ; Public Law 102–554).

(g) Participation by other farmers and ranchers

Nothing in this section prohibits the Secretary from allowing farmers and ranchers who are not beginning farmers or ranchers from participating in programs authorized under this section to the extent that the Secretary determines that such participation is appropriate and will not detract from the primary purpose of educating beginning farmers and ranchers.

(h) Funding

(1) In general

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section—

(A) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and

(B) $19,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012.

(2) Authorization of appropriations

In addition to funds provided under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

U.S. Code

§ 3319f. Beginning farmer and rancher development program