Sec. 12306. Youth outreach and beginning farmer coordination
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Subtitle D of title VII of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (as amended by section 12301(a)(1)) is amended by inserting after section 7404 ( 7 U.S.C. 3101 note; Public Law 107–171 ) the following: In this section: The term beginning farmer or rancher means a person that— has not operated a farm or ranch; or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; and meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish. The term National Coordinator means the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator established under subsection (b)(1).
The term State coordinator means a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator designated under subsection (c)(1)(A). The term State office means— a State office of— the Farm Service Agency; the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Rural Business-Cooperative Service; or the Rural Utilities Service; or a regional office of the Risk Management Agency. The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator. The National Coordinator shall— advise the Secretary and coordinate activities of the Department on programs, policies, and issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers; and in consultation with the applicable State food and agriculture council, determine whether to approve a plan submitted by a State coordinator under subsection (c)(3)(B).
Additional duties of the National Coordinator may include— developing and implementing new strategies— for outreach to beginning farmers and ranchers; and to assist beginning farmers and ranchers with connecting to owners or operators that have ended, or expect to end within 5 years, actively owning or operating a farm or ranch; and facilitating interagency and interdepartmental collaboration on issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers. Not less frequently than once each year, the National Coordinator shall distribute within the Department and make publicly available a report describing the status of steps taken to carry out the duties described in subparagraphs
(A)and
(B)of paragraph (2). In carrying out the duties under paragraph (2), the National Coordinator may enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )), cooperative extension services (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3103 ), or a nonprofit organization— to conduct research on the profitability of new farms in operation for not less than 5 years in a region; to develop educational materials; to conduct workshops, courses, training, or certified vocational training; or to conduct mentoring activities. The National Coordinator, in consultation with State food and agriculture councils and directors of State offices, shall designate in each State a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator from among employees of State offices. To be designated as a State coordinator, an employee shall— be familiar with issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers; and have the ability to interface with other Federal departments and agencies. The Secretary shall develop a training plan to provide to each State coordinator knowledge of programs and services available from the Department for beginning farmers and ranchers, taking into consideration the needs of all production types and sizes of agricultural operations. A State coordinator shall— coordinate technical assistance at the State level to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in accessing programs of the Department; develop and submit to the National Coordinator for approval under subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii) a State plan to improve the coordination, delivery, and efficacy of programs of the Department to beginning farmers and ranchers, taking into consideration the needs of all types of production methods and sizes of agricultural operation, at each county and area office in the State; oversee implementation of an approved State plan described in subparagraph (B); work with outreach coordinators in the State offices to ensure appropriate information about technical assistance is available at outreach events and activities; and coordinate partnerships and joint outreach efforts with other organizations and government agencies serving beginning farmers and ranchers. The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of Agricultural Youth Coordinator. The Agricultural Youth Coordinator shall— promote the role of school-based agricultural education and youth-serving agricultural organizations in motivating and preparing young people to pursue careers in the agriculture, food, and natural resources systems; coordinate outreach to programs and agencies within the Department— to work with schools and youth-serving organizations to develop joint programs and initiatives, such as internships; and to provide resources and input to schools and youth-serving organizations regarding motivating and preparing young people to pursue careers in the agriculture, food, and natural resources systems; raise awareness among youth about the importance of agriculture in a diversity of fields and disciplines; provide information to persons involved in youth, food, and agriculture organizations about the availability of, and eligibility requirements for, agricultural programs, with particular emphasis on— beginning farmer and rancher programs; agriculture education; nutrition education; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education; and other food and agriculture programs for youth; serve as a resource for youth involved in food and agriculture applying for participation in agricultural programs; conduct outreach to youth agriculture organizations; and advocate on behalf of youth involved in food and agriculture and youth organizations in interactions with employees of the Department. For purposes of carrying out the duties described in paragraph (2), the Agricultural Youth Coordinator— shall consult with land-grant colleges and universities and cooperative extension services (as those terms are defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3103 )); and may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with the research centers of the Agricultural Research Service, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )), or nonprofit organizations for— the development of educational materials; the conduct of workshops, courses, and certified vocational training; the conduct of mentoring activities; or the provision of internship opportunities. .
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- Pub. L. 107-171
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Sec. 12306
Youth outreach and beginning farmer coordination
Pub. L.Pub. L. 107-171
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