Sec. 12301. FARMING OPPORTUNITIES TRAINING AND OUTREACH

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## SEC. 12301 FARMING OPPORTUNITIES TRAINING AND OUTREACH ###

(a)Repeal ####

(1)In general Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f) is repealed. ####

(2)Conforming amendments #####

(A)Section 226B(e)(2)(B) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934(e)(2)(B)) is amended by striking “the beginning farmer and rancher development program established under section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f).” and inserting “the beginning farmer and rancher development grant program established under subsection

(d)of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279).”. #####

(B)Section 251(f)(1)(D) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(f)(1)(D)) is amended by striking clause

(iv)and inserting the following: > > ###### “(iv) > > The beginning farmer and rancher development grant program established under subsection

(d)of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279).” > . #####

(C)Section 7506(e) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7614c(e)) is amended— ######

(i)in paragraph (2)(C)— ######

(I)by striking clause (v); ######

(II)by redesignating clauses

(i)through

(iv)as clauses

(ii)through (v), respectively; ######

(III)by inserting before clause

(ii)(as so redesignated) the following: > > ###### “(i) > > each grant and cooperative agreement awarded under subsection

(d)of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279);” > ; ######

(IV)in clause

(ii)(as so redesignated), by striking “450i(b)(2));” and inserting “3157(b)(2));”; and ######

(V)in clause

(iv)(as so redesignated), by adding “and” at the end; and ######

(ii)in paragraph (4)— ######

(I)by striking subparagraph (E); ######

(II)by redesignating subparagraphs

(A)through

(D)as subparagraphs

(B)through (E), respectively; ######

(III)by inserting before subparagraph

(B)(as so redesignated) the following: > > ##### “(A) > > subsection

(d)of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279);” > ; ######

(IV)in subparagraph

(B)(as so redesignated), by striking “450i(b));” and inserting “3157(b));”; ######

(V)in subparagraph

(D)(as so redesignated), by adding “or” at the end; and ######

(VI)in subparagraph

(E)(as so redesignated), by striking “; or” and inserting a period. ###

(b)Outreach and Education for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, Veteran Farmers and Ranchers, and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended— ####

(1)by striking the section heading and inserting “farming opportunities training and outreach”; ####

(2)by redesignating subsection

(i)as paragraph

(5)(and moving the margins of such paragraph 2 ems to the right) and moving such paragraph (as so redesignated) so as to follow subsection (a)(4); ####

(3)by redesignating subsections

(a)(as amended by paragraph (2)), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), and

(h)as subsections (c), (g), (k), (h), (a), (i), and (j), respectively, and moving the subsections so as to appear in alphabetical order; ####

(4)by moving paragraph

(5)of subsection

(a)(as so redesignated) so as to appear at the end of subsection

(c)(as so redesignated) and redesignating such paragraph as paragraph (6); ####

(5)in subsection

(a)(as so redesignated)— #####

(A)by striking the subsection designation and heading and inserting the following: > > ### “(a) Definitions > > In this section:” > ; #####

(B)by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and

(6)as paragraphs (6), (5), (1), (3), and (4), respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order; #####

(C)in paragraphs (1), (5), and

(6)(as so redesignated), by striking “As used in this section, the” each place it appears and inserting “The”; #####

(D)in paragraph

(1)(as so redesignated)— ######

(i)in the paragraph heading, by striking “agriculture” and inserting “agricultural”; and ######

(ii)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “agriculture” and inserting “agricultural”; and #####

(E)by inserting after paragraph

(1)(as so redesignated) the following: > > #### “(2) Beginning farmer or rancher > > The term ‘beginning farmer or rancher’ means a person that— > > > ##### “(A) > > > ######

(i)> > has not operated a farm or ranch; or > > > ###### “(ii) > > has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; and > > > ##### “(B) > > meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.” > ; ####

(6)by inserting after subsection

(a)(as so redesignated) the following: > > ### “(b) Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach > > The Secretary shall carry out this section to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers in the ownership and operation of farms and ranches through— > > > #### “(1) > > education and training; and > > > #### “(2) > > equitable participation in all agricultural programs of the Department.” > ; ####

(7)in subsection

(c)(as so redesignated and as amended by paragraph (4))— #####

(A)in the subsection heading, by inserting “for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers” after “Assistance”; #####

(B)by striking paragraph (4); #####

(C)by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and

(6)as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (1), respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order; #####

(D)in paragraph

(1)(as so redesignated)— ######

(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “The term” and inserting “In this subsection, the term”; ######

(ii)in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking “subsection (a)” and inserting “this subsection”; and ######

(iii)in subparagraph (F), by striking “450b))” and inserting “5304))”; #####

(E)in paragraph

(2)(as so redesignated)— ######

(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out” and inserting “Using funds made available under subsection (l), the Secretary of Agriculture shall, for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, carry out”; and ######

(ii)in subparagraph (B), by striking “agricultural” and inserting “agricultural, forestry, and related”; ######

(iii)by striking “agricultural” and inserting “agricultural, forestry, and related”; #####

(F)in paragraph

(3)(as so redesignated), by striking “(1)” in the matter preceding subparagraph

(A)and inserting “(2)”; and #####

(G)in paragraph

(4)(as so redesignated)— ######

(i)in subparagraph (A)— ######

(I)by striking the subparagraph heading and inserting “Outreach and technical assistance.—”; ######

(II)by striking “(2)” and inserting “(3)”; and ######

(III)by inserting “to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers” after “assistance”; ######

(ii)in subparagraph (C), by striking “(1)” and inserting “(2)”; ######

(iii)in subparagraph (D), by adding at the end the following: > > ###### “(v) > > The number of farms or ranches started, maintained, or improved as a result of funds made available under the program. > > > ###### “(vi) > > Actions taken by the Secretary in partnership with eligible entities to enhance participation in agricultural programs by veteran farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. > > > ###### “(vii) > > The effectiveness of the actions described in clause (vi).” > ; and ######

(iv)by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(E) Maximum term and amount of grant, contract, or agreement > > A grant, contract, or agreement entered into under subparagraph

(A)shall be— > > > ###### “(i) > > for a term of not longer than 3 years; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > in an amount that is not more than $250,000 for each year of the grant, contract, or agreement. > > > ##### “(F) Priority > > In making grants and entering into contracts and other agreements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to nongovernmental and community-based organizations with an expertise in working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or veteran farmers and ranchers. > > > ##### “(G) Regional balance > > To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure the geographical diversity of eligible entities to which grants are made and contracts and other agreements are entered into under subparagraph (A). > > > ##### “(H) Prohibition > > A grant, contract, or other agreement under subparagraph

(A)may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility. > > > ##### “(I) Peer review > > The Secretary shall establish a fair and efficient external peer review process that— > > > ###### “(i) > > the Secretary shall use in making grants and entering into contracts and other agreements under subparagraph (A); and > > > ###### “(ii) > > shall include a broad representation of peers of the eligible entity. > > > ##### “(J) Input from eligible entities > > The Secretary shall seek input from eligible entities providing technical assistance under this subsection not less than once each year to ensure that the program is responsive to the eligible entities providing that technical assistance.” > ; ####

(8)by inserting after subsection

(c)(as so redesignated) the following: > > ### “(d) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Grant Program > > > #### “(1) In general > > Using funds made available under subsection (l), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, shall, for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, make competitive grants or enter into cooperative agreements to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives to increase opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers. > > > #### “(2) Included programs and services > > Initiatives described in paragraph

(1)may include programs or services, as appropriate, relating to— > > > ##### “(A) > > basic livestock, forest management, and crop farming practices; > > > ##### “(B) > > innovative farm, ranch, and private, nonindustrial forest land transfer and succession strategies; > > > ##### “(C) > > entrepreneurship and business training; > > > ##### “(D) > > technical assistance to help beginning farmers or ranchers acquire land from retiring farmers and ranchers; > > > ##### “(E) > > financial and risk management training, including the acquisition and management of agricultural credit; > > > ##### “(F) > > natural resource management and planning; > > > ##### “(G) > > diversification and marketing strategies; > > > ##### “(H) > > curriculum development; > > > ##### “(I) > > mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships; > > > ##### “(J) > > resources and referral; > > > ##### “(K) > > farm financial benchmarking; > > > ##### “(L) > > agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training for veteran farmers and ranchers; > > > ##### “(M) > > farm safety and awareness; > > > ##### “(N) > > food safety and recordkeeping; and > > > ##### “(O) > > other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers and ranchers. > > > #### “(3) Eligibility > > > ##### “(A) In general > > To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a cooperative agreement under this subsection, the recipient of the grant or participant in the cooperative agreement shall be a collaborative State, Tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public or private entities. > > > ##### “(B) Inclusions > > A recipient of a grant or a participant that enters into a cooperative agreement described in subparagraph

(A)may include— > > > ###### “(i) > > a State cooperative extension service; > > > ###### “(ii) > > a Federal, State, municipal, or Tribal agency; > > > ###### “(iii) > > a community-based or nongovernmental organization; > > > ###### “(iv) > > a college or university (including an institution awarding an associate’s degree) or foundation maintained by a college or university; or > > > ###### “(v) > > any other appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary. > > > #### “(4) Terms of grants or cooperative agreement > > A grant or cooperative agreement under this subsection shall— > > > ##### “(A) > > be for a term of not longer than 3 years; and > > > ##### “(B) > > provide not more than $250,000 for each year. > > > #### “(5) Matching requirement > > > ##### “(A) In general > > Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a cooperative agreement under this subsection, a recipient or participant 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 or cooperative agreement. > > > ##### “(B) Exception > > The Secretary may waive or reduce the matching requirement in subparagraph

(A)if the Secretary determines such a waiver or modification is necessary to effectively reach an underserved area or population. > > > #### “(6) Evaluation criteria > > In making grants or entering into cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary shall evaluate, with respect to applications for the grants or cooperative agreements— > > > ##### “(A) > > relevancy; > > > ##### “(B) > > technical merit; > > > ##### “(C) > > achievability; > > > ##### “(D) > > the expertise and track record of 1 or more applicants; > > > ##### “(E) > > the consultation of beginning farmers and ranchers in design, implementation, and decisionmaking relating to an initiative described in paragraph (1); > > > ##### “(F) > > the adequacy of plans for— > > > ###### “(i) > > a participatory evaluation process; > > > ###### “(ii) > > outcome-based reporting; and > > > ###### “(iii) > > the communication of findings and results beyond the immediate target audience; and > > > ##### “(G) > > other appropriate factors, as determined by the Secretary. > > > #### “(7) Regional balance > > To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure the geographical diversity of recipients of grants or participants in cooperative agreements under this subsection. > > > #### “(8) Priority > > In making grants or entering into cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include nongovernmental, community-based organizations and school-based educational organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach. > > > #### “(9) Prohibition > > A grant made or cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility. > > > #### “(10) Coordination permitted > > A recipient of a grant or participant in a cooperative agreement under this subsection may coordinate with a recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement under section 1680 in addressing the needs of veteran farmers and ranchers with disabilities. > > > #### “(11) Consecutive awards > > A grant or cooperative agreement under this subsection may be made to a recipient or participant for consecutive years. > > > #### “(12) Peer review > > > ##### “(A) In general > > The Secretary shall establish a fair and efficient external peer review process, which the Secretary shall use in making grants or entering into cooperative agreements under this subsection. > > > ##### “(B) Requirement > > The peer review process under subparagraph

(A)shall include a review panel composed of a broad representation of peers of the applicant for the grant or cooperative agreement that are not applying for a grant or cooperative agreement under this subsection. > > > #### “(13) Participation by other farmers and ranchers > > Nothing in this subsection prohibits the Secretary from allowing a farmer or rancher who is not a beginning farmer or rancher (including an owner or operator that has ended, or expects to end within 5 years, active labor in a farming or ranching operation as a producer, retiring farmers, and non-farming landowners) from participating in a program or service under this subsection, to the extent that the Secretary determines that such participation— > > > ##### “(A) > > is appropriate; and > > > ##### “(B) > > will not detract from the primary purpose of increasing opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers. > > > #### “(14) Education teams > > > ##### “(A) In general > > The Secretary shall establish beginning farmer and rancher education teams to develop curricula, conduct educational programs and workshops for beginning farmers and ranchers in diverse geographical areas of the United States, or provide training and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers or for trainers and service providers that work with beginning farmers or ranchers. > > > ##### “(B) Curriculum > > In promoting the development of curricula, educational programs and workshops, or training and technical assistance initiatives under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, include content tailored to specific audiences of beginning farmers and ranchers, based on crop diversity or regional diversity. > > > ##### “(C) Composition > > In establishing an education team under subparagraph

(A)for a specific program or workshop, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable— > > > ###### “(i) > > obtain the short-term services of specialists with knowledge and expertise in programs serving beginning farmers and ranchers; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > 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. > > > ##### “(D) Cooperation > > > ###### “(i) In general > > In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with— > > > ###### “(I) > > State cooperative extension services; > > > ###### “(II) > > Federal, State, and Tribal 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. > > > ###### “(ii) Cooperative agreements > > The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement to reflect the terms of any cooperation under subparagraph (A). > > > #### “(15) Curriculum and training clearinghouse > > The Secretary shall establish an online clearinghouse that makes available to beginning farmers and ranchers education curricula and training materials and programs, which may include online courses for direct use by beginning farmers and ranchers. > > > ### “(e) Application Requirements > > In making grants and entering into contracts and other agreements, as applicable, under subsections

(c)and (d), the Secretary shall make available a simplified application process for an application for a grant that requests less than $50,000.” > ; ####

(9)by striking subsection

(f)and inserting the following: > > ### “(f) Stakeholder Input > > In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall seek stakeholder input from— > > > #### “(1) > > beginning farmers and ranchers; > > > #### “(2) > > socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; > > > #### “(3) > > veteran farmers and ranchers; > > > #### “(4) > > national, State, Tribal, and local organizations and other persons with expertise in operating programs for— > > > ##### “(A) > > beginning farmers and ranchers; > > > ##### “(B) > > socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; or > > > ##### “(C) > > veteran farmers and ranchers; > > > #### “(5) > > the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers established under section 5(b) of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929 note; Public Law 102-554); > > > #### “(6) > > the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers established under section 14008 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2279 note; Public Law 110-246); and > > > #### “(7) > > the Tribal Advisory Committee established under subsection

(b)of section 309 of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6921).” > ; ####

(10)in paragraph

(3)of subsection

(h)(as so redesignated), by inserting “and not later than March 1, 2020,” after “1991,”; and ####

(11)by adding at the end the following: > > ### “(l) Funding > > > #### “(1) Mandatory funding > > Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section— > > > ##### “(A) > > $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020; > > > ##### “(B) > > $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; > > > ##### “(C) > > $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and > > > ##### “(D) > > $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter. > > > #### “(2) Authorization of appropriations > > There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. > > > #### “(3) Reservation of funds > > Of the amounts made available to carry out this section— > > > ##### “(A) > > 50 percent shall be used to carry out subsection (c); and > > > ##### “(B) > > 50 percent shall be used to carry out subsection (d). > > > #### “(4) Allocation of funds > > > ##### “(A) In general > > Not less than 5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out subsection

(d)for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services that address the needs of— > > > ###### “(i) > > limited resource beginning farmers and ranchers, as defined by the Secretary; > > > ###### “(ii) > > socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers that are beginning farmers and ranchers; and > > > ###### “(iii) > > farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers. > > > ##### “(B) Veteran farmers and ranchers > > Not less than 5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out subsection

(d)for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services that address the needs of veteran farmers and ranchers. > > > #### “(5) Interagency funding > > Any agency of the Department may participate in any grant, contract, or agreement entered into under this section by contributing funds, if the contributing agency determines that the objectives of the grant, contract, or agreement will further the authorized programs of the contributing agency. > > > #### “(6) Administrative expenses > > Not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year may be used for expenses relating to the administration of this section. > > > #### “(7) Limitation on indirect costs > > A recipient of a grant or a party to a contract or other agreement under subsection

(c)or

(d)may not use more than 10 percent of the funds received for the indirect costs of carrying out a grant, contract, or other agreement.” > .

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