Next Generation in Agriculture Act
This bill modifies several Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and policies to provide additional assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers.
The bill includes provisions that
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2762 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2762
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to support
opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 26, 2018
Ms. Heitkamp (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Jones, and Ms. Smith)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to support
opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Next Generation in Agriculture
Act''.
SEC. 2. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 3319f) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``to increase opportunities''
after ``initiatives'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``and succession'' after ``transfer'';
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (M)
and (N) as subparagraphs (N) and (O),
respectively; and
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (L)
the following:
``(M) food safety;'';
(B) by striking paragraph (4);
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (12) as
paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively;
(D) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and
(F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively;
and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (D)
the following:
``(E) the consultation of beginning farmers and
ranchers in design, implementation, and decisionmaking
relating to an initiative described in paragraph
(1);'';
(E) in paragraph (10) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``10'' and inserting ``15''; and
(F) in paragraph (11) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``(8)(B)'' and inserting ``(7)(B)'';
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) by inserting ``(including owners or operators
that have ended, or expect to end within 5 years,
active labor in farming or ranching operations as a
producer)'' after ``not beginning farmers or
ranchers''; and
(B) by striking ``educating'' and inserting
``increasing opportunities for''; and
(3) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``for fiscal years 2009 through 2018'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``,
to remain available until expended.'' and
inserting a semicolon; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and
2020;
``(E) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and
2022; and
``(F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and each
fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until
expended.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``2014 through 2018'' and inserting ``2018
through 2023''; and
(ii) by striking ``2014 through 2018'' and
inserting ``2018 through 2023''.
SEC. 3. YOUTH OUTREACH AND BEGINNING FARMER COORDINATION.
Subtitle D of title VII of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after section 7405 (7 U.S.C. 3319f)
the following:
``SEC. 7405A. YOUTH OUTREACH AND BEGINNING FARMER COORDINATION.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Beginning farmer or rancher.--The term `beginning
farmer or rancher' has the meaning given the term in section
7405(a).
``(2) National coordinator.--The term `National
Coordinator' means the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Coordinator established under subsection (b)(1).
``(3) State coordinator.--The term `State coordinator'
means a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator
designated under subsection (c)(1)(A).
``(4) State office.--The term `State office' means--
``(A) a State office of--
``(i) the Farm Service Agency;
``(ii) the Natural Resources Conservation
Service;
``(iii) the Rural Business-Cooperative
Service; or
``(iv) the Rural Utilities Service; or
``(B) a regional office of the Risk Management
Agency.
``(b) National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department the position of National Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Coordinator.
``(2) Duties.--
``(A) In general.--The National Coordinator shall--
``(i) advise the Secretary and coordinate
activities of the Department on programs,
policies, and issues relating to beginning
farmers and ranchers; and
``(ii) 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).
``(B) Discretionary duties.--Duties of the National
Coordinator may include--
``(i) developing and implementing new
strategies to support beginning farmers and
ranchers by conducting outreach and developing
strategies to provide assistance to beginning
farmers and ranchers and owners or operators
that have ended, or expect to end within 5
years, active labor in farming or ranching
operations as a producer; and
``(ii) facilitating interagency and
interdepartmental collaboration on issues
relating to beginning farmers and ranchers.
``(3) Reports.--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).
``(4) Contracts and cooperative agreements.--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--
``(A) to conduct research on the profitability of
new farms in operation for not less than 5 years in a
region;
``(B) to develop educational materials;
``(C) to conduct workshops, courses, training, or
certified vocational training; or
``(D) to conduct mentoring activities.
``(c) State Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinators.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Designation.--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.
``(B) Requirements.--To be designated as a State
coordinator, an employee shall--
``(i) be familiar with issues relating to
beginning farmers and ranchers; and
``(ii) have the ability to interface with
other Federal departments and agencies.
``(2) Training.--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 unique
needs of each type of production method and size of
agricultural operation.
``(3) Duties.--A State coordinator shall--
``(A) coordinate technical assistance at the State
level to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in
accessing programs of the Department;
``(B) 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
unique needs of each type of production method and size
of agricultural operation, at each county and area
office in the State;
``(C) oversee implementation of an approved State
plan described in subparagraph (B);
``(D) work with outreach coordinators in the State
offices to ensure appropriate information about
technical assistance is available at outreach events
and activities; and
``(E) coordinate partnerships and joint outreach
efforts with other organizations and government
agencies serving beginning farmers and ranchers.
``(d) Agricultural Youth Coordinator.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department the position of Agricultural Youth Coordinator.
``(2) Duties.--The Agricultural Youth Coordinator shall--
``(A) 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;
``(B) coordinate programs and agencies within the
Department--
``(i) to work with schools and youth-
serving organizations to develop joint programs
and initiatives, such as internships; and
``(ii) 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;
``(C) raise awareness among youth about the
importance of agriculture in a diversity of fields and
disciplines;
``(D) provide information to youth involved in food
and agriculture and youth agriculture organizations
about the availability of, and eligibility requirements
for, agricultural programs, with particular emphasis
on--
``(i) beginning farmer and rancher
programs;
``(ii) agriculture education;
``(iii) nutrition education;
``(iv) science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics education; and
``(v) other food and agriculture programs
for youth;
``(E) serve as a resource for youth involved in
food and agriculture applying for participation in
agricultural programs;
``(F) conduct outreach to youth agriculture
organizations; and
``(G) advocate on behalf of youth involved in food
and agriculture and youth organizations in interactions
with employees of the Department.
``(3) Reports.--Not less frequently than once each year,
the Agricultural Youth 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).
``(4) Contracts and cooperative agreements.--For purposes
of carrying out the duties described in paragraph (2), the
Agricultural Youth Coordinator--
``(A) shall consult with the cooperative extension
services and the land-grant colleges and universities;
and
``(B) 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--
``(i) the development of educational
materials;
``(ii) the conduct of workshops, courses,
and certified vocational training;
``(iii) the conduct of mentoring
activities; or
``(iv) the provision of internship
opportunities.''.
SEC. 4. NEXT GENERATION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE.
Subtitle C of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1418
(7 U.S.C. 3153) the following:
``SEC. 1419. NEXT GENERATION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a next generation
agriculture technology challenge competition to provide an incentive
for the development of innovative mobile technology that removes
barriers to entry in the marketplace for beginning farmers and ranchers
(as defined in section 7405(a) of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f(a))).
``(b) Amount.--The Secretary may award not more than $1,000,000 in
the aggregate to one or more winners of the competition under
subsection (a).''.
SEC. 5. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER CROP INSURANCE.
Section 502(b)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1502(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``5'' and inserting ``10''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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