This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to significantly expand the provision of farmer-led technical assistance. It introduces a new definition for a "farmer-to-farmer network" as an affiliation of farmers sharing information, technical assistance, or other mutually beneficial support. The legislation authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with various eligible entities to build capacity for these networks, connect farmers with mentors, and support goal setting for increased adoption of conservation practices. The primary purposes of this expansion include increasing the provision of technical assistance tailored to the specific needs of farmers, ranchers, and forest owners, and establishing and stewarding these farmer-to-farmer networks. Eligible entities for these agreements include nonprofit organizations, farmer-to-farmer networks themselves, Indian Tribes, local governments, institutions of higher education, and States. The Secretary is directed to prioritize entities that seek to serve historically underserved farmers , ranchers, and forest owners, as well as those operating in high-poverty areas. Entities receiving cooperative agreements must undertake at least two specific actions, such as facilitating farmer access to networks, coordinating training for network leaders, or administering subawards. These subawards can be used to plan events and activities that support network capacity building and compensate participants at market rates. The bill also mandates annual reporting by eligible entities on conservation activities and subawards, and requires the Secretary to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within four years on the program's status, funding, and outcomes, including conservation practice adoption.
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to significantly expand the provision of farmer-led technical assistance. It introduces a new definition for a "farmer-to-farmer network" as an affiliation of farmers sharing information, technical assistance, or other mutually beneficial support. The legislation authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with various eligible entities to build capacity for these networks, connect farmers with mentors, and support goal setting for increased adoption of conservation practices. The primary purposes of this expansion include increasing the provision of technical assistance tailored to the specific needs of farmers, ranchers, and forest owners, and establishing and stewarding these farmer-to-farmer networks. Eligible entities for these agreements include nonprofit organizations, farmer-to-farmer networks themselves, Indian Tribes, local governments, institutions of higher education, and States. The Secretary is directed to prioritize entities that seek to serve historically underserved farmers , ranchers, and forest owners, as well as those operating in high-poverty areas. Entities receiving cooperative agreements must undertake at least two specific actions, such as facilitating farmer access to networks, coordinating training for network leaders, or administering subawards. These subawards can be used to plan events and activities that support network capacity building and compensate participants at market rates. The bill also mandates annual reporting by eligible entities on conservation activities and subawards, and requires the Secretary to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within four years on the program's status, funding, and outcomes, including conservation practice adoption.