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Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2023
12/7/2023, 5:06 PM
Summary of Bill S 2614
Under the Farmer to Farmer Education Act, the US Department of Agriculture would be responsible for administering the program and providing grants to organizations that facilitate farmer-to-farmer education and training. These grants would be used to support initiatives such as workshops, field days, and mentoring programs that help farmers improve their skills and adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
The bill also emphasizes the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion in the agricultural industry, with a focus on supporting women, minority, and veteran farmers. By providing resources and support for education and training, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act aims to help farmers succeed in an increasingly competitive and challenging industry. Overall, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2023 is a bipartisan effort to support the agricultural community and ensure the long-term sustainability of American farming. It recognizes the importance of education and training in helping farmers adapt to changing market conditions and environmental challenges, and seeks to empower farmers with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the industry.
Congressional Summary of S 2614
Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2023
This bill expands the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance for farmer-to-farmer networks. A farmer-to-farmer network means any affiliation or association of farmers that share information, technical assistance, or any other type of mutually beneficial support.
Under the bill, USDA may enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to provide assistance to farmer-to-farmer networks to (1) build network capacity, connect farmers with mentors or group learning opportunities, and support goal setting; (2) increase technical assistance for farmers, ranchers, and forest owners who use different farming models, practices, and scales; and (3) establish and steward the networks.
Those eligible for the program include nonprofit entities, farmer-to-farmer networks, tribal entities, local governments, institutions of higher education, and states. USDA must prioritize agreements with entities that seek to meet the specific needs of certain farmers, ranchers, and forest owners who are historically underserved or operating in high-poverty areas.
The bill also provides for subawards to plan and conduct events, as well as to identify and develop innovative activities, in order to increase farmer access to farmer-to-farmer assistance. USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service must establish any necessary additional requirements for subawards.
