,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dbja ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #a1 #bjag,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york 7for himself and ,mr4 ,costello of ,pennsylvania7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to improve the ability of beginning farmers in the ,united ,states to acquire farms and participate in agricultural production1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,young and ,beginning ,farmers ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,title ,i--,improved ,access to ,land ,sec4 #aja4 ,land trust eligibility for assistance for agricultural land easements4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,priority for option to purchase at agricultural value in agricultural land easements4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,prequalification of prospective applicants for credit from ,farm ,service ,agency programs4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,increase in limitation on amount of direct farm ownership loans2 inflation indexation of limit4 ,sec4 #aje4 ,report and action plan on agricultural conservation easement program4 ,title ,,ii--,improved ,access to ,department of ,agriculture ,training and ,programs ,sec4 #bja4 ,beginning farmer coordination4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,transfer of ,advisory ,committee on ,beginning ,farmers and ,ranchers to jurisdiction of ,farm ,service ,agency4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,department of ,agriculture on-line customer self-service portal4 ,sec4 #bjd4 ,beginning farmer and rancher development program to provide training1 education1 outreach1 and technical assistance initiatives4 ,sec4 #bje4 ,reauthorization of beginning farmer and rancher individual development accounts pilot program4 ,sec4 #bjf4 ,sale of surplus farm equipment or property to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers1 veteran farmers or ranchers1 and beginning farmers or ranchers4 ,title ,,iii--,investment in ,local and ,regional ,food ,systems ,sec4 #cja4 ,mandatory funding for farmers' market and local food promotion program4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,grants to support farm viability programs4 ,i ,improved ,access to ,land #aja4 ,land trust eligibility for assistance for agricultural land easements 7a7 ,land trusts ,section #abfe;,b of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chfe;b7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,land trusts 7#a7 ,eligibility for assistance ,notwithstanding section #ajja;,d7b71 an eligible entity that is a qualified land trust1 as determined by the ,secretary1 may receive assistance under this section4 7#b7 ,assistance for reservation of easement ,the ,secretary may provide assistance to an eligible entity that is a qualified land trust to supplement the sale price of eligible land to a farmer or rancher1 who is not ineligible to receive assistance under section #ajja;,d1 if the eligible entity that is a qualified land trust reserves for itself an agricultural land easement in the eligible land4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #ajja;,d7b77#a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #acjh-c;a7b77#a77 is amended by striking ,notwithstanding and inserting ,except as provided in section #abfe;,b7e71 notwithstanding4 #ajb4 ,priority for option to purchase at agricultural value in agricultural land easements ,section #abfe;,b7b77#c7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chfe;b7b77#c77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,priority ,in evaluating applications under the program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to an application for the purchase of an agricultural land easement that1 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7i7 maintains agricultural viability2 7ii7 includes1 as a condition of the easement1 a requirement that any subsequent purchase of the land subject to the easement shall be at agricultural value2 or 7iii7 achieves the objectives of both clauses 7i7 and 7ii74 4 #ajc4 ,prequalification of prospective applicants for credit from ,farm ,service ,agency programs ,not later than ,october #a1 #bjah1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall develop and implement procedures to ensure that the ,farm ,service ,agency is prepared1 in advance1 to respond to a request by a prospective loan applicant 7other than a request for preapproval7 for a preliminary determination on-- 7#a7 whether the prospective applicant would likely qualify for credit under any program administered by the ,farm ,service ,agency2 or 7#b7 the amount of credit for which the prospective applicant would likely qualify under any such program4 #ajd4 ,increase in limitation on amount of direct farm ownership loans2 inflation indexation of limit ,section #cje of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibe7 is amended to read as follows3 #cje4 ,limitations on amount of farm ownership loans 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall make or insure no loan under section #cjb1 #cjc1 #cjd1 #caj;,d1 or #caj;,e of this title that would cause the unpaid indebtedness under such sections of any #a borrower to exceed the smaller of-- 7#a7 the value of the farm or other security2 or 7#b7 7,a7 in the case of a loan other than a loan guaranteed by the ,secretary1 #ejj1jjj 7increased1 beginning with the fiscal year #bjai1 by the regional farm real estate inflation percentage applicable to the region where the farm involved is located for the fiscal year in which the loan is made1 and decreased by the amount of any unpaid indebtedness of the borrower on direct loans under subtitle ,b72 or 7,b7 in the case of a loan guaranteed by the ,secretary1 #gjj1jjj 7increased1 beginning with fiscal year #bjjj1 by the cost inflation percentage applicable to the fiscal year in which the loan is guaranteed and reduced by the amount of any unpaid indebtedness of the borrower on loans under subtitle ,b that are guaranteed by the ,secretary74 7b7 ,determination of value ,in determining the value of the farm1 the ,secretary shall consider appraisals made by competent appraisers under rules established by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,cost inflation percentage ,for purposes of this section1 the cost inflation percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the percentage 7if any7 by which-- 7#a7 the average of the ,prices ,paid ,by ,farmers ,index 7as compiled by the ,national ,agricultural ,statistics ,service of the ,department of ,agriculture7 for the #ab-month period ending on ,august #ca of the immediately preceding fiscal year2 exceeds 7#b7 the average of such index 7as so defined7 for the #ab-month period ending on ,august #ca1 #aiif4 7d7 ,regional farm real estate inflation percentage 7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes of this section1 the regional farm real estate inflation percentage applicable to a farm for a fiscal year is the percentage 7if any7 by which-- 7,a7 the regional farm real estate inflation index developed under paragraph 7#b7 for the region in which the farm is located1 for the #ab-month period ending on ,august #ca of the immediately preceding fiscal year2 exceeds 7,b7 the average of the index 7as so defined7 for the #ab-month period ending on ,august #ca1 #bjah4 7#b7 ,development ,the ,secretary shall develop a regional farm real estate inflation index for measuring periodic changes in the price of farm real estate in each geographic region of the ,united ,states1 using data from the ,national ,agricultural ,statistics ,service4 7e7 ,microloans 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary may establish a program to make or guarantee microloans4 7#b7 ,limitations ,the ,secretary shall not make or guarantee a microloan under this subsection that would cause the total principal indebtedness outstanding at any #a time for microloans made under this subtitle to any #a borrower to exceed #ej1jjj4 7#c7 ,applications ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall limit the administrative burdens and streamline the application and approval process for microloans under this subsection4 4 #aje4 ,report and action plan on agricultural conservation easement program 7a7 ,sense of congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the agricultural conservation easement program established under section #abfe7;a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chfe7;a77 remains a valuable program in assisting beginning farmers and ranchers in acquiring farmland for productive use4 7b7 ,report and plan required ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a report that includes-- 7#a7 an evaluation of the extent in which the agricultural conservation easement program supports beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring farmland2 and 7#b7 a plan to address any shortcomings identified through the evaluation for the purpose of furthering the goals of the agricultural conservation easement program to protect farmland and help farmers access farmland for productive use4 ,,ii ,improved ,access to ,department of ,agriculture ,training and ,programs #bja4 ,beginning farmer coordination 7a7 ,program established ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,farm ,service ,agency1 shall implement a program to assign to each ,state at least one coordinator to-- 7#a7 promote communication between the ,department of ,agriculture and beginning farmers or ranchers 7as defined in section #bjf7;b77 located in such ,state2 and 7#b7 increase the access of such beginning farmers or ranchers to apprenticeship programs1 farm loan programs1 and land available for purchase4 7b7 ,use of current employees ,the assignment of beginning farmer coordinators in compliance with subsection 7a7 may be accomplished through the designation of current employees of the ,department of ,agriculture and does not require the hiring of additional employees4 7c7 ,state defined ,in this section1 the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 and any commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states4 #bjb4 ,transfer of ,advisory ,committee on ,beginning ,farmers and ,ranchers to jurisdiction of ,farm ,service ,agency ,the ,department of ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fija et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #bbf;,b7e77#b7 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ficd7-- 7,a7 by striking subparagraph 7,c72 and 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,d7 as subparagraph 7,c72 and 7#b7 in section #bbf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ficb71 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7i7 ,advisory ,committee on ,beginning ,farmers and ,ranchers ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall coordinate the activities of the ,farm ,service ,agency with the ,advisory ,committee on ,beginning ,farmers and ,ranchers established under section #e7;b7 of the ,agricultural ,credit ,improvement ,act of #aiib 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibi note2 ,public ,law #ajb-eed74 4 #bjc4 ,department of ,agriculture on-line customer self-service portal 7a7 ,customer self-,service portal ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall develop an on-line customer self-service portal through which farmers and ranchers will be able to securely access their customer and program information and complete program applications in a wide range of agricultural programs offered by the ,department of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,sense of congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the development of an on-line customer self-service portal1 as required by subsection 7a71 should not negatively impact the many farmers and ranchers who do not yet have access to high-speed internet or who would prefer not to utilize the online self-service portal4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,for the three-fiscal year period beginning on ,october #a1 #bjah1 there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,agriculture to carry out subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 not less than #f1jjj1jjj2 and 7#b7 such additional amounts as are considered appropriate4 #bjd4 ,beginning farmer and rancher development program to provide training1 education1 outreach1 and technical assistance initiatives ,section #gdje of the ,farm ,security and ,rural ,investment ,act of #bjjb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ccai;f7 is amended by striking subsection 7h7 and inserting the following new subsections3 7h7 ,individual development accounts 7#a7 ,transfer of funds authorized ,of the funds made available under subsection 7i71 the ,secretary may transfer up to #aj1jjj1jjj per year1 plus allocable administrative costs1 for individual development accounts as authorized under section #ccc;,b of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aihc;b74 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,the ,secretary may not use more than #d percent of the funds transferred under this subsection for administrative costs incurred in implementing the individual development accounts authorized under section #ccc;,b of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aihc;b74 7i7 ,funding 7#a7 ,mandatory funding ,of the funds of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the ,secretary shall make available to carry out this section-- 7,a7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah2 7,b7 #cj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj2 7,c7 #dj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba and #bjbb2 and 7,d7 #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbc and each fiscal year thereafter4 7#b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to funds provided under paragraph 7#a71 there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #cj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah and each fiscal year thereafter4 7#c7 ,availability ,amounts made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended4 4 #bje4 ,reauthorization of beginning farmer and rancher individual development accounts pilot program ,subsection 7h7 of section #ccc;,b of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aihc;b7 is amended to read as follows3 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to any amounts provided under section #gdje of the ,farm ,security and ,rural ,investment ,act of #bjjb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ccai;f71 there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbc4 4 #bjf4 ,sale of surplus farm equipment or property to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers1 veteran farmers or ranchers1 and beginning farmers or ranchers 7a7 ,sale authorized ,the ,administrator of ,general ,services1 under regulations prescribed by the ,administrator1 may sell to a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher1 veteran farmer or rancher1 or beginning farmer or rancher any farm equipment acquired by the ,general ,services ,administration that-- 7#a7 is suitable for use in farming operations2 and 7#b7 has been determined to be surplus property under chapter #e of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,beginning farmer or rancher ,the term beginning farmer or rancher means an individual or entity that has not operated a farm or ranch or that has operated a farm or ranch for not more than #aj consecutive years and that will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch4 ,in the case of an entity1 these requirements apply to all members of the entity4 7#b7 ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij terms ,the terms socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher and veteran farmer or rancher have the meanings given those terms in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e774 ,,iii ,investment in ,local and ,regional ,food ,systems #cja4 ,mandatory funding for farmers' market and local food promotion program ,section #f7;g77#a7 of the ,farmer-to-,consumer ,direct ,marketing ,act of #aigf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cjje7;g77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of subparagraph 7,c72 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by striking #bjah4 and inserting #bjag2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,e7 #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbc4 4 #cjb4 ,grants to support farm viability programs 7a7 ,grants authorized ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture may make competitive grants to support a farm viability program developed by a public or private entity that is designed-- 7#a7 to improve the economic viability and integrity of farms participating in the program through the development and implementation of a farm viability plans2 and 7#b7 to provide participating farmers with technical1 legal1 marketing1 and business planning assistance to expand1 upgrade1 and modernize their agricultural operations and assist in land access and transfer4 7b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,agriculture to make grants under this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbc4