Title 7 — Agriculture
Chapter 98 — Department of Agriculture Reorganization
§ 6934a. Beginning farmer and rancher coordination
Statutory text
Definitions
In this section:
Beginning farmer or rancher
The term “beginning farmer or rancher” has the meaning given such term in section 2279(a) of this title.
National Coordinator
The term “National Coordinator” means the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator established under subsection (b)(1).
State coordinator
The term “State coordinator” means a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator designated under subsection (c)(1)(A).
State office
The term “State office” means—
a State office of—
the Farm Service Agency;
the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service; or
the Rural Utilities Service; or
a regional office of the Risk Management Agency.
National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator.
Duties
In general
The National Coordinator shall—
advise the Secretary and coordinate activities of the Department on programs, policies, and issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers; and
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).
Discretionary duties
Additional duties of the National Coordinator may include—
developing and implementing new strategies—
for outreach to beginning farmers and ranchers; and
to assist beginning farmers and ranchers with connecting to owners or operators that have ended, or expect to end within 5 years, actively owning or operating a farm or ranch; and
facilitating interagency and interdepartmental collaboration on issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers.
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).
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 1001 of title 20), cooperative extension services (as defined in section 3103 of this title), or a nonprofit organization—
to conduct research on the profitability of new farms in operation for not less than 5 years in a region;
to develop educational materials;
to conduct workshops, courses, training, or certified vocational training; or
to conduct mentoring activities.
State beginning farmer and rancher coordinators
In general
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.
Requirements
To be designated as a State coordinator, an employee shall—
be familiar with issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers; and
have the ability to coordinate with other Federal departments and agencies.
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 needs of all production types and sizes of agricultural operations.
Duties
A State coordinator shall—
coordinate technical assistance at the State level to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in accessing programs of the Department;
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 needs of all types of production methods and sizes of agricultural operation, at each county and area office in the State;
oversee implementation of an approved State plan described in subparagraph (B);
work with outreach coordinators in the State offices to ensure appropriate information about technical assistance is available at outreach events and activities; and
coordinate partnerships and joint outreach efforts with other organizations and government agencies serving beginning farmers and ranchers.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 107–171 title VII § 7404 · 116 Stat. 134
Enacted · 7 U.S.C. § 6934a
(Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7404, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12304, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4965.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7404, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12304, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4965.)Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 7404. REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE. (a) In General.— Not later than 90 days after the date of Deadline. enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a task force Establishment. to— (1) conduct a review of the Agricultural Research Service; and (2) evaluate the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes focused on disciplines important to the progress of food and agricultural science. (b) Membership.— (1) In general.— The Task Force shall consist of 8 members, appointed by the Secretary, that— (A) have a broad-based background in plant, animal, and agricultural sciences research, food, nutrition, biotechnology, crop production methods, environmental science, or related disciplines; and (B) are familiar with the role and infrastructure used to conduct Federal and private research, including— (i) the Agricultural Research Service; (ii) the National Institutes of Health; (iii) the National Science Foundation; (iv) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (v) the Department of Energy laboratory system; or (vi) the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. (2) Private sector.— Of the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall appoint at least 6 members that are members of the private sector or come from institutions of higher education. (3) Plant and agricultural sciences research.— Of the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall appoint at least 3 members that have an extensive background and preeminence in the field of plant, animal, and agricultural sciences research. (4) Chairperson.— Of the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall designate a Chairperson that has significant leadership experience in educational and research institutions and indepth knowledge of the research enterprises of the United States. (5) Consultation.— Before appointing members of the Task Force under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the National Academy of Sciences and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (c) Duties.— The Task Force shall— (1) conduct a review of the purpose, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact on agricultural research of the Agricultural Research Service; (2) conduct a review and evaluation of the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes (such as National Institutes for Plant and Agricultural Sciences) focused on disciplines important to the progress of food and agricultural sciences, and, if establishment of one or more National Institutes is recommended, provide further recommendations to the Secretary, including the structure for establishing each Institute, the multistate area location of each Institute, and the amount of funding necessary to establish each Institute; and (3) submit the reports required by subsection (d). (d) Reports.— Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the Secretary— (1) a report on the review and evaluation required under subsection (c)(1); and (2) a report on the review and evaluation required under subsection (c)(2). (e) Funding.— The Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than 0.1 percent of the amount of appropriations available to the Agricultural Research Service for fiscal year 2003.
1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 7404 of Pub. L. 107–171 was classified as a note under section 3101 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7506, , 132 Stat. 4823.
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and not as part of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, which in part comprises this chapter.
Credits
(Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7404, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12304, , 132 Stat. 4965.)