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1 1 (February 9, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govchuu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 01;0i E.$~ & Updated February 9, 2018 Farm Bill Primer: Support for Veteran Farmers and Ranchers The lead-up to the 2018 farm bill has seen efforts to expand support for U.S. veterans who want to become farmers and ranchers. Several farm bill programs already provide support for veteran farmers and ranchers, generally as part of programs and provisions that broadly address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs). Legislation introduced in the 115th Congress could provide additional support specifically for veteran farmers and ranchers. Several programs authorized in the 2014 farm bill (Agricultural Act of 2014, P.L. 113-79) provide financial and resource management support to help U.S. veterans transition to farming or ranching and to maintain successful farming or ranching businesses as part of broader efforts to support other BFRs. USDA reports that the rural post-9/1 I veteran population rose from 200,000 in 2006 to more than 400,000 in 2016 and now accounts for about 13% of the total rural veteran population. Under existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs authorized in the farm bill, the term veteran farmer or rancher is defined in statute to mean a farmer or rancher who has served in the Armed Forces-covering the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard (38 U.S.C. 101(10))-who has not operated a farm or ranch; or ... has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years (7 USC §2279(e)(7)). This statutory definition was established as part of the 2014 farm bill. The last farm bill also authorized the creation of a Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison position at USDA. The 2014 farm bill also added support for veterans to USDA's Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers-also known as the Section 2501 program. The Section 2501 program provides resources, outreach, and technical assistance to veteran farmers or ranchers (among other eligible entities) through grants, contracts, and other agreements. Grants support a range of activities, including farm management, financial management, marketing, and application and bidding procedures. Funding for the program is mandatory and is $10 million for each fiscal year through FY2018. The 2014 farm bill also expanded the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which also funds training, education, outreach, and technical assistance to BFRs. Among other changes to BFRDP is a requirement that not less than 5% of available funding be used to support programs and services that address the needs of veteran farmers and ranchers. Mandatory funding for the program is set at $20 million annually through 2018. The 2014 farm bill also required that BFRs, including veterans who produce value-added products, receive priority consideration for grants under the Value-Added Producer Grant program. The law also gives BFRs, including veterans, preferential rules on USDA's microloan program. Finally, the law added veterans to existing conservation provisions specific to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, making veterans eligible for increased cost share assistance, additional financial incentives, and funding preference under certain programs (see text box). 2014 Farm Bill Provisions Addressing Veterans Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (Section 2501 Program) (§ 12201) Provides resources, outreach, and technical assistance through grants. Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (§7409)-Funds training, education, outreach, and technical assistance to BFRs. Value-Added Producer Grants (§6203)-Gives beginning farmers, including veterans, who produce value-added products priority consideration for grants. Microloans to BFRs (§5106)-Made permanent the USDA's microloan progrnm, providing beginning and veteran farmers preferential rules on microloans (§5106(b)). Conservation Reserve Program Transition Incentives Program (CRP-TIP) (§2006(b))-Adds veterans to the portion of the program that facilitates transfers of expiring CRP land from retiredlretiring farmers to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program (§§2604, 2606, 2203) Adds preference for veterans receiving financial and technical conservation assistance. Outreach to Military Veterans (§ 12304)-Establislhes a USDA position of Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison to help veterans prepare for careers in farming o- ranching Source: CRS from USDA information. Other information is at USDA's welbsite (https://newfarmers.usda.gov/vete-ans). Other USDA programs support veteran farmers and ranchers as part of broader efforts that support new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Policies supporting BFRs generally date back to the early 1990s and have continued to be part of subsequent farm bill debates. USDA programs that specifically support BFRs include crop insurance, disaster assistance, loans and grants, loan repayment assistance, tax benefits, conservation assistance, training and education, transition assistance to convert to certified organic agriculture, and programs to match retiree landowners with buyers. While many USDA programs are generally available to all U.S. farmers, others specifically target new farmers. For a list of such targeted programs, see .O 'T p\w -- , gmmp goo mppm qq\ a , q 'S I 11LIANJILiN,

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