Sponsors (2)
The bill expands and targets locally delivered, language-accessible conservation technical assistance—benefiting farmers, underserved producers, and community institutions—but may divert NRCS operational funds and favor better-resourced organizations while imposing administrative burdens on small participants.
Farmers and ranchers will receive peer-to-peer technical assistance and mentoring to adopt science-based, site-specific conservation practices, making it easier to implement on-farm conservation.
Historically underserved producers and people in high-poverty areas will get priority access to assistance, increasing equity in who receives conservation support.
Local institutions (conservation districts, universities, tribes) can receive funding and subawards to build capacity and compensate participants, supporting community-led conservation and local economic activity.
Using NRCS conservation operations funds for this program could reduce resources available for other NRCS programs or priorities, potentially delaying other conservation projects that serve rural communities and farmers.
Allocating funds through cooperative agreements and subawards may favor organizations with grant-writing capacity, disadvantaging informal farmer groups or small operators without institutional support.
Administrative and reporting requirements for cooperative agreement recipients could impose burdens on small nonprofits, tribes, or individuals seeking subawards, limiting participation by less-resourced groups.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes USDA (via NRCS) to support and fund farmer-to-farmer networks through cooperative agreements and subawards, prioritizing underserved producers and high-poverty areas.
Introduced May 14, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján · Last progress May 14, 2025
Creates authority for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to fund and support farmer-to-farmer networks through cooperative agreements and subawards. The program defines eligible recipients (including nonprofits, tribal organizations, local conservation districts, universities, states, and individuals), requires priority for historically underserved producers and those in high-poverty areas, mandates language-accessible assistance for non-English speakers, and requires reporting to Congress within four years. Funding may be provided from NRCS annual conservation operations appropriations as needed.