Last progress May 14, 2025 (6 months ago)
Introduced on May 14, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
This bill expands farmer-led education and support so more producers can learn from each other and adopt practical, science-based conservation on their land. It defines “farmer‑to‑farmer networks” and lets the U.S. Department of Agriculture partner with nonprofits, tribes, farmer networks, local governments, colleges, states, and others to provide hands-on help. USDA must give priority to groups serving historically underserved producers and areas with high poverty. Help should be accessible, including in a farmer’s native language when possible. Groups that receive funds must report each year on what they did and who they reached .
Partners can build and support networks, match mentors and mentees, train network leaders, keep up-to-date lists of helpful contacts, and give subawards to increase farmer access. Subawards can pay for events and activities that connect farmers and support conservation learning, and they can compensate participants at market rates. USDA will report after four years on funding and results. Funding comes from existing Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation operations, using amounts needed to run the program .