United States 118th Congress Status: In Committee 4 D cosponsors

HR 8488 — Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2024

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to expand the provision of farmer-led technical assistance, and for other purposes.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Erodible land and wetland conservation and reserve program · 16 U.S.C. ch. 58 1 section
  • § 3842 Delivery of technical assistance Amends

    16 U.S.C. § 3842

    The law today

    (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible participant The term “eligible participant” means a producer, landowner, or entity that is participating in, or seeking to participate in, programs in which the producer, landowner, or entity is otherwise eligible to participate under this chapter or the agricultural management assistance program under section 1524(b) of title 7. (2) Third-party provider The term “third-party provider” means a commercial entity (including a farmer cooperative, agriculture retailer, or other commercial entity (as defined by the Secretary)), a nonprofit entity, a State or local government (including a conservation district), or a Federal agency, that has expertise in the technical aspect of conservation planning, including nutrient management planning, watershed planning, or environmental engineering. (b) Purpose of technical assistance The purpose of technical assistance authorized by this section is to provide eligible participants with consistent, science-based, site-specific practices designed to achieve conservation objectives on land active in agricultural, forestry, or related uses. (c) Provision of technical assistance The Secretary shall provide technical assistance under this chapter to an eligible participant— (1) directly; (2) through an agreement with a third-party provider; or (3) at the option of the eligible participant, through a payment, as determined by the Secretary, to the eligible participant for an approved third-party provider, if available. (d) Non-Federal assistance The Secretary may request the services of, and enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, other agencies within the Department or non-Federal entities to assist the Secretary in providing technical assistance necessary to assist in implementing conservation programs under this chapter. (e) Certification of third-party providers (1) Purpose The purpose of the third-party provider program is to increase the availability and range of technical expertise available to eligible participants to plan and implement conservation measures. (2) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (3) Expertise In promulgating such regulations, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall— (A) ensure that persons with expertise in the technical aspects of conservation planning, watershed planning, and environmental engineering, including commercial entities, nonprofit entities, State or local governments or agencies, and other Federal agencies, are eligible to become approved providers of the technical assistance; (B) provide national criteria for the certification of third-party providers; and (C) approve any unique certification standards established at the State level. (4) Certification process The Secretary shall certify a third-party provider through— (A) a certification process administered by the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; or (B) a non-Federal entity approved by the Secretary to perform the certification. (5) Streamlined certification The Secretary shall provide a streamlined certification process for a third-party provider that has an appropriate specialty certification, including a sustainability certification. (f) Administration (1) Funding Effective for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal year, funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation made available to carry out technical assistance for each of the programs specified in section 3841 of this title shall be available for the provision of technical assistance from third-party providers under this section. (2) Term of agreement An agreement with a third-party provider under this section shall have a term that— (A) at a minimum, is equal to the period beginning on the date on which the agreement is entered into and ending on th...

    59 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 7 U.S.C. § 2279, 25 U.S.C. § 5304, 26 U.S.C. § 501

How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the provision of farmer-led technical assistance by introducing farmer-to-farmer networks and establishing cooperative agreements for these networks.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    (2) Farmer-to-farmer network.--The term `farmer-to-farmer network' means any affiliation or association of farmers that share information, technical assistance, or any other type of mutually beneficial support.

    Defines 'farmer-to-farmer network' to facilitate the sharing of resources among farmers.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    (j) Provision of Assistance to Farmer-to-Farmer Networks.--

    Introduces a new provision specifically for supporting farmer-to-farmer networks.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    The purposes of this subsection are-- (A) to build capacity for farmer-to-farmer networks, connect farmers with mentors or group learning opportunities, and support goal setting to increase long-term adoption of consistent, science-based, site-specific practices designed to achieve conservation objectives on land active in agricultural, forestry, or related uses; (B) to increase the provision of technical assistance that meets the specific needs of, and is accessible to, farmers, ranchers, and forest owners using different farming models, practices, and scales; and (C) to establish and steward farmer-to-farmer networks.

    Outlines specific goals for enhancing farmer-to-farmer networks and technical assistance.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (1).

    Authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with eligible entities to implement the farmer-to-farmer network goals.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    In selecting eligible entities with which to enter into cooperative agreements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that seek to meet the specific needs of, and are accessible to-- (i) historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest owners, including-- (I) beginning farmers and ranchers; (II) veteran farmers and ranchers; (III) socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; and (IV) limited-resource farmers, ranchers, and forest owners; or (ii) farmers, ranchers, and forest owners operating in high-poverty areas.

    Establishes priorities for selecting partners based on their outreach to underserved populations.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    If an eligible entity provides assistance to establish a farmer-to-farmer network using assistance provided through a cooperative agreement under paragraph (2), the eligible entity shall be responsible for not less than 2 of the following actions: (i) Facilitating and increasing farmer access to farmer-to-farmer networks.

    Defines responsibilities for entities receiving assistance to support farmer-to-farmer networks.

  • 16 U.S.C. 3842

    If an eligible entity awards a subaward pursuant to paragraph (3)(A)(v) to an eligible subawardee described in subparagraph (B), the eligible subawardee shall use that award-- (i) to plan and conduct events, and identify and develop innovative activities, to support building capacity for farmer-to-farmer networks, connecting farmers with mentors or group learning opportunities, and supporting goal setting to increase long-term adoption of consistent, science-based, site-specific conservation objectives on land active in agricultural, forestry, or related uses; and (ii) to compensate participants in the events and activities described in clause (i) at market rates.

    Requires subawards to be used for specific activities that support farmer-to-farmer networks.

Action History

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

  3. Introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 543 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (543)

543 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 8488 do?
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to expand the provision of farmer-led technical assistance, and for other purposes.
Who sponsors HR 8488?
HR 8488 is sponsored by Vasquez, Gabe (Democratic), Salinas, Andrea (Democratic), Stansbury, Melanie A. (Democratic), and Tokuda, Jill N. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 8488?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 8488?
Track HR 8488 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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