§5854 State agricultural weather information systems

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must give grants to at least 10 eligible states to plan and run state agricultural weather information programs. States must work with the Director of the Agricultural Weather Office, the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and other appropriate people (like state experiment station and extension leaders). The Secretary will consult with the Agricultural Weather Office Director when choosing winners. To get a grant, a state’s chief executive must apply and promise to use the money to build a system that collects weather observations across the state and shares them with the National Weather Service and the Agricultural Weather Office, converts national weather and climate data into farmer-friendly forecasts using Cooperative Extension and private partners, and trains producers to use that information. The application must also include any other assurances the Secretary requires.