Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
Farmer-to-farmer networks would get a new federal program to fund peer education, mentoring, and site-specific technical help that aims to increase long-term adoption of science-based conservation on farms, forests, and related lands. The bill would authorize cooperative agreements and subawards and set priorities and reporting rules for the program.
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- Farmers, ranchers, and forest owners would gain greater access to peer mentors, group learning, and tailored technical assistance. Non-English speakers must be helped in their native language to the greatest extent practicable and participants can be paid at market rates.
- Nonprofits, tribal organizations, conservation districts, institutions of higher education, States, local governments, and farmer networks would be eligible for cooperative agreements and subawards. Preference goes to groups serving historically underserved producers or operating in high-poverty areas.
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service would run the program using existing annual conservation operations appropriations and must report to House and Senate agriculture committees within four years on funding and results.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More peer-to-peer help for farmers
If enacted, this bill would create a USDA farmer-to-farmer assistance program run by the Secretary and NRCS. The program would give cooperative agreements to nonprofits, tribes, local governments, colleges, states, farmer networks, and other groups. Those groups could make subawards, including to individuals, to run events, trainings, and mentorship. Subaward funds used for participant pay would have to pay market rates. The Secretary would prioritize groups serving historically underserved producers and high-poverty areas. Funding would come from NRCS conservation operations appropriations as "such sums as are necessary." Cooperative-agreement recipients would report to the Secretary each year, and the Secretary must report to Congress within four years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 5/14/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov