§5854 State Agricultural Weather Information Systems

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must give grants to at least 10 eligible States so they can plan and run advisory programs for State agricultural weather systems. When picking winners, the Secretary must talk with the Director of the Agricultural Weather Office. Other people who may help include the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and State research and extension leaders. To get a grant, a State chief executive must apply and promise to use the money to set up a system that gathers weather observations statewide and shares them with the National Weather Service and Agricultural Weather Office, turns national weather and climate information into useful products for farmers (with Cooperative Extension and the private sector helping), and trains producers to use that information. The application must also include any other assurances the Secretary requires.