Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110
§5933 Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities
Title 7 › CHAPTER 88 — RESEARCH › SUBCHAPTER VII — MISCELLANEOUS RESEARCH PROVISIONS › § 5933
Summary
Provides federal grants to State Extension Service agencies, after consulting other federal agencies, so they can work with private nonprofit disability groups to give on-the-farm education and help for farmers with disabilities and their families. Grants can pay for direct help to adapt farming tasks and equipment, on-farm technical advice and worksite or housing changes, early identification of families who need services, training for rural health and agricultural professionals, and use of volunteers and peer counseling. Grants go to State Extension Service agencies so they can sign multiyear contracts with community nonprofits. Each grant must be at least $150,000. New applicants who have never received a grant should get full consideration. The rule also covers veterans with disabilities who farm or are starting to farm. The Agriculture Secretary must also award one competitive national grant to a national nonprofit disability organization to give technical help, training, and information to support the local programs. Authorized funding levels were $6,000,000 per year for fiscal years 1999–2013 and $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2014–2023. No more than 15 percent of yearly funds may be used for the national grant. From Commodity Credit Corporation funds, $8,000,000 is required for fiscal year 2026 and will remain available until spent.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §5933
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Special demonstration grants
(1)In general
The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, shall make demonstration grants to support cooperative programs between State Cooperative Extension Service agencies and private nonprofit disability organizations to provide on-the-farm agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities who are engaged in farming and farm-related occupations and their families.
(2)Eligible services
Grants awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to support programs serving individuals with disabilities, and their families, who are engaged in farming and farm-related occupations.
(3)Eligible programs
Grants awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to initiate, expand, or sustain programs that—
(A)provide direct education and assistance to accommodate disability in farming to individuals with disabilities who engage in farming and farm-related occupations;
(B)provide on-the-farm technical advice concerning the design, fabrication, and use of agricultural and related equipment, machinery, and tools, and assist in the modification of farm worksites, operations, and living arrangements to accommodate individuals with disabilities who engage in farming, farm living and farm-related tasks;
(C)involve community and health care professionals, including Extension Service agents and others, in the early identification of farm and rural families that are in need of services related to the disability of an individual;
(D)provide specialized education programs to enhance the professional competencies of rural agricultural professionals, rehabilitation and health care providers, vocational counselors, and other providers of service to individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming or farm-related occupations; and
(E)mobilize rural volunteer resources, including peer counseling among farmers with disabilities and rural ingenuity networks promoting cost effective methods or accommodating disabilities in farming and farm-related activities.
(4)Extension Service agencies
Grants shall be awarded under this subsection directly to State Extension Service agencies to enable them to enter into contracts, on a multiyear basis, with private nonprofit community-based direct service organizations to initiate, expand, or sustain cooperative programs described under paragraphs (2) and (3).
(5)Minimum amount
A grant awarded under this subsection may not be less than $150,000.
(6)Consideration for grants for new programs
For each fiscal year that amounts are made available for grants under this subsection, the Secretary may make grants in a manner that ensures that eligible entities who apply for grants, but have not previously received a grant under this subsection, are given full consideration.
(7)Clarification of application of provisions to veterans with disabilities
This subsection shall apply with respect to veterans with disabilities, and their families, who—
(A)are engaged in farming or farm-related occupations; or
(B)are pursuing new farming opportunities.
(b)National grant for technical assistance, training, and dissemination
The Secretary of Agriculture shall award a competitive grant to a national private nonprofit disability organization to enable such organization to provide technical assistance, training, information dissemination and other activities to support community-based direct service programs of on-site rural rehabilitation and assistive technology for individuals (including veterans) with disabilities, and their families, who are engaged in farming or farm-related occupations or, in the case of veterans with disabilities, who are pursuing new farming opportunities.
(c)Authorization of appropriations
(1)In general
Subject to paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (A)
(B)$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.
(2)National grant
Not more than 15 percent of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) and subsection (d) for a fiscal year shall be used to carry out subsection (b).
(d)Mandatory funding
Subject to subsection (c)(2), of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical
Amendments
to this section. The
Amendments
by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10604(d)(1), inserted “and subsection (d)” after “paragraph (1)”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10604(d)(2), added subsec. (d). 2018—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7214(1), added par. (7). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7214(2), inserted “(including veterans)” after “individuals” and “or, in the case of veterans with disabilities, who are pursuing new farming opportunities” before period at end. Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7214(3), substituted “2023” for “2018”. 2014—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 113–79 substituted “are” for “is” and “section—” for “section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2012.” and added subpars. (A) and (B). 2008—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7210, substituted “2012” for “2007”. 2002—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 107–171, § 7208(c), added par. (6). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–171, § 7122, substituted “2007” for “2002”. 1998—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 105–185, § 246(1), struck out heading and text of par. (6). Text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection— “(A) not less than $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 and 1992; and “(B) not less than $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1997.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–185, § 246(2), struck out par. (1) designation and heading and struck out heading and text of par. (2). Text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this subsection for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1997.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–185, § 246(3), added subsec. (c). 1996—Subsecs. (a)(6)(B), (b)(2). Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “1997” for “1996”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8701 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 5933
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110