[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45968-45972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21256]



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Part III





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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7 CFR Part 3430



 Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance 
Programs--Specific Administrative Provisions for the Beginning Farmer 
and Rancher Development and the New Era Rural Technology Competitive 
Grants Programs; Interim Rules

Federal Register / Vol. 74 , No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 45968]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

7 CFR Part 3430

RIN 0524-AA59


Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance 
Programs--Specific Administrative Provisions for the Beginning Farmer 
and Rancher Development Program

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) is publishing a set of specific administrative 
requirements for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 
(BFRDP) to supplement the Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula 
Federal Assistance Programs--General Award Administrative Provisions 
for this program. The BFRDP is authorized undersection 7405 of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended by section 7410 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

DATES: This interim rule is effective on September 4, 2009. The Agency 
must receive comments on or before November 3, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0524-AA59, by any 
of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9fbeff984e6ecf9e9cadadbccccda87dcdacdc887cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="386a7e6815777d68785b4b4a5d5d4b164d4b5c59165f574e">[email protected]</span></a>. Include Regulatory Information 
Number (RIN) 0524-AA59 in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: 202-401-7752.
    Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250-2299.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 2258, 
Waterfront Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.; Washington, DC 20024.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and the RIN for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Siva Sureshwaran, National Program 
Leader, Competitive Programs Unit; Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
2240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2240; Voice: 
202-2720-7536; Fax: 202-401-6070; E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f88b8b8d8a9d8b908f998a9996b89b8b8a9d9d8bd68d8b9c99d69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="631010161106100b140211020d230010110606104d161007024d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Summary

Authority

    Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(FSRIA), Public Law 107-171 (7 U.S.C. 3319f), as amended by section 
7410 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), Public 
Law 110-246, provided the authority to the Secretary of Agriculture 
(Secretary) to provide training, education, outreach, and technical 
assistance to beginning farmers or ranchers. The authority to carry out 
this program has been delegated to CSREES through the Under Secretary 
for Research, Education, and Economics.
    In carrying out the program, the Secretary is authorized to make 
competitive grants under section 7405(c) of FSRIA to support new and 
established local and regional training, education, outreach, and 
technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning 
farmers and ranchers. The Secretary may award a BFRDP grant to a 
collaborative State, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or 
partnership of public or private entities, which may include: A State 
cooperative extension service; a Federal, State, or tribal agency; a 
community-based and nongovernmental organization; a college or 
university (including an institution awarding an associate's degree) or 
foundation maintained by a college or university; or any other 
appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary. BFRDP grants shall 
be awarded to address needs of beginning farmers and ranchers in the 
following areas: Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships; resources 
and referrals; assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring 
land from retiring farmers and ranchers; innovative farm and ranch 
transfer strategies; entrepreneurship and business training; model land 
leasing contracts; financial management training; whole farm planning; 
conservation assistance; risk management education; diversification and 
marketing strategies; curriculum development; understanding the impact 
of concentration and globalization; basic livestock and crop farming 
practices; the acquisition and management of agricultural credit; 
environmental compliance; information processing; and other similar 
subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers. Pursuant to 
FSRIA section 7405(c)(3), these grants shall not have a term of more 
than 3 years and shall not be in an amount greater than $250,000 per 
year; however, eligible recipients may receive consecutive grants. 
These awards also are prohibited by statute from supporting planning, 
repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or 
facility. In addition, not less than 25 percent of these BFRDP grant 
funds for a fiscal year must be used to support programs and services 
that address the needs of limited resource beginning farmers or 
ranchers; socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers; and 
farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers. All BFRDP grant 
applicants are required to provide funds or in-kind support in an 
amount that is at least equal to 25 percent of the Federal funds 
requested. In making BFRDP grants, priority will be given to 
partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include 
nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new 
agricultural producer training and outreach. Geographical diversity 
will be ensured to the maximum extent practicable.
    FSRIA section 7405(d) also requires the Secretary to establish 
beginning farmer and rancher education teams to develop curricula and 
conduct educational programs and workshops for beginning farmers or 
ranchers in diverse geographical areas of the United States. The 
Secretary is required, in promoting the development of curricula and to 
the maximum extent practicable, to include modules tailored to specific 
audiences of beginning farmers or ranchers, based on crop or regional 
diversity. The Secretary is required to cooperate, to the maximum 
extent practicable, with (1) State cooperative extension services; (2) 
Federal and State agencies; (3) community-based and nongovernmental 
organizations; (4) colleges and universities (including an institution 
awarding an associate's degree) or foundations maintained by a college 
or university; and other appropriate partners, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    FSRIA section 7405(e) requires the Secretary to establish an online 
clearinghouse that makes available to beginning farmers or ranchers 
education curricula and training materials and programs, which may 
include online

[[Page 45969]]

courses for direct use by beginning farmers or ranchers.
    For fiscal year (FY) 2009, $18 million has been made available for 
the BFRDP, including administrative costs.

Organization of 7 CFR Part 3430

    A primary function of CSREES is the fair, effective, and efficient 
administration of Federal assistance programs implementing agricultural 
research, education, and extension programs. As noted above, CSREES has 
been delegated the authority to administer this program and will be 
issuing Federal assistance awards for funding made available for this 
program; and thus, awards made under this authority will be subject to 
the Agency's assistance regulations at 7 CFR part 3430, Competitive and 
Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs--General Award 
Administrative Provisions. The Agency's development and publication of 
these regulations for its non-formula Federal assistance programs serve 
to enhance its accountability and to standardize procedures across the 
Federal assistance programs it administers while providing transparency 
to the public. CSREES published 7 CFR part 3430 with subparts A through 
F as an interim rule on August 1, 2008 [73 FR 44897-44909], and as a 
final rule September 4, 2009. These regulations apply to all Federal 
assistance programs administered by CSREES except for the formula grant 
programs identified in 7 CFR 3430.1(f), the Small Business Innovation 
Research programs with implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 3403 and 
the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) authorized under 
section 1415A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA).
    CSREES organized the regulation as follows: Subparts A through E 
provide administrative provisions for all competitive and 
noncompetitive non-formula Federal assistance awards. Subparts F and 
thereafter apply to specific CSREES programs.
    CSREES is, to the extent practical, using the following subpart 
template for each program authority: (1) Applicability of regulations, 
(2) purpose, (3) definitions (those in addition to or different from 
Sec.  3430.2), (4) eligibility, (5) project types and priorities, (6) 
funding restrictions, and (7) matching requirements. Subparts F and 
thereafter contain the above seven components in this order. Additional 
sections may be added for a specific program if there are additional 
requirements or a need for additional rules for the program (e.g., 
additional reporting requirements). Through this rulemaking, CSREES is 
adding subpart J for the administrative provisions that are specific to 
the BFRDP.

Solicitation of Stakeholder Input and Development of Subpart J

    CSREES published a Federal Register Notice on September 24, 2008 
[73 FR 54987-54988], soliciting written stakeholder input comments 
through November 14, 2008, on the implementation of the BFRDP, and 
announcing a public meeting to solicit additional input. This public 
meeting was held on October 27, 2008, at the Waterfront Centre in 
Washington, DC. In addition, CSREES conducted listening sessions in 
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on October 6, 2008; Houston, Texas, on October 
6, 2008; and Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 22, 2008; and Webinars 
on October 28, 2008, and October 30, 2008. Information on the 
solicitation of stakeholder input is available at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/in_focus/smallfarm_if_bfrdp.html. All stakeholder input received has been made available at 
http://www.regulations.gov under CSREES--FRDOC--0001.
    Approximately 50 people attended the public meeting on October 27, 
2008, from several community-based and nongovernmental organizations 
(e.g., Land Stewardship Project, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, 
California Farm Link, New American Sustainable Agriculture Project, 
Rural Coalition, American Farm Bureau, and Center for Rural Affairs); 
professional organizations (e.g., Future Farmers of America (FFA), 
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges 
(NASULGC), and American Forest Foundation), colleges and universities 
(e.g., Iowa State University), State and Federal Agencies (USDA Office 
of Small Farm Coordination and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture), 
farms and small businesses (e.g., Simple Gifts Farm and Custom Ag 
Solutions), and others.
    To provide more opportunities for interested stakeholders to 
participate, internet based Webinars were held on October 28, 2008, and 
October 30, 2008. CSREES also received several stakeholder comments 
through the advertised call-in number, fax, and e-mail. CSREES 
considered all the stakeholder input received from the public meeting, 
Webinars, as well as other written comments in developing the RFA for 
this program.
    Based on stakeholder input, farm safety, forestry and range 
management, and organic and peri-urban farming are added to the list of 
priorities in FY 2009. As recommended by stakeholders, evaluation 
criteria include emphasis on past experience in providing education, 
training, and mentoring to beginning farmers and ranchers; direct 
interaction with farmers; and definition of target audience. As 
requested by the stakeholders, interaction with FFA and other young 
farmer groups and the Secretary's Advisory Group on Beginning Farmers 
and Ranchers is encouraged. Following the legislation and stakeholder 
recommendations, priority will be given to projects that are led by or 
include community-based organizations and/or nongovernmental 
organizations. In addition, there will be an ongoing process in 
evaluating and implementing suggestions made by stakeholders into the 
BFRDP program and ongoing stakeholder input will be encouraged and 
opportunities provided as the program moves forward.
    In subpart J of 7 CFR part 3430, CSREES is adding sections on 
applicability of the regulations, purpose, definitions, eligibility, 
project types and priorities, funding restrictions, matching 
requirements, stakeholder input, review criteria, and other 
considerations. Under Sec.  3430.602, CSREES is adding the definitions 
of ``beginning farmer or rancher,'' ``clearinghouse,'' and ``limited 
resource beginning farmers or ranchers.'' Under Sec.  3430.604, CSREES 
clarifies the type of projects that may be funded under this authority: 
standard BFRDP projects and other BFRDP projects. The legislative 
requirements of standard BFRDP projects are found under FSRIA section 
7405(c), and the legislative requirements for other BFRDP projects are 
found under sections 7405(d) and (e). Standard BFRDP projects are 
limited to 3 years and may not exceed $250,000 per year; whereas, other 
BFRDP projects are limited to 5 years pursuant to section 1472 of 
NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3318). Also, other BFRDP projects are not subject to 
the $250,000 per year limitation. Section 3430.605 on funding 
restrictions clarifies that indirect cost costs are allowed, subject to 
Sec.  3430.54. Section 3430.606 on matching requirements states that 
the matching requirements apply to both standard BFRDP projects and 
other BFRDP projects authorized in subsections (c), (d), and (e) of 
FSRIA section 7405, and that the matching requirements cannot be 
waived. Section 3430.606 also provides that the use of indirect costs 
as in-kind matching contributions is subject to Sec.  3430.52.

[[Page 45970]]

Timeline for Implementing Regulations

    CSREES is publishing this rule as interim with a 60-day comment 
period and anticipates a final rule by December 31, 2009. However, in 
the interim, these regulations apply to the BFRDP.

II. Administrative Requirements for the Proposed Rulemaking

Executive Order 12866

    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866, and therefore, has not been formally reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget. This interim rule will not 
create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action 
taken or planned by another agency; nor will it materially alter the 
budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs; 
nor will it have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
more; nor will it adversely affect the economy, a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities 
in a material way. Furthermore, it does not raise a novel legal or 
policy issue arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities 
or principles set forth in the Executive Order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980

    This interim rule has been reviewed in accordance with The 
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. The 
Department concluded that the rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The rule does not 
involve regulatory and informational requirements regarding businesses, 
organizations, and governmental jurisdictions subject to regulation.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The Department certifies that this interim rule has been assessed 
in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA). The Department concludes that this interim 
rule does not impose any new information requirements; however, the 
burden estimates will increase for existing approved information 
collections associated with this rule due to additional applicants. 
These estimates will be provided to OMB. In addition to the SF-424 form 
families (i.e., Research and Related and Mandatory), SF-272, Federal 
Cash Transactions Report, SF-269, Financial Status Reports, and SF-425, 
Federal Financial Reports; CSREES has three currently approved OMB 
information collections associated with this rulemaking: OMB 
Information Collection No. 0524-0042, CSREES Current Research 
Information System (CRIS); No. 0524-0041, CSREES Application Review 
Process; and No. 0524-0026, Assurance of Compliance with the Department 
of Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil Rights Compliance and 
Organizational Information.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    This interim regulation applies to the Federal assistance program 
administered by CSREES under the Catalog for Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) No. 10.311, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development 
Program.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and Executive Order 13132

    The Department has reviewed this interim rule in accordance with 
the requirements of Executive Order No. 13132 and the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., and has found no potential 
or substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. 
As there is no Federal mandate contained herein that could result in 
increased expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments, or by 
the private sector, the Department has not prepared a budgetary impact 
statement.

Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

    The Department has reviewed this interim rule in accordance with 
Executive Order 13175, and has determined that it does not have 
``tribal implications.'' The interim rule does not ``have substantial 
direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes.''

Clarity of This Regulation

    Executive Order 12866 and the President's Memorandum of June 1, 
1998, require each agency to write all rules in plain language. The 
Department invites comments on how to make this interim rule easier to 
understand.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural research, 
Education, Extension, Federal assistance.


0
Accordingly, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as 
set forth below:

PART 3430--COMPETITIVE AND NONCOMPETITIVE NON-FORMULA FEDERAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS--GENERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATIVE PROVSIONS

0
1. The authority for part 3430 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 3316; Pub. L. 106-107 (31 U.S.C. 6101 
note).


0
2. Add a new subpart J, to read as follows:
Subpart J--Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Sec.
3430.600 Applicability of regulations.
3430.601 Purpose.
3430.602 Definitions.
3430.603 Eligibility.
3430.604 Project types and priorities.
3430.605 Funding restrictions.
3430.606 Matching requirements.
3430.607 Stakeholder input.
3430.608 Review criteria.
3430.609 Other considerations.

Subpart J--Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program


Sec.  3430.600  Applicability of regulations.

    The regulations in this subpart apply to the program authorized 
under section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f).


Sec.  3430.601  Purpose.

    The purpose of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 
(BFRDP) is to establish a beginning farmer and rancher development 
program that provides local and regional training, education, outreach, 
and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and 
ranchers.


Sec.  3430.602  Definitions.

    The definitions applicable to the program under this subpart 
include:
    Beginning farmer or rancher means a person that has not operated a 
farm or ranch or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 
years, and meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.
    Clearinghouse means an online repository that will make available 
to beginning farmers or ranchers education curricula and training 
materials and programs, and which may include

[[Page 45971]]

online courses for direct use by beginning farmers or ranchers.
    Limited resource beginning farmers or ranchers means beginning 
farmers or ranchers who have: (1) direct or indirect gross farm sales 
not more than the sales amount established by the USDA Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in each of the previous two years 
(in current dollars, adjusted for inflation each year, based on the 
October 2002 Prices Paid by Farmer Index compiled and updated annually 
by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and (2) a 
total household income at or below the National Poverty Level for a 
family of four or less than 50 percent of county median household 
income in each of the previous 2 years as determined by the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), using the Census 
Poverty Data.


Sec.  3430.603  Eligibility.

    To be eligible to receive an award under this subpart, the 
recipient shall be a collaborative State, tribal, local, or regionally-
based network or partnership of public or private entities, including:
    (a) A State cooperative extension service;
    (b) A Federal, State, or tribal agency;
    (c) A community-based and nongovernmental organization;
    (d) A college or university (including a junior college offering an 
associate's degree) or foundation maintained by a college or 
university;
    (e) A private for-profit organization; or
    (f) Any other appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary.


Sec.  3430.604  Project types and priorities.

    (a) Standard BFRDP projects. For standard BFRDP projects, 
competitive grants will be awarded to support programs and services, as 
appropriate, relating to the following focus areas and activities:
    (1) Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships.
    (2) Resources and referral.
    (3) Assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from 
retiring farmers and ranchers.
    (4) Innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies.
    (5) Entrepreneurship and business training.
    (6) Model land leasing contracts.
    (7) Financial management training.
    (8) Whole farm planning.
    (9) New and emerging issues, facing farmers and ranchers, including 
climate change and changing world markets.
    (10) Conservation assistance.
    (11) Risk management education.
    (12) Diversification and marketing strategies.
    (l3) Curriculum development.
    (14) Understanding the impact of concentration and globalization.
    (15) Basic livestock and crop farming practices, forestry and range 
management.
    (16) Acquisition and management of agricultural credit.
    (17) Environmental compliance.
    (18) Information processing.
    (19) Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or 
ranchers.
    CSREES may include additional activities or focus areas that 
further address the critical needs of beginning farmers and ranchers as 
defined in this subpart. Some of these activities or focus areas may be 
identified by stakeholder groups or by CSREES in response to emerging 
critical needs of the Nation's farmers and ranchers.
    (b) Other BFRDP Projects. In addition to the competitive grants 
made under paragraph (a) of this section, competitive awards (grants or 
cooperative agreements) will be made:
    (1) to establish beginner farmer and rancher educational 
enhancement projects that develop curricula and conduct educational 
programs and workshops for beginning farmers or ranchers in diverse 
geographical areas of the Unites States; and
    (2) to establish and maintain an online clearinghouse.


Sec.  3430.605  Funding restrictions.

    (a) Facility costs. Funds made available under this subpart shall 
not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or 
construction of a building or facility.
    (b) Indirect costs. Subject to Sec.  3430.5460, indirect costs are 
allowable.
    (c) Participation by other farmers and ranchers. Projects may allow 
farmers and ranchers who are not beginning farmers and ranchers to 
participate in the programs funded under this subpart if their 
participation is appropriate and will not detract from the primary 
purpose of educating beginning farmers and ranchers as defined under 
this subpart.


Sec.  3430.606  Matching requirements.

    (a) Requirement. Awardees are required to provide a match in the 
form of cash or in-kind contributions in an amount at least equal to 25 
percent of the Federal funds provided by the award. The matching funds 
must be from non-Federal sources except when authorized by statute. The 
matching requirements under this subpart cannot be waived.
    (b) Indirect costs. Use of indirect costs as in-kind matching 
contributions is subject to Sec.  3430.52.


Sec.  3430.607  Stakeholder input.

    CSREES shall seek and obtain stakeholder input through a variety of 
forums (e.g., public meetings, request for input and/or via Web site), 
as well as through a notice in the Federal Register, from the following 
entities:
    (a) Beginning farmers and ranchers.
    (b) National, State, tribal, and local organizations, community-
based organizations, and other persons with expertise in operating 
beginning farmer and rancher programs.
    (c) The Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers 
established under section 5 of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act 
of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929 note; Pub. L. 102-554).


Sec.  3430.608  Review criteria.

    (a) Evaluation criteria. CSREES shall evaluate project proposals 
according to the following factors:
    (1) Relevancy.
    (2) Technical merit.
    (3) Achievability.
    (4) The expertise and track record of one or more applicants.
    (5) The adequacy of plans for the participatory evaluation process, 
outcome-based reporting, and the communication of findings and results 
beyond the immediate target audience.
    (6) Other appropriate factors, as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Partnership and collaboration. In making awards under this 
subpart, CSREES shall give priority to partnerships and collaborations 
that are led by or include nongovernmental and community-based 
organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and 
outreach.
    (c) Regional balance. In making awards under this subpart, CSREES 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographical 
diversity.


Sec.  3430.609  Other considerations.

    (a) Set aside. Each fiscal year, CSREES shall set aside at least 25 
percent of the funds used to support the standard BFRDP projects under 
this subpart to support programs and services that address the needs of 
the following groups:
    (1) Limited resource beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined in 
Sec.  3430.602).
    (2) Socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers (as 
defined in section 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)).
    (3) Farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers.
    (b) Consecutive awards. An eligible recipient may receive a 
consecutive

[[Page 45972]]

grant for a standard BFRDP project under this subpart.
    (c) Duration of awards. The term of a grant for a standard BFRDP 
project under this subpart shall not exceed 3 years. Awards for all 
other projects under this subpart shall not exceed 5 years. No-cost 
extensions of time beyond the maximum award terms will not be 
considered or granted.
    (d) Amount of grants. A grant for a standard BFRDP project under 
this subpart shall not be in an amount that is more than $250,000 for 
each year.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on August 28, 2009.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-21256 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P


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