I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5616 

To promote and enhance urban agricultural production and agricultural 

research in urban areas, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. MOORE, Ms. NORTON, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 

CONYERS, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To promote and enhance urban agricultural production and 

agricultural research in urban areas, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Urban Agriculture Production Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Findings. 

Sec. 3. Urban agriculture outreach program. 

Sec. 4. Covering urban farmers and ranchers under Office of Advocacy and 

Outreach. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 5616 IH

Sec. 5. Urban agriculture research initiative. 

Sec. 6. Amending agriculture programs. 

Sec. 7. Improving agricultural reporting. 

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) Dramatic economic, demographic, and land 

4 use changes have created pockets of arable land suit5 able for agricultural production in and around urban 

6 areas of the United States. 

7 (2) Advances in agricultural practices make 

8 production possible in and around urban areas that 

9 were previously cordoned off from agricultural pro10 duction. 

11 (3) There is a disconnect between daily urban 

12 life and food production that urban agriculture can 

13 help address. 

14 (4) According to the Economic Research Serv15 ice of the Department of Agriculture, direct sales of 

16 agricultural products have grown to $1,200,000,000 

17 with 89 percent of all sales coming from farms in 

18 urban metropolitan and adjacent areas. 

19 (5) It is imperative to ensure that urban agri20 cultural production remains a viable option to help 

21 meet the food production needs of the future. 

22 SEC. 3. URBAN AGRICULTURE OUTREACH PROGRAM. 

23 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri24 culture shall establish an urban agriculture outreach proVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Oct 01, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5616.IH H5616

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 5616 IH

1 gram under which the Secretary shall award grants to eli2 gible entities to support outreach activities for any of the 

3 following: 

4 (1) Infrastructure, including distribution sys5 tems to support new or expanded agricultural pro6 duction in and around urban areas (as defined in 

7 section 226B(a) of the Department of Agriculture 

8 Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934(a))). 

9 (2) Land acquisition and land conversion to 

10 support new or expanded agricultural production in 

11 and around urban areas, including in and around 

12 brownfields and other underutilized tracts of land. 

13 (3) Education and training to enhance agricul14 tural production in and around urban areas. 

15 (4) Providing assistance to farmers or ranchers 

16 in urban areas with respect to the aggregation of the 

17 farmer’s or rancher’s products and supplies for pur18 poses of transportation to market. 

19 (5) Other activities that support urban agricul20 tural production as determined by the Secretary. 

21 (b) TERM OF GRANT.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The term of a grant award23 ed under this section shall be not less than one year. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (2) RENEWALS.—A grant awarded under this 

2 section may be renewed at the discretion of the Sec3 retary. 

4 (c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec5 tion, the Secretary shall give a preference to eligible enti6 ties seeking a grant for outreach activities to be carried 

7 out in historically underserved communities (as defined by 

8 the Secretary). 

9 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

10 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti11 ty’’ means— 

12 (A) a community organization; 

13 (B) a nonprofit organization; 

14 (C) a municipality; 

15 (D) a local educational agency (as defined 

16 in section 9101 of the Elementary and Sec17 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

18 7801)); 

19 (E) an institution of higher education (as 

20 defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and 

21 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

22 7801)); or 

23 (F) any other entity as determined by the 

24 Secretary of Agriculture. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

2 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

3 $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year 

4 thereafter. 

5 SEC. 4. COVERING URBAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS 

6 UNDER OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND OUT7 REACH. 

8 Section 226B of the Department of Agriculture Reor9 ganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934) is amended— 

10 (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 

11 following new paragraphs: 

12 ‘‘(4) URBAN AREA.—The term ‘urban area’ 

13 means an area within a Metropolitan Statistical 

14 Area (as defined by the Office of Management and 

15 Budget). 

16 ‘‘(5) URBAN FARMER OR RANCHER.—The term 

17 ‘urban farmer or rancher’ means a farmer or ranch18 er who owns or operates a farm or ranch in an 

19 urban area.’’; 

20 (2) in subsection (b)(1)— 

21 (A) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) 

22 as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and 

23 (B) by inserting after clause (i) the fol24 lowing new clause: 

25 ‘‘(ii) urban farmers or ranchers;’’; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (3) in subsection (c)— 

2 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

3 by striking ‘‘and socially disadvantaged farmers 

4 or ranchers’’ and inserting ‘‘socially disadvan5 taged farmers or ranchers, and urban farmers 

6 or ranchers’’; 

7 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or so8 cially disadvantaged’’ and inserting ‘‘socially 

9 disadvantaged, or urban’’; 

10 (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and so11 cially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers’’ and 

12 inserting ‘‘socially disadvantaged farmers or 

13 ranchers, and urban farmers or ranchers’’; and 

14 (D) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘di15 rectly’’ after ‘‘programs’’; 

16 (4) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub17 section (g); and 

18 (5) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol19 lowing new subsection: 

20 ‘‘(f) URBAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS GROUP.— 

21 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es22 tablish within the Office the Urban Farmers and 

23 Ranchers Group. 

24 ‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Urban Farmers 

2 and Ranchers Group shall be composed of— 

3 ‘‘(i) seven employees of the Depart4 ment of Agriculture, each of whom shall 

5 represent a distinct mission area of the 

6 Department; and 

7 ‘‘(ii) such other officers or employees 

8 of the United States as the Secretary de9 termines are necessary. 

10 ‘‘(B) PAY.—Officers and employees of the 

11 United States shall not receive additional com12 pensation for service as a member of the Group. 

13 ‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The Urban Farmers and 

14 Ranchers Group shall— 

15 ‘‘(A) carry out and administer the urban 

16 agriculture outreach program established under 

17 section 3 of the Urban Agriculture Production 

18 Act; 

19 ‘‘(B) establish and administer an informa20 tion clearinghouse on agricultural activities in 

21 urban areas, including best practices; 

22 ‘‘(C) consult with public and private 

23 groups, including research institutions, on how 

24 to enhance agricultural production in urban 

25 areas; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ‘‘(D) provide technical assistance to urban 

2 farmers and ranchers to assist such farmers 

3 and ranchers (including urban gardeners)— 

4 ‘‘(i) in identifying appropriate land, 

5 space, or buildings for lease or purchase; 

6 ‘‘(ii) in preparing loan applications, 

7 identifying appropriate funding sources, 

8 and by connecting such farmers and ranch9 ers with loan officers and other appro10 priate personnel; 

11 ‘‘(iii) in connecting to the network of 

12 farmers’ markets throughout the United 

13 States; 

14 ‘‘(iv) in diversifying the marketing 

15 plans of the farmers’ or ranchers’ products 

16 by encouraging the formation of commu17 nity-supported agriculture groups and di18 rect wholesale opportunities; 

19 ‘‘(v) by providing for business develop20 ment and management activities, including 

21 professional development activities; 

22 ‘‘(vi) with understanding and navi23 gating municipal laws, regulations, ordi24 nances, and policies with respect to obtain25 ing permits, zoning, and water access; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ‘‘(vii) with registering the farming 

2 business of such farmers or ranchers, sat3 isfying any legal requirements applicable to 

4 such registration (including obtaining li5 censes and registrations), and organizing 

6 an appropriate business structure; and 

7 ‘‘(viii) in establishing relationships 

8 with a wide range of field partners and in 

9 finding resources to assist such farmers or 

10 ranchers achieve efficient and viable pro11 duction.’’. 

12 SEC. 5. URBAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 

14 award grants, on a competitive basis, for scientific re15 search on promoting and enhancing agricultural produc16 tion in urban areas (as defined in section 226B(a) of the 

17 Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 

18 U.S.C. 6934(a))), including, with respect to improving 

19 production efficiency, production, and profitability— 

20 (1) marketing new innovations and tech21 nologies; 

22 (2) methods to protect crops and agricultural 

23 products from pests and disease; 

24 (3) methods to enhance food safety related to 

25 production; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (4) other research areas the Secretary deter2 mines are appropriate. 

3 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 

4 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

5 shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 

6 of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu7 trition, and Forestry of the Senate, and make publicly 

8 available on the Internet site of the Department of Agri9 culture, a report summarizing the research conducted 

10 under subsection (a). 

11 (c) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Cred12 it Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry 

13 out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 

14 through 2018. 

15 SEC. 6. AMENDING AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS. 

16 (a) EXPANSION OF THE FARMERS’ MARKET PRO17 MOTION PROGRAM.— 

18 (1) PROMOTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.— 

19 Section 6(a) of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct 

20 Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005(a)) is 

21 amended— 

22 (A) by inserting ‘‘, loans, or loan guaran23 tees’’ after ‘‘make grants’’; 

24 (B) by inserting ‘‘or activities’’ after 

25 ‘‘projects’’; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (C) by striking ‘‘development of local food 

2 business enterprises.’’ and inserting the fol3 lowing: ‘‘development of local food business en4 terprises, including— 

5 ‘‘(1) projects for the construction of new farm6 ers’ markets; 

7 ‘‘(2) projects for the improvement or rehabilita8 tion of existing farmers’ markets; 

9 ‘‘(3) projects for the acquisition of equipment 

10 for farmers’ markets and other infrastructure needs; 

11 ‘‘(4) projects for the purchase, acquisition, and 

12 rehabilitation of land or property for use as a farm13 ers’ market; 

14 ‘‘(5) activities carried out through agri-tourism 

15 initiatives; 

16 ‘‘(6) marketing and advertising activities; 

17 ‘‘(7) transportation and delivery activities; 

18 ‘‘(8) education and outreach and activities to 

19 encourage farmers’ markets participation in Federal 

20 and State food and nutrition assistance programs; 

21 ‘‘(9) business development and management ac22 tivities, including professional development activities; 

23 ‘‘(10) projects for the establishment of satellite 

24 locations of existing farmers’ markets designed to inVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Oct 01, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5616.IH H5616

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•HR 5616 IH

1 crease sales in areas not easily accessible through 

2 traditional transportation; and 

3 ‘‘(11) activities carried out through planning 

4 and feasibility initiatives for new or expanding farm5 ers’ markets.’’. 

6 (2) PURPOSES.—Section 6 of the Farmer-to7 Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 

8 3005) is amended— 

9 (A) by striking subsection (b); and 

10 (B) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), 

11 and (e) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respec12 tively. 

13 (3) ELIGIBILITY.—Subsection (b) of section 6 

14 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 

15 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005) (as so redesignated) is 

16 amended— 

17 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

18 by inserting ‘‘, loan, or loan guarantee’’ after 

19 ‘‘grant’’; 

20 (B) by striking paragraph (1) and insert21 ing the following new paragraph: 

22 ‘‘(1) a State government agency;’’; 

23 (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘agen24 cy’’ after ‘‘government’’; 

25 (D) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5); 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
13 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (E) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 

2 following new paragraph: 

3 ‘‘(4) an operator of a farmers’ market;’’; and 

4 (F) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and 

5 (7) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively. 

6 (4) PRIORITIES.—Subsection (d)(1) of section 6 

7 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 

8 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005), as redesignated by paragraph 

9 (2)(B), is amended by inserting ‘‘or an urban area 

10 (as defined in section 226B(a) of the Department of 

11 Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 

12 6934(a)))’’ after ‘‘regionally grown foods’’. 

13 (5) INTEREST RATE; APPLICATION; CONDI14 TION.—Section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct 

15 Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005), as amended 

16 by paragraph (2), is further amended— 

17 (A) by redesignating subsections (f) and 

18 (g) as subsections (h) and (i), respectively; and 

19 (B) by inserting after subsection (d) (as 

20 redesignated by paragraph (2)(B)) the following 

21 new subsections: 

22 ‘‘(e) INTEREST RATE.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The interest rate on a loan 

24 under this section (other than a loan guarantee 

25 under this section) shall be as determined by the 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
14 

•HR 5616 IH

1 Secretary, but not less than such rate as determined 

2 by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consid3 eration the current average market yield on out4 standing marketable obligations of the United States 

5 with remaining periods to maturity comparable to 

6 the maturities of such loan, as determined by the 

7 Secretary of the Treasury on the date the loan is 

8 made. 

9 ‘‘(2) DURATION.—The interest rate for each 

10 loan under this section shall remain in effect for the 

11 term of the loan. 

12 ‘‘(f) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity seeking a 

13 grant, loan, or loan guarantee under this section shall sub14 mit to the Secretary an application in such time and in 

15 such manner and containing such information as the Sec16 retary may require, including documentation dem17 onstrating the financial need of the entity. 

18 ‘‘(g) CONDITION.—As a condition of receiving a 

19 grant, loan, or loan guarantee under this section, a recipi20 ent of such a grant, loan, or loan guarantee shall certify 

21 that the recipient will reserve, for the sale of locally pro22 duced food products (as determined by the Secretary) pro23 duced by farmers, ranchers, or aquaculture, mariculture, 

24 or fisheries operators, or by associations of farmers, 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
15 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ranchers, or those operators, not less than 50 percent of 

2 the floor area of a farmers’ market— 

3 ‘‘(1) that is operated or facilitated by the recipi4 ent; and 

5 ‘‘(2) with respect to which grant or loan funds 

6 will be used.’’. 

7 (6) FUNDING.—Subsection (i) of section 6 of 

8 the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 

9 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005) (as redesignated by para10 graph (4)) is amended— 

11 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

12 (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

13 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

14 (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 

15 ‘‘each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.’’ 

16 and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2014; and’’; and 

17 (iii) by adding at the end the fol18 lowing new subparagraph: 

19 ‘‘(E) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

20 2015 through 2018.’’; 

21 (B) by striking paragraph (4) and insert22 ing the following new paragraph: 

23 ‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.— 

24 ‘‘(A) EBT.—Not less than 10 percent of 

25 the funds used to carry out this section in a fisVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Oct 01, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5616.IH H5616

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
16 

•HR 5616 IH

1 cal year under paragraph (1) or (3) shall be 

2 used to support the use of electronic benefits 

3 transfers for Federal nutrition programs at 

4 farmers’ markets. 

5 ‘‘(B) GRANTS.—Not less than 70 percent 

6 of the funds made available to carry out this 

7 section in a fiscal year shall be used to make 

8 grants to eligible entities.’’; and 

9 (C) in paragraph (5)— 

10 (i) in the heading, by inserting 

11 ‘‘TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND’’ before 

12 ‘‘ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES’’; and 

13 (ii) by inserting ‘‘to provide technical 

14 assistance or’’ before ‘‘for administrative 

15 expenses’’. 

16 (b) EXTENSION OF AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR

17 SENIORS FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.— 

18 (1) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 4402(a) 

19 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 

20 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007(a)) is amended to read as fol21 lows: 

22 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Agri23 culture shall use funds available to the Commodity Credit 

24 Corporation to carry out and expand a seniors farmers’ 

25 market nutrition program in the following amounts: 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
17 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ‘‘(1) For fiscal year 2015, $25,000,000. 

2 ‘‘(2) For fiscal year 2016, $50,000,000. 

3 ‘‘(3) For fiscal year 2017, $75,000,000. 

4 ‘‘(4) For each of fiscal years 2018 through 

5 2020, $100,000,000.’’. 

6 (2) PURPOSES.—Section 4402(b)(1) of the 

7 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 

8 U.S.C. 3007(b)(1)) is amended— 

9 (A) by striking ‘‘unprepared’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘minimally processed’’; and 

11 (B) by striking ‘‘and herbs’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘herbs, and other locally produced farm prod13 ucts, as the Secretary considers appropriate,’’. 

14 (3) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS; UNEXPENDED

15 FUNDS.—Section 4402 of the Farm Security and 

16 Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007) is 

17 amended by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 10 

19 percent of the funds made available for a fiscal year under 

20 subsection (a) may be used to pay administrative costs in21 curred in carrying out this section. 

22 ‘‘(i) UNEXPENDED FUNDS.—To the extent the funds 

23 made available under subsection (a) for a fiscal year are 

24 not expended in that fiscal year, the Secretary shall use 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
18 

•HR 5616 IH

1 such funds in a subsequent fiscal year for the same pur2 pose. 

3 ‘‘(j) PRIORITIES.—In providing funds made available 

4 under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to 

5 farmers’ markets that have an operational seniors farm6 ers’ market program and to seniors farmers’ markets pro7 grams in historically underserved communities (as defined 

8 by the Secretary).’’. 

9 (c) COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.—Section 25 of the 

10 Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is 

11 amended— 

12 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— 

13 (A) in subparagraph (B)— 

14 (i) in clause (i)— 

15 (I) by striking ‘‘(i)(I)’’ and in16 serting the following: 

17 ‘‘(A)(i)’’; 

18 (II) by striking ‘‘(II)’’ and insert19 ing the following: 

20 ‘‘(ii)’’; and 

21 (III) by striking ‘‘(III)’’ and in22 serting the following: 

23 ‘‘(iii)’’; and 

24 (ii) in clause (ii)— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
19 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (I) by striking ‘‘(ii)(I)’’ and in2 serting the following: 

3 ‘‘(B)(i)’’; 

4 (II) by striking ‘‘(II)’’ and insert5 ing the following: 

6 ‘‘(ii)’’; and 

7 (III) by striking ‘‘(III)’’ and in8 serting the following: 

9 ‘‘(iii)’’; and 

10 (B) by striking ‘‘that—’’ and all that fol11 lows through ‘‘(B) is’’ and inserting ‘‘that is— 

12 ’’; and 

13 (2) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by striking 

14 ‘‘$9,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000,000’’. 

15 SEC. 7. IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL REPORTING. 

16 (a) EVALUATION OF FARMERS’ MARKETS IN CENSUS

17 OF AGRICULTURE.—Section 2(a) of the Census of Agri18 culture Act of 1997 (7 U.S.C. 2204g(a)) is amended by 

19 adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

20 ‘‘(3) INCLUSION OF FARMERS’ MARKETS.—Ef21 fective beginning with the first census of agriculture 

22 conducted after the date of the enactment of the 

23 Urban Agriculture Production Act, the Secretary 

24 shall include as part of each census of agriculture— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
20 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ‘‘(A) an evaluation of the state of farmers’ 

2 markets in the United States, including infor3 mation regarding the size, location, operational 

4 capacity, and geographic dispersion of farmers’ 

5 markets and types of food products sold (both 

6 in terms of product diversity and sales loca7 tions) through farmers’ markets; and 

8 ‘‘(B) an analysis of the economic impact of 

9 farmers’ markets, including the success of Fed10 eral programs in promoting and supporting 

11 farmers’ markets.’’. 

12 (b) COORDINATED ANNUAL REPORT ON FARMERS’ 

13 MARKETS.—Beginning on the date that is 90 days after 

14 the date of the enactment of this Act and each year there15 after, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Con16 gress and publish on the Internet site of the Department 

17 of Agriculture a report on the status of farmers’ markets 

18 in the United States. Such report shall include with re19 spect to farmers’ markets in the United States for each 

20 year, the following information: 

21 (1) The number of farmers’ markets. 

22 (2) The number of farmers’ markets established 

23 during such year except that for the first year a re24 port is submitted under this section, the report shall 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
21 

•HR 5616 IH

1 include the number of farmers’ markets for the five 

2 years immediately preceding the first reporting year. 

3 (3) The economic value of an average farmers’ 

4 market. 

5 (4) The type of governmental assistance pro6 vided to farmers’ markets. 

7 (5) The products that are typically sold at 

8 farmers’ markets. 

9 (6) The number of farmers’ markets that ac10 cept as a form of payment benefits distributed 

11 through— 

12 (A) the supplemental nutrition assistance 

13 program established under the Food and Nutri14 tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); 

15 (B) the seniors farmers’ market nutrition 

16 program established under section 4402 of the 

17 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 

18 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007); 

19 (C) the special supplemental nutrition pro20 gram for women, infants, and children estab21 lished under section 17 of the Child Nutrition 

22 Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); and 

23 (D) any other Federal or State nutrition 

24 assistance program as determined appropriate 

25 by the Secretary. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
22 

•HR 5616 IH

1 (7) The methods through which farmers’ mar2 kets process the forms of payment described in para3 graph (6). 

4 (8) The average income of a farmers’ market 

5 operator. 

6 (9) The average profit of a farmers’ market op7 erator. 

8 (10) The average expense of a farmers’ market 

9 operator. 

10 (11) Other occupations of operators of farmers’ 

11 markets. 

12 (12) The percentage of food at farmers’ mar13 kets that is locally produced. 

14 (13) Any other information related to farmers’ 

15 markets in the United States that the Secretary de16 termines is important to promote and enhance the 

17 use of farmers’ markets. 

18 (c) REPORT ON STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUC19 TION IN AND AROUND URBAN AREAS.—Not later than 90 

20 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not 

21 later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year there22 after, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit a report 

23 to Congress (and make such report publicly available elec24 tronically) on the status of agricultural production in 

25 urban areas (as defined in section 226B(a) of the DepartVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Oct 01, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5616.IH H5616

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
23 

•HR 5616 IH

1 ment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 

2 6934(a))). The report shall include— 

3 (1) with respect to agricultural production in 

4 urban areas, information on— 

5 (A) the percentage and economic value of 

6 such production; 

7 (B) the most popular type of agricultural 

8 activity in which individuals are engaged in 

9 such production; 

10 (C) the most recent best practices for such 

11 production; 

12 (D) the type of agricultural products mar13 keted and sold through such production; and 

14 (E) the progress made toward strength15 ening local food systems in carrying out such 

16 production; 

17 (2) an analysis of local government regulations, 

18 including zoning, that have supported or could sup19 port sustainable agricultural production in urban 

20 areas; and 

21 (3) recommendations on how to further agricul22 tural production in urban areas. 

23 (d) PERFORMANCE GOALS.—The Secretary of Agri24 culture shall incorporate promoting and enhancing agri25 cultural production in urban areas into the Department 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
24 

•HR 5616 IH

1 of Agriculture performance goals established in the agency 

2 performance plan under section 1115 of title 31, United 

3 States Code, and updated in accordance with section 1116 

4 of such title. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS