Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act of 2018

To amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to assist small cheese producers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act of 2018 2. Assistance for small cheese producers The Agricultural Adjustment Act ( 7 U.S.C. 601 24. Assistance for small cheese producers (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible institution The term eligible institution (A) a land-grant college or university (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3103 (B) a local office of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture or other regional office of the Department of Agriculture; (C) a group of regional experts (as determined by the Secretary) that advises beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined under section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) (D) a nonprofit organization. (2) Secretary The term Secretary (3) Small cheese producer The term small cheese producer (b) Grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall make competitive grants to, as determined by the Secretary— (A) eligible small cheese producers; and (B) cooperative groups of small cheese producers. (2) Preference In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give preference to small cheese producers that use locally or regionally sourced product to produce cheese. (3) Use of funds The recipient of a grant under this subsection may use grant funds— (A) to purchase equipment or renovate and make repairs to production facilities; (B) to develop a business plan or perform a feasibility study to grow the business of the small cheese producer; (C) to promote and market cheese; (D) to participate in accounting and financial literacy education and training or purchase necessary software; (E) to upgrade facilities to meet food safety standards; (F) to participate in food safety training; and (G) to participate in relevant job training, such as training in— (i) cheese-making quality; or (ii) the production of a variety of cheese that the recipient has not produced before. (c) Cheese production education and promotion pilot project (1) In general The Secretary shall not use more than 10 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section to establish at one or more eligible institutions a pilot project that will— (A) develop, or support an existing, regional cheese-making resource center with the technical assistance and electronic resource capabilities to provide small cheese producers with financial, marketing, food safety, and production assistance; (B) support a group of experienced cheese producers or subject matter experts (as determined by the Secretary) to advise beginning cheese producers; and (C) establish, or grow an existing, national cheese-making resource center to act as a clearinghouse for best practices applicable to small cheese producers. (2) Requirements To be eligible to receive funding to establish a pilot project described in paragraph (1), an eligible institution shall demonstrate to the Secretary— (A) the capacity and technical expertise to provide the services described in that paragraph; (B) the support of the eligible institution in the agricultural community; and (C) the availability of resources (in cash or in kind) of definite value to achieve the goal and sustain the mission of the pilot project. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to remain available until expended. .

Summary: Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act of 2018 This bill amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to establish a Department of Agriculture (USDA) program to provide competitive grants to small cheese producers and cooperative groups of small cheese producers. In awarding grants, USDA must define the term "small cheese producer" and give preference to producers that use locally or regionally sourced product to produce cheese. Grant recipients may use the funds to: purchase equipment or renovate and make repairs to production facilities, develop a business plan or perform a feasibility study to grow the business, promote and market cheese, participate in accounting and financial literacy education and training, carry out food safety upgrades and training, and participate in job training. Using no more than 10% of the funds provided for this bill, USDA must establish a cheese production, education, and promotion pilot project at eligible institutions, including: land-grant colleges or universities, local offices of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture or other regional USDA offices, groups of regional experts that advise beginning farmers or ranchers, or nonprofit organizations.