I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4316 
To provide for the reform and continuation of the beginning farmer and 
rancher program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 8, 2017 
Mr. WALZ (for himself and Mr. FORTENBERRY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to 
the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for the reform and continuation of the beginning 
farmer and rancher program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 
2017’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
TITLE I—CONSERVATION 
Sec. 101. Conservation reserve. 
Sec. 102. Contracts. 
Sec. 103. Establishment and administration of environmental quality incentives 
program. 
Sec. 104. Conservation innovation grants and payments. 
Sec. 105. Commodity Credit Corporation. 
Sec. 106. Agricultural land easements. 
TITLE II—CREDIT 
Sec. 201. Adjustment of maximum limit on amount of direct farm ownership 
loans for regional farm real estate inflation; authority to make 
or guarantee farm ownership microloans. 
Sec. 202. Cooperative agreements. 
Sec. 203. Borrower training. 
Sec. 204. Funding of individual development accounts. 
TITLE III—RURAL DEVELOPMENT 
Sec. 301. Rural microentrepreneur assistance program. 
TITLE IV—RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION 
Sec. 401. Beginning farmer and rancher development program. 
Sec. 402. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. 
Sec. 403. Farmland tenure. 
TITLE V—CROP INSURANCE 
Sec. 501. Consistent beginning farmer and rancher definition under Federal 
Crop Insurance Act. 
Sec. 502. Risk management partnership programs. 
Sec. 503. Funding for crop insurance research, development, and maintenance 
costs. 
Sec. 504. Crop insurance education and information for producers. 
Sec. 505. Beginning farmer and rancher disaster assistance. 
Sec. 506. Beginning farmer and rancher crop insurance study. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 601. Small and beginning farmer and rancher coordinators. 
TITLE I—CONSERVATION 
SEC. 101. CONSERVATION RESERVE. 
Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3831) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(A) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) land that is transitioning under the terms 
of section 1235(f).’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(3) TRANSITION OPTIONS.—For the purposes 
of applying the limitations in paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall not count acres transitioning under 
the terms of section 1235(f).’’. 
SEC. 102. CONTRACTS. 
Section 1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3835) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(1)(B)(iii), by striking ‘‘a 
retired or retiring owner or operator’’ and inserting 
‘‘an eligible landowner (as defined in section 
1235(f)(1)(A))’’; 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in the heading by striking ‘‘OPTION’’ 
and inserting ‘‘OPTIONS’’; 
(B) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2), 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE LANDOWNER.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘eligible landowner’ means a 
landowner who is— 
‘‘(i) a current contract holder under 
the conservation reserve program; and 
‘‘(ii) in the case of the transition of 
farmland through a long-term lease or 
rental agreement as outlined in paragraph 
(2)(A)(ii), at least 65 years of age. 
‘‘(B) COVERED
FARMER.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘covered farmer’ means a be-
ginning farmer or rancher, a socially disadvan-
taged farmer or rancher, or a veteran farmer or 
rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))), who is not a fam-
ily member (as defined in section 1001 of this 
Act) of the eligible landowner. 
‘‘(2) TRANSITION
TO
COVERED
FARMER.—In 
the case of a contract modification approved in order 
to facilitate the transfer of land subject to a contract 
from an eligible landowner to a covered farmer, the 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) allow the eligible landowner to termi-
nate the contract up to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) 3 years early, without penalty, 
and beginning on the date of termination, 
sell to the covered farmer the land subject 
to the contract for production purposes; or 
‘‘(ii) 2 years early, without penalty, 
and beginning on the date of termination, 
lease (under a long-term lease or a lease 
with an option to purchase) to the covered 
farmer the land subject to the contract for 
production purposes; 
‘‘(B) beginning on the date that is 2 years 
before the date of termination of the contract— 
‘‘(i) allow the covered farmer, in con-
junction with the eligible landowner, to 
make conservation and land improvements, 
including preparing to plant an agricul-
tural crop; and 
‘‘(ii) allow the covered farmer to begin 
the certification process under the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6501 et seq.); 
‘‘(C) require the covered farmer to develop 
and implement a comprehensive conservation 
plan that addresses all resource concerns and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
meets such sustainability criteria as the Sec-
retary may establish; 
‘‘(D) provide to the covered farmer an op-
portunity to enroll in the conservation steward-
ship program or the environmental quality in-
centives program at any time beginning on the 
date that is 1 year before the date of termi-
nation of the contract, including technical and 
financial assistance in the development of a 
comprehensive conservation plan; 
‘‘(E) provide the covered farmer with the 
option to reenroll any applicable partial field 
conservation practice that— 
‘‘(i) is eligible for enrollment under 
the continuous signup option pursuant to 
section 1234(d)(2)(A)(ii); and 
‘‘(ii) is part of an approved conserva-
tion plan; and 
‘‘(F) continue to make annual payments to 
the eligible landowner for not more than— 
‘‘(i) an additional 3 years after the 
date of termination of the contract in the 
case of the sale of farmland to the covered 
farmer; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) an additional 2 years after the 
date of termination of the contract in the 
case of a long-term lease of farmland to 
the covered farmer.’’. 
SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ENVI-
RONMENTAL 
QUALITY 
INCENTIVES 
PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–2) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2015’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(4)(B)— 
(A) in clause (i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Not more than’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall provide at 
least’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘may be provided in 
advance for the purpose of’’ and inserting 
‘‘in advance for all costs related to’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘90-day’’ and 
inserting ‘‘180-day’’. 
SEC. 104. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
MENTS. 
Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–8) is amended in— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(D), by inserting ‘‘and 
by beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers’’ after ‘‘specialty crops’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 105. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION. 
Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(B) as subparagraph (C) and inserting 
after subparagraph (A) the following: 
‘‘(B) such sums as are necessary to carry 
out section 1235(f) to facilitate the transfer of 
land subject to contracts under the conservation 
reserve program from an eligible landowner to 
beginning farmers or ranchers and socially dis-
advantaged farmers or ranchers; and’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so redes-
ignated)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(I) by striking ‘‘$33,000,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$5,000,000’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘2014 through 
2018’’ and all that follows through 
the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘2019 through 2023 for outreach and 
technical assistance in carrying out 
section 1235(f).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)(1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘5 
percent’’ and inserting ‘‘15 percent’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘5 
percent’’ and inserting ‘‘15 percent’’. 
SEC. 106. AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS. 
Section 1265B(b)(3) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(b)(3)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(D) PRIORITY.—In evaluating applica-
tions under the program, the Secretary shall 
give priority to an application for the purchase 
of an agricultural land easement that— 
‘‘(i) maintains agricultural viability, 
as determined by the Secretary; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) includes, as a condition of the 
easement, a requirement that any subse-
quent purchase of the land subject to the 
easement shall be at agricultural value.’’. 
TITLE II—CREDIT 
SEC. 201. ADJUSTMENT OF MAXIMUM LIMIT ON AMOUNT 
OF DIRECT FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS FOR 
REGIONAL FARM REAL ESTATE INFLATION; 
AUTHORITY TO MAKE OR GUARANTEE FARM 
OWNERSHIP MICROLOANS. 
Section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 1925) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$300,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$500,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal 
year 2019, by the regional farm real estate in-
flation percentage applicable to the location 
where the farm involved is located for the fiscal 
year in which the loan is made, and decreased 
by the amount of any unpaid indebtedness of 
the borrower on direct loans under subtitle B)’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘cost’’ before ‘‘inflation 
percentage’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘INFLATION
PERCENTAGE’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘COST INFLATION PERCENTAGE’’; and 
(B) in the text, by inserting ‘‘cost’’ before 
‘‘inflation percentage’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) REGIONAL FARM REAL ESTATE INFLATION 
PERCENTAGE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the regional farm real estate inflation percent-
age applicable to a farm for a fiscal year is the per-
centage (if any) by which— 
‘‘(A) the regional farm real estate inflation 
index developed under paragraph (2) for the re-
gion in which the farm is located, for the 12- 
month period ending on August 31 of the im-
mediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds 
‘‘(B) the average of the index (as so de-
fined) for the 12-month period ending on Au-
gust 31, 2018. 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary shall de-
velop a regional farm real estate inflation index for 
measuring periodic changes in the price of farm real 
estate in each geographic region of the United 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:21 Nov 14, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
States, using data from the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service. 
‘‘(e) MICROLOANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary may establish a program to make or 
guarantee microloans. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary shall not 
make or guarantee a microloan under this sub-
section that would cause the total principal indebted-
ness outstanding at any 1 time for microloans made 
under this subtitle to any 1 borrower to exceed 
$50,000. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall limit the administra-
tive burdens and streamline the application and ap-
proval process for microloans under this sub-
section.’’. 
SEC. 202. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 
Section 313(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘title’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subtitle’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘LENDING
PILOT
PROJECTS’’ and inserting 
‘‘AGREEMENTS’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) through 
(C) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), during each of the 2018 through 
2023 fiscal years, the Secretary may enter into 
cooperative agreements with community devel-
opment financial institutions and nonprofit or-
ganizations, as the Secretary determines appro-
priate, to provide business, financial, marketing, 
and credit management services and technical 
assistance to microloan borrowers. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a 
cooperative agreement under subparagraph (A), 
an institution described in subparagraph (A) 
shall, as determined by the Secretary— 
‘‘(i) have a proven track record of suc-
cessfully assisting agricultural borrowers; 
and 
‘‘(ii) have the services of a staff with 
appropriate expertise in business, financial, 
marketing, credit management services, 
and technical assistance.’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(3) in subparagraph (D)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘(C)’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘loan’’ and inserting ‘‘co-
operative agreement’’; and 
(4) by striking subparagraph (E). 
SEC. 203. BORROWER TRAINING. 
Section 359 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2006a) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure, to 
the maximum extent practicable, that financial manage-
ment training programs funded under the beginning farm-
er and rancher development program under section 7405 
of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
are designed so that— 
‘‘(1) successful completion of such a financial 
management training program will satisfy the bor-
rower training requirements under this section; and 
‘‘(2) a contract to provide such a financial man-
agement training program may be entered into 
under subsection (b).’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 204. FUNDING OF INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AC-
COUNTS. 
Section 333B(h) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983b(h)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In ad-
dition to any amounts provided under section 7405 of the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 
U.S.C. 3319f) for such purpose, there is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
TITLE III—RURAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 301. RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 379E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall use $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023 to carry out this section, to remain 
available until expended.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2009 
through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
TITLE IV—RESEARCH, 
EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION 
SEC. 401. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM. 
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b) and redesignating 
subsection (c) as subsection (b); 
(2) in subsection (b), as so redesignated— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘GRANTS’’ 
and inserting ‘‘PROGRAMS’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a beginning farmer and rancher development 
program to provide training, education, outreach, 
and technical assistance initiatives to increase oppor-
tunities for beginning farmers or ranchers.’’; 
(C) by inserting ‘‘or cooperative agree-
ments’’ after ‘‘grants’’ each place it appears; 
(D) by inserting ‘‘or cooperative agree-
ment’’ after ‘‘grant’’ each place it appears; 
(E) by striking ‘‘subsection’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘section’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:21 Nov 14, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(F) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘A 
grant’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 
subsections (e) and (h), a grant’’; 
(G) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(E) and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and 
(G), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(D) the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) degree of involvement of farmers in 
project design, implementation, and decision- 
making;’’; and 
(H) by striking paragraphs (4), (8), and 
(11) and redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), 
(9), and (10) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), 
and (8), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b), as so re-
designated, the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Secretary shall make competitive grants 
to support new and established local and regional 
training, education, outreach, and technical assist-
ance initiatives to increase opportunities for begin-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
ning farmers or ranchers, including programs and 
services (as appropriate) relating to— 
‘‘(A) basic livestock, forest management 
and crop farming practices; 
‘‘(B) innovative farm, ranch, and private 
nonindustrial forest land access, and transfer 
and succession strategies and programs; 
‘‘(C) entrepreneurship and business train-
ing; 
‘‘(D) financial and risk management train-
ing (including the acquisition and management 
of agricultural credit); 
‘‘(E) natural resource management and 
planning; 
‘‘(F) diversification and marketing strate-
gies; 
‘‘(G) curriculum development; 
‘‘(H) mentoring, apprenticeships, and in-
ternships; 
‘‘(I) resources and referral; 
‘‘(J) farm financial benchmarking; 
‘‘(K) technical assistance to help beginning 
farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from re-
tiring farmers and ranchers; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(L) agricultural rehabilitation and voca-
tional training for veterans; 
‘‘(M) food safety (including good agricul-
tural practices training); 
‘‘(N) farm safety and awareness; and 
‘‘(O) other similar subject areas of use to 
beginning farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(2) SET-ASIDE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 5 per-
cent of the funds used to carry out this sub-
section for a fiscal year shall be used to support 
programs and services that specifically focus on 
addressing the needs of— 
‘‘(i) limited resource beginning farm-
ers or ranchers (as defined by the Sec-
retary); 
‘‘(ii) socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers (as defined in section 355(e) of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop-
ment Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)) who are be-
ginning farmers and ranchers; and 
‘‘(iii) farmworkers desiring to become 
farmers or ranchers. 
‘‘(B) VETERAN
FARMERS
AND
RANCH-
ERS.—Not less than 5 percent of the funds 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
used to carry out this subsection for a fiscal 
year shall be used to support programs and 
services that specifically focus on addressing the 
needs of veteran farmers and ranchers (as de-
fined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 2279(e)). 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS.—A re-
cipient of a grant under this subsection may not use 
more than 15 percent of the grant funds for the in-
direct costs of carrying out the initiatives described 
in paragraph (1).’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and conduct’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, conduct’’; and 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘, or provide training and 
technical assistance initiatives for begin-
ning farmers or ranchers or for trainers 
and service providers that work with begin-
ning farmers or ranchers.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, educational pro-
grams and workshops, or training and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
technical assistance initiatives’’ after ‘‘cur-
ricula’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘modules’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘content’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(4) 
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT.—Notwith-
standing chapter 63 of title 31, the Secretary may 
enter into a cooperative agreement to reflect the 
terms of any cooperation under this subsection.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) FUNDS.—The Secretary shall not use 
more than $100,000 each year to support the activi-
ties under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the 
activities and performance of the clearinghouse 
under this section every 5 years. 
‘‘(4) 
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT.—Notwith-
standing chapter 63 of title 31, the Secretary may 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:21 Nov 14, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
enter into a cooperative agreement to reflect the 
terms of any cooperation under this subsection.’’; 
(6) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(including retiring farm-
ers and non-farming landowners)’’ before ‘‘from 
participating in programs’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘educating’’ and inserting 
‘‘increasing opportunities for’’; 
(7) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i), and inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(h) INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may transfer 
up to $10,000,000 (plus allocable costs) per year of 
funds made available under this section for indi-
vidual development accounts as authorized under 
section 333B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983b). 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
COST.—The Secretary 
may not use more than 4 percent of the funds trans-
ferred under this subsection for administrative costs 
incurred in implementing the individual development 
accounts authorized under section 333B of the Con-
solidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1983b).’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(8) in subsection (i), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘FOR 
FISCAL YEARS 2009 THROUGH 2018’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘, to remain available until expended.’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(D) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2020; 
‘‘(E) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2021 through 2022; and 
‘‘(F) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain 
available until expended.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the paragraph heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘FOR
FISCAL
YEARS
2014
THROUGH 
2018’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 402. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Fa-
cilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(F)— 
(A) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(B) in clause (vii), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(viii) barriers and bridges to entry 
and farm viability for young, beginning, so-
cially disadvantaged, veteran, and immi-
grant farmers and ranchers, including 
farm succession, transition, transfer, entry, 
and profitability issues.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (11)(A)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘pursuant to’’ 
and inserting ‘‘as defined in’’. 
SEC. 403. FARMLAND TENURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall collect and re-
port data and analysis on farmland ownership, tenure, 
transition, and entry of beginning farmers. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall, at a minimum— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(1) collect and distribute comprehensive annual 
reporting of trends in farmland ownership, tenure, 
transition, barriers to entry, profitability and viabil-
ity of beginning farmers; 
(2) develop surveys and report statistical and 
economic analysis on farmland ownership, tenure, 
transition, barriers to entry, profitability and viabil-
ity of beginning farmers, including a regular follow- 
on survey to each Census of Agriculture; and 
(3) authorize the National Agricultural Statis-
tics Service to create and administer a follow-on sur-
vey to the Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Ag-
ricultural Land survey to— 
(A) investigate the extent to which non- 
farming landowners are purchasing and holding 
onto farmland for the sole purpose of real es-
tate investment; and 
(B) the impact of these farmland owner-
ship trends on the successful entry and viability 
of beginning farmers. 
(c) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to remain available until 
expended. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
TITLE V—CROP INSURANCE 
SEC. 501. CONSISTENT BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER 
DEFINITION UNDER FEDERAL CROP INSUR-
ANCE ACT. 
Section 502(b)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1502(b)(3)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘landlord’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘5 crop years’’ and inserting 
‘‘10 crop years’’. 
SEC. 502. RISK MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS. 
Section 522(d) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1522(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting after 
‘‘risk management tools’’ the second place it appears 
the following: ‘‘for underserved producers, including 
beginning farmers and ranchers and socially dis-
advantaged farmers and ranchers and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting after ‘‘risk 
management and marketing options’’ the following: 
‘‘for underserved producers, including beginning 
farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers and’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (F), by inserting after 
‘‘financial management’’ the following: ‘‘(includ-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
ing to meet insurance product record keeping 
requirements)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (H) by inserting after 
‘‘to develop’’ the following: ‘‘value-added, diver-
sification, and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pro-
grams established under paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
Secretary shall place special emphasis on risk man-
agement techniques, tools, and programs that are 
specifically intended for underserved producers, in-
cluding beginning farmers and ranchers and socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.’’. 
SEC. 503. FUNDING FOR CROP INSURANCE RESEARCH, DE-
VELOPMENT, AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. 
Section 522(e) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1522(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (3). 
SEC. 504. CROP INSURANCE EDUCATION AND INFORMA-
TION FOR PRODUCERS. 
Section 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1524(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting after 
‘‘benchmarking’’ the following: ‘‘, crop enterprise, 
and market diversification’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (D)(i); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (E) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) farmers and ranchers that are consid-
ering whole-farm based revenue products.’’. 
SEC. 505. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DISASTER 
ASSISTANCE. 
Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) INCLUSION OF BEGINNING FARMERS 
AND RANCHERS.—The term ‘eligible crop’ in-
cludes each commercial crop or other agricul-
tural commodity (except livestock) produced by 
a beginning farmer or rancher, even though the 
commercial crop or other agricultural com-
modity fails to satisfy clause (i) or (ii) of sub-
paragraph (A), if the beginning farmer or 
rancher is ineligible for a whole farm diversified 
risk management insurance plan under the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
Federal Crop Insurance Act due to lack of pro-
duction or revenue history.’’; 
(2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) SPECIAL RULE FOR BEGINNING FARMERS 
AND RANCHERS.—If the eligible producer is a begin-
ning farmer or rancher (as defined in section 
502(b)(3)), and was previously involved in a farming 
operation, including involvement in the decision 
making or physical involvement in the production of 
the crop or livestock on the farm, for any acreage 
obtained by the beginning farmer or rancher, a yield 
or revenue shall be used that is the higher of— 
‘‘(A) the actual production of the previous 
producer of the crop on the acreage determined 
under subparagraph (2); or 
‘‘(B) the yield or revenue of the producer, 
as determined under paragraph (3).’’; 
(3) in subsection (k)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘for an eligible crop’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘for the eligible crop’’; 
(4) in subsection (l)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (3) and (5); 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraph (3): 
‘‘(3) DELEGATION.—The Secretary may dele-
gate the authority for determining the average mar-
ket price (including the direct market price and the 
organic price) for a crop to a State Farm Service 
Agency administrator when sufficient data is avail-
able to develop an average market price based on 
State level data for the crop.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(m) ADDITIONAL
BEGINNING
FARMER
PROVI-
SIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other 
provisions of this section, the following additional 
coverage shall be made available to any beginning 
farmer or rancher for up to the longer of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Four years. 
‘‘(B) The requisite number of years of rev-
enue history required for the farmer or rancher 
to qualify for revenue coverage offered under 
the Federal Crop Insurance Act. 
‘‘(2) COVERAGE.—Additional coverage shall be 
available to beginning farmers and ranchers under 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
this subsection up to 75 percent, as elected by the 
farmer or rancher and specified in 5-percent incre-
ments. 
‘‘(n) REVENUE COVERAGE.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY.—Eligible producers may 
elect revenue coverage under this subsection only 
when the total acres in which they have a risk do 
not exceed five acres in a county. If revenue cov-
erage is elected, that election shall apply to all eligi-
ble crops and commodities on a farm. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT.—The Secretary shall make 
available noninsured assistance under this subsection 
at a payment amount equivalent to the amount 
that— 
‘‘(A) the expected revenue for the farm, as 
determined by the Secretary, multiplied by the 
coverage level elected by the producer, which 
is— 
‘‘(i) for catastrophic level coverage, 
27.5 percent; or 
‘‘(ii) for additional levels of coverage, 
the amount elected by the producer, from 
50 to 65 percent, or from 50 to 75 percent 
for a beginning farmer or rancher (as de-
fined in section 502(b)(3)); exceeds 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) the actual revenue for the farm, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) SERVICE FEE.—To be eligible to receive a 
payment under this subsection, the producer must 
pay the service fee required by subsection (k). 
‘‘(4) PREMIUM.—To be eligible to receive a pay-
ment under the additional levels of coverage in para-
graph (2)(B)(ii), the producer must pay a premium 
equal to— 
‘‘(A) the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) the sum of the premiums for each 
eligible farm, with the premium for each 
eligible farm obtained by multiplying— 
‘‘(I) the expected revenue for the 
farm, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(II) the coverage level elected by 
the producer; and 
‘‘(III) a 5.25-percent premium 
fee; or 
‘‘(ii) the product obtained by multi-
plying— 
‘‘(I) a 5.25-percent premium fee; 
and 
‘‘(II) the applicable payment 
limit. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(5) RECORDS.—If revenue coverage is elected, 
a producer is not required to provide an acreage re-
port under subsection (b)(3), but the producer must 
provide a Farm Operation Report and tax records 
for prior years, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 506. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER CROP INSUR-
ANCE STUDY. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to Congress a report identifying— 
(1) the barriers that exist to prevent or hinder 
the ability of beginning farmers and ranchers in ac-
cessing whole farm revenue insurance and other crop 
insurance products available under the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act; and 
(2) the regulatory or operational changes that 
are necessary to provide beginning farmers and 
ranchers with full, unhindered access to these crop 
insurance products. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. SMALL AND BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER 
COORDINATORS. 
Section 226 of the Department of Agriculture Reor-
ganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) STATE SMALL AND BEGINNING FARMER AND 
RANCHER COORDINATOR.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Agency shall designate 
a State small and beginning farmer and rancher co-
ordinator from among the State office employees of 
the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, the Risk Management Agency, 
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the 
Rural Utilities Service. 
‘‘(2) TRAINING.—The Agency shall coordinate 
the development of a training plan so that each 
State coordinator shall receive sufficient training to 
have a general working knowledge of the programs 
and services available from each agency of the De-
partment to assist small and beginning farmers and 
ranchers. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The coordinator shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate technical assistance at the 
State level to help small farms and beginning 
farmers and ranchers gain access to programs 
of the Department; 
‘‘(B) develop and submit a State plan for 
approval by the Small Farms and Beginning 
Farmers and Ranchers Group to provide coordi-
nation to ensure adequate services to small and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
beginning farmers and ranchers at all county 
and area offices throughout the State; 
‘‘(C) oversee implementation of the ap-
proved State plan; 
‘‘(D) work with outreach coordinators in 
the State offices of the Farm Service Agency, 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
the Risk Management Agency, the Rural Busi-
ness-Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utili-
ties Service to ensure appropriate information 
about technical assistance is available at out-
reach events and activities; and 
‘‘(E) facilitate partnerships and joint out-
reach efforts with State organizations serving 
small and beginning farmers through contracts 
and cooperative agreements.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:55 Nov 13, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4316.IH
H4316
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS