Topic: Agriculture — General
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2007-05-21 00:00:00

Nutrition and Opportunities for the Underserved and Rural Incentives to Secure the Heartland Act of 2007 or NOURISH Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a program through FY2013 to provide greater access and opportunities for minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to Department of Agriculture programs and services; and (2) establish the USDA Minority Producer Land Preservation Commission (to terminate nine years after enactment of this Act) to review pending Department foreclosure proceedings. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to extend authorization of appropriations for education grants for Hispanic-serving institutions. Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to revise pesticide recordkeeping provisions. Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for the inclusion of long-term health effects in labeling requirements. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish, within the Department's Office of Civil Rights and Community Outreach of the Risk Management Agency, an office of Farmworker Coordination; (2) establish a conservation initiative for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; (3) provide cost-share payments and incentive payments to individual producers to address air quality concerns associated with agriculture; (4) implement an integrated pest management initiative in priority areas; and (5) establish the rural regional entrepreneurship program. Authorizes the Secretary to make emergency grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Revises the Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967. Establishes within the Department the Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters which shall: (1) investigate and prosecute violations of this Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921; and (2) serve as a liaison between, and act in consultation with, the Department and the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector. Provides for Department and Department of Defense procurement of locally produced agricultural products. Establishes the national organic certification and transition cost share program (in lieu of the current national organic certification cost share program). Extends the: (1) conservation reserve program; (2) grassland reserve program; (3) environmental quality incentives program; (4) conservation innovation grant program; (5) wildlife habitat incentive program; (6) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) farmers' market nutrition program; (7) senior farmers nutrition program; (8) the community food project competitive grant program; (9) fresh fruit and vegetable program; and (10) farmers' market promotion program. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to rename the food stamp program as the secure nutrition access program (program). Revises program provisions with respect to: (1) standard deduction increases; (2) combat pay, retirement account, and education account exclusions; (3) minimum benefit increases; (4) countable resource increases; (5) legal immigrant eligibility; (6) work requirements; (7) program administration; (8) cash payment pilot projects; (9) program reauthorization; (10) block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa; (11) outreach; (12) natural disasters; (13) Puerto Rico; (14) farmers' markets; and (15) the emergency food assistance program.