An Act concerning grants to beginning farmers for farm improvements and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.

This bill establishes in the Department of Agriculture the “New Farmers Improvement Grant Program” to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers investing in diversification of their farming operations, sustainability innovations, or expansion of partnerships with food systems.

The bill defines “beginning farmer” as a person who has never farmed before, who has engaged in farming for 10 years or less, or who qualifies as a first time farmer pursuant to federal law at 26 U.S.C. s.147(c)(2).