Bill > A3617

Introduced Session

This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation and cooperation with the State Agriculture Development Committee, the New Jersey Farm Bureau, the county boards of agriculture, Rutgers the State University, the New Jersey Agricultural Society, and any other appropriate agricultural, horticultural, or educational entities in the State, to develop and implement a beginning farmer mentoring program by which experienced farmers would provide guidance, advice, and other appropriate assistance to beginning farmers so that they and their farms may succeed and thrive. The bill also would authorize the department to partner with appropriate public or private organizations or entities to accomplish the purposes of the bill, including entering into agreements or contracts with those organizations or entities to operate the program, in whole or in part, under the general supervision of the department. This bill is necessary because, according to the latest available data, in New Jersey the average age of the principal operator of a farm rose from 57 years in 2007 to 59 years in 2012. A similar trend is occurring nationally. Farming is unlikely to survive in New Jersey if this trend continues. Thus, it is necessary to create a mentoring program whereby experienced farmers can impart their knowledge to beginning farmers so that they will have a greater chance to succeed, thus ensuring that agriculture will continue to be a major industry in the State, in both the near and distant future.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Parker Space (R)*,  Harold Wirths (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee (on 03/17/2022)

Official Document