Bill > S2614

This bill, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2023, aims to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to expand the provision of farmer-led technical assistance. It establishes a "farmer-to-farmer network" as an affiliation or association of farmers that share information, technical assistance, and other mutually beneficial support. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities, such as nonprofits, farmer-to-farmer networks, and local governments, to build capacity for these networks, connect farmers with mentors or group learning opportunities, and support the adoption of science-based, site-specific conservation practices. The Secretary is required to prioritize assistance to historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest owners, as well as those in high-poverty areas. The eligible entities are responsible for facilitating farmer access to the networks, coordinating training and resources, and administering subawards to increase farmer access to the assistance.