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Bill > S626

NJ S626

NJ S626
Establishes "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program" to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers.

summary

Introduced
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

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 and innovations for the sustainability of those operations. The bill defines "beginning farmer" as a person who desires to engage in farming and has never farmed before, who has engaged in farming in the State for 10 years or less as of the effective date of the bill, or who qualifies as a first time farmer pursuant to federal law at 26 U.S.C. s.147(c)(2). To date, the State of New Jersey has spent $1.148 billion to preserve farmland in the Garden State. New Jersey cannot rely only on the success of land preservation to preserve farming. The State must take further action to preserve its farmers as well. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. The State-wide average age has increased more drastically at 2.72 percent annually since 2002, on average.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program" within the Department of Agriculture to provide matching grants, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, covering up to 50% of project costs for beginning farmers. A "beginning farmer" is defined as someone new to farming, who has farmed for 10 years or less in the state, or meets federal criteria for first-time farmers, and is at least 18 years old. These grants are intended to support farm improvements that diversify operations, implement sustainable innovations like organic farming or water conservation, or create partnerships to improve the distribution of agricultural products. Eligible expenses include purchasing machinery, equipment, supplies, or constructing farm buildings, provided the farm is 150 acres or less, located in the state, and generated at least $10,000 in gross sales in the previous year. The Department of Agriculture is required to request at least $100,000 annually for this program and to seek additional funding from various government and private sources, while also developing regulations to implement the program and define the matching requirements. This initiative aims to address the aging farmer population in New Jersey by supporting new and existing farmers in modernizing and sustaining their operations.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 01/09/2024)
(2 Companion Bills)

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