Bill > A4997

Introduced Session

This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Act to make an additional appropriation of $2 million from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, to be distributed to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA NJ). NOFA NJ is a Statewide organization serving organic, regenerative, beginning, and underserved farmers in New Jersey, with programming and services that meet the community's needs. NOFA NJ's work supports all farmers and participants in the food system, increasing opportunities for collaboration and engagement between a wide variety of stakeholders and producers. The $2 million supplemental appropriation is required to be used for the following programs in the designated amounts: · $750,000 for mini-grants for critical on-farm infrastructure and farm viability projects to continue a mini-grant program established in February 2024;· $350,000 for an on-farm processing and equipment lending program;· $300,000 for value-added processing education and technical assistance programs to provide comprehensive education and services such as product development, marketing, labeling, profitability studies, food handling hazard analysis, and miscellaneous technical support services;· $300,000 for a Statewide bulk supplies purchasing program;· $150,000 to provide technical support to organic, regenerative, beginning and underserved farmers;· $100,000 for grant writing education and technical assistance; and· $50,000 to support Hispanic farming communities in the State.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee (on 10/24/2024)

Official Document