Bill > HR5097

This bill amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish a new grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to help specialty crop producers (farmers growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other non-commodity crops) acquire advanced mechanized and automated equipment. The program will provide grants to eligible producers to purchase a wide range of technological tools, including low-dust harvesting equipment, sorting machines, drones, precision irrigation systems, robotic systems, and various monitoring and sensing technologies. Grant recipients must use the funds to both purchase equipment that increases efficiency or reduces labor and provide training on how to use the equipment effectively. Importantly, recipients must contribute matching non-federal funds of at least 50% of the grant amount. The goal of the program is to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers by helping them adopt cutting-edge agricultural technologies that can improve productivity, reduce labor costs, and support more sophisticated farming practices. The Secretary of Agriculture will determine specific eligibility and grant details, with an aim of providing grants substantial enough to meaningfully offset the costs of acquiring and implementing new agricultural technologies.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5097/all-info