Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Act ”.
Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Act
A BILL
To expand agricultural opportunities for military veterans, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Value-added agricultural market development program grants
Section 231(b) of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (6)—
in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(D) veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))).”
in paragraph (7)(B), by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”.
Sec. 3 Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers
Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers— Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended—
in the section heading, by inserting “and veteran farmers and ranchers” after “ranchers”;
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by inserting “and veteran farmers or ranchers” after “ranchers”; and
in paragraph (4)—
in subparagraph (A)—
in the heading, by striking “Fiscal years 2009 through 2012” and inserting “Mandatory funding”;
in clause (i), by striking “and” at the end;
in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(iii) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017.”
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
“(B) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017.”
in subsection (b)(2), by inserting “or veteran farmers and ranchers” after “socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers”; and
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting “veteran farmers or ranchers and” before “members”; and
in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting “veteran farmers or ranchers and” before “members”.
Definition of veteran farmer or rancher— Section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(7) Veteran farmer or rancher—The term veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released from the service under conditions other than dishonorable.”
Sec. 4 Beginning farmer and rancher development program under Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f) is amended—
in subsection (c)(8)—
in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(D) beginning farmers and ranchers who are veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code).”
by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i);
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
“(h) State grants
“(1) Definition of eligible entity—In this subsection, the term eligible entity means—
“(A) an agency of a State or political subdivision of a State;
“(B) a national, State, or regional organization of agricultural producers; and
“(C) any other entity determined appropriate by the Secretary.
“(2) Grants—The Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary of funds made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year under subsection (i) to make grants to States, on a competitive basis, which States shall use the grants to make grants to eligible entities to establish and improve farm safety programs at the local level.”
in subsection (i) (as redesignated by paragraph (2))—
in paragraph (1)—
in the heading, by striking “for fiscal years 2009 through 2012”;
in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) $17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017, to remain available until expended.”
in paragraph (2)—
in the heading, by striking “for fiscal years 2009 through 2012”; and
by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”; and
by striking paragraph (3).
Sec. 5 Military veterans agricultural liaison
In general— Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 218 (7 U.S.C. 6918) the following:
“219. Military veterans agricultural liaison
“(a) Authorization—The Secretary shall establish in the Department the position of Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison.
“(b) Duties—The Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison shall—
“(1) provide information to returning veterans about, and connect returning veterans with, beginning farmer training and agricultural vocational and rehabilitation programs appropriate to the needs and interests of returning veterans, including assisting veterans in using Federal veterans educational benefits for purposes relating to beginning a farming or ranching career;
“(2) provide information to veterans concerning the availability of and eligibility requirements for participation in agricultural programs, with particular emphasis on beginning farmer and rancher programs;
“(3) serving as a resource for assisting veteran farmers and ranchers, and potential farmers and ranchers, in applying for participation in agricultural programs; and
“(4) advocating on behalf of veterans in interactions with employees of the Department.
“(c) Contracts and cooperative agreements—For purposes of carrying out the duties under subsection (b), the Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with the research centers of the Agricultural Research Service, institutions of higher education, or nonprofit organizations for—
“(1) the conduct of regional research on the profitability of small farms;
“(2) the development of educational materials;
“(3) the conduct of workshops, courses, and certified vocational training;
“(4) the conduct of mentoring activities; or
“(5) the provision of internship opportunities.”
Conforming amendments— Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the “or” at the end;
in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(8) the authority of the Secretary to establish in the Department the position of Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison in accordance with section 219.”
Sec. 6 Conservation reserve program transition incentive program
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting “, a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))),” before “or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2013 through 2017.”
Sec. 7 Environmental quality incentives program
Section 1240B(d)(4)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(4)(A)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i) by inserting “, a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))),” before “or a beginning farmer or rancher”.
Sec. 8 Reservation of funds to provide assistance to certain farmers or ranchers for conservation access
Section 1241(g) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(g)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Preference—In providing assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))) that qualifies under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).”
Sec. 9 Administrative requirements for conservation programs
Section 1244(a)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(E) Veteran farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))).”