Local agriculture market program

Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(12)(A)— (A) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and (B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: (iv) is produced and marketed in a manner that significantly improves soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions; (v) when added to the crop or grazing rotation on a farm, will significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions;; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting, including value-added agricultural products from crops or animals that, when added into crop or grazing rotations on a farm, will significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (D) markets for agricultural commodities and products produced in a manner that significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions;; (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking and local and inserting, local; and (ii) by inserting, and production and marketing approaches to significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions before the semicolon at the end; (C) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (D) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and (E) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6) enhances the economic viability of producers and related agricultural enterprises; and; (3) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking subsection (i) and inserting subsection (j); and (ii) by striking 2023 and inserting 2030; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (C)— (I) in clause (i), by striking and at the end; (II) in clause (ii), by adding and at the end; and (III) by adding at the end the following: (iii) agricultural commodities and products that are produced and marketed in a manner that— (I) significantly improves soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions; or (II) when added to a crop or grazing rotation on a farm will significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions;; and (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking producers of local food products and value-added agricultural products in new and existing markets and inserting the following: producers of— (i) local food products; (ii) value-added agricultural products in new and existing markets; and (iii) agricultural commodities and products that are produced in a manner that— (I) enhances soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions; or (II) when added to a crop or grazing rotation on a farm, will significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions;; and (C) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting and the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service before the period at the end; (4) in subsection (e)(2)(A)— (A) by striking subsection (i) and inserting subsection (j); and (B) by striking 2023 and inserting 2030; (5) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j), respectively; (6) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) Farm viability and local climate resiliency centers (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service and in coordination with the Administrator of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall provide grants to eligible entities described in paragraph (2) to serve as farm viability and local climate resiliency centers (referred to in this section as centers) to support— (A) efforts to enhance farm viability; and (B) the development, coordination, and expansion of markets for commodities and farm products that significantly improve soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (2) Eligible entities An entity is eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the entity is— (A) an agricultural cooperative or other agricultural business entity or a producer network or association; (B) a local, State, or Tribal government; (C) a nonprofit corporation; (D) a public benefit corporation; (E) an economic development corporation; (F) an institution of higher education; or (G) such other entity as the Secretary may designate. (3) Use of funds An eligible entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use grant funds to provide to entities described in subsection (d)(5)(B)— (A) assistance for the development of business plans and feasibility studies; (B) assistance in developing marketing strategies for— (i) local products; and (ii) value-added agricultural products in new and existing markets; (C) assistance in enterprise development for the processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of— (i) local and regional food products that are marketed locally or regionally; and (ii) value-added agricultural products; (D) assistance relating to finances and recordkeeping; (E) assistance relating to enterprise and business management; (F) assistance relating to ownership succession planning; (G) outreach and assistance in the adoption of farming practices that enhance soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (H) outreach regarding assistance available under subsection (d); (I) outreach regarding assistance available through other programs administered by any other Federal agency that supports the adoption of farming practices that enhance soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; or (J) at the request of the entity described in subsection (d)(5)(B), assistance in applying for a grant under subsection (d), including acting on behalf of the entity in applying for the grant. (4) Geographic diversity To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure geographic diversity in selecting eligible entities to receive a grant under this subsection. (5) Non-Federal share An entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall provide funding in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the total amount of the Federal portion of the grant. (6) Applications (A) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary considers to be necessary to evaluate and select applications. (B) Competitive process The Secretary— (i) shall conduct a competitive process to select applications submitted under subparagraph (A); (ii) may assess and rank applications with similar proposals as a group; and (iii) shall, prior to accepting applications under that subparagraph, make public the criteria to be used in evaluating the applications. (7) Priority The Secretary may give priority to applications submitted under paragraph (6)(A) that include— (A) plans to use funds for 3 or more of purposes described in paragraph (3); or (B) activities relating to improving the use and expanded adoption of farming practices that enhance soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously improving farm viability. (8) Administrative expenses An entity receiving a grant under this subsection may use not more than 4 percent of the funds received through the grant for administrative expenses.; (7) in subsection (i)(1) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking subsection (i)(3)(E) and inserting subsection (j)(3)(E); and (8) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking fiscal year 2019 and inserting each of fiscal years 2019 through 2025 and $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 35 and inserting 36; and (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (B) Farmers’ market and local food promotion grants (i) In general Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, 36 percent shall be used for grants under subsection (d)(6). (ii) Allocation among subprograms Of the funds made available for grants under subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal year— (I) 40 percent shall be made available for farmers' market promotion grants; and (II) 60 percent shall be made available for local food promotion grants.; (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; (D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: (D) Farm viability and local climate resiliency Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, 10 percent shall be used to provide grants under subsection (f).; and (E) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking or (C) and inserting (C), or (D).