Specialty crop research initiative

Section 412 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632) is amended— (1) in subsection (f)(3), by striking subsection (d) and (j) and inserting subsections (d), (j), and (k); (2) in subsection (g)(3), by adding at the end the following: (C) Waiver The Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to a grant if the Secretary determines that— (i) the results of the grant are of a particular benefit to a specific specialty crop, but such results are likely to be applicable to specialty crops or agricultural commodities, generally; or (ii) (I) the grant— (aa) involves a minor commodity; and (bb) deals with scientifically important research; and (II) the recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.; (3) in subsection (j)(5), by striking subsection (k)(1)(C) and inserting subsection (l)(1)(C); (4) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); (5) by inserting after subsection (j) the following: (k) Specialty crop mechanization and automation research and extension program The Secretary shall establish a competitive research and extension grant program to award grants to eligible entities to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops in the United States through the advancement and acceleration of mechanization and automation, including projects that— (1) create or improve cost-effective mechanization and automation technologies to— (A) reduce the manual labor requirements of a specialty crop grower; or (B) increase the efficiency of— (i) crop production; (ii) resource management; (iii) harvesting; (iv) processing; (v) post-harvest technologies; or (vi) packing; (2) increase adoption of mechanization and automation technologies by— (A) emphasizing adoption drivers, including— (i) connectivity; (ii) autonomy; (iii) reliability; (iv) durability; (v) in-field validation; or (vi) cost-effectiveness; or (B) investing in, and developing human capital to, increase the capacity to— (i) utilize new technologies; or (ii) manage a more tech-focused farm workforce; or (3) accelerate automation and mechanization through— (A) prototype development; (B) in-field trial testing; (C) ongoing industry engagement; or (D) rapid commercialization.; and (6) in subsection (l), as redesignated by paragraph (4)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows: (C) Reservation for specialty crop mechanization and automation research and extension program For each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, the Secretary shall reserve not less than $30,000,000 of the funds made available under subparagraph (B) to carry out the program established under subsection (k).; and (ii) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows: (D) Reallocation Notwithstanding paragraph (4), any funds reserved under subparagraph (C) that remain unobligated at the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which such funds are first made available shall be reallocated to carry out activities of the specialty crop research initiative established under subsection (b).; (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking for fiscal years 2014 through 2023; and (ii) by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; (C) by striking paragraph (3); and (D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.