text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
  
      (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Young and 
  Beginning Farmers Act''.
      (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
  follows:
  
  Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                      TITLE I--IMPROVED ACCESS TO LAND
  
  Sec. 101. Land trust eligibility for assistance for agricultural land 
                              easements.
  Sec. 102. Priority for option to purchase at agricultural value in 
                              agricultural land easements.
  Sec. 103. Prequalification of prospective applicants for credit from 
                              Farm Service Agency programs.
  Sec. 104. Increase in limitation on amount of direct farm ownership 
                              loans; inflation indexation of limit.
  Sec. 105. Report and action plan on agricultural conservation easement 
                              program.
    TITLE II--IMPROVED ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TRAINING AND 
                                  PROGRAMS
  
  Sec. 201. Beginning farmer coordination.
  Sec. 202. Transfer of Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and 
                              Ranchers to jurisdiction of Farm Service 
                              Agency.
  Sec. 203. Department of Agriculture on-line customer self-service 
                              portal.
  Sec. 204. Beginning farmer and rancher development program to provide 
                              training, education, outreach, and 
                              technical assistance initiatives.
  Sec. 205. Reauthorization of beginning farmer and rancher individual 
                              development accounts pilot program.
  Sec. 206. Sale of surplus farm equipment or property to socially 
                              disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, veteran 
                              farmers or ranchers, and beginning farmers 
                              or ranchers.
          TITLE III--INVESTMENT IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS
  
  Sec. 301. Mandatory funding for farmers' market and local food 
                              promotion program.
  Sec. 302. Grants to support farm viability programs.
  
                      TITLE I--IMPROVED ACCESS TO LAND
  
  SEC. 101. LAND TRUST ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND 
                EASEMENTS.
  
      (a) Land Trusts.--Section 1265B of the Food Security Act of 1985 
  (16 U.S.C. 3865b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(e) Land Trusts.--
              ``(1) Eligibility for assistance.--Notwithstanding section 
          1001D(b), an eligible entity that is a qualified land trust, as 
          determined by the Secretary, may receive assistance under this 
          section.
              ``(2) Assistance for reservation of easement.--The 
          Secretary may provide assistance to an eligible entity that is 
          a qualified land trust to supplement the sale price of eligible 
          land to a farmer or rancher, who is not ineligible to receive 
          assistance under section 1001D, if the eligible entity that is 
          a qualified land trust reserves for itself an agricultural land 
          easement in the eligible land.''.
      (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1001D(b)(1) of the Food Security 
  Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308-3a(b)(1)) is amended by striking 
  ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting ``Except as provided in section 
  1265B(e), notwithstanding''.
  
  SEC. 102. PRIORITY FOR OPTION TO PURCHASE AT AGRICULTURAL VALUE IN 
                AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS.
  
      Section 1265B(b)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
  3865b(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                      ``(D) Priority.--In evaluating applications under 
                  the program, the Secretary shall give priority to an 
                  application for the purchase of an agricultural land 
                  easement that, as determined by the Secretary--
                              ``(i) maintains agricultural viability;
                              ``(ii) includes, as a condition of the 
                          easement, a requirement that any subsequent 
                          purchase of the land subject to the easement 
                          shall be at agricultural value; or
                              ``(iii) achieves the objectives of both 
                          clauses (i) and (ii).''.
  
  SEC. 103. PREQUALIFICATION OF PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS FOR CREDIT FROM 
                FARM SERVICE AGENCY PROGRAMS.
  
      Not later than October 1, 2018, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
  develop and implement procedures to ensure that the Farm Service Agency 
  is prepared, in advance, to respond to a request by a prospective loan 
  applicant (other than a request for preapproval) for a preliminary 
  determination on--
              (1) whether the prospective applicant would likely qualify 
          for credit under any program administered by the Farm Service 
          Agency; or
              (2) the amount of credit for which the prospective 
          applicant would likely qualify under any such program.
  
  SEC. 104. INCREASE IN LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF DIRECT FARM OWNERSHIP 
                LOANS; INFLATION INDEXATION OF LIMIT.
  
      Section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
  U.S.C. 1925) is amended to read as follows:
  
  ``SEC. 305. LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS.
  
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make or insure no loan under 
  section 302, 303, 304, 310D, or 310E of this title that would cause the 
  unpaid indebtedness under such sections of any 1 borrower to exceed the 
  smaller of--
              ``(1) the value of the farm or other security; or
              ``(2)(A) in the case of a loan other than a loan guaranteed 
          by the Secretary, $500,000 (increased, beginning with the 
          fiscal year 2019, by the regional farm real estate inflation 
          percentage applicable to the region where the farm involved is 
          located for the fiscal year in which the loan is made, and 
          decreased by the amount of any unpaid indebtedness of the 
          borrower on direct loans under subtitle B); or
              ``(B) in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, 
          $700,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year 2000, by the 
          cost inflation percentage applicable to the fiscal year in 
          which the loan is guaranteed and reduced by the amount of any 
          unpaid indebtedness of the borrower on loans under subtitle B 
          that are guaranteed by the Secretary).
      ``(b) Determination of Value.--In determining the value of the 
  farm, the Secretary shall consider appraisals made by competent 
  appraisers under rules established by the Secretary.
      ``(c) Cost Inflation Percentage.--For purposes of this section, the 
  cost inflation percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the percentage 
  (if any) by which--
              ``(1) the average of the Prices Paid By Farmers Index (as 
          compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the 
          Department of Agriculture) for the 12-month period ending on 
          August 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds
              ``(2) the average of such index (as so defined) for the 12-
          month period ending on August 31, 1996.
      ``(d) Regional Farm Real Estate Inflation Percentage.--
              ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the 
          regional farm real estate inflation percentage applicable to a 
          farm for a fiscal year is the percentage (if any) by which--
                      ``(A) the regional farm real estate inflation index 
                  developed under paragraph (2) for the region in which 
                  the farm is located, for the 12-month period ending on 
                  August 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; 
                  exceeds
                      ``(B) the average of the index (as so defined) for 
                  the 12-month period ending on August 31, 2018.
              ``(2) Development.--The Secretary shall develop a regional 
          farm real estate inflation index for measuring periodic changes 
          in the price of farm real estate in each geographic region of 
          the United States, using data from the National Agricultural 
          Statistics Service.
      ``(e) Microloans.--
              ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
          may establish a program to make or guarantee microloans.
              ``(2) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not make or 
          guarantee a microloan under this subsection that would cause 
          the total principal indebtedness outstanding at any 1 time for 
          microloans made under this subtitle to any 1 borrower to exceed 
          $50,000.
              ``(3) Applications.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
          Secretary shall limit the administrative burdens and streamline 
          the application and approval process for microloans under this 
          subsection.''.
  
  SEC. 105. REPORT AND ACTION PLAN ON AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT 
                PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
  agricultural conservation easement program established under section 
  1265(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865(a)) remains a 
  valuable program in assisting beginning farmers and ranchers in 
  acquiring farmland for productive use.
      (b) Report and Plan Required.--Not later than one year after the 
  date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief of the Natural Resources 
  Conservation Service shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
  the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
  Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that includes--
              (1) an evaluation of the extent in which the agricultural 
          conservation easement program supports beginning farmers or 
          ranchers in acquiring farmland; and
              (2) a plan to address any shortcomings identified through 
          the evaluation for the purpose of furthering the goals of the 
          agricultural conservation easement program to protect farmland 
          and help farmers access farmland for productive use.
  
    TITLE II--IMPROVED ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TRAINING AND 
                                  PROGRAMS
  
  SEC. 201. BEGINNING FARMER COORDINATION.
  
      (a) Program Established.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the 
  Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, shall implement a program to 
  assign to each State at least one coordinator to--
              (1) promote communication between the Department of 
          Agriculture and beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined in 
          section 206(b)) located in such State; and
              (2) increase the access of such beginning farmers or 
          ranchers to apprenticeship programs, farm loan programs, and 
          land available for purchase.
      (b) Use of Current Employees.--The assignment of beginning farmer 
  coordinators in compliance with subsection (a) may be accomplished 
  through the designation of current employees of the Department of 
  Agriculture and does not require the hiring of additional employees.
      (c) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' means each 
  of the several States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, 
  territory, or possession of the United States.
  
  SEC. 202. TRANSFER OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BEGINNING FARMERS AND 
                RANCHERS TO JURISDICTION OF FARM SERVICE AGENCY.
  
      The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
  6901 et seq.) is amended--
              (1) in section 226B(e)(2) (7 U.S.C. 6934)--
                      (A) by striking subparagraph (C); and
                      (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                  subparagraph (C); and
              (2) in section 226 (7 U.S.C. 6932), by adding at the end 
          the following new subsection:
      ``(i) Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.--The 
  Secretary of Agriculture shall coordinate the activities of the Farm 
  Service Agency with the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and 
  Ranchers established under section 5(b) of the Agricultural Credit 
  Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929 note; Public Law 102-554).''.
  
  SEC. 203. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON-LINE CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE 
                PORTAL.
  
      (a) Customer Self-Service Portal.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
  shall develop an on-line customer self-service portal through which 
  farmers and ranchers will be able to securely access their customer and 
  program information and complete program applications in a wide range 
  of agricultural programs offered by the Department of Agriculture.
      (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
  development of an on-line customer self-service portal, as required by 
  subsection (a), should not negatively impact the many farmers and 
  ranchers who do not yet have access to high-speed internet or who would 
  prefer not to utilize the online self-service portal.
      (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the three-fiscal year 
  period beginning on October 1, 2018, there are authorized to be 
  appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out subsection 
  (a)--
              (1) not less than $6,000,000; and
              (2) such additional amounts as are considered appropriate.
  
  SEC. 204. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE 
                TRAINING, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
                INITIATIVES.
  
      Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
  (7 U.S.C. 3319f) is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting 
  the following new subsections:
      ``(h) Individual Development Accounts.--
              ``(1) Transfer of funds authorized.--Of the funds made 
          available under subsection (i), the Secretary may transfer up 
          to $10,000,000 per year, plus allocable administrative costs, 
          for individual development accounts as authorized under section 
          333B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
          U.S.C. 1983b).
              ``(2) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may not use more 
          than 4 percent of the funds transferred under this subsection 
          for administrative costs incurred in implementing the 
          individual development accounts authorized under section 333B 
          of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
          1983b).
      ``(i) Funding.--
              ``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
          Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry 
          out this section--
                      ``(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                      ``(B) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and 
                  2020;
                      ``(C) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 
                  2022; and
                      ``(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and each 
                  fiscal year thereafter.
              ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to 
          funds provided under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be 
          appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for fiscal 
          year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter.
              ``(3) Availability.--Amounts made available under this 
          subsection shall remain available until expended.''.
  
  SEC. 205. REAUTHORIZATION OF BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER INDIVIDUAL 
                DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      Subsection (h) of section 333B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
  Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983b) is amended to read as follows:
      ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any amounts 
  provided under section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
  Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f), there is authorized to be appropriated to 
  carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 
  2023.''.
  
  SEC. 206. SALE OF SURPLUS FARM EQUIPMENT OR PROPERTY TO SOCIALLY 
                DISADVANTAGED FARMERS OR RANCHERS, VETERAN FARMERS OR 
                RANCHERS, AND BEGINNING FARMERS OR RANCHERS.
  
      (a) Sale Authorized.--The Administrator of General Services, under 
  regulations prescribed by the Administrator, may sell to a socially 
  disadvantaged farmer or rancher, veteran farmer or rancher, or 
  beginning farmer or rancher any farm equipment acquired by the General 
  Services Administration that--
              (1) is suitable for use in farming operations; and
              (2) has been determined to be surplus property under 
          chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code.
      (b) Definitions.--In this section:
              (1) Beginning farmer or rancher.--The term ``beginning 
          farmer or rancher'' means an individual or entity that has not 
          operated a farm or ranch or that has operated a farm or ranch 
          for not more than 10 consecutive years and that will materially 
          and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or 
          ranch. In the case of an entity, these requirements apply to 
          all members of the entity.
              (2) Food, agriculture, conservation, and trade act of 1990 
          terms.--The terms ``socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher'' 
          and ``veteran farmer or rancher'' have the meanings given those 
          terms in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, 
          Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)).
  
          TITLE III--INVESTMENT IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS
  
  SEC. 301. MANDATORY FUNDING FOR FARMERS' MARKET AND LOCAL FOOD 
                PROMOTION PROGRAM.
  
      Section 6(g)(1) of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 
  1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005(g)(1)) is amended--
              (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
              (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``2018.'' and 
          inserting ``2017; and''; and
              (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                      ``(E) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 
                  through 2023.''.
  
  SEC. 302. GRANTS TO SUPPORT FARM VIABILITY PROGRAMS.
  
      (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
  competitive grants to support a farm viability program developed by a 
  public or private entity that is designed--
              (1) to improve the economic viability and integrity of 
          farms participating in the program through the development and 
          implementation of a farm viability plans; and
              (2) to provide participating farmers with technical, legal, 
          marketing, and business planning assistance to expand, upgrade, 
          and modernize their agricultural operations and assist in land 
          access and transfer.
      (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
  appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants under this 
  section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023.
target: Young and Beginning Farmers Act This bill amends various agricultural laws to modify and establish programs to assist beginning farmers.  The bill makes land trusts eligible for certain assistance under the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. In administering the program, USDA must prioritize an application for purchasing an easement that maintains agricultural viability, requires subsequent purchases to be at agricultural value, or both.  The bill modifies several agricultural programs to:    require the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to prequalify loan applicants,   increase and index for inflation the limits on the amounts of USDA farm ownership loans,   transfer jurisdiction of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers to the FSA,   establish an online customer self-service portal,   reauthorize the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program with increased mandatory funding and allow specified funds to be transferred for individual development accounts,  reauthorize the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Accounts Pilot Program, reauthorize the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program with increased mandatory funding, and authorize grants for farm viability programs.  The FSA must assign state coordinators to promote communication with beginning farmers or ranchers and increase their access to USDA programs.  The General Services Administration may sell surplus farm equipment or property to socially disadvantaged, veteran, or beginning farmers and ranchers. 
feat_title: Young and Beginning Farmers Act