Help for beginning farmers is somethings family farm groups have been working on for years. Janet Kubat Willette reports for Agri News:
WASHINGTON -- The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act introduced by Rep. Tim Walz has been incorporated into the farm bill.
Walz received word last week that the program received $15 million in mandatory yearly funding.
"That's huge," Walz said.
The beginning farmer proposal, which was co-authored by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, is the result of hearings held in the 1st District, Walz said. At farm bill hearings, many talked of the barriers new farmers face.
The bill increases USDA's focus on risk management education for beginning farmers, offers tax credits to owners if they sell their land to beginning farmers and reduces the interest rate on the Down Payment Loan Program.
Being included in the chairman's mark, or proposal, is a huge hurdle cleared. The next hurdle comes this week when the full committee votes on the bill. The biggie comes next week, when the bill is expected to be on the House floor.
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