7 U.S.C. § 6934a — Beginning farmer and rancher coordination

(a) Definitions. (1) “Beginning farmer or rancher” has the meaning in section 2279(a). (2) “National Coordinator” means the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator under subsection (b)(1). (3) “State coordinator” means a coordinator designated under subsection (c)(1)(A). (4) “State office” means a State office of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, or Rural Utilities Service, or a regional Risk Management Agency office. This section does not otherwise define these quoted terms.
(b) National Coordinator. (1) The Secretary^* must establish the position in the Department^*. (2)(A) The National Coordinator must advise the Secretary and coordinate Department activities about beginning farmers and ranchers, and, after consulting the applicable State food and agriculture council, decide whether to approve a State coordinator’s plan under subsection (c)(3)(B). (B) Additional duties may include developing outreach strategies; helping beginning farmers and ranchers connect with owners or operators who have ended or expect within five years to end active farm or ranch ownership or operation; and facilitating interagency and interdepartmental collaboration. (3) At least yearly, the Coordinator must distribute within the Department and make public a report on steps taken for these duties. (4) The Coordinator may contract or make cooperative agreements with higher-education institutions, cooperative extension services, or nonprofits to research profitability of farms operating at least five years in a region, develop educational materials, conduct workshops, courses, training, or certified vocational training, or conduct mentoring.
(c) State coordinators. (1)(A) After consulting State food and agriculture councils and State-office directors, the National Coordinator must designate an employee of a State office in each State. (B) The employee must know issues involving beginning farmers and ranchers and be able to coordinate with other Federal departments and agencies. (2) The Secretary must create a training plan teaching each coordinator about Department programs and services for beginning farmers and ranchers, considering all production types and operation sizes. (3) A State coordinator must (A) coordinate State technical assistance for access to Department programs; (B) develop and submit for approval a State plan improving the coordination, delivery, and effectiveness of Department programs at every county and area office, considering all production methods and operation sizes; (C) oversee an approved plan; (D) work with State-office outreach coordinators so technical-assistance information is available at outreach events; and (E) coordinate partnerships and joint outreach with organizations and government agencies serving beginning farmers and ranchers.