U.S. Code > Title 7 Agriculture > CHAPTER 55—DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (§§ 2201—2279h) > § 2279. Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

§ 2279. Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

(a) Outreach and assistance
(1) Program
The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out an outreach and technical assistance program to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers—
(A) in owning and operating farms and ranches; and
(B) in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural programs offered by the Department.
(2) Requirements
The outreach and technical assistance program under paragraph (1) shall be used exclusively—
(A) to enhance coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, and education efforts authorized under agriculture programs; and
(B) to assist the Secretary in—
(i) reaching current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in a linguistically appropriate manner; and
(ii) improving the participation of those farmers and ranchers in Department programs, as reported under section 2279–1 of this title.
(3) Grants and contracts
(A) In general
The Secretary may make grants to, and enter into contracts and other agreements with, an eligible entity that has demonstrated an ability to carry out the requirements described in paragraph (2) to provide outreach and technical assistance under this subsection.
(B) Relationship to other law
The authority to carry out this section shall be in addition to any other authority provided in this or any other Act.
(C) Other projects
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may make grants to, and enter into contracts and other agreements with, an organization or institution that received funding under this section before January 1, 1996, to carry out a project that is similar to a project for which the organization or institution received such funding.
(D) Report
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and make publicly available, an annual report that includes a list of the following:
(i) The recipients of funds made available under the program.
(ii) The activities undertaken and services provided.
(iii) The number of current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers served and outcomes of such service.
(iv) The problems and barriers identified by entities in trying to increase participation by current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
(4) Funding
(A) In general
Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section—
(i) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(ii) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012.
(B) Interagency funding
In addition to funds authorized to be appropriated under subparagraph (A), any agency of the Department may participate in any grant, contract, or agreement entered into under this subsection by contributing funds, if the agency determined that the objectives of the grant, contract, or agreement will further the authorized programs of the contributing agency.
(C) Limitation on use of funds for administrative expenses
Not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year may be used for expenses related to administering the program under this section.
(b) Designation of Federal personnel
(1) In general
The Secretary shall designate from existing Federal personnel resources in the county or region a qualified person who shall, in cooperation with the State cooperative extension services, implement the policies and programs established or modified in accordance with this section.
(2) Additional personnel
In counties or regions in which the number of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers exceeds 25 percent of the total number of farmers and ranchers in the county or region, the Secretary shall designate additional personnel to implement the policies and programs established or modified in accordance with this section.
(c) Report to Congress
(1) In general
Not later than September 30, 1992, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, regarding—
(A) the efforts of the Secretary to enhance participation by members of socially disadvantaged groups in agricultural programs;
(B) the specific participation goals established for each agricultural program;
(C) the results achieved for each agricultural program; and
(D) the progress of the Department towards meeting each of the purposes described in paragraph (2)(C).
(2) Contents
In addition to the information specified in paragraph (1), the report required by paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) a comparison of the participation goals and the actual participation rates of members of socially disadvantaged groups in each agricultural program;
(B) an analysis and explanation of the reasons for the success or failure of the Secretary to achieve the goals, and the overall purposes of this section;
(C) a listing, on a State-by-State and county-by-county basis, of—
(i) the amount of funds loaned to members of socially disadvantaged groups; and
(ii) the amount of funds used to guarantee loans to members of socially disadvantaged groups compared to the total amount of such guarantees;
(D) a breakdown in allocation of crop base in each program crop compared to the target participation rates established pursuant to sections 355(a)(1) and 355(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 2003 (a)(1), 2003 (c)], on a State-by-State and county-by-county basis; and
(E) a review and analysis of participation by members of socially disadvantaged groups, compared to participation by all others, in agricultural programs, on a State-by-State and county-by-county basis, including a survey representative of all farmers and ranchers, including socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, to identify reasons for participation and nonparticipation in agricultural programs.
(d) Affirmative action, appeals, and contracting review
(1) Purpose
It is the purpose of this subsection to direct the Secretary to analyze within the Department the design and implementation of affirmative action programs and policies, the appeals process for complaints of discrimination, and contracting and purchasing practices employed by the Department.
(2) Scope
The study shall include—
(A) an assessment of the successes and failures of these affirmative action programs and policies;
(B) a review of the reasons for the successes and failures described in subparagraph (A);
(C) a review of procurement, contracting, and purchasing policies of the Department, the level of participation of socially disadvantaged businesses in such activities, and the impact of those policies on the participation of members of socially disadvantaged groups in such contracting with the Department;
(D) a review of the reasons for participation or lack of participation of businesses owned by members of socially disadvantaged groups in the activities described in subparagraph (C); and
(E) a review of the appeals process for all complaints or allegations regarding acts, practices, or patterns of discrimination filed with the Department by individuals or any other entities that shall include—
(i) the number of complaints or allegations regarding acts, practices, or patterns of discrimination;
(ii) the manner in which the complaints were investigated and resolved by the Department; and
(iii) the longest, shortest, and average periods of time taken to investigate and resolve the complaints or allegations regarding acts, practices, or patterns of discrimination.
(3) Report
Not later than November 28, 1991, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing the information described in paragraph (2).
(e) Definitions
(1) Socially disadvantaged group
As used in this section, the term “socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
(2) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
As used in this section, the term “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
(3) Agriculture programs
As used in this section, the term “agriculture programs” are those established or authorized by—
(A) the Agricultural Act of 1949 [7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.];
(B) the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.];
(C) the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 [7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.];
(D) the Soil Conservation Act;
(E) the Domestic Allotment Assistance Act;
(F) the Food Security Act of 1985; and
(G) other such Acts as the Secretary deems appropriate.
(4) Department
The term “Department” means the Department of Agriculture.
(5) Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” means any of the following:
(A) Any community-based organization, network, or coalition of community-based organizations that—
(i) has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers;
(ii) has provided to the Secretary documentary evidence of work with, and on behalf of, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers during the 3-year period preceding the submission of an application for assistance under subsection (a) of this section; and
(iii) does not engage in activities prohibited under section 501 (c)(3) of title 26.
(B) An 1890 institution or 1994 institution (as defined in section 7601 of this title), including West Virginia State College.
(C) An Indian tribal community college or an Alaska Native cooperative college.
(D) An Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 3103 of this title).
(E) Any other institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20) that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a region.
(F) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 450b of title 25) or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a region.
(G) An organization or institution that received funding under subsection (a) of this section before January 1, 1996, but only with respect to projects that the Secretary considers are similar to projects previously carried out by the organization or institution under such subsection.
(6) Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(f) Omitted
(g) Reservations
(1) Consolidated suboffice
The Secretary shall require the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, and such other offices and functions the Secretary may choose to include where there has been a need demonstrated, in each county that has a reservation within its borders, to establish a consolidated suboffice at the tribal headquarters of said reservation and to staff said suboffice as needed, using existing staff, but no less than one day a week or under such other arrangement agreed to by the tribe and the Department offices.
(2) Cooperative agreements
For those reservations that are located in more than one county, the Secretary, the relevant county offices and the tribe shall enter into a cooperative agreement to provide the services required by paragraph (1) that avoids duplication of effort.
(h) Accurate documentation
The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the Census of Agriculture and studies carried out by the Economic Research Service accurately document the number, location, and economic contributions of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in agricultural production.