The regulations in this subpart apply to the program authorized under section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f).

The purpose of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is to establish a beginning farmer and rancher development program that provides local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.

The definitions applicable to the program under this subpart include:

Beginning farmer or rancher means a person that has not operated a farm or ranch or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years, and meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.

Clearinghouse means an online repository that will make available to beginning farmers or ranchers education curricula and training materials and programs, and which may include online courses for direct use by beginning farmers or ranchers.

Limited resource beginning farmers or ranchers means beginning farmers or ranchers who have: (1) direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than the sales amount established by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in each of the previous two years (in current dollars, adjusted for inflation each year, based on the October 2002 Prices Paid by Farmer Index compiled and updated annually by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and (2) a total household income at or below the National Poverty Level for a family of four or less than 50 percent of county median household income in each of the previous 2 years as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), using the Census Poverty Data.

Outcome-based reporting means reporting that includes an outcome statement with performance targets, necessary milestones, beneficiary engagement, key individuals, and verification.

To be eligible to receive an award under this subpart, the recipient shall be a collaborative State, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public or private entities, including:

(a) A State cooperative extension service;

(b) A Federal, State, or tribal agency;

(c) A community-based or nongovernmental organization;

(d) A college or university (including a junior college offering an associate's degree) or foundation maintained by a college or university;

(e) A private for-profit organization; or

(f) Any other appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary.

(a) Standard BFRDP projects. For standard BFRDP projects, competitive grants will be awarded to support programs and services, as appropriate, relating to the following focus areas and activities:

(1) Basic livestock, forest management, and crop farming practices;

(2) Innovative farm, ranch, and private, nonindustrial forest land transfer strategies;

(3) Entrepreneurship and business training;

(4) Financial and risk management training (including the acquisition and management of agricultural credit);

(5) Natural resource management and planning;

(6) Diversification and marketing strategies;

(7) Curriculum development;

(8) Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships;

(9) Resources and referral;

(10) Farm financial benchmarking;

(11) Assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers and ranchers;

(12) Agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training for veterans;

(13) Farm safety and awareness; and

(14) Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers.

(15) Basic livestock and crop farming practices, forestry and range management.

(16) Acquisition and management of agricultural credit.

(17) Environmental compliance.

(18) Information processing.

(19) Tax management, including record keeping and tax form preparation.

(20) Basic agricultural law.

(21) Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers.

NIFA may include additional activities or focus areas that further address the critical needs of beginning farmers and ranchers as defined in this subpart. Some of these activities or focus areas may be identified by stakeholder groups or by NIFA in response to emerging critical needs of the Nation's farmers and ranchers.

(b) Other BFRDP Projects. In addition to the competitive grants made under paragraph (a) of this section, competitive awards (grants or cooperative agreements) will be made:

(1) to establish beginner farmer and rancher educational enhancement projects that develop curricula and conduct educational programs and workshops for beginning farmers or ranchers in diverse geographical areas of the Unites States; and

(2) to establish and maintain an online clearinghouse.

(a) Facility costs. Funds made available under this subpart shall not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

(b) Indirect costs. Subject to § 3430.54, indirect costs are allowable.

(c) Participation by other farmers and ranchers. Projects may allow farmers and ranchers who are not beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in the programs funded under this subpart if their participation is appropriate and will not detract from the primary purpose of educating beginning farmers and ranchers as defined under this subpart.

(a) Requirement. Awardees are required to provide a match in the form of cash or in-kind contributions in an amount at least equal to 25 percent of the Federal funds provided by the award. The matching funds must be from non-Federal sources except when authorized by statute. The matching requirements under this subpart cannot be waived.

(b) Indirect costs. Use of indirect costs as in-kind matching contributions is subject to § 3430.52.

NIFA shall seek and obtain stakeholder input through a variety of forums (e.g., public meetings, request for input and/or via Web site), as well as through a notice in the Federal Register, from the following entities:

(a) Beginning farmers and ranchers.

(b) National, State, tribal, and local organizations, community-based organizations, and other persons with expertise in operating beginning farmer and rancher programs.

(c) The Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers established under section 5 of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929 note; Pub. L. 102-554).

(a) Evaluation criteria. NIFA shall evaluate project proposals according to the following factors:

(1) Relevancy.

(2) Technical merit.

(3) Achievability.

(4) The expertise and track record of one or more applicants.

(5) The adequacy of plans for the participatory evaluation process, outcome-based reporting, and the communication of findings and results beyond the immediate target audience.

(6) Other appropriate factors, as determined by the Secretary.

(b) Partnership and collaboration. In making awards under this subpart, NIFA shall give priority to partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include nongovernmental, and community-based organizations, and school-based agricultural educational organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach.

(c) Regional balance. In making awards under this subpart, NIFA shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographical diversity.

(a) Set aside. (1) Not less than 5 percent of the funds used to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services that address the needs of—

(i) Limited resource beginning farmers or ranchers (see 3430.602);

(ii) Socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)) who are beginning farmers or ranchers; and

(iii) Farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers.

(2) Each fiscal year, NIFA shall set aside not less than 5 percent of the funds to support the standard BFRDP projects under this subpart to support programs and services that address the needs of veteran farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)). Recipients of these funds may coordinate with a recipient of an award under section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) in addressing the needs of veteran farmers and ranchers with disabilities.

(b) Consecutive awards. An eligible recipient may receive a consecutive grant for a standard BFRDP project under this subpart.

(c) Duration of awards. The term of a grant for a standard BFRDP project under this subpart shall not exceed 3 years. Awards for all other projects under this subpart shall not exceed 5 years. No-cost extensions of time beyond the maximum award terms will not be considered or granted.

(d) Amount of grants. A grant for a standard BFRDP project under this subpart shall not be in an amount that is more than $250,000 for each year.