(a)The department, in consultation with the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Producer Advisory Committee and the Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee, shall establish the Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program to provide financial and technical assistance to support regional farm equipment sharing and enhance cooperative benefits for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and limited resource farmers and ranchers, with preference provided under the program in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 93540 of the Public Resources Code.
(b)Activities that are eligible for funding through the program shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Developing and expanding equipment sharing programs for the
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(a)
The department, in consultation with the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Producer Advisory Committee and the Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee, shall establish the Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program to provide financial and technical assistance to support regional farm equipment sharing and enhance cooperative benefits for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and limited resource farmers and ranchers, with preference provided under the program in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 93540 of the Public Resources Code.
(b)
Activities that are eligible for funding through the program shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1)
Developing and expanding equipment sharing programs for the purchase and repair of tools, equipment, and infrastructure, and that pay all or a portion of associated administrative costs, to do both of the following:
(A)
Support environmentally sustainable farming practices, including, but not limited to, practices that promote soil health, water conservation, wildlife and their habitat, and wildfire resilience.
(B)
Enhance regional food and fiber systems for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and limited resource farmers and ranchers.
(2)
Providing technical assistance and support, including,
but not limited to, any of the following:
(A)
Training on the use and maintenance of tools, equipment, and infrastructure.
(B)
Outreach to ensure direct and meaningful benefits to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(C)
Small farm tool demonstrations.
(3)
(A)
Providing a direct grant to an entity that will assist in cooperative development for farmers.
(B)
The entity described in subparagraph (A) shall have relevant cooperative development expertise and shall benefit socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited
resource farmers or ranchers. For purposes of this subdivision, “relevant cooperative development expertise” means the entity shall have a demonstrated record of experience in the planning, formation, and support of agricultural or rural cooperatives.
(c)
Entities eligible for financial assistance under the program shall include, but not be limited to, resource conservation districts, the University of California Cooperative Extension, tribes as defined in Section 90100 of the Public Resources Code, farmer cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations.
(d)
An application for financial assistance pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:
(1)
A
description of how the applicant will operate an equipment sharing program.
(2)
A list and description of the tools, equipment, and infrastructure the applicant will purchase.
(3)
A description of the equipment sharing program, including safeguards for the long-term benefits of any tools, equipment, or infrastructure purchased, expected benefits of the equipment sharing program, and the types of farmers or ranchers the applicant aims to serve, including specific outreach that will be provided to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(4)
A description of how the equipment sharing program will be maintained after the period of the financial assistance expires.
(e)
The Farm Equity Advisor at the department shall ensure that the program meets the objectives of this article.
(f)
(1)
For purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:
(A)
“Limited resource farmer or rancher” has the same definition as in Section 760.107 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on June 17, 2025.
(B)
“Program” means the Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program.
(2)
For purposes of this section, “financial assistance” does not include a loan.
(g)
Subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, shall become operative upon the Legislature making an appropriation for purposes of the program.
(h)
This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.