[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 679 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 679

  To promote local and regional farm and food systems, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 9, 2013

  Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Cowan, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Tester, Mr. Wyden, and 
 Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To promote local and regional farm and food systems, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Local Farms, Food, 
and Jobs Act of 2013''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                           TITLE I--NUTRITION

Sec. 101. Retailers.
Sec. 102. Demonstration projects on acceptance of benefits of mobile 
                            transactions.
Sec. 103. Use of benefits for purchase of community-supported 
                            agriculture share.
Sec. 104. Additional authority for purchase of fresh fruits, 
                            vegetables, and other specialty food crops.
Sec. 105. Encouraging locally and regionally grown and raised food.
Sec. 106. Assistance for community food projects.
Sec. 107. Senior farmers' market nutrition program.
Sec. 108. Hunger-free communities.
Sec. 109. Food and Nutrition Agriculture Service Learning Program.
                            TITLE II--CREDIT

Sec. 201. Loans to local and regional food producers.
Sec. 202. Clarification of the mission of the farm credit system to 
                            recognize the economic benefits of 
                            supporting young, beginning, and small 
                            farmers and ranchers, and contributions of 
                            local and regional farm and food systems.
Sec. 203. Young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers and locally 
                            or regionally produced agricultural 
                            products.
                      TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 301. Availability of rural business opportunity grants for local 
                            and regional food systems.
Sec. 302. Clarification on allowed partnerships for certain community 
                            facilities grants and loans.
Sec. 303. Availability of rural business enterprise grants for value-
                            added processing, aggregation, 
                            distribution, storage, and marketing in 
                            connection with production agriculture.
Sec. 304. Making improvements to business and industry direct and 
                            guaranteed loans to benefit producers of 
                            local or regionally produced agricultural 
                            food products.
Sec. 305. Value-added agricultural product market development grants.
           TITLE IV--RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND RELATED MATTERS

Sec. 401. Agriculture and food research initiative.
Sec. 402. Local and regional food system enterprise facilitation.
Sec. 403. Conventional breeding initiative.
Sec. 404. National genetics resources program.
                         TITLE V--HORTICULTURE

Sec. 501. Farmers market and local food promotion program.
Sec. 502. Specialty crop block grants.
Sec. 503. Study on local food production and program evaluation.
                        TITLE VI--CROP INSURANCE

Sec. 601. Research and development authority.
Sec. 602. Whole farm risk management insurance.
Sec. 603. Approval of costs for research and development.
Sec. 604. Crop insurance for organic crops.
Sec. 605. Nationwide expansion of agricultural management assistance 
                            program and inclusion of organic 
                            certification cost share assistance.
                        TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 701. Technical assistance.
Sec. 702. Guidance.
Sec. 703. Labels and public information on label content.
Sec. 704. Meat and poultry processing report.

                           TITLE I--NUTRITION

SEC. 101. RETAILERS.

    (a) Definition of Retail Food Store.--Section 3(p) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(p)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking ``at least 2'' and 
        inserting ``at least 3''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4) by inserting ``or agricultural 
        producers who market agricultural products directly to 
        consumers'' after ``venture''.
    (b) Alternative Benefit Delivery.--Section 7(f) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(f)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Imposition of costs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall require 
                participating retailers (including restaurants 
                participating in a State option restaurant program 
                intended to serve the elderly, disabled, and homeless) 
                to pay 100 percent of the costs of acquiring, and 
                arrange for the implementation of, electronic benefit 
                transfer point-of-sale equipment and supplies.
                    ``(B) Exemptions.--The Secretary may exempt from 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) farmers' markets and other direct 
                        farmer-to-consumer marketing outlets, military 
                        commissaries, nonprofit food buying 
                        cooperatives, and establishments, 
                        organizations, programs, or group living 
                        arrangements described in paragraphs (5), (7), 
                        and (8) of section 3(k); and
                            ``(ii) establishments described in 
                        paragraphs (3), (4), and (9) of section 3(k), 
                        other than restaurants participating in a State 
                        option restaurant program.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Termination of manual vouchers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Effective beginning on the 
                effective date of this paragraph, except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), no State shall issue manual vouchers 
                to a household that receives supplemental nutrition 
                assistance under this Act or allow retailers to accept 
                manual vouchers as payment, unless the Secretary 
                determines that the manual vouchers are necessary, such 
                as in the event of an electronic benefit transfer 
                system failure or a disaster situation.
                    ``(B) Exemptions.--The Secretary may exempt 
                categories of retailers or individual retailers from 
                subparagraph (A) based on criteria established by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(5) Unique identification number required.--In an effort 
        to enhance the antifraud protections of the program, the 
        Secretary shall require all parties providing electronic 
        benefit transfer services to provide for and maintain a unique 
        terminal identification number information through the 
        supplemental nutrition assistance program electronic benefit 
        transfer transaction routing system. In developing the 
        regulations implementing this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
        consider existing commercial practices for other point-of-sale 
        debit transactions. The Secretary shall issue proposed 
        regulations implementing this paragraph not earlier than 2 
        years after the date of enactment of this paragraph.''.
    (c) Electronic Benefit Transfers.--Section 7(h)(3)(B) of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(3)(B)) is amended by 
striking ``is operational--'' and all that follows through ``(ii) in 
the case of other participating stores,'' and inserting ``is 
operational''.
    (d) Approval of Retail Food Stores and Wholesale Food Concerns.--
Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018) is 
amended--
            (1) in the second sentence of subsection (a)(1) by striking 
        ``; and (C)'' and inserting ``; (C) whether the applicant is 
        located in an area with significantly limited access to food; 
        and (D)'';
            (2) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Retail food stores with significant sales of excluded 
        items.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No retail food store for which 
                at least 45 percent of the total sales of the retail 
                food store is from the sale of excluded items described 
                in section 3(k)(1) may be authorized to accept and 
                redeem benefits unless the Secretary determines that 
                the participation of the retail food store is required 
                for the effective and efficient operation of the 
                supplemental nutrition assistance program.
                    ``(B) Application.--Subparagraph (A) shall be 
                effective--
                            ``(i) in the case of retail food stores 
                        applying to be authorized for the first time, 
                        beginning on the date that is 1 year after the 
                        effective date of this paragraph; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of retail food stores 
                        participating in the program on the effective 
                        date of this paragraph, during periodic 
                        reauthorization in accordance with subsection 
                        (a)(2)(A).''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) EBT Service Requirement.--An approved retail food store shall 
provide adequate EBT service as described in section 7(h)(3)(B).''.

SEC. 102. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON ACCEPTANCE OF BENEFITS OF MOBILE 
              TRANSACTIONS.

    Section 7(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2016(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) Demonstration projects on acceptance of benefits of 
        mobile transactions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall pilot the 
                use of mobile technologies determined by the Secretary 
                to be appropriate to test the feasibility and 
                implications for program integrity, by allowing retail 
                food stores, farmers markets, and other direct 
                producer-to-consumer marketing outlets to accept 
                benefits from recipients of supplemental nutrition 
                assistance through mobile transactions.
                    ``(B) Demonstration projects.--To be eligible to 
                participate in a demonstration project under subsection 
                (a), a retail food store, farmers market, or other 
                direct producer-to-consumer marketing outlet shall 
                submit to the Secretary for approval a plan that 
                includes--
                            ``(i) a description of the technology;
                            ``(ii) the manner by which the retail food 
                        store, farmers market or other direct producer-
                        to-consumer marketing outlet will provide proof 
                        of the transaction to households;
                            ``(iii) the provision of data to the 
                        Secretary, consistent with requirements 
                        established by the Secretary, in a manner that 
                        allows the Secretary to evaluate the impact of 
                        the demonstration on participant access, ease 
                        of use, and program integrity; and
                            ``(iv) such other criteria as the Secretary 
                        may require.
                    ``(C) Date of completion.--The demonstration 
                projects under this paragraph shall be completed and 
                final reports submitted to the Secretary by not later 
                than July 1, 2016.
                    ``(D) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall 
                submit a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
                House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate that 
                includes a finding, based on the data provided under 
                subparagraph (C) whether or not implementation in all 
                States is in the best interest of the supplemental 
                nutrition assistance program.''.

SEC. 103. USE OF BENEFITS FOR PURCHASE OF COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED 
              AGRICULTURE SHARE.

    Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2019) is 
amended in the first sentence by inserting ``agricultural producers who 
market agricultural products directly to consumers shall be authorized 
to redeem benefits for the initial cost of the purchase of a community-
supported agriculture share for an appropriate time in advance of food 
delivery as determined by the Secretary,'' after ``food so 
purchased,''.

SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF FRESH FRUITS, 
              VEGETABLES, AND OTHER SPECIALTY FOOD CROPS.

    Section 10603 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 612c-4) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``2012'' and inserting 
        ``2018'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(c) Local Preference in Memorandum of Agreement.--To the maximum 
extent practicable, a memorandum of agreement between the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the Secretary of Defense related to the purchase of 
fresh fruits and vegetables under this section shall require that 
fruits and vegetables purchased under the agreement be locally grown 
(as determined by the Secretary).
    ``(d) Pilot Grant Program for Purchase of Fresh Fruits and 
Vegetables.--
            ``(1) In general.--Using amounts made available to carry 
        out subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct 
        a pilot program under which the Secretary will give not more 
        than five participating States the option of receiving a grant 
        in an amount equal to the value of the commodities that the 
        participating State would otherwise receive under this section 
        for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
            ``(2) Use of grant funds.--A participating State receiving 
        a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds solely to 
        purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to 
        schools and service institutions in the State that participate 
        in the food service programs under the Richard B. Russell 
        National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.). To the 
        maximum extent practicable, the fruits and vegetables shall be 
        locally grown, as determined by the State.
            ``(3) Selection of participating states.--The Secretary 
        shall select participating States from applications submitted 
        by the States.
            ``(4) Reporting requirements.--
                    ``(A) School and service institution requirement.--
                Schools and service institutions in a participating 
                State shall keep records of purchases of fresh fruits 
                and vegetables made using the grant funds and report 
                such records to the State.
                    ``(B) State requirement.--Each participating State 
                shall submit to the Secretary a report on the success 
                of the pilot program in the State, including 
                information on--
                            ``(i) the amount and value of each type of 
                        fresh fruit and vegetable purchased by the 
                        State; and
                            ``(ii) the benefit provided by such 
                        purchases in conducting the school food service 
                        in the State, including meeting school meal 
                        requirements.''.

SEC. 105. ENCOURAGING LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY GROWN AND RAISED FOOD.

    (a) Commodity Purchase Streamlining.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
(in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') may permit each 
school food authority with a low annual commodity entitlement value, as 
determined by the Secretary, to elect to substitute locally and 
regionally grown and raised food for the authority's allotment, in 
whole or in part, of commodity assistance under section 6(b) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(b)) for 
the school lunch program under such Act, if--
            (1) the election is requested by the school food authority;
            (2) the Secretary determines that the election will reduce 
        State and Federal administrative costs, such as costs related 
        to transportation, technology, and overhead; and
            (3) the election will provide the school food authority 
        with greater flexibility to purchase locally and regionally 
        grown and raised foods.
    (b) Farm-to-School Demonstration Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may establish 
        and carry out farm-to-school demonstration programs under which 
        school food authorities, agricultural producers producing for 
        local and regional markets, and other farm to school 
        stakeholders will collaborate with the Agriculture Marketing 
        Service to source food for the school lunch program under the 
        Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et 
        seq.) from local farmers and ranchers in lieu of the commodity 
        assistance provided under section 6(b) of the Richard B. 
        Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(b)) to such 
        school food authorities for the school lunch program.
            (2) Requirements.--
                    (A) In general.--A demonstration program carried 
                out under this subsection shall--
                            (i) facilitate and increase the purchase of 
                        unprocessed and minimally processed locally and 
                        regionally grown and raised agricultural 
                        products to be served under the school lunch 
                        program;
                            (ii) test methods to improve procurement, 
                        transportation, and meal preparation processes;
                            (iii) assess whether administrative costs 
                        can be saved through increased school authority 
                        flexibility to source locally and regionally 
                        produced foods; and
                            (iv) undertake rigorous evaluation and 
                        share information about results, including cost 
                        savings, with the Department of Agriculture, 
                        other school food authorities, agricultural 
                        producers producing for the local and regional 
                        market, and the general public.
                    (B) Plans.--The Secretary shall require 
                demonstration program participants to provide to the 
                Secretary detailed plans with respect to how the 
                participants will meet the requirements of this 
                subsection.
            (3) Length.--The Secretary shall conduct each demonstration 
        program under this subsection for not less than 3 school years 
        and not more than 5 years, except in the case of a 
        demonstration program that requires additional time to meet the 
        requirements under paragraph (2)(A), as determined by the 
        Secretary.
            (4) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate among 
        relevant agencies of the Department of Agriculture and non-
        governmental organizations with appropriate expertise to 
        facilitate the provision of training and technical assistance 
        necessary to the successful implementation of demonstration 
        programs under this subsection.
            (5) Number.--The Secretary shall carry out at least 10 
        demonstration programs under this subsection.
            (6) Diversity and balance.--In carrying out demonstration 
        programs under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, ensure--
                    (A) geographical diversity;
                    (B) that at least half of the demonstration 
                programs are completed in collaboration with school 
                food authorities with small annual commodity 
                entitlements, as determined by the Secretary;
                    (C) that at least half of the demonstration 
                programs are completed in rural or tribal communities; 
                and
                    (D) equitable treatment of school food authorities 
                with a high percentage of students eligible for free or 
                reduced price lunches under the Richard B. Russell 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
            (7) Data analysis.--With respect to each demonstration 
        program carried out under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        ensure that participants of the demonstration program collect 
        data on how the program met the requirements of paragraph 
        (2)(A) in a manner that will enable the aggregation and 
        analysis of such data.
            (8) Report to congress.--Not later than January 1, 2018, 
        the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Agriculture of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and a report on the 
        demonstration programs carried out under this subsection, 
        including--
                    (A) an analysis of the data collected under 
                paragraph (7);
                    (B) a summary of the efforts of the Department of 
                Agriculture to increase the availability and use of 
                locally and regionally grown foods by school food 
                authorities through the commodity assistance provided 
                to such authorities under section under section 6(b) of 
                the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1755(b)); and
                    (C) a determination of whether a demonstration 
                program carried out under this section or any aspect of 
                such a program should become an option for school food 
                authorities based on outcomes, such as children's 
                nutritional health status, economic benefits to 
                participating agricultural producers and the local 
                economy, school meal participation rates, and an all-
                inclusive comparison of administrative cost of the 
                commodity assistance described in subparagraph (B) and 
                such demonstration program.

SEC. 106. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.

    Section 25 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``$5,000,000'' and inserting 
                ``$10,000,000''; and
                    (B) by striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2014''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``3'' and inserting 
        ``5''.

SEC. 107. SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

    Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 3007) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``$20,600,000'' and inserting 
                ``$25,000,000'';
                    (B) by striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2014''; 
                and
                    (C) by striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2018''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``maple syrup,'' 
        after ``honey,''.

SEC. 108. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES.

    Section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 7517) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--
                    ``(A) Collaborative grants.--In subsection (b), the 
                term `eligible entity' means a public food program 
                service provider or nonprofit organization, including 
                an emergency feeding organization, that has 
                collaborated or will collaborate with 1 or more local 
                partner organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free 
                communities goal.
                    ``(B) Incentive grants.--In subsection (c), the 
                term `eligible entity' means a nonprofit organization 
                (including an emergency feeding organization), an 
                agricultural cooperative, producer network or 
                association, community health organization, public 
                benefit corporation, economic development corporation, 
                farmers' market, community-supported agriculture 
                program, buying club, supplemental nutrition assistance 
                program retail food store, a State, local, or tribal 
                agency, and any other entity the Secretary 
                designates.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Supplemental nutrition assistance program.--The term 
        `supplemental nutrition assistance program' means the 
        supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the 
        Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
            ``(5) Underserved community.--The term `underserved 
        community' has the meaning given the term in section 25 of the 
        Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034).'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``not more than 50 
        percent of any funds made available under subsection (e)'' and 
        inserting ``funds made available under subsection (d)(1)''; and
            (3) by striking subsections (c), (d), and (e) and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(c) Hunger-Free Communities Incentive Grants.--
            ``(1) Authorization.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In each of the years specified 
                in subsection (d), the Secretary shall make grants to 
                eligible entities in accordance with paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost 
                of carrying out an activity under this subsection shall 
                not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the 
                activity.
                    ``(C) Non-federal share.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The non-Federal share of 
                        the cost of an activity under this subsection 
                        may be provided--
                                    ``(I) in cash or in-kind 
                                contributions as determined by the 
                                Secretary, including facilities, 
                                equipment, or services; and
                                    ``(II) by a State or local 
                                government or a private source.
                            ``(ii) Limitation.--In the case of a for-
                        profit entity, the non-Federal share described 
                        in clause (i) shall not include services of an 
                        employee, including salaries paid or expenses 
                        covered by the employer.
            ``(2) Criteria.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, 
                an eligible entity is a governmental agency or 
                nonprofit organization that--
                            ``(i) meets the application criteria set 
                        forth by the Secretary; and
                            ``(ii) proposes a project that, at a 
                        minimum--
                                    ``(I) has the support of the State 
                                agency;
                                    ``(II) would increase the purchase 
                                of fruits and vegetables by low-income 
                                consumers participating in the 
                                supplemental nutrition assistance 
                                program by providing incentives at the 
                                point of purchase;
                                    ``(III) agrees to participate in 
                                the evaluation described in paragraph 
                                (4);
                                    ``(IV) ensures that the same terms 
                                and conditions apply to purchases made 
                                by individuals with benefits issued 
                                under this Act and incentives provided 
                                for in this subsection as apply to 
                                purchases made by individuals who are 
                                not members of households receiving 
                                benefits, such as provided for in 
                                section 278.2(b) of title 7, Code of 
                                Federal Regulations (or a successor 
                                regulation); and
                                    ``(V) includes effective and 
                                efficient technologies for benefit 
                                redemption systems that may be 
                                replicated in other for States and 
                                communities.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants under this 
                section, the Secretary shall give priority to projects 
                that--
                            ``(i) maximize the share of funds used for 
                        direct incentives to participants;
                            ``(ii) use direct-to-consumer sales 
                        marketing;
                            ``(iii) demonstrate a track record of 
                        designing and implementing successful nutrition 
                        incentive programs that connect low-income 
                        consumers and agricultural producers;
                            ``(iv) provide locally or regionally 
                        produced fruits and vegetables;
                            ``(v) are located in underserved 
                        communities; or
                            ``(vi) address other criteria as 
                        established by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Applicability.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The value of any benefit 
                provided to a participant in any activity funded under 
                this subsection shall not be considered income or 
                resources for any purpose under any Federal, State, or 
                local law.
                    ``(B) Prohibition on collection of sales taxes.--
                Each State shall ensure that no State or local tax is 
                collected on a purchase of food under this subsection.
                    ``(C) No limitation on benefits.--A grant made 
                available under this subsection shall not be used to 
                carry out any project that limits the use of benefits 
                under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.) or any other Federal nutrition law.
                    ``(D) Household allotment.--Assistance provided 
                under this subsection to households receiving benefits 
                under the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                shall not--
                            ``(i) be considered part of the 
                        supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                        benefits of the household; or
                            ``(ii) be used in the collection or 
                        disposition of claims under section 13 of the 
                        Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2022).
            ``(4) Evaluation.--
                    ``(A) Independent evaluation.--The Secretary shall 
                provide for an independent evaluation of projects 
                selected under this subsection that measures the impact 
                of each project on--
                            ``(i) improving the nutrition and health 
                        status of participating households receiving 
                        incentives under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) increasing fruit and vegetable 
                        purchases in participating households.
                    ``(B) Requirement.--The independent evaluation 
                under subparagraph (A) shall use rigorous methodologies 
                capable of producing scientifically valid information 
                regarding the effectiveness of a project.
                    ``(C) Costs.--The Secretary may use funds not to 
                exceed 10 percent of the funding provided to carry out 
                this section to pay costs associated with 
                administering, monitoring, and evaluating each project.
    ``(d) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out subsection (b) $5,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
            ``(2) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out 
        subsection (c)--
                    ``(A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;
                    ``(B) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 
                through 2017; and
                    ``(C) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.''.

SEC. 109. FOOD AND NUTRITION AGRICULTURE SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle D of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6951) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``SEC. 242. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Food and 
Agriculture Service Learning Program (in this section referred to as 
the `Program') to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the 
nutritional health of children.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Program are--
            ``(1) to increase capacity for food, garden, and nutrition 
        education within host organizations or entities, school 
        cafeterias, and in the classroom;
            ``(2) to complement and build upon the efforts of the farm 
        to school programs implemented under section 18(g) of the 
        Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1769(g));
            ``(3) to support the implementation of the regulations to 
        update meal patterns and nutrition standards promulgated under 
        section 4(b)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3));
            ``(4) to carry out activities that advance the nutritional 
        health of children and nutrition education in elementary 
        schools and secondary schools;
            ``(5) to build on activities carried out by the Food and 
        Nutrition Service and the Corporation for National and 
        Community Service by providing funds to establish new approved 
        national service positions for a national service program; and
            ``(6) to further expand the impact of the efforts described 
        in paragraphs (1) through (5) through coordination with the 
        National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
    ``(c) Eligibility.--To carry out the Program, the Secretary may 
make awards to an organization or other entity that, as determined by 
the Secretary--
            ``(1) has a proven track record in carrying out the 
        activities described in subsection (b);
            ``(2) is carrying out or otherwise supporting a national 
        service program that receives assistance from the Corporation 
        for National and Community Service under subtitle C of title I 
        of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
        12571 et seq.);
            ``(3) works in underserved rural and urban communities;
            ``(4) teaches and engages children in experiential learning 
        about agriculture, gardening, nutrition, cooking, and where 
        food comes from; and
            ``(5) facilitates a connection between elementary schools 
        and secondary schools and agricultural producers in the local 
        and regional area.
    ``(d) Accountability.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may require an 
        organization or other entity receiving an award under 
        subsection (c), or another qualified entity, to collect and 
        report any data on the activities carried out by the Program as 
        the Secretary determines necessary.
            ``(2) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) conduct regular evaluation of the activities 
                carried out by the Program; and
                    ``(B) submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
                House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
                report that includes a description of the results of an 
                evaluation conducted under subparagraph (A).
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section 
        $25,000,000, to remain available until expended.
            ``(2) Use of certain funds.--Of the funds made available to 
        carry out this section for a fiscal year, 20 percent shall be 
        made available to the National Institute of Food and 
        Agriculture to offset costs associated with hosting, training, 
        and overseeing individuals in approved national service 
        positions for the Program.
            ``(3) Maintenance of effort.--Funds made available under 
        paragraph (1) shall be used only to supplement, not to 
        supplant, the amount of Federal funding otherwise expended for 
        nutrition, research, and extension programs of the Department.
    ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) Approved national service position.--The term 
        `approved national service position' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act 
        of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511)).
            ``(2) ESEA terms.--The terms `elementary school' and 
        `secondary school' have the meanings given the terms in section 
        9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 296(b) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) the authority of the Secretary to carry out 
        activities described in section 242.''.

                            TITLE II--CREDIT

SEC. 201. LOANS TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS.

    Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1981 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 333C the 
following new section:

``SEC. 333D. LOANS TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make and guarantee loans 
under this title to eligible producers for the production of locally or 
regionally produced agricultural food products (as defined in section 
310B(g)(9)), including qualified producers engaged in direct-to-
consumer marketing, direct-to-institution marketing, or direct-to-store 
marketing, businesses or activities that produce a value-added 
agricultural product (as defined in section 231(a) of the Agricultural 
Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(a)), mid-tier value chains 
(as defined in such section 231(a)), and other local and regional 
market outlets.
    ``(b) Training.--The Secretary shall ensure that loan officers 
processing loans under this section receive appropriate training to 
serve borrowers and potential borrowers engaged in local and regional 
food production.
    ``(c) Valuation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop ways to 
        determine unit prices (or other appropriate forms of valuation) 
        for crops and other agricultural products, the end use of which 
        is intended to be in locally or regionally produced 
        agricultural food products, to facilitate lending to local and 
        regional food producers.
            ``(2) Price history.--The Secretary shall implement a 
        mechanism for local and regional food producers to establish 
        price history for the crops and other agricultural products 
        produced by such producers.
    ``(d) Outreach.--The Secretary shall develop and implement an 
outreach strategy to engage and provide loan services to local and 
regional food producers.''.

SEC. 202. CLARIFICATION OF THE MISSION OF THE FARM CREDIT SYSTEM TO 
              RECOGNIZE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING YOUNG, 
              BEGINNING, AND SMALL FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AND 
              CONTRIBUTIONS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL FARM AND FOOD 
              SYSTEMS.

    Section 1.1 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2001) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Recognizing that the vitality of United States agriculture 
and rural communities depends on the continued entry of young, 
beginning, and small farmers and ranchers into agriculture, many of 
whom will operate farms with local and regional food product 
distribution, it is declared to be the policy of the Congress and an 
objective of this Act that the Farm Credit System should endeavor to 
serve the credit and related needs of these individuals and the 
businesses on which they rely and that are necessary to the growth and 
vitality of local and regional farm and food systems.''.

SEC. 203. YOUNG, BEGINNING, AND SMALL FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND LOCALLY 
              OR REGIONALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

    (a) Credit for Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers.--Section 
4.19(a) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2207(a)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence by inserting ``and for the 
        production of locally or regionally produced agricultural food 
        products (as defined in section 310B(g)(10)(A) of the 
        Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act)'' before the 
        period; and
            (2) by inserting after the second sentence the following: 
        ``Each such program shall include initiatives and may include 
        grants to support current and future borrowers by helping to 
        organize, build, expand, or improve infrastructure and markets 
        for locally or regionally produced agricultural food products 
        (as so defined).''.
    (b) Section 4.19 of such Act (12 U.S.C. 2207(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) The Farm Credit Administration shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an annual report 
that contains a summary and analysis of the operations and achievements 
of the Farm Credit System as a whole in meeting the objectives of this 
section. The Farm Credit Administration shall notify the Congress 
whenever a program is out of compliance with this section, and indicate 
in the notice the steps the Farm Credit Administration is taking in 
response.''.

                      TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 301. AVAILABILITY OF RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS FOR LOCAL 
              AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS.

    Section 306(a)(11) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(11)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``domestic and'' 
                before ``export'';
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (C) in clause (v)--
                            (i) by inserting ``domestic and'' before 
                        ``international''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period and inserting 
                        ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) to develop enterprises and business 
                        ventures that build sustainable local and 
                        regional food systems, including through 
                        processing, aggregation, distribution, storage, 
                        or marketing businesses in connection with 
                        production agriculture.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``2008 through 2012'' 
        and inserting ``2014 through 2018''.

SEC. 302. CLARIFICATION ON ALLOWED PARTNERSHIPS FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITY 
              FACILITIES GRANTS AND LOANS.

    (a) Community Facilities Grant Program.--Section 306(a)(19) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Partnerships allowed.--An association, unit 
                of general local government, nonprofit corporation, or 
                Indian tribe that receives a grant under this paragraph 
                may partner with philanthropic or for-profit entities 
                in developing specific essential community facilities 
                in rural areas.''.
    (b) Loan Guarantees for Water, Wastewater, and Essential Community 
Facilities Loans.--Section 306(a)(24) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(24)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Partnerships allowed.--The recipient of a 
                loan guarantee under this paragraph may partner with 
                philanthropic or for-profit entities in servicing, or 
                providing additional credit with respect to, a loan 
                described in subparagraph (A).''.

SEC. 303. AVAILABILITY OF RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS FOR VALUE-
              ADDED PROCESSING, AGGREGATION, DISTRIBUTION, STORAGE, AND 
              MARKETING IN CONNECTION WITH PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE.

    Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1932) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) value-added processing, aggregation, 
                distribution, storage, or marketing in connection with 
                production agriculture.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(B)(ii), by inserting ``, 
        aggregation, distribution, storage, or marketing'' after 
        ``processing''.

SEC. 304. MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY DIRECT AND 
              GUARANTEED LOANS TO BENEFIT PRODUCERS OF LOCAL OR 
              REGIONALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL FOOD PRODUCTS.

    Section 310B(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1932(g)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``value-added 
                processing'' and all that follows through the semicolon 
                and inserting ``value-added processing, distribution, 
                aggregation, storage, or marketing of agricultural food 
                products that create new opportunities for agricultural 
                producers;''; and
                    (B) in clause (iii), by striking ``subsection 
                (a)(2)(A)'' and inserting ``this subsection''; and
            (2) in paragraph (9)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``in rural or non-
                rural areas'' after ``entities'';
                    (B) by striking clauses (ii) and (iii) and 
                inserting the following new clauses:
                            ``(ii) Priority.--In making or guaranteeing 
                        a loan under clause (i), the Secretary shall 
                        give priority to projects that will--
                                    ``(I) result in increased access to 
                                locally or regionally grown food in 
                                underserved communities;
                                    ``(II) create new market 
                                opportunities for local or regional 
                                agricultural producers; or
                                    ``(III) support strategic economic 
                                and community development regional 
                                economic development plans on a 
                                multijurisdictional basis.
                            ``(iii) Guarantee fee.--In guaranteeing a 
                        loan under clause (i), the Secretary may waive, 
                        reduce, or incorporate into the amount of the 
                        guarantee made under such clause, the fee that 
                        would otherwise be imposed under paragraph (5) 
                        with respect to such guarantee.'';
                    (C) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as 
                clauses (v) and (vi), respectively;
                    (D) by inserting after clause (iii) the following 
                new clause:
                            ``(iv) Outreach.--The Secretary shall 
                        develop and implement an outreach plan to 
                        publicize the availability of loans and loan 
                        guarantees under this paragraph, working 
                        closely with rural cooperative development 
                        centers, credit unions, community development 
                        financial institutions, regional economic 
                        development authorities, and other financial 
                        and economic development entities.'';
                    (E) in clause (v) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
                (C))--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
                        by inserting ``, and publish on the internet,'' 
                        after ``Senate'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subclauses (I) and 
                        (II) as subclauses (II) and (III), 
                        respectively;
                            (iii) by inserting before subclause (II), 
                        the following new subclause:
                                    ``(I) summary information on each 
                                such project;''; and
                            (iv) in subclause (II) (as redesignated by 
                        clause (ii)), by inserting ``and agricultural 
                        producers'' after ``communities''; and
                    (F) in clause (vi)(I) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2018''.

SEC. 305. VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 231(a) of the Agricultural Risk 
Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                inserting ``(including networks that operate through 
                food distribution centers that coordinate agricultural 
                production and the aggregation, storage, processing, 
                distribution, and marketing of locally or regionally 
                produced agricultural products)'' after ``products''; 
                and
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``a family 
                farm'' and inserting ``family farms''; and
            (2) in paragraph (5)(A)(v), by inserting ``or as part of a 
        mid-tier value chain'' before the semicolon.
    (b) Grant Program.--Section 231(b) of the Agricultural Risk 
Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``paragraph (7)'' and 
                        inserting ``paragraph (8)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, using a peer review 
                        process,'' before ``shall''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting ``or 
                conducting a feasibility study'' after ``business 
                plan'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(6) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) in the case of grants awarded under paragraph 
                (1)(A), give priority to--
                            ``(i) operators of small- and medium-sized 
                        farms and ranches that are structured as family 
                        farms; or
                            ``(ii) beginning farmers and ranchers or 
                        socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; 
                        and
                    ``(B) in the case of grants awarded under paragraph 
                (1)(B), give priority to projects that, as determined 
                through peer review, best contribute to--
                            ``(i) increasing opportunities for 
                        operators of small- and medium-sized farms and 
                        ranches that are structured as family farms; or
                            ``(ii) creating opportunities for beginning 
                        farmers and ranchers or socially disadvantaged 
                        farmers and ranchers.'';
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8);
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(7) Outreach and technical assistance.--The Secretary 
        shall develop and implement an outreach and technical 
        assistance strategy to assist recipients of a grant under this 
        subsection reach and serve underserved States and communities 
        (as determined by the Secretary).''; and
            (5) in paragraph (8) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the 
                Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make 
                available to carry out this subsection--
                            ``(i) $15,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
                        years 2008 through 2013, to remain available 
                        until expended; and
                            ``(ii) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
                        2014 through 2018, to remain available until 
                        expended.'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2012'' and 
                inserting ``2018''; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Priority funding.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall, to 
                        the maximum extent practicable, reserve not 
                        less than two-thirds of the amounts made 
                        available for each fiscal year under this 
                        paragraph to fund grants with respect to which 
                        priority is given under paragraph (6).
                            ``(ii) Reservation of funds for projects to 
                        benefit beginning farmers or ranchers, socially 
                        disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and mid-tier 
                        value chains.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                shall reserve 10 percent of the amounts 
                                made available for each fiscal year 
                                under this paragraph to fund projects 
                                that benefit beginning farmers or 
                                ranchers or socially disadvantaged 
                                farmers or ranchers.
                                    ``(II) Mid-tier value chains.--The 
                                Secretary shall reserve 10 percent of 
                                the amounts made available for each 
                                fiscal year under this paragraph to 
                                fund applications of eligible entities 
                                described in paragraph (1) that propose 
                                to develop mid-tier value chains.
                                    ``(III) Unobligated amounts.--Any 
                                amounts in the reserves for a fiscal 
                                year established under subclauses (I) 
                                and (II) that are not obligated by the 
                                date on which the Secretary completes 
                                the review process for applications 
                                submitted under this section in the 
                                fiscal year shall be available to the 
                                Secretary to make grants under this 
                                subsection to eligible entities in any 
                                State, as determined by the 
                                Secretary.''.

           TITLE IV--RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND RELATED MATTERS

SEC. 401. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``food and agricultural 
        sciences'' and all that follows through the period at the end 
        and inserting the following: ``food and agricultural sciences 
        (as defined under section 1404 of the National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        3103))--
                    ``(A) in the case of a grant made under paragraph 
                (6), to an entity described in subparagraphs (A), (B), 
                (C), or (D) of such paragraph; and
                    ``(B) in the case of any other grant made under 
                this subsection, to any eligible entity described in 
                paragraph (7), including a grant made for--
                            ``(i) fundamental research (as defined in 
                        section 251(f)(1) of the Department of 
                        Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
                        U.S.C. 6971(f)(1)));
                            ``(ii) applied research (as defined in such 
                        section 251(f)(1));
                            ``(iii) integrated research conducted 
                        pursuant to section 406 of the Agricultural 
                        Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
                        of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626); or
                            ``(iv) integrated research so conducted 
                        that is applied or fundamental research.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking 
                ``conventional breeding, including cultivar and breed 
                development,'' and inserting ``public cultivar 
                development through conventional breeding with no 
                requirement or preference for the use of marker-
                assisted or genomic selection methods, including'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(iv), by striking 
                ``conventional breeding, including breed development,'' 
                and inserting ``public breed development through 
                conventional breeding with no requirement or preference 
                for the use of marker-assisted or genomic selection 
                methods, including''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (F)--
                            (i) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at 
                        the end;
                            (ii) in clause (vi), by striking the period 
                        at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
                        new clause:
                            ``(vii) new approaches to advance systems 
                        that enhance the markets for, and policy 
                        related to, locally or regionally produced 
                        agricultural food products, as defined in 
                        section 310B(g)(9)(A) of the Consolidated Farm 
                        and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
                        1932(g)(9)(A)).'';
            (3) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting ``, including by 
        conducting each fiscal year at least 1 separate request for 
        applications for grants for research on public cultivar 
        development through conventional breeding as described in 
        paragraph (2)'' before the semicolon at the end;
            (4) by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12);
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(11) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Conventional breeding.--The term 
                `conventional breeding' means the development of new 
                varieties of an organism through controlled mating and 
                selection without the use of transgenic methods.
                    ``(B) Public breed.--The term `public breed' means 
                a breed that is the commercially available uniform end 
                product of a publicly funded breeding program that--
                            ``(i) has been sufficiently tested to 
                        demonstrate improved characteristics and stable 
                        performance; and
                            ``(ii) remains in the public domain for 
                        research purposes.
                    ``(C) Public cultivar.--The term `public cultivar' 
                means a cultivar that is the commercially available 
                uniform end product of a publicly funded breeding 
                program that--
                            ``(i) has been sufficiently tested to 
                        demonstrate improved characteristics and stable 
                        performance; and
                            ``(ii) remains in the public domain for 
                        research purposes.''; and
            (6) in paragraph (12)(A) (as redesignated by paragraph 
        (4)), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``2012'' 
        and inserting ``2018''.

SEC. 402. LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM ENTERPRISE FACILITATION.

    Section 502 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662) is 
amended by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Local and Regional Farm and Food System Enterprise 
Facilitation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a local 
        and regional farm and food system enterprise facilitation 
        initiative to increase training and technical assistance for 
        purposes of building sustainable local and regional food 
        systems, the activities of which may include--
                    ``(A) providing practical, reliable, and timely 
                information to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial 
                development organizations concerning business 
                management, business planning, microenterprise, 
                marketing, and entrepreneurial education and training 
                related to the development of local and regional farm 
                and food system enterprises;
                    ``(B) providing training and technical assistance 
                to newly operational and growing local and regional 
                farm and food system businesses;
                    ``(C) establishing networks of entrepreneurial 
                support through partnerships among entrepreneurs, local 
                business communities, all levels of government, 
                nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, and 
                other sectors; and
                    ``(D) providing technical assistance for the 
                preparation of grant and loan applications submitted 
                for purposes of carrying out an activity referred to in 
                subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C).
            ``(2) Enterprise facilitators.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out the initiative 
                established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
                establish in the National Institute of Food and 
                Agriculture the position of enterprise facilitator 
                (referred to in this subsection as an `enterprise 
                facilitator') to perform the duties specified in 
                subparagraph (C).
                    ``(B) Priority.--In allocating funds made available 
                to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall give 
                priority to enterprise facilitators located in areas 
                that--
                            ``(i) have high participation rates for the 
                        supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                        established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
                        2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and
                            ``(ii) are rural areas (as defined in 
                        section 343(13) of the Consolidated Farm and 
                        Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(13))).
                    ``(C) Duties.--An enterprise facilitator shall, to 
                the maximum extent practicable--
                            ``(i) identify and organize local and 
                        regional food producers and entrepreneurs into 
                        entities that are able to deliver local and 
                        regional food into local markets;
                            ``(ii) develop partnerships with local and 
                        regional organizations and institutions to 
                        train entrepreneurs and facilitate new 
                        enterprises, including partnerships eligible 
                        for or that have received a grant under 
                        paragraph (3);
                            ``(iii) assist local and regional 
                        agricultural producers and processors, 
                        including new producers and processors, with 
                        marketing and distribution of local and 
                        regional food products;
                            ``(iv) identify and work to remove barriers 
                        to the movement of local and regional food 
                        products into the marketplace;
                            ``(v) work with local expanded food and 
                        nutrition education programs, schools and other 
                        local institutions, and individuals to assist 
                        in the development of food aggregation, 
                        processing, distribution, and storage skills in 
                        the locality or region involved;
                            ``(vi) provide technical assistance in the 
                        preparation of grant and loan applications 
                        submitted for purposes of carrying out an 
                        activity referred to in paragraph (1); and
                            ``(vii) work with private sources of 
                        funding and other Federal and State agencies to 
                        acquire funds for such purposes through grants 
                        and loans.
            ``(3) Grants.--
                    ``(A) Authority.--In carrying out the initiative 
                established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
                award grants to eligible entities, on a competitive 
                basis, to provide training or technical assistance for 
                purposes of building sustainable local and regional 
                food systems.
                    ``(B) Eligibility.--An eligible entity under this 
                paragraph is a collaborative State, tribal, local, or 
                regionally based network or partnership of public or 
                private entities, including a network or partnership 
                of--
                            ``(i) colleges and universities, including 
                        cooperative extension colleges and 
                        universities;
                            ``(ii) nonprofit organizations;
                            ``(iii) Federal, State, local, and tribal 
                        governmental entities; or
                            ``(iv) any other appropriate entities, as 
                        determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a 
                grant under this paragraph shall submit to the 
                Secretary an application in such time and in such 
                manner and containing such information as the Secretary 
                may require, including information on any project the 
                entity intends to carry out using grant funds.
                    ``(D) Priority.--In awarding grants under this 
                paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to 
                applications submitted by eligible entities that are 
                led by or include non-profit community-based 
                organizations with expertise in providing training or 
                technical assistance to local and regional food 
                producers.
                    ``(E) Consideration of projects.--In awarding 
                grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
                consider, with respect to a project included in an 
                application submitted under subparagraph (C)--
                            ``(i) the relevance of the project to the 
                        initiative established under paragraph (1);
                            ``(ii) the appropriateness of the design of 
                        the project;
                            ``(iii) the likelihood of achieving the 
                        objectives of the project;
                            ``(iv) the inclusion of entrepreneurs and 
                        community leaders in the project;
                            ``(v) the availability of enterprise 
                        facilitators to assist with the project;
                            ``(vi) adequacy of plans for outreach, 
                        evaluation, reporting, and communication; and
                            ``(vii) the national or regional 
                        applicability of the findings and outcomes of 
                        the project.
                    ``(F) Term.--The term of a grant provided under 
                this paragraph shall be not more than three years.''.

SEC. 403. CONVENTIONAL BREEDING INITIATIVE.

    (a) In General.--Section 251(e) of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(e)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Conventional plant and animal breeding special 
        initiative.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall 
                establish a special initiative within the Research, 
                Education, and Extension Office to coordinate research 
                activities at the Department relating to conventional 
                plant and animal breeding.
                    ``(B) Working group.--In carrying out the special 
                initiative established under subparagraph (A), the 
                Under Secretary shall establish a working group that 
                reports to the Under Secretary, to be comprised of 
                individuals who are responsible for the management or 
                administration of public breeding programs in the 
                Department from each of the following agencies within 
                the Department:
                            ``(i) The National Institute of Food and 
                        Agriculture.
                            ``(ii) The Agricultural Research Service.
                            ``(iii) The Economic Research Service.
                            ``(iv) The National Agricultural Statistics 
                        Service.
                    ``(C) Duties of working group.--The working group 
                shall--
                            ``(i) coordinate conventional plant and 
                        animal breeding research being conducted at or 
                        funded by an agency described in subparagraph 
                        (B);
                            ``(ii) carry out ongoing analysis and 
                        tracking activities for public grants to ensure 
                        that a diverse range of crop and animal 
                        breeding needs are being met in a timely and 
                        transparent manner;
                            ``(iii) coordinate and collaborate with the 
                        National Genetics Resource Advisory Council 
                        established pursuant to section 1632 of the 
                        Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
                        of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5841);
                            ``(iv) maximize the delivery of public 
                        cultivars and public breeds and ensure the 
                        efficient coordination of the activities of the 
                        working group and the activities of each of--
                                    ``(I) the Agricultural Research 
                                Service;
                                    ``(II) the National Institute of 
                                Food and Agriculture;
                                    ``(III) the National Genetic 
                                Resources Advisory Council;
                                    ``(IV) genetic resource 
                                conservation centers;
                                    ``(V) land-grant colleges and 
                                universities (as defined in section 
                                1404 of the National Agricultural 
                                Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                                Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103));
                                    ``(VI) nongovernmental 
                                organizations with interests or 
                                expertise in conventional breeding; and
                                    ``(VII) public and private 
                                conventional plant and animal breeders; 
                                and
                            ``(v) evaluate conventional public plant 
                        and animal breeding activities and outcomes to 
                        make recommendations to the Under Secretary on 
                        the adequacy of human and financial resources 
                        needed to ensure that the next generation of 
                        public breeders and agricultural breeders are 
                        prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
                    ``(D) Advisory board.--The Under Secretary shall 
                establish an advisory board whose primary duty will be 
                to make recommendations to the working group 
                established under subparagraph (B) on matters related 
                to the duties specified in subparagraph (C). The 
                advisory board shall be comprised of individuals with 
                expertise in conventional plant and animal breeding 
                including representatives from each of the following:
                            ``(i) The Agricultural Research Service.
                            ``(ii) The National Institute of Food and 
                        Agriculture.
                            ``(iii) Private foundations and nonprofit 
                        organizations that have expertise in 
                        conventional plant and animal breeding.
                            ``(iv) Private agricultural research and 
                        technology transfer firms.
                            ``(v) Land-grant colleges and universities.
                    ``(E) Definitions.--The terms `conventional 
                breeding', `public cultivar', and `public breed' have 
                the meaning given such terms in paragraph (11) of 
                subsection (b) of the of the Competitive, Special, and 
                Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 296(b) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)), as amended 
by section 109(b), is further amended--
            (1) in paragraph (7) (as amended by such section 109(b)), 
        by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (8), (as amended by such section 109(b)), 
        by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(9) the authority of the Secretary to establish a 
        conventional plant and animal breeding special initiative under 
        section 251(e).''.

SEC. 404. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM.

    Section 1632(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5841(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(6) establish a national strategic germplasm assessment 
        and use plan to meet food security goals for the future; and''.

                         TITLE V--HORTICULTURE

SEC. 501. FARMERS MARKET AND LOCAL FOOD PROMOTION PROGRAM.

    Section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 
U.S.C. 3005) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by adding ``and Local Food'' 
        after ``Market'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and Local Food'' after 
                ``Market'';
                    (B) by striking ``farmers' markets and to 
                promote''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``and local food capacity 
                development'' before the period at the end;
            (3) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The purposes of the Program are to 
        increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and 
        regionally produced agricultural products by developing, 
        improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and 
        technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, 
        improvement and expansion of--
                    ``(A) domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, 
                community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism 
                activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer 
                market opportunities; and
                    ``(B) local and regional food enterprises that are 
                not direct producer-to-consumer markets but process, 
                distribute, aggregate, store, and market locally or 
                regionally produced food products.'';
            (4) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or other agricultural business 
                entity'' after ``cooperative''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, including a community 
                supported agriculture network or association'' after 
                ``association'';
            (5) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f);
            (6) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(e) Priorities.--In providing grants under the Program, priority 
shall be given to applications that include projects that--
            ``(1) benefit underserved communities;
            ``(2) develop market opportunities for small and mid-sized 
        farm and ranch operations; and
            ``(3) include a strategic plan to maximize the use of funds 
        to build capacity for local and regional food systems in a 
        community.''; and
            (7) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (5))--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the heading, by striking ``Fiscal 
                        years 2008 through 2012'' and inserting 
                        ``Commodity credit corporation funding for 
                        fiscal years 2008 through 2012 and 2014 through 
                        2018'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 
                through 2018.'';
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (4);
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4);
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
                new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to 
        funds made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2013 through 2018.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the funds made available to 
                carry out the Program for each fiscal year, to the 
                maximum extent practicable, 50 percent shall be used 
                for the purposes described in subsection (b)(1)(A) and 
                50 percent shall be used for the purposes described in 
                subsection (b)(1)(B).
                    ``(B) Cost share.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant for a project described in subsection (b)(1)(B), 
                a recipient shall provide a match in the form of cash 
                or in-kind contributions in an amount equal to 25 
                percent of the total cost of the project.''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
            ``(5) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 10 percent of 
        the total amount made available to carry out this section for a 
        fiscal year may be used for administrative expenses.
            ``(6) Limitations.--An eligible entity may not use a grant 
        or other assistance provided under the Program for the 
        purchase, construction, or rehabilitation of a building or 
        structure.''.

SEC. 502. SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness 
Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as 
        paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection, the following new paragraph:
            ``(1) The term `locally or regionally produced food' has 
        the meaning given the term `locally or regionally produced 
        agricultural food products' in section 310B(g)(9)(A)(i) of the 
        Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
        1932(g)(9)(A)(i)).''.
    (b) Availability and Purposes of Grants.--Subsection (a) of section 
101 of such Act is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``Purpose'' and inserting 
        ``Purposes'';
            (2) by striking ``2005 through 2012'' and inserting ``2013 
        through 2018''; and
            (3) by striking ``solely to enhance'' and all that follows 
        and inserting ``to increase the consumption and availability of 
        specialty crops, including those that are locally or regionally 
        produced, and to increase the profitability, ecological 
        sustainability, and competitiveness of specialty crop 
        production.''.
    (c) Preference.--Such section 101 is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) as 
        subsections (i), (j), (k), and (m), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(g) Preference.--In using grant funds provided under this 
section, the State receiving the grant shall give a preference to 
proposals that demonstrate ability to have direct positive impact on--
            ``(1) farm profitability and sustainability;
            ``(2) improved distribution capacity for locally or 
        regionally produced foods; or
            ``(3) increased domestic consumption and affordability of 
        edible specialty crops, particularly in low-income communities; 
        and''.
    (d) Transparency.--Such section 101 is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (g), as added by subsection (c) of this section, the 
following new subsection:
    ``(h) Transparency.--Each State receiving a grant under this 
section shall, in a timely manner, publish on an Internet website 
summary information about all grants received under this section and 
reports on the implementation of projects funded by such grants.''.
    (e) Use of Grant Funds.--Such section 101 is further amended by 
inserting after subsection (k), as redesignated by subsection (e)(1) of 
this section, the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Use of Grant Funds.--The Secretary shall consider expansion 
of the grant program under this section to include traditional foods of 
federally recognized Indian tribes and other minority communities and 
may publish appropriate guidance to States receiving grants under this 
section regarding any such expansion.''.

SEC. 503. STUDY ON LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND PROGRAM EVALUATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) collect data on the production and marketing of locally 
        or regionally produced agricultural food products;
            (2) facilitate interagency collaboration and data sharing 
        on programs related to local and regional food systems; and
            (3) monitor the effectiveness of programs designed to 
        expand or facilitate local food systems.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) collect and distribute comprehensive reporting of 
        prices of locally or regionally produced agricultural food 
        products;
            (2) conduct surveys and analysis and publish reports 
        relating to the production, handling, distribution, retail 
        sales, and trend studies (including consumer purchasing 
        patterns) of or on locally or regionally produced agricultural 
        food products;
            (3) evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs in 
        growing local and regional food systems, including--
                    (A) the impact of local food systems on job 
                creation and economic development;
                    (B) the level of participation in the Farmers' 
                Market and Local Food Promotion Program established 
                under section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct 
                Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005), including the 
                percentage of projects funded in comparison to 
                applicants and the types of eligible entities receiving 
                funds;
                    (C) the ability for participants to leverage 
                private capital and a synopsis of the places from which 
                non-Federal funds are derived; and
                    (D) any additional resources required to aid in the 
                development or expansion of local and regional food 
                systems;
            (4) expand the Agricultural Resource Management Survey to 
        include questions on locally or regionally produced 
        agricultural food products;
            (5) seek to establish or expand private-public partnerships 
        to facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
        collection of data on locally or regionally produced 
        agricultural food products, including the development of a 
        nationally coordinated and regionally balanced evaluation of 
        the redevelopment of locally or regionally produced food 
        systems;
            (6) form an interagency work group that includes 
        representatives from--
                    (A) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
                    (B) the Agricultural Research Service;
                    (C) the Economic Research Service;
                    (D) the Food and Nutrition Service;
                    (E) the Food Safety and Inspection Service;
                    (F) the National Agricultural Statistics Service;
                    (G) the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; 
                and
                    (H) other agencies that are involved in data 
                collection and research on locally or regionally 
                produced agricultural food products; and
            (7) authorize the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
        to create and administer--
                    (A) a follow up survey to the Census of Agriculture 
                to collect detailed data on producers who indicated 
                that the producers sell to markets for locally or 
                regionally produced agricultural food products; and
                    (B) a survey for the purpose of collecting market 
                data, including sales by product type and supply chain 
                or sourcing data, from all vendors, including retail 
                and wholesale vendors, of locally and regionally 
                produced agricultural food products.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter until September 30, 2018, 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 a report describing the progress that has been 
made in implementing this section and identifying any additional needs 
related to developing local and regional food systems.
    (d) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section 
        $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
            (2) Additional funding.--In addition to the funds made 
        available under (1), there are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 
        through 2018, to remain available until expended.

                        TITLE VI--CROP INSURANCE

SEC. 601. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1522(c)) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Contracting'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``may enter into contracts to carry out 
        research and development to'' and inserting ``may conduct 
        activities or enter into contracts to carry out research and 
        development to maintain or improve existing policies or develop 
        new policies to'';
            (3) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``conduct 
                research and development or'' after ``The Corporation 
                may''; and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following new paragraph:
                    ``(B) Consultation.--Before conducting research and 
                development or entering into a contract under 
                subparagraph (A), the Corporation shall follow the 
                consultation requirements described in section 
                508(h)(4)(E).'';
            (4) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``after expert review in 
        accordance with section 505(e) and procedures of the Board'' 
        after ``approved by the Board''; and
            (5) in paragraph (6), by striking ``a pasture, range, and 
        forage program'' and inserting ``policies that increase 
        participation by producers of underserved agricultural 
        commodities, including sweet sorghum, sorghum for biomass, 
        specialty crops, sugarcane, and dedicated energy crops''.
    (b) Funding.--Section 522(e) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1522(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                ``Contracting'' and inserting ``Conducting and 
                contracting for research and development'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``conduct 
                research and development and'' after ``the Corporation 
                may use to''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``conduct 
                research and development and'' after ``for the fiscal 
                year to'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``to provide either reimbursement payments or 
        contract payments''; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (4).

SEC. 602. WHOLE FARM RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE.

    Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(18) Whole farm diversified risk management insurance 
        plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall conduct 
                activities or enter into contracts to carry out 
                research and development to develop a whole farm risk 
                management insurance plan, with a liability limitation 
                of $1,500,000, that allows a diversified crop or 
                livestock producer the option to qualify for an 
                indemnity if actual gross farm revenue is below 85 
                percent of the average gross farm revenue or the 
                expected gross farm revenue that can reasonably be 
                expected of the producer, as determined by the 
                Corporation.
                    ``(B) Eligible producers.--The Corporation shall 
                permit producers (including direct-to-consumer 
                marketers, and producers servicing local and regional 
                and farm identity-preserved markets) who produce 
                multiple agricultural commodities, including specialty 
                crops, industrial crops, livestock, and aquaculture 
                products, to participate in the plan in lieu of any 
                other plan under this subtitle.
                    ``(C) Diversification.--The Corporation may provide 
                diversification-based additional coverage payment 
                rates, premium discounts, or other enhanced benefits in 
                recognition of the risk management benefits of crop and 
                livestock diversification strategies for producers that 
                grow multiple crops or that may have income from the 
                production of livestock that uses a crop grown on the 
                farm.
                    ``(D) Market readiness.--The Corporation may 
                include coverage for the value of any packing, 
                packaging, or any other similar on-farm activity the 
                Corporation determines to be the minimum required in 
                order to remove the commodity from the field.
                    ``(E) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Corporation 
                shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
                House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
                report that describes the results and feasibility of 
                the research and development conducted under this 
                paragraph, including an analysis of potential adverse 
                market distortions.''.

SEC. 603. APPROVAL OF COSTS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 522(b)(2) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1522(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the 
following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) Approval.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Board may approve up 
                        to 50 percent of the projected total research 
                        and development costs to be paid in advance to 
                        an applicant, in accordance with the procedures 
                        developed by the Board for the making of the 
                        payments, if, after consideration of the 
                        reviewer reports described in subparagraph (D) 
                        and such other information as the Board 
                        determines appropriate, the Board determines 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) the concept, in good faith, 
                                will likely result in a viable and 
                                marketable policy consistent with 
                                section 508(h);
                                    ``(II) at the sole discretion of 
                                the Board, the concept, if developed 
                                into a policy and approved by the 
                                Board, would provide crop insurance 
                                coverage--
                                            ``(aa) in a significantly 
                                        improved form or that addresses 
                                        a unique need of agricultural 
                                        producers;
                                            ``(bb) to a crop or region 
                                        not traditionally served by the 
                                        Federal crop insurance program; 
                                        or
                                            ``(cc) in a form that 
                                        addresses a recognized flaw or 
                                        problem in the program;
                                    ``(III) the applicant agrees to 
                                provide such reports as the Corporation 
                                determines are necessary to monitor the 
                                development effort;
                                    ``(IV) the proposed budget and 
                                timetable are reasonable, as determined 
                                by the Board; and
                                    ``(V) the concept proposal meets 
                                any other requirements that the Board 
                                determines appropriate.
                            ``(ii) Waiver.--The Board may waive the 50-
                        percent limitation and, upon request of the 
                        submitter after the submitter has begun 
                        research and development activities, the Board 
                        may approve an additional 25 percent advance 
                        payment to the submitter for research and 
                        development costs, if, at the sole discretion 
                        of the Board, the Board determines that--
                                    ``(I) the intended policy or plan 
                                of insurance developed by the submitter 
                                will provide coverage for a region or 
                                crop that is underserved by the Federal 
                                crop insurance program, including 
                                specialty crops; and
                                    ``(II) the submitter is making 
                                satisfactory progress towards 
                                developing a viable and marketable 
                                policy or plan of insurance consistent 
                                with section 508(h).''.

SEC. 604. CROP INSURANCE FOR ORGANIC CROPS.

    (a) In General.--Section 508(c)(6) of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(c)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Organic crops.--
                            ``(i) In general.--As soon as possible, but 
                        not later than the 2015 reinsurance year, the 
                        Corporation shall offer producers of organic 
                        crops price elections for all organic crops 
                        produced in compliance with standards issued by 
                        the Department of Agriculture under the 
                        national organic program established under the 
                        Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
                        6501 et seq.) that reflect the actual retail or 
                        wholesale prices, as appropriate, received by 
                        producers for organic crops, as determined by 
                        the Secretary using all relevant sources of 
                        information.
                            ``(ii) Annual report.--The Corporation 
                        shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
                        the House of Representatives and the Committee 
                        on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
                        Senate an annual report on progress made in 
                        developing and improving Federal crop insurance 
                        for organic crops, including--
                                    ``(I) the numbers and varieties of 
                                organic crops insured;
                                    ``(II) the progress of implementing 
                                the price elections required under this 
                                subparagraph, including the rate at 
                                which additional price elections are 
                                adopted for organic crops;
                                    ``(III) the development of new 
                                insurance approaches relevant to 
                                organic producers; and
                                    ``(IV) any recommendations the 
                                Corporation considers appropriate to 
                                improve Federal crop insurance coverage 
                                for organic crops.''.
    (b) Removal From List of Research and Development Activities.--
Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c)) is 
amended by striking paragraph (10).

SEC. 605. NATIONWIDE EXPANSION OF AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE 
              PROGRAM AND INCLUSION OF ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE 
              ASSISTANCE.

    Subsection (b) of section 524 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1524) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Agricultural Management Assistance, Risk Management 
Education, and Organic Certification Cost Share Assistance.--
            ``(1) Authority for provision of assistance.--The Secretary 
        shall provide assistance under this section as follows:
                    ``(A) Provision of organic certification cost share 
                assistance pursuant to section 10606 of the Farm 
                Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
                6523).
                    ``(B) Activities to support risk management 
                education and community outreach partnerships pursuant 
                to section 522(d), including--
                            ``(i) entering into futures or hedging;
                            ``(ii) entering into agricultural trade 
                        options as a hedging transaction to reduce 
                        production, price, or revenue risk; or
                            ``(iii) conducting any other activity 
                        relating to an activity described in clause (i) 
                        or (ii), including farm financial benchmarking, 
                        as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Provision of agricultural management 
                assistance grants to producers in States in which there 
                has been traditionally, and continues to be, a low 
                level of Federal crop insurance participation and 
                availability, and producers underserved by the Federal 
                crop insurance program, as determined by the Secretary, 
                for the purposes of--
                            ``(i) constructing or improving--
                                    ``(I) watershed management 
                                structures; or
                                    ``(II) irrigation structures;
                            ``(ii) planting trees to form windbreaks or 
                        to improve water quality; and
                            ``(iii) mitigating financial risk through 
                        production or marketing diversification or 
                        resource conservation practices, including--
                                    ``(I) soil erosion control;
                                    ``(II) integrated pest management;
                                    ``(III) organic farming; or
                                    ``(IV) to develop and implement a 
                                plan to create marketing opportunities 
                                for the producer, including through 
                                value-added processing.
            ``(2) Payment limitation.--The total amount of payments 
        made to a person (as defined in section 1001(5) of the Food 
        Security Act (7 U.S.C. 1308(5))) (as in existence before the 
        amendment made by section 1603(b) of the Food, Conservation, 
        and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; 122 Stat. 1730)) 
        under paragraph (1) for any year may not exceed $50,000.
            ``(3) Funding.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out 
                this subsection through the Commodity Credit 
                Corporation.
                    ``(B) Funding.--The Commodity Credit Corporation 
                shall make available to carry out this subsection--
                            ``(i) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
                            ``(ii) $23,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
                        2014 through 2018.
                    ``(C) Distribution of funds.--Of the amount made 
                available to carry out this subsection for a fiscal 
                year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall use not 
                less than--
                            ``(i) 50 percent to carry out paragraph 
                        (1)(A);
                            ``(ii) 26 percent to carry out paragraph 
                        (1)(B); and
                            ``(iii) 24 percent to carry out paragraph 
                        (1)(C).''.

                        TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 701. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Meat Products.--
            (1) In general.--Title V of the Federal Meat Inspection Act 
        (21 U.S.C. 683 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new sections:

``SEC. 502. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture a 
technical assistance division to coordinate the initiatives of any 
other appropriate agency of the Department of Agriculture to provide, 
with respect to compliance with this Act--
            ``(1) outreach, education, and training to very small or 
        certain small establishments; and
            ``(2) grants to appropriate State agencies, educational 
        institutions, or non-governmental organizations, or networks or 
        partnerships of such agencies, such institutions, or such 
        organizations, to provide outreach, technical assistance, 
        education, and training to very small or certain small 
        establishments.
    ``(b) Personnel.--The technical assistance division shall be 
comprised of individuals that, as determined by the Secretary--
            ``(1) are of a quantity sufficient to carry out the duties 
        of the technical assistance division; and
            ``(2) possess appropriate qualifications and expertise 
        relating to the duties of the technical assistance division.
    ``(c) Certain Small Establishment Defined.--In this section, the 
term `certain small establishment' means an establishment that meets 
the requirements for establishments described in section 332.3 of title 
9, Code of Federal Regulations (issued pursuant to section 501), as in 
effect on the date of the enactment of the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs 
Act of 2013.''.
            (2) Transfer of division.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transfer 
        the functions, personnel, and assets of the technical division 
        established under section 501(f) of the Federal Meat Inspection 
        Act (21 U.S.C. 683 et seq.) (as in effect on the day before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act) to the technical division 
        required to be established under section 502 of the Federal 
        Meat Inspection Act, as added by paragraph (1).
            (3) Conforming amendments.--Section 501 of the Federal Meat 
        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 683 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii), by striking 
                ``subsection (j)'' and inserting ``subsection (i)'';
                    (B) in subsection (e)(i), by striking ``subsection 
                (j)'' and inserting ``subsection (i)'';
                    (C) by striking subsection (f); and
                    (D) by redesignating subsections (g) through (j) as 
                subsections (f) through (i), respectively.
    (b) Poultry Products.--The Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 32. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) In General.--The technical assistance division of the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service established under section 502 of the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act shall coordinate the initiatives of any 
other appropriate agency of the Department of Agriculture to provide, 
with respect to compliance with this Act--
            ``(1) outreach, education, and training to very small or 
        certain small establishments; and
            ``(2) grants to appropriate State agencies, educational 
        institutions, or non-governmental organizations, or networks or 
        partnerships of such agencies, such institutions, or such 
        organizations, to provide outreach, technical assistance, 
        education, and training to very small or certain small 
        establishments.
    ``(b) Certain Small Establishment Defined.--In this section, the 
term `certain small establishment' means an establishment that meets 
the requirements for establishments described in section 381.513 of 
title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (issued pursuant to section 31), 
as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Local Farms, Food, and 
Jobs Act of 2013.''.

SEC. 702. GUIDANCE.

    (a) Meat Products.--Title V of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 683 et seq.), as amended by section 701, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 503. GUIDANCE.

    ``(a) Issuance.--The Secretary, acting through the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, shall issue guidance to very small or certain small 
establishments (as defined in section 502(c)) on how to comply with the 
requirements of this Act.
    ``(b) Contents.--The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall be 
appropriate for--
            ``(1) slaughter and processing facilities that are subject 
        to Federal or State inspection under this Act, or provide 
        custom slaughter or processing; and
            ``(2) mobile slaughter and processing facilities.''.
    (b) Poultry Products.--The Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 451 et seq.), as amended by section 701, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 33. GUIDANCE.

    ``(a) Issuance.--The Secretary, acting through the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, shall issue guidance to very small or certain small 
establishments (as defined in section 32(b)) on how to comply with the 
requirements of this Act.
    ``(b) Contents.--The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall be 
appropriate for--
            ``(1) slaughter and processing facilities that are subject 
        to Federal or State inspection under this Act, or provide 
        custom slaughter or processing;
            ``(2) on-farm slaughter and processing of poultry that is 
        exempt under section 15(c)(1); and
            ``(3) mobile slaughter and processing facilities.''.
    (c) Initial Guidance.--Not later than two years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance under 
section 503(a) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, as added by 
subsection (a), and section 33 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act, 
as added by subsection (b).

SEC. 703. LABELS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ON LABEL CONTENT.

    (a) Meat Products.--Title I of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 26. LABELS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ON LABEL CONTENT.

    ``The Secretary shall establish a guidebook and website to provide 
improved public access to user-friendly information on meat product 
label content and format and the approval process for meat product 
labels.''.
    (b) Poultry Products.--The Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 451 et seq.), as amended by section 702 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 34. LABELS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ON LABEL CONTENT.

    ``The Secretary shall establish a guidebook and website to provide 
improved public access to user-friendly information on poultry product 
label content and format and the approval process for poultry product 
labels.''.
    (c) Applicability Date.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the guidebook 
and website required under section 26 of the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act, as added by subsection (a), and section 34 of the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act, as added by subsection (b).

SEC. 704. MEAT AND POULTRY PROCESSING REPORT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to 
Congress a report on steps that can be taken to assist very small or 
certain small establishments to ensure that such establishments produce 
meat and poultry products that meet the requirements under the Federal 
Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.).
    (b) Stakeholder Group.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a group 
        of stakeholders to advise the Secretary on--
                    (A) proposed guidance on facilities requirements, 
                process controls and pathogen prevention in very small 
                or certain small establishments;
                    (B) improving the user-friendliness of information 
                contained in meat and poultry labels; and
                    (C) the report required under paragraph (a).
            (2) Membership.--The stakeholders group convened under 
        paragraph (1) shall include persons with expertise on problems 
        that very small or certain small establishments that are 
        processing facilities, including mobile processing facilities, 
        may have in meeting the requirements of the Federal Meat 
        Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, 
        including--
                    (A) small scale livestock and poultry growers;
                    (B) operators of small scale slaughtering and 
                processing facilities;
                    (C) representatives of farming organizations whose 
                membership includes small scale livestock and poultry 
                producers;
                    (D) representatives of established consumer 
                organizations;
                    (E) Federal and industry employees, including a 
                representative of employees of the Food Safety and 
                Inspection Service that are represented by a labor 
                organization (as defined in section 7103(a)(4) of title 
                5, United States Code) and a representative of 
                employees of the industries regulated by the Food 
                Safety and Inspection Service that are represented by a 
                labor organization (as defined in section 2(5) of the 
                National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5))); and
                    (F) representatives from appropriate Federal and 
                State agencies, educational institutions, other non-
                governmental organizations, or networks or partnerships 
                of such agencies, such institutions, and such 
                organizations.
            (3) Termination.--The Secretary shall terminate the 
        stakeholder group upon completion of the guidance and the 
        report referred to in paragraph (1).
    (c) Certain Small Establishment Defined.--In this section, the term 
``certain small establishment'' means--
            (1) with respect to an establishment that is subject to the 
        requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 
        et seq.), a certain small establishment as defined in section 
        502(c) of such Act; or
            (2) with respect to an establishment that is subject to the 
        requirements of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
        451 et seq.), a certain small establishment as defined in 
        section 32(b) of such Act.
                                 <all>