[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35319-35324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15105]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

7 CFR Part 3430

RIN 0524-AA59


Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance 
Programs--Specific Administrative Provisions for the Beginning Farmer 
and Rancher Development Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is 
adopting as a final rule, with changes, an interim rule (published at 
74 FR 45968 on September 4, 2009) containing a set of specific 
administrative requirements for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher 
Development Program (BFRDP) to supplement the Competitive and 
Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance Programs--General Award 
Administrative Provisions for this

[[Page 35320]]

program. The BFRDP is authorized under section 7405 of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended by section 7410 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

DATES: This final rule is effective on June 17, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Siva Sureshwaran, National Program 
Leader, Institute of Food Production and Sustainability; National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
2240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2240; Voice: 
202-2720-7536; Fax: 202-401-6070; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Summary

Authority

    Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(FSRIA), Public Law 107-171 (7 U.S.C. 3319f), as amended by section 
7410 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA), Public 
Law 110-246, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to 
provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance to 
beginning farmers or ranchers. The authority to carry out this program 
has been delegated to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture 
(NIFA) through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 
Economics.
    In carrying out the program, the Secretary is authorized to make 
competitive grants under section 7405(c) of FSRIA to support new and 
established local and regional training, education, outreach, and 
technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning 
farmers and ranchers. The Secretary may award a BFRDP grant to a 
collaborative State, Tribal, local, or regionally-based network or 
partnership of public or private entities, which may include: A State 
cooperative extension service; a Federal, State, or Tribal agency; a 
community-based and nongovernmental organization; a college or 
university (including an institution awarding an associate's degree) or 
foundation maintained by a college or university; or any other 
appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary. BFRDP grants shall 
be awarded to address needs of beginning farmers and ranchers in the 
following areas: Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships; resources 
and referrals; assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring 
land from retiring farmers and ranchers; innovative farm and ranch 
transfer strategies; entrepreneurship and business training; model land 
leasing contracts; financial management training; whole farm planning; 
conservation assistance; risk management education; diversification and 
marketing strategies; curriculum development; understanding the impact 
of concentration and globalization; basic livestock and crop farming 
practices; the acquisition and management of agricultural credit; 
environmental compliance; information processing; and other similar 
subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers. Pursuant to 
FSRIA section 7405(c)(3), these grants shall not have a term of more 
than 3 years and shall not be in an amount greater than $250,000 per 
year; however, eligible recipients may receive consecutive grants. 
These awards also are prohibited by statute from supporting planning, 
repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or 
facility. In addition, not less than 25 percent of these BFRDP grant 
funds for a fiscal year must be used to support programs and services 
that address the needs of limited resource beginning farmers or 
ranchers; socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers; and 
farm workers (including immigrant farm workers) desiring to become 
farmers or ranchers. All BFRDP grant applicants are required to provide 
funds or in-kind support in an amount that is at least equal to 25 
percent of the Federal funds awarded. In making BFRDP grants, priority 
will be given to partnerships and collaborations that are led by or 
include nongovernmental and community-based organizations with 
expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach. 
Geographical diversity will be ensured to the maximum extent 
practicable.
    FSRIA section 7405(d) also requires the Secretary to establish 
beginning farmer and rancher education teams to develop curricula and 
conduct educational programs and workshops for beginning farmers or 
ranchers in diverse geographical areas of the United States. The 
Secretary is required, in promoting the development of curricula and to 
the maximum extent practicable, to include modules tailored to specific 
audiences of beginning farmers or ranchers, based on crop or regional 
diversity. The Secretary is required to cooperate, to the maximum 
extent practicable, with (1) State cooperative extension services; (2) 
Federal and State agencies; (3) community-based and nongovernmental 
organizations; (4) colleges and universities (including an institution 
awarding an associate's degree) or foundations maintained by a college 
or university; and other appropriate partners, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    FSRIA section 7405(e) requires the Secretary to establish an online 
clearinghouse that makes available to beginning farmers or ranchers 
education curricula and training materials and programs, which may 
include online courses for direct use by beginning farmers or ranchers.
    For fiscal year (FY) 2009, $18 million was made available for the 
BFRDP, including administrative costs. For FY 2010, $19 million was 
made available for the BFRDP, including administrative costs. For FY 
2011, it is anticipated that $19 million will be made available for the 
BFRDP, including administrative costs.

Comments on Interim Rule and Development of Final Rule for Subpart J

    On September 4, 2009, NIFA published an interim rule [74 FR 45968] 
to provide administrative provisions that are specific to the BFRDP, as 
subpart J to 7 CFR part 3430. In the interim rule, NIFA invited 
comments which were due to the agency by November 3, 2009. We received 
comments from two professional organizations: Association of Southern 
Region Extension Directors (ASRED) and National Sustainable Agriculture 
Coalition (NSAC).
    ASRED provided two comments: one on eligibility and the second on 
the addition of two program types under 7 CFR 3430.604, Project types 
and priorities. Regarding eligibility, ASRED disagreed with 7 CFR 
3430.608(b), Review criteria--Partnership and collaboration, which 
states: ``In making awards under this subpart, NIFA shall give priority 
to partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include 
nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new 
agricultural producer training and outreach.'' ASRED commented that it 
does not support placing priority for awards on non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs). ASRED 
continued their comment as follows: ``NGOs/CBOs certainly can 
contribute to this program as partner, and in some cases, as lead 
entities, but we question the idea that, by purpose, structure or 
outcome, NGOs/CBOs offer any inherent advantage as lead entities.'' 
ASRED requests that the Cooperative Extension Systems be recognized as 
equally capable lead agencies given the mission of the Cooperative 
Extension System, as USDA's outreach arm, in partnership with the land-
grant institutions and local governments, to provide informal

[[Page 35321]]

education throughout 3,000 counties and parishes across the United 
States. ASRED's comment includes a discussion of the efficient and 
effective use of the national extension system and the research being 
conducted at the land-grant institutions. NIFA is not revising 7 CFR 
3430.608(b) as the authorizing program legislation, at 7 U.S.C. 
3319f(c)(7), specifically provides that for Standard BFRDP Project 
grants priority be given to partnerships and collaborations that are 
led by or include nongovernmental and community-based organizations 
with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach and, 
as a matter of agency discretion, NIFA is applying the statutory 
priority requirement to the other two components of the BFRDP as well.
    ASRED's other comment recommended that ``tax management, including 
record keeping and tax form preparation'' and ``basic agricultural 
law'' be added to the list of BFRDP project focus areas in 7 CFR 
3430.604(a), Project types and priorities--Standard BFRDP projects. 
NIFA agrees with this comment and is revising the regulation to include 
those subject areas as additional program types under 7 CFR 
3430.604(a).
    NSAC provided a number of comments on the following sections: 7 CFR 
3430.602, Definitions; 7 CFR 3430.605(b), Funding restrictions--
Indirect costs; 7 CFR 3430.606(a), Matching requirements--Requirement; 
7 CFR 3430.608(a), Review criteria--Evaluation criteria; 7 CFR 
3430.608(b), Review criteria--Partnership and collaboration; 7 CFR 
3430.609(a), Other considerations--Set aside; 7 CFR 3430.609(c), Other 
considerations--Duration of awards; and 3430.609(d), Other 
considerations--Amount of grants. NSAC also provided a recommendation 
on adopting a regional structure for BFRDP.

7 CFR 3430.602--Definitions

    NSAC recommended that NIFA use its statutory discretionary 
authority to add other criteria to the definition of a ``beginning 
farmer or rancher'' to include the ``two-fold criteria of the Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) definition from section 343(11)(D) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act pertaining to material and 
substantial participation and day-to-day labor and management.'' NSAC 
stated that adding these additional criteria will ensure that the 
program is meeting the needs of the audience for which the program was 
established. NIFA has not revised the definition of ``beginning farmer 
or rancher'' because NIFA has chosen to use only criteria identified by 
Congress in the authorizing legislation.

7 CFR 3430.605(b)--Funding Restrictions--Indirect Costs

    NSAC urged NIFA to make BFRDP awards as cooperative agreements and 
thereby, limit the indirect costs to no more than 10 percent or ``in 
some fashion put a reasonable and modest cap on indirect costs.'' NSAC 
feels that this would allow funds to support as many projects and 
beginning farmers and ranchers as possible. NSAC points to the success 
of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program 
which has been successful for over two decades ``despite allowing zero 
indirect costs.''
    NIFA is not revising this section as it cannot use cooperative 
agreements as a way to limit indirect costs for the standard BFRDP 
projects. Pursuant to FSRIA Sec.  7405(c)(1) (7 U.S.C. 3319f(c)(1)), 
and as reflected in 7 CFR 3430.604(a), awards for standard BFRDP 
projects are required to be made as grants. As with other agricultural 
research, education, and extension grants, BFRDP grants are subject to 
the 22 percent cap on indirect costs pursuant to NARETPA Sec.  1462(a) 
(7 U.S.C. 3310(a)).
    For the educational enhancement team projects and online 
clearinghouse authorized by FSRIA Sec. Sec.  7405(d) and (e), 
respectively, 7 CFR 3430.604(b) provides that awards for those 
components of the BFRDP may be made as either grants or cooperative 
agreements. Per 7 CFR 3430.2, NIFA defines a grant as ``the award by 
the Authorized Departmental Officer of funds to an eligible grantee to 
assist in meeting the costs of conducting for the benefit of the 
public, an identified project which is intended and designed to 
accomplish the purpose of the program as identified in the program 
solicitation or RFA'' and a cooperative agreement as ``the award by the 
Authorized Departmental Officer of funds to an eligible awardee to 
assist in meeting the costs of conducting for the benefit of the 
public, an identified project which is intended and designed to 
accomplish the purpose of the program as identified in the program 
solicitation or RFA, and where substantial involvement is expected 
between NIFA and the awardee when carrying out the activity 
contemplated in the agreement.'' The award types for those projects 
will depend on whether substantial involvement is expected.

7 CFR 3430.606(a)--Matching Requirements--Requirement

    NSAC urged NIFA ``to clarify in the final rule that for the portion 
of any match that is cash, it does not require that the cash be in 
hand, provided the applicant provides sufficient information 
demonstrating that the funding will be available before the time it is 
needed for expenditure in the project.'' NSAC commented further that 
``requiring that cash be in hand at the time a BFRDP application is 
submitted is a substantial barrier for smaller community-based and non-
profit organizations.'' NIFA is not revising this section as the 
standards for meeting the matching requirements are found in the USDA 
uniform assistance regulations (7 CFR parts 3016 and 3019) and in the 
applicable RFAs.

7 CFR 3430.608(a)--Review Criteria--Evaluation Criteria

    NSAC had comments on four of the six evaluation criteria under this 
section. They had no comments on criterion (2), technical merit, and 
criterion (3), achievability. Under criterion (1), relevancy, NSAC felt 
that language should be added ``to the rule that clarifies that 
`relevancy' includes due consideration of at least three major factors: 
(1) Creating the maximum number of enduring beginning farmer and 
rancher opportunities, (2) ensuring that the enduring opportunities 
being created are economically viable, environmentally-sound, and help 
create an enhanced quality of life for the farm family and the 
community, (3) creating farming opportunities that do not diminish 
farming opportunities for others.'' NIFA does not concur with this 
recommendation. NIFA concludes that relevancy addresses critical 
barriers faced by beginning farmers and ranchers.
    Under criterion (4), the expertise and track record of one or more 
of the applicants, NSAC urged NIFA to ``clarify in the rule that 
expertise be based on demonstrable and quantifiable factors such as the 
number of training, assistance, or education activities previously 
carried out, participants or graduates of the program and success 
rates, and the number of years a program or activity has been 
offered.'' NIFA concurred with the recommendation. The recommendation 
of NSAC was included in the FY 2011 RFA.
    Under criterion (5), the adequacy of plans for the participatory 
evaluation process, outcome-based reporting, and the communication of 
findings and results beyond the immediate target

[[Page 35322]]

audience, NSAC comments that NIFA should help the grantees understand 
the criterion by providing in the definitions section examples of 
participatory evaluation, outcome-based reporting, and public 
communication. NSAC suggests that ``outcome-based reporting be defined 
as outcomes and impacts rather than activities and inputs'' and that 
``communicating findings include the expectation that grantees 
demonstrate how their communications plans reach beyond the immediate 
clientele to the larger arena of public stakeholders.'' NIFA concurs 
with the recommendation regarding ``outcome-based reporting'' and has 
included the following definition under 7 CFR 3430.602: ``Outcome-based 
reporting means reporting that includes an outcome statement with 
performance targets, necessary milestones, beneficiary engagement, key 
individuals, and verification.''
    Under criterion (6), other appropriate factors, as determined by 
the Secretary, NSAC states that proposals should be ``ranked higher if 
they show the degree and frequency of direct face-to-face work and 
interaction with actual constituencies served.'' NIFA concurs with the 
recommendation. The recommendation of NSAC was included in the FY 2011 
RFA.

7 CFR 3430.608(b)--Review Criteria--Partnership and Collaboration

    To ensure that a real, demonstrable partnership exists, NSAC urges 
NIFA to require for projects in which the lead grantee is an eligible 
entity that is not a NGO or CBO, that the NGO or CBO not receive less 
than 25 percent collectively of the BFRDP funding awarded. NSAC 
believes that such a provision will ``prevent partnership proposals 
from becoming partnership in name only.'' NIFA concurs with the 
recommendation. The recommendation of NSAC has been included in the FY 
2011 RFA.

7 CFR 3430.609(a)--Other Considerations--Set Aside

    NSAC recommended that NIFA include a recommendation from the 
Conference Report accompanying the FCEA which encourages the Secretary 
to ``include immigrant beginning farmers and ranchers in the funding 
set-aside for socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers and 
ranchers.'' NSAC urged NIFA to include this group in this section. NIFA 
concurs and has revised 7 CFR 3430.609(a) accordingly to include 
immigrant farm workers planning to become beginning farmers and 
ranchers.
    NSAC had a second comment on this section. NSAC urged NIFA to 
require groups applying under the 25 percent set aside for limited 
resource beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged 
beginning farmers and ranchers, and farm workers desiring to become 
farmers or ranchers, to demonstrate that at least 50.1 percent of the 
population served by the project be members of one or more of those 
three groups. NSAC urged NIFA to make this requirement part of the 
rule. NIFA does not concur with the recommendation from NSAC. NIFA has 
decided that the target audience need not be a specific group but can 
be open to all beginning farmers and ranchers so long as the program 
addresses the needs of one or more of those three groups.

7 CFR 3430.609(c)--Other Considerations--Duration

    NSAC urged NIFA to apply the 3-year limit to the educational 
enhancement team project awards in addition to the standard BFRDP 
project awards. NIFA concurs with this recommendation and has revised 7 
CFR 3430.609(c) accordingly to limit the term of the educational 
enhancement team project awards to three years.

7 CFR 3430.609(d)--Other Considerations--Amount of Grants

    NSAC stated that the BRDFP legislative language clearly limits 
grants to no more than $250,000 per year and urged NIFA to clarify this 
in the final rule. In the interim rule, CSREES/NIFA decided to provide 
the maximum flexibility to the extent of the law for the awards made 
under the BFRDP authority in not subjecting the educational enhancement 
team projects to this limitation. However, based on the above comment, 
NIFA has revised 7 CFR 3430.609(d) to limit the educational enhancement 
team project awards to no more than $250,000 per year.

Additional Consideration--Regional Program Delivery

    NSAC urged NIFA to ``convene a short-duration stakeholder process 
to determine whether it would be advantageous to adopt a regional 
structure for BFRDP.'' NSAC felt that a lot could be gained from a 
regional approach (i.e., ``getting the program close to the ground as 
possible;'' program would better reflect regional differences and 
priorities; the structure would allow for more expertise, ownership, 
and buy-in; and would allow for a more efficient use of resources). 
NIFA's response to NSAC is that there was not much support for regional 
program delivery at the first stakeholder meeting. If this program is 
reauthorized in the next Farm Bill, NIFA would consider revisiting the 
recommendation. There are a collection of projects that potentially 
could be strengthened through a regional structure at a later time.

Organization of 7 CFR Part 3430

    A primary function of NIFA is the fair, effective, and efficient 
administration of Federal assistance programs implementing agricultural 
research, education, and extension programs. As noted above, NIFA has 
been delegated the authority to administer this program and will be 
issuing Federal assistance awards for funding made available for this 
program; and thus, awards made under this authority will be subject to 
the Agency's assistance regulations at 7 CFR part 3430, Competitive and 
Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs--General Award 
Administrative Provisions. The Agency's development and publication of 
these regulations for its non-formula Federal assistance programs serve 
to enhance its accountability and to standardize procedures across the 
Federal assistance programs it administers while providing transparency 
to the public. NIFA published 7 CFR part 3430 with subparts A through F 
as an interim rule on August 1, 2008 [73 FR 44897-44909], and as a 
final rule on September 4, 2009 [74 FR 45736-45752]. These regulations 
apply to all Federal assistance programs administered by NIFA except 
for the formula grant programs identified in 7 CFR 3430.1(f), the Small 
Business Innovation Research programs with implementing regulations at 
7 CFR part 3403 and the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program 
(VMLRP), authorized under section 1415A of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) with 
implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 3431.
    NIFA organized the regulation as follows: Subparts A through E 
provide administrative provisions for all competitive and 
noncompetitive non-formula Federal assistance awards. Subparts F and 
thereafter apply to specific NIFA programs.
    NIFA is, to the extent practical, using the following subpart 
template for each program authority: (1) Applicability of regulations, 
(2) purpose, (3) definitions (those in addition to or different from 
Sec.  3430.2), (4) eligibility, (5) project types and priorities, (6) 
funding restrictions, and (7) matching requirements. Subparts F and 
thereafter contain the

[[Page 35323]]

above seven components in this order. Additional sections may be added 
for a specific program if there are additional requirements or a need 
for additional rules for the program (e.g., additional reporting 
requirements).
    Through this rulemaking, NIFA is adding subpart J for the 
administrative provisions that are specific to the BFRDP.

II. Administrative Requirements for the Final Rulemaking

Executive Order 12866

    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866, and therefore, has not been formally reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget. This final rule will not create 
a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or 
planned by another agency; nor will it materially alter the budgetary 
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs; nor will 
it have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; nor 
will it adversely affect the economy, a sector of the economy, 
productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or 
safety, or State, local or Tribal governments or communities in a 
material way. Furthermore, it does not raise a novel legal or policy 
issue arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities or 
principles set forth in the Executive Order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980

    This final rule has been reviewed in accordance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. The Department 
concluded that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. The rule does not involve 
regulatory and informational requirements regarding businesses, 
organizations, and governmental jurisdictions subject to regulation.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The Department certifies that this final rule has been assessed in 
accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA). The Department concludes that this final 
rule does not impose any new information requirements; however, the 
burden estimates will increase for existing approved information 
collections associated with this rule due to additional applicants.
    These estimates have been provided to OMB. In addition to the SF-
424 form families (i.e., Research and Related and Mandatory), and SF-
425, Federal Financial Reports; NIFA has three currently approved OMB 
information collections associated with this rulemaking: OMB 
Information Collection No. 0524-0042, NIFA Current Research Information 
System (CRIS); No. 0524-0041, NIFA Application Review Process; and No. 
0524-0026, Organizational Information.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    This final regulation applies to the Federal assistance program 
administered by NIFA under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) No. 10.311, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and Executive Order 13132

    The Department has reviewed this final rule in accordance with the 
requirements of Executive Order No. 13132 and the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., and has found no potential 
or substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. 
As there is no Federal mandate contained herein that could result in 
increased expenditures by State, local, or Tribal governments, or by 
the private sector, the Department has not prepared a budgetary impact 
statement.

Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

    The Department has reviewed this final rule in accordance with 
Executive Order 13175, and has determined that it does not have 
``Tribal implications''. The final rule does not ``have substantial 
direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship 
between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian Tribes''.

Clarity of This Regulation

    Executive Order 12866 and the President's Memorandum of June 1, 
1998, require each agency to write all rules in plain language. The 
Department invites comments on how to make this final rule easier to 
understand.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural research, 
Education, Extension, Federal assistance.

    Accordingly, the interim rule amending 7 CFR part 3430 which was 
published at 74 FR 45968 on September 4, 2009, is adopted as a final 
rule with the following changes:

PART 3430--COMPETITIVE AND NONCOMPETITIVE NON-FORMULA FEDERAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS--GENERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 3430 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 3316; Pub. L. 106-107 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).


0
2. Amend Sec.  3430.602 by adding a definition of ``Outcome-based 
reporting'' to read as follows:


Sec.  3430.602  Definitions.

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

0
3. Amend Sec.  3430.604 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(19); and
0
b. Add new paragraphs (a)(20) and (a)(21), to read as follows:


Sec.  3430.604  Project types and priorities.

    (a) * * *
    (19) Tax management, including record keeping and tax form 
preparation.
    (20) Basic agricultural law.
    (21) Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or 
ranchers.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec.  3430.609 by revising paragraphs (a)(3), (c), and (d), to 
read as follows:


Sec.  3430.609  Other considerations.

    (a) * * *
    (3) Farm workers (including immigrant farm workers) desiring to 
become farmers or ranchers.
* * * * *
    (c) Duration of awards. The term of a grant for a standard BFRDP 
project and an award for an educational enhancement team project under 
this subpart shall not exceed 3 years. Awards for all other projects 
under this subpart shall not exceed 5 years. No-cost extensions of time 
beyond the maximum award terms will not be considered or granted.
    (d) Amount of grants. A grant for a standard BFRDP project and an 
award for an educational enhancement team project under this subpart 
shall not be in an amount that is more than $250,000 for each year.


[[Page 35324]]


    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 10, 2011.
Ralph Otto,
Deputy Director, Food and Community Resources, National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2011-15105 Filed 6-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P