S4695

An Act concerning veterans’ involvement in agriculture and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Veterans in Agriculture Act.”

2. As used in this act:

“Department” means the Department of Agriculture.

“Farm operator” means any individual, family member, corporation, partnership, joint venture, firm, company, other legal entity, or any officers or agents thereof, in immediate possession of any farm as owner or lessee, and, as such, responsible for its management and condition.

“Farming” means the cultivation of land for the production of agricultural crops, the raising of poultry, the production of eggs, the production of milk, the production of fruit or other horticultural crops, grazing, the production of livestock, aquaculture, hydroponics, the production of forest products, or other activities designated by the department pursuant to rules and regulations.

“Farming operations” mean any activities connected to the commercial growing, harvesting, processing, producing, or raising of agricultural products in the State, including crops, dairy animals, livestock, fur-bearing animals, poultry, bees, crops used in fermented alcoholic beverages and wine, and any products therefrom, including organic agricultural products; aquacultural products; horticultural products; and silviculture products.

“Veteran” means any enlisted person or officer who was discharged or otherwise released from active service in the United States Armed Forces, or any reserve component thereof, or the organized militia of New Jersey under conditions other than dishonorable, or as otherwise provided in subsection p. of section 6 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-6).

“Veterans in Agriculture Program” or “program” means the program established pursuant to section 3 of this act.

“Veteran-owned business” means the same as defined in section 2 of P.L.2011, c.147 (C.52:32-49 et seq.).

3. a. The department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a “Veterans in Agriculture” program, designed to integrate veterans into the agricultural industry, and to support veterans currently working in farm operations. The purpose of the program shall be to maximize federal funding opportunities and partnerships with veteran-oriented organizations, thus connecting veterans with resources to help those veterans begin or sustain a career in the agricultural industry.

b. Through the program, the Department of Agriculture shall facilitate connections between veterans with farming ambitions and organizations that:

(1) support veterans in the agricultural industry by providing outreach, training, and technical assistance opportunities;

(2) cultivate mentorships, internships, and apprenticeships between retiring farmers and veterans with farming endeavors;

(3) establish agricultural educational or technical assistance opportunities, as provided by institutions of higher education and other organizations with demonstrated knowledge of the agricultural industry;

(4) conduct assessments of farmland properties, and make farmland property available for an affordable lease program for veterans;

(5) provide training and support opportunities;

(6) connect veteran farm operators and their agricultural products with local retailers;

(7) encourage the involvement of veteran farm operators in the “Jersey Fresh”, “Jersey Grown”, and “Jersey Raised” programs;

(8) connect veteran farm operators and applicable local, State, and federal programs and resources;

(9) identify, emphasize, and encourage the production and marketing of New Jersey grown agricultural commodities by qualified veteran farmers;

(10) provide assistance to veteran farm operators to apply for available grant funding; and

(11) generally offer services, resources, or funding opportunities which may further the purposes of the Veterans in Agriculture program and support veterans’ involvement in agriculture.

c. In establishing the Veterans in Agriculture program, the department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall develop guidelines and procedures for the program.

d. The guidelines and procedures shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(1) an application process for participation in the program;

(2) criteria for the evaluation of applications;

(3) criteria for eligibility to receive technical or financial assistance for farming operations, which shall include, but not be limited to, being a veteran, a veteran-led organization, or a veteran-owned business; and

(4) terms and conditions for participation in the program, which shall include, but not be limited to, the responsibilities of veteran farm operators who are involved in the program, and the incentives, supports, and other benefits to be provided to program participants.

e. The department shall include, in a conspicuous location on its Internet website, information intended to provide easy access to program applications, documentation, and educational and promotional materials.

4. a. To the maximum extent possible, the department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall give consideration to, apply for, and accept, on behalf of the State, any grants from the federal government or any agency thereof, or from any foundation, corporation, association, or individual, in order to develop and implement the Veterans in Agriculture program.

b. The department shall be authorized to use the funds that it receives in support of the objectives of the program, providing grants or other forms of financial or technical assistance to:

(1) veterans or veteran-owned businesses involved in agriculture; or

(2) organizations which connect those veterans with resources to begin or sustain the careers in the agricultural industry.

c. Any money so received shall be appropriated to, and may be expended by, the department, subject to any terms, conditions, or limitations imposed in such grants, and in accordance with guidance from the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.

5. The department shall annually report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), presenting information necessary to assess the success of the program, and making recommendations as to any changes necessary to implement the program more effectively.

6. The department, as part of its annual budget request to the Governor, may request such funds as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act, as certified by the Secretary of Agriculture and subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.

7. The Secretary of Agriculture and Commissioner of Veterans Affairs shall, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.

8. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would establish a “Veterans in Agriculture” program (program), intended to maximize federal funding opportunities and partnerships with veteran-oriented organizations, in order to connect veterans, veteran-led organizations, or veteran-owned businesses with resources to begin or sustain a career in the agricultural industry. The program would be administered by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs (collectively “departments”).

Through the program, the Department of Agriculture would facilitate connections between veterans with farming ambitions and organizations that: (1) support veterans in the agricultural industry by providing outreach, training, and technical assistance opportunities; (2) cultivate mentorships, internships, and apprenticeships between retiring farmers and veterans with farming endeavors; (3) establish agricultural educational or technical assistance opportunities, as provided through institutions of higher education and other organizations with demonstrated knowledge of the agricultural industry; (4) conduct assessments of farmland properties, and make farmland property available for an affordable lease program for veterans; (5) create a website designed to provide veterans with information on, and easy access to, program applications, documentation, and educational and promotional materials; (6) provide training and support opportunities; (7) connect veteran farmers and their agricultural products with local retailers; (8) encourage the involvement of veteran farmers in the “Jersey Fresh”, “Jersey Grown”, and “Jersey Raised” programs; (9) connect veteran farmers and applicable local, State, and federal programs and resources; (10) identify, emphasize, and encourage the production and marketing of New Jersey grown agricultural commodities by qualified veteran farmers; (11) provide assistance to veteran farmers to apply for available grant funding; and (12) otherwise offer services, resources, or funding opportunities which may further the purposes of the Veterans in Agriculture program and support veterans’ involvement in agriculture.

The bill would require the departments to establish guidelines and procedures for the program, including an application process, criteria for the evaluation of applications, criteria for veteran, veteran-led organization, or veteran-owned business eligibility to receive technical or financial assistance for farming operations, and other terms and conditions for program participation. The Department of Agriculture would include, in a conspicuous location on its Internet site, information intended to provide easy access to program applications, documentation, and educational and promotional materials.

The bill would require the departments to give maximum consideration to, apply for, and accept, any grants from the federal government, or any agency, foundation, corporation, association, or individual, in order to implement the program. The department would be authorized to use any funds that it receives to provide grants or other forms of financial or technical assistance to veterans or veteran-owned businesses which are involved in agriculture; or organizations which connect those veterans and veteran-owned businesses with resources to begin or sustain the careers in the agricultural industry.

Each year, the Department of Agriculture would submit an annual report to the Legislature, presenting the information necessary to assess the success of the program, and making recommendations as to any changes necessary to implement the program more effectively.