(C) Small farm tool demonstrations.
(3) (A) Providing a direct grant to an entity that will assist in cooperative development for farmers.
(B) The entity described in subparagraph (A) shall have relevant cooperative development expertise and be able to provide meaningful benefits to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(c) The program established pursuant to this section shall do both of the following:
(1) (A) Provide grants
financial assistance for projects that primarily benefit socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
(B) If there are moneys available after providing grants
financial assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A), provide grants financial assistance for projects that primarily benefit limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(C) If there are moneys available after providing grants financial assistance pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B), provide grants financial assistance
to eligible entities that serve socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers or limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(2) Prioritize grants financial assistance for projects that primarily benefit farms or ranches that are 500 acres or less.
(d) Entities eligible for grant funding financial assistance under the program shall include resource conservation districts, county agricultural commissioners, the University of California
Cooperative Extension, tribal entities, small and underserved farmer cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations serving socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers or limited resource farmers or ranchers, or both.
(e)In order to be eligible for a grant under the program, an applicant shall provide the department all of the following information:
(e) An application for financial assistance pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall include, but is not limited to, a description of how the applicant will operate an equipment sharing program, including all of the following:
(1) A list and description of the tools, equipment, and infrastructure the applicant will purchase.
(2) A description of the lending program, including safeguards for the long-term benefits of any tools, equipment, or infrastructure purchased, expected benefits of the lending program, and the types of farmers or ranchers the applicant aims to serve, including specific outreach that will be provided to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(3) A description of how the lending program will be maintained after the period of the grant
financial assistance expires.
(4)Documentation that the lending program’s tools, equipment, and infrastructure will be primarily used on farms or ranches that are 500 acres or less.
(5)The type of technical assistance to be provided during the grant period.
(f) The Farm Equity Advisor at the department shall ensure that
the pilot program meets the objectives of Article 6 (commencing with Section 510). this article.
(g)Notwithstanding Section 569.5, moneys in the Climate Smart Agriculture Account shall be available for the program established pursuant to this section only upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(h)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)“Limited
(g) For purposes of this section, “limited resource farmer or rancher” has the same definition as in Section 760.107 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2)“Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” has the same meaning as defined in Section 512.
(h) For the purposes of this section, “financial assistance” shall not include a loan.
(i) This
section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.