June 22, 2026
Ms. Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to improve assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers, 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
This Act may be cited as the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers
Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2019 through 2023
and inserting 2027 through 2031
;
(B)
in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by inserting , including by providing appropriate interpretation and translation services when those services will be useful in expanding meaningful access to Department programs or technical assistance services, as determined by the Secretary
before the period at the end; and
(C)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
in subparagraph (E)(i), by striking 3
and inserting 4
; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (F)—
(I)
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
;
(II)
by striking priority to nongovernmental
and inserting the following: “priority to—
(i)
nongovernmental; and
(III)
by adding at the end the following:
(ii)
eligible entities that will provide appropriate interpretation and translation services as part of the provision of outreach and technical assistance described in that subparagraph, when those services will be useful in expanding meaningful access to Department programs or technical assistance services, as determined by the Secretary.;
(2)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking 2019 through 2023
and inserting 2027 through 2031
;
(B)
in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting including by providing appropriate interpretation and translation services when those services will be useful in expanding meaningful access to Department programs or technical assistance services, as determined by the Secretary,
before relating to
; and
(C)
in paragraph (6)—
(i)
in subparagraph (F)(iii), by striking and
at the end;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); and
(iii)
by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:
(G)
the inclusion of plans to provide appropriate interpretation and translation services when those services will be useful in expanding meaningful access to Department programs or technical assistance services, as determined by the Secretary.; and
(3)
in subsection (l)(2), by striking 2023
and inserting 2031
.
Sec. 3. Transparency and accountability for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
Section 2501A(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279–1(c)) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively;
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) 5-year requirement
Not later than March 31, 2028, and every 5 years thereafter, for each county and State in the United States, the Secretary shall—
(A)
compile data on—
(i)
the number of base acres of each program crop owned by farmers or ranchers;
(ii)
payment yields for each program crop made by farmers or ranchers;
(iii)
the number of fee waivers and premium reductions provided to farmers or ranchers under the noninsured crop disaster assistance program established by section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333);
(iv)
the number of loans guaranteed by the Secretary to farmers or ranchers;
(v)
the allocation of grazing permits by the Forest Service to farmers or ranchers; and
(vi)
the race, ethnicity, and gender of each farmer or rancher under clauses (i) through (v), subject to appropriate privacy protections, as determined by the Secretary; and
(B)
organize the data compiled under clauses (i) through (v) of subparagraph (A) according to the categories described in clause (vi) of that subparagraph.;
(3)
in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (1)
and inserting paragraphs (1) and (2)
;
(4)
in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(B)
by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through Using
and inserting the following:
(4) Reports
(A) In general
Using;
(C)
in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking under paragraph (1)
and inserting the following:
under—
(i)
paragraph (1); and
(ii)
in a separate report, under paragraph (2).
(B) Contents
Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall contain data; and
(D)
in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking that paragraph
and inserting paragraphs (1) and (2), as applicable,
; and
(5)
in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking the report described in paragraph (3)
and inserting the reports described in paragraph (4)
.