Chapter 8Veteran Farmers or Ranchers

Section § 1008

Explanation

This law highlights the importance of agriculture in California and acknowledges the aging farmer population, with a decline expected in the number of farmers by 2018. The law sees military veterans as a valuable group to aid in meeting the growing demand for food production. It references the 2014 United States Farm Bill, which offers support to veterans, such as loans, education, and technical assistance, to enable them to become farmers. The law stresses the gaps in awareness of benefits among veterans and the potential for state and federal partnerships to enhance resources for veterans and underserved groups.

The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(a) Agriculture is a major industry in California, with 81,700 farms and ranches. California agriculture is nearly a thirty-seven-billion-five-hundred-million-dollar ($37,500,000,000) industry that generates one hundred billion dollars ($100,000,000,000) in related economic activity.
(b)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(b) In 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary cited that the aging of principal farm operators across the nation is rising. The USDA Census of Agriculture, 2012 Census Highlights, finds that the average age of America’s principal farm operators is 58.3 years of age and one-third are 65 years or older.
(c)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(c) An 8-percent national decrease in the number of farmers and ranchers is expected to occur between the years 2008 and 2018.
(d)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(d) Recognizing the growth of America’s food production needs, and low proportions of beginning farmers and ranchers nationwide, the USDA Secretary identified America’s returning military veterans as a promising population to enter careers as farmers and ranchers. The 2014 United States Farm Bill contains various landmark incentives to assist military veterans and disadvantaged populations to become farmers and ranchers.
(e)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(e) In November 2014, the USDA announced the designation of the nation’s first USDA Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison to coordinate information, resources, and support for active duty military and veterans interested in entering careers as farmers and ranchers.
(f)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(f) The 2014 United States Farm Bill, also known as the Agricultural Act of 2014, contained various incentives designed to assist the nation’s returning military veterans to acquire skills needed to start and manage a farm. Incentives include, but are not limited to, farm loans and microloans, education and training and technical assistance, including training in natural resource conservation techniques and practices.
(g)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(g) Eight percent of the nation’s homeless population are military veterans and 45 percent of homeless veterans are African American or Latino, while less than 10 percent are women.
(h)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(h) More than six million veterans reside in rural America and approximately two million veterans are residents of California.
(i)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(i) California veterans use fewer benefits than their peers at the national level. While all veterans report only partial awareness of benefits for which they are eligible, some states have more advanced outreach programs to connect veterans to these available resources.
(j)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(j) The Legislature recognizes the opportunities to the state through landmark funding contained in the 2014 United States Farm Bill and subsequent United States Farm bills to assist military veterans in entering careers as farmers and ranchers.
(k)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008(k) The Legislature acknowledges opportunities offered through a state and federal partnership to strengthen and enhance these resources to benefit California’s veterans and historically underserved populations.
agriculture industry aging farmers military veterans farmers career veteran benefits farm bill incentives farm loans education and training technical assistance natural resource conservation rural veterans California veterans homeless veterans state-federal partnership underserved populations
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 188, Sec. 1. (AB 376) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Section § 1008.5

Explanation

This law mandates that by July 1, 2018, certain California agencies, in collaboration with federal agencies, must provide online resources to help military veterans transition into farming or ranching careers in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture must share details about initiatives like the Healthy Soils Initiative and federal programs such as the USDA's Farm Service loans. The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to offer information on farm and home loan programs. The Labor and Workforce Development Agency needs to post details on training and employment services available through America's Job Center of California, ensuring veterans get similar support as other job seekers pursuing careers in agriculture.

(a)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(a) By July 1, 2018, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Farm Service Agency, and other federal agencies as needed, shall identify and post information pursuant to this section on their individual Internet Web sites as appropriate to assist, educate, train, and otherwise support California’s transitioning service members and returning military veterans to enter into farming or ranching careers in California.
(b)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(b) Information posted by the Department of Food and Agriculture pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, but is not limited to, information on all of the following:
(1)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(b)(1) The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Initiative.
(2)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(b)(2) The 2014 United States Agricultural Act and subsequent agricultural acts.
(3)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(b)(3) Farm loans offered through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.
(4)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(b)(4) The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(5)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(b)(5) The federal Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
(c)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(c) Information posted by the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, but is not limited to, information on the California Department of Veterans Affairs’ Farm and Home Loan Program and federal farm and home loan programs, as appropriate.
(d)CA Military and Veterans Code § 1008.5(d) Information posted by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, but is not limited to, information on training and employment services offered through the America’s Job Center of California, operating under the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. It is the intent of the Legislature that the employment and training assistance provided through the America’s Job Center of California to military veterans seeking careers as farm operators and ranchers shall be in the same manner as the assistance provided to other career seekers.
transitioning veterans farming careers ranching careers California Department of Food and Agriculture Healthy Soils Initiative 2014 United States Agricultural Act USDA Farm Service Agency Natural Resources Conservation Service Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program California Department of Veterans Affairs Farm and Home Loan Program America's Job Center of California training and employment services military veterans agriculture careers agricultural assistance
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 188, Sec. 1. (AB 376) Effective January 1, 2018.)