NASULGC's Farm Bill Provisions

482. Conservation
Technical Assistance and Education By Extension Service

Summary

Clarifies that the Cooperative Extension Service in each
State is eligible to provide technical assistance to carry out Farm Bill
conservation programs, to become approved providers of technical assistance,
and to provide other necessary education. Requires the Secretary of
Agriculture to compensate Extension in each State for the technical
assistance and related education provided. Clarifies that for these purposes,
technical assistance includes necessary education regarding the Farm Bill
conservation programs.

Legislative
Language

SEC. 482. CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
EDUCATION BY EXTENSION SERVICE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section
1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:

“(5) COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.—

“(A) TECHNICAL SERVICE
PROVIDER.—The Cooperative Extension Service in each State, and the
appropriate officials and employees thereof, shall be eligible to provide
technical assistance to carry out programs under this title, to become
approved providers of technical assistance, and to provide other necessary
education regarding the programs under this title and appropriate related
matters to producers, eligible participants, and other persons.

“(B)
REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary shall pay to the Cooperative Extension
Service in each State to compensate for the conservation technical assistance
and related education provided under this paragraph. Such payments for
technical assistance and education may be made from—

“(i)
funds available for technical assistance under section 1241(b);

“(ii) funds
made available to the Natural Resource Conservation Service; and

“(iii) such
other funds that may be appropriated or otherwise made available to the
Secretary for technical assistance or education regarding the programs in
this title, or related or similar programs.”.

(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 1241(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3841) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sentence:

“For the purposes of this section and section
1242, technical assistance shall include the necessary education regarding
the programs under this title, and appropriate related matters, as provided
under section 1242(5).”.