S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1639
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, BORES -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Agriculture
 
 AN  ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requir-
   ing the establishment of a plant-based agriculture grant program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
 section 16-c to read as follows:
   § 16-C. PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
 SECTION, THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS APPLY:
   (A) "EXPERT ASSISTANCE" MEANS ASSISTANCE FROM AN  AGRICULTURAL  SCIEN-
 TIST,  CLIMATOLOGIST,  PEDOLOGIST, HORTICULTURIST, HYDROLOGIST, OR AGRO-
 NOMIST FOR ASSESSMENT, DESIGN, PLANNING, AND BEST  MANAGEMENT  PRACTICES
 OF A LAND-USE TRANSITION TO PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE.
   (B) "FEED CROP" MEANS A CROP THAT IS GROWN FOR LIVESTOCK CONSUMPTION.
   (C) "LIVESTOCK" MEANS POULTRY, CATTLE, DAIRY COWS, SHEEP, SWINE, GOAT,
 OR FISH.
   (D)  "PLANT-BASED  AGRICULTURE"  MEANS ANY FARMING THAT USES CROPS FOR
 GROWING INPUTS FOR PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS AND DOES NOT  INCLUDE  LIVESTOCK
 FARMING, DAIRY, OR ANY CROP PRODUCTION FOR LIVESTOCK FEED.
   (E) "PROGRAM" MEANS THE PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM.
   (F)  "TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE" MEANS OUTREACH, EDUCATION, EXPERT ASSIST-
 ANCE, LEGAL SUPPORT FOR CONTRACTUAL BARRIERS, PROJECT PLANNING,  PROJECT
 DESIGN,  GRANT  APPLICATION  ASSISTANCE,  BUYER  EXPERTISE AND PACKAGING
 ASSISTANCE, PROJECT  IMPLEMENTATION,  OR  PROJECT  REPORTING  ASSISTANCE
 PROVIDED  TO  A  FARMER TO IMPROVE THEIR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN THE
 PROGRAM.
   (G) "TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER" MEANS  ORGANIZATIONS  WITH  DEMON-
 STRATED  TECHNICAL  EXPERTISE IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING AGRICULTURAL
 MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03939-01-5
 A. 1639                             2
              

 
   (H) "SMALL FARM" MEANS A FARM WITH AN ANNUAL GROSS CASH FARM INCOME OF
 LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
   (I)  "MIDSIZE FARM" MEANS A FARM WITH AN ANNUAL GROSS CASH FARM INCOME
 BETWEEN THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE  THOU-
 SAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE DOLLARS.
   2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  ESTABLISH  A PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE GRANT
 PROGRAM TO ASSIST SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS TRANSITION TO PLANT-BASED
 AGRICULTURE.  SUCH PROGRAM SHALL, AT A MINIMUM:
   (A) PROVIDE GRANTS TO PERSONS FARMING ON SMALL  TO  MIDSIZE  FARMS  TO
 TRANSITION  THE  USE  OF THE LAND FROM RAISING LIVESTOCK OR GROWING FEED
 CROPS TO PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE.
   (B) DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES FOR TRANSITIONING  LAND  USED  FOR  RAISING
 LIVESTOCK OR GROWING FEED CROPS TO PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE.
   (C)  PROVIDE  TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE,  IN  CONSULTATION  WITH TECHNICAL
 ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS, TO PERSONS FARMING ON SMALL TO MIDSIZE FARMS.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUIRE AN APPLICANT FOR A GRANT TO SUBMIT THE
 FOLLOWING TO THE DEPARTMENT IN THE APPLICATION:
   (A) A DESCRIPTION OF ANY CROPS CURRENTLY PRODUCED ON THE FARM;
   (B) A DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND THAT WILL BE TRANSITIONED  FROM  RAISING
 LIVESTOCK OR GROWING FEED CROPS TO PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE;
   (C)  A  PLAN  THAT DEMONSTRATES HOW THE APPLICANT WILL TRANSITION SUCH
 LAND TO PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE USING THE BEST  PRACTICES  DEVELOPED  BY
 THE  DEPARTMENT  PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (B) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
 SECTION;
   (D)  A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE FARM WILL TRANSITION TO PRODUCING USING
 PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE;
   (E) A PROJECTED TIMELINE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSITION; AND
   (F) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE DEPARTMENT DEEMS NECESSARY.
   4. GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS  THROUGH  A  REQUEST
 FOR  PROPOSAL  PROCESS  WHICH  SHALL  SET  FORTH  THE  STANDARDS FOR THE
 SELECTION PROCESS, THE REQUIRED PROJECT PROPOSAL FORMAT, COSTS  ELIGIBLE
 FOR  FUNDING,  PROJECT  IMPLEMENTATION, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND SUCH
 OTHER PROVISIONS AS THE DEPARTMENT MAY DEEM NECESSARY OR  BENEFICIAL  IN
 IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM.
   5.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  REQUIRE  A  PERSON WHO RECEIVES A GRANT TO
 PROVIDE A REPORT, IN CONSULTATION WITH A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  PROVIDER,
 TO  THE DEPARTMENT THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE GRANT RECIPIENT IS TRANSI-
 TIONING TO PLANT-BASED AGRICULTURE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.