Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 620, Sec. 1. (AB 1348) Effective January 1, 2018.
This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Farmer Equity Act of 2017.
Article 6 - Farmer Equity Act of 2017
California Food and Agricultural Code — §§ 510-515
Sections (6)
Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 620, Sec. 1. (AB 1348) Effective January 1, 2018.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)California recognizes the importance of investing in the long-term prosperity of our food and farming system, starting with our farmers.
(2)Farmers of color have historically not had equitable access to land and other resources necessary to conduct farming in California, and that legacy of prejudice persists.
(3)Female farmers represent less than a quarter of all farmers in the state. Only 2 percent of California farmers are women of color, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture.
(4)Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers tend to farm fewer acres but have a greater diversity of crops in California.
(5)According to the United States Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture, on average, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in California receive less in federal payments than their White counterparts and also earn less.
(6)Despite the barriers, an increasing number of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers are attempting to farm throughout California,
across rural and urban settings.
(7)Existing federal agricultural policies have failed to provide sufficient and appropriate technical assistance and financial support, including farmer cooperative creation, for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(b)It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that the secretary should support socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and include this support in the department’s vision and its relevant policies.
Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 620, Sec. 1. (AB 1348) Effective January 1, 2018.
For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a)“Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(b)“Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
(c)“Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:
(1)African Americans.
(2)Native Indians.
(3)Alaskan Natives.
(4)Hispanics.
(5)Asian Americans.
(6)Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
(d)“Urbanized area,” as used by the United States Census Bureau, refers to a population of at least 50,000 people.
Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 620, Sec. 1. (AB 1348) Effective January 1, 2018.
(a)The department shall ensure the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in urbanized areas, in the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, regulations, and policies and programs.
(b)The secretary shall create a position within the department’s executive office to support the efforts of this section and Section 514. The person appointed to that position shall report to the secretary.
(c)The department shall do all of the following:
(1)Consult with the Secretaries of the California Environmental
Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Agency, the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, and the California Health and Human Services Agency, and all other interested members of the public and private sectors of the state on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and to coordinate state programs.
(2)Disseminate information regarding opportunities provided by, including, but not limited to, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other federal agencies for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(3)Evaluate boards,
committees, commissions, and advisory panels created pursuant to this code for opportunities for inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, except those established pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 58841) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 21, Article 7 (commencing with Section 59721) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 21, and Division 22 (commencing with Section 63901).
Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 620, Sec. 1. (AB 1348) Effective January 1, 2018.
(a)On or before January 1, 2020, the department shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and all female farmers and ranchers in California. The report shall
include recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on how to improve processes to include socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(b)The report to be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 106, Sec. 5. (AB 149) Effective September 17, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2030, by its own provisions.
(a)The department, in consultation with the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Producer Advisory Committee and the Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee, shall establish the Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program to provide financial and technical assistance to support regional farm equipment sharing and enhance cooperative benefits for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and limited resource farmers and ranchers, with preference provided under the program in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 93540 of the Public Resources Code.
(b)Activities that are eligible for funding through the program shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Developing and expanding equipment sharing programs for the purchase and repair of tools, equipment, and infrastructure, and that pay all or a portion of associated administrative costs, to do both of the following:
(A)Support environmentally sustainable farming practices, including, but not limited to, practices that promote soil health, water conservation, wildlife and their habitat, and wildfire resilience.
(B)Enhance regional food and fiber systems for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and limited resource farmers and ranchers.
(2)Providing technical assistance and support, including,
but not limited to, any of the following:
(A)Training on the use and maintenance of tools, equipment, and infrastructure.
(B)Outreach to ensure direct and meaningful benefits to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited resource farmers or ranchers.
(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 shall benefit socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and limited
resource farmers or ranchers. For purposes of this subdivision, “relevant cooperative development expertise” means the entity shall have a demonstrated record of experience in the planning, formation, and support of agricultural or rural cooperatives.
(c)Entities eligible for financial assistance under the program shall include, but not be limited to, resource conservation districts, the University of California Cooperative Extension, tribes as defined in Section 90100 of the Public Resources Code, farmer cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations.
(d)An application for financial assistance pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:
(1)A
description of how the applicant will operate an equipment sharing program.
(2)A list and description of the tools, equipment, and infrastructure the applicant will purchase.
(3)A description of the equipment sharing program, including safeguards for the long-term benefits of any tools, equipment, or infrastructure purchased, expected benefits of the equipment sharing 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.
(4)A description of how the equipment sharing program will be maintained after the period of the financial assistance expires.
(e)The Farm Equity Advisor at the department shall ensure that the program meets the objectives of this article.
(f)(1) For purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:
(A) “Limited resource farmer or rancher” has the same definition as in Section 760.107 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as that section read on June 17, 2025.
(B) “Program” means the Regional Farmer Equipment and Cooperative Resources Assistance Pilot Program.
(2)For purposes of this section, “financial assistance” does not include a loan.
(g)Subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, shall become operative upon the Legislature making an appropriation for purposes of the program.
(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.