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Bill would create state beginning farmer and rancher program to pay scholarships and loan relief
Summary
House Bill 2730 would establish a beginning farmer and rancher program to support higher-education training, loans and stipends for new agricultural entrants; supporters said Oregon needs state-level complements to federal programs and identified community colleges and university programs as possible recipients of scholarships.
Lawmakers on March 17 heard testimony supporting House Bill 2730, which would create a state beginning farmer and rancher program to support education, loan repayment, stipends and scholarships for students in agricultural programs at Oregon community colleges and universities.
Representative Courtney (testimony recorded as Representative Boyce/Boyce's sponsorship in transcript) and others highlighted demographic trends: an aging farmer population and fewer heirs or new entrants into farming. Supporters argued that a state-level program would complement USDA beginning-farmer grants by focusing on education, workforce development and targeted incentives to keep younger Oregonians in agriculture.
Commercial producers and educators testified in favor. Nick Gambardella of Gambardella Honey Farms described student debt burdens and said a state program would have helped him enter agriculture. Hugh Ady and other witnesses listed community-college and degree programs statewide that could receive support. Testimony referenced a posted dash-1 amendment and a modest appropriation (described in testimony as modest and posted) to support the program; the exact appropriation amount was not specified in oral testimony.
The committee closed the public hearing and accepted written testimony for 48 hours. No committee vote occurred at the session.
