FL H0597

Creates the Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Matching Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to support start-up functions for new farming and ranching operations.

Establishes eligibility requirements including: applicants must be agricultural producers, farm/ranch employees, or veteran agricultural producers aged 18-35 who have operated a farm or ranch for no more than 10 years.

Requires applicants to demonstrate a dollar-for-dollar matching investment for the grant amount requested and submit applications during a designated annual application period.

Sets grant awards between $5,000 and $20,000 per recipient, with a limit of one award per year and one grant period per recipient.

Appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2022-2023, effective July 1, 2022.