Senate Bill 694 - Black Farmer Restoration Program

• Establishes the Black Farmers and Landowners Restoration Program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to purchase agricultural land from willing sellers and grant it to eligible Black individuals at no cost.

• Defines eligible individuals as North Carolina residents who are at least 21 years old, have previously identified as Black or African American, and have at least one parent of African ancestry.

• Limits individual land grants to a maximum of 100 acres and requires the Department to attach a qualifying agricultural easement restricting land use to agricultural purposes before conveyance.

• Creates the Farm Conservation Corps to provide on-field agricultural training to residents ages 18-29 from socially disadvantaged groups, serving as unpaid apprentices at small farms with annual gross income under $250,000.

• Appropriates $8,450,000 in nonrecurring funds for fiscal year 2021-2022, including $2,450,000 for the Black Farmer Fund (with $1,500,000 for the Farm Conservation Corps) and $3,000,000 for agricultural easements and land restoration projects.