The Empowering Women in Agriculture Act amends existing farm support programs to expand assistance specifically for women farmers and ranchers who face social or economic disadvantages. The bill modifies the definition of "socially disadvantaged farmers" to explicitly include gender-based prejudice alongside racial and ethnic prejudice, and creates a new category of eligible organizations by allowing women's nonprofit groups that have operated for at least ten years to provide outreach and assistance. The legislation extends the funding timeline for these agricultural support programs from fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to fiscal years 2021 through 2031, and requires that at least ten percent of program funds be dedicated to services addressing the specific needs of women farmers and ranchers. This bill directly benefits female agricultural operators across the country by ensuring they have dedicated funding streams and partner organizations to help them access USDA programs, loans, and technical assistance.
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