1. 1. A beginning farmer center is established as a part of the Iowa cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics at Iowa state university of science and technology to assist individuals beginning farming operations. The center shall also assist in facilitating the transition of farming operations from established farmers to beginning farmers, including by matching purchasers and sellers of agricultural land, creating and maintaining an information base inventorying land and facilities available for acquisition, and developing models to increase the number of family farming operations in this state. The objectives of the beginning farmer center shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

   1. a. To provide the coordination of education programs and services for beginning farmer efforts statewide.
   2. b. To assess needs of beginning farmers and retiring farmers in order to identify program and service opportunities.
   3. c. To develop, coordinate, and deliver statewide through the Iowa cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics, and other entities as appropriate, targeted education to beginning farmers and retiring farm families.
2. 2. Programs and services provided by the beginning farmer center shall include, but are not limited to, the development of skills and knowledge in financial management and planning, legal issues, tax laws, technical production and management, leadership, sustainable agriculture, human health, the environment, and leadership.

94 Acts, ch 1193, §22; 2020 Acts, ch 1045, §17