The department shall operate the center for the following purposes:
(1) To provide farmers and prospective farmers a resource and reference center for creating business plans and management strategies to enhance the long-term economic viability of a farm.(2) To provide farmers a resource and reference center for creating plans for the transition of ownership and operation of a farm to new owners and operators.(3) To provide farmers a resource and reference center for creating plans for transfer of ownership and operation of a farm within the farmer's family.(4) To provide a resource and reference center for helping a farmer diversify an existing agricultural operation to new or different forms of agricultural production, including on-farm value-added processing and agritourism.(5) To provide persons who own or operate farms that are subject to perpetual agricultural conservation easements acquired under the act of June 30, 1981 ( P.L. 128, No.43), known as the agricultural area security law, resources to help maintain the long-term economic viability of the farms and protect the investment of public funds in preserving the farms for agricultural production.(6) To provide a resource and reference center for persons planning a farm expansion or seeking financing for farm growth.(7) To help identify and build teams of planning facilitators, accountants, financial planners, lenders, marketers, conservation and nutrient management planners and veterinarians who can provide expertise.(8) To devise, award and administer grants to farmers, prospective farmers and others.Added by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 40, § 1, eff. 8/30/2019.