Farmer apprentice mentoring program is created

(a) There is established the farmer apprentice mentoring program, to be administered by the department of agriculture and biosecurity to support farmer mentors in training apprentices. (b) Subject to the availability of funding, the department of agriculture and biosecurity may enter into contracts with qualified farmer mentorship providers on a first-come, first-served basis, and in accordance with section 103D-304, to effectuate the purposes of this section. (c) A qualified farmer mentorship provider that provides services pursuant to this section shall make available for inspection and examination by the department of agriculture and biosecurity during regular business hours all relevant training and mentoring materials, sites, and facilities. (d) The department of agriculture and biosecurity shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. The report shall include, at a minimum: (1) The number of farmer apprentices enrolled in the farmer apprentice mentoring program during the preceding year; (2) A listing of each qualified farmer mentorship provider; (3) An assessment of the ability of farmer mentorship providers participating in the program to complete any program objectives and work tasks identified by the department of agriculture and biosecurity; and (4) An evaluation of the results achieved by the program, to be written, to the extent possible, in measurable and quantifiable terms.