Office of Small Farms Act

Full Title:
Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill would create an Office of Small Farms inside the Department of Agriculture's farm production and conservation mission area. The office would have a Director (who could be a senior FPAC official) and would coordinate USDA programs and policies to better serve small farms, ranches, and forest operations. The bill defines a "small farm, ranch, or forest operation" as one that is under 180 acres (or another acreage-based definition set by the Secretary) and has annual gross cash farm income under $350,000.

The office's duties would include reviewing USDA programs to find rules or practices that disadvantage small operations; recommending changes; developing new initiatives such as financing and technical assistance; tracking small-farm data; proposing research topics; providing or coordinating technical assistance; operating a hotline for anonymous reports about access problems; and deciding whether to approve State plans. The office could make grants up to $25,000 for equipment and infrastructure repairs, uninsured losses, business planning and market development, conservation practice adoption, down payments for land, and other Secretary-approved purposes.

The bill requires each relevant USDA agency to appoint a liaison to the Office of Small Farms. It would also require a State small farms coordinator in each State, selected from State office employees, who would receive training, coordinate technical assistance, develop and implement State plans, and may distribute the $25,000 grants. At least 50% of a designated State coordinator's duties must relate to small-farm work. The Secretary would report to the House and Senate agriculture committees each year on efforts and results.

The bill authorizes specific funding: $15,000,000 per year for administration and $10,000,000 per year for technical assistance and grants for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The bill also includes technical and conforming amendments to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994.

What it means for you#

  • Small farm, ranch, or forest operation owners: The bill would create a focal office to help you find and use USDA programs, offer technical help, and provide small grants (up to $25,000) for certain needs like repairs, business planning, or land down payments if you meet the bill's size and income definitions.
  • State USDA staff: Each State would have a designated State small farms coordinator who must spend at least half their time on small-farm duties, get training, and prepare a State plan to improve outreach and program delivery.
  • USDA agencies: Agencies would need to appoint liaisons to work with the Office of Small Farms and may be asked to change policies or improve tracking of small-farm participation.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $15,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2027–2031 for administration of the Office of Small Farms.
  • The bill authorizes $10,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2027–2031 for technical assistance and grants under the office.
  • No publicly available information on total estimated budgetary effects, offsets, or detailed cost estimates beyond these authorization amounts.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.