U.S. Senator Tina Smith Reintroduces Bill to Help New, Beginning Farmers Grow a Successful Business

WASHINGTON, D.C. - [6/25/2026] U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) reintroduced the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program Reauthorization Act, a bill that helps new farmers and producers successfully grow their budding operations.

Beginning farmers are forced to literally bet the farm, and then some, to pay for record-high land, fertilizer, equipment and other input costs necessary for farming. This grant program offers those farmers access to the knowledge, skills and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations today and in the future.

"Farmers strengthen Minnesota's economy and keep food on the table, simple as that," said Sen. Tina Smith. "That's why we need to support the next generation of independent farmers before the industry is eaten up by billion-dollar corporations, foreign companies and tech CEOs who see farming as another investment instead of a time-honored way of life. This program works to keep local farms locally owned and operated."

The ag industry will soon see major shifts in farm ownership with more than one-third of American farmers being 65 years old or older. A seamless transition to the next generation is vital for small towns and rural communities to thrive, and to keep the United States as a leader in producing high-quality food and ag products.

This bill offers grants to organizations and non-profits that provide programs to support new farmers. One program is called Land Link, and it connects retiring farmers with new farmers, ensuring generational knowledge is passed down. The bill also supports business training, mentoring, apprenticeships, ag rehab programs for veterans, production practices, conservation planning, risk management, diversification and marketing strategies, food safety, recordkeeping, credit management and farm safety training.

"We applaud Senator Smith's reintroduction of the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program," said Theresa Schneider, CEO of the Good Acre. "This program helps farmers navigate the critical early years of building a business, while expanding access for producers who have historically faced barriers to meaningful opportunities in agriculture. Especially at a time when farmers are facing new challenges, and our food system is as consolidated as ever. Our food future depends on resilient local systems, and these are practical investments in economic opportunity, market development and long-term resilience."

Full text of the bill can be found here.

###