Booker, Strickland, Adams, McGovern Reintroduce Bill to Make USDA Work Better for Small Farms

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), and Jim McGovern (D-MD-02) reintroduced the bicameral Office of Small Farms Establishment Act, legislation to create a new Office of Small Farms at the US Department of Agriculture. The Office would directly serve small farms, ranches, and forest operations with grants and technical assistance and ensure that all USDA programs are designed to meet their needs.

Small acreage farms-those with fewer than 180 acres-make up 70 percent of all farms in the US and are vital to rural economic growth, food security, and local food supply chains. They also produce more value per acre than large farms. Despite their substantial contributions to the U.S. economy, they only receive 13 percent of federal payments to farms. USDA programs should serve all farmers equally, but they often favor large-scale operations. This can be traced to staff shortages, program design, and resource gaps that disadvantage small farms.

"Small farms in New Jersey and across our country provide healthy food to their communities, yet too many of them struggle to access the resources they need to survive," said Senator Booker. "This bill will create an office dedicated to serving the needs of small farms and helping them navigate the USDA programs that are critical for their success."

"Nearly 90% of all farms in Washington state and the vast majority of farms in the U.S. are operated by small, family farmers, but too often they lack the operational support to take full advantage of the grants and assistance programs offered by USDA," said Representative Strickland. "The Office of Small Farms Establishment Act would ensure the resilience of the country's food systems, invest in minority-owned farms that are often left behind, and recognize the challenges facing small farms today."

"Small family farms are the backbone of our food system, yet nearly two million farms and ranches are operated by farmers who often face barriers to fully accessing USDA programs" said Congresswoman Adams. "The Office of Small Farms Establishment Act would help remove those barriers by giving farmers the tools they need to navigate grants and assistance, particularly historically underserved producers who are more likely to operate on a smaller scale. I'm proud to support this legislation to preserve family farmland, strengthen our food supply, and move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach for North Carolina farmers."

"Massachusetts is home to over 7,000 farms-and small farms are our agricultural backbone," said Representative McGovern. "Every farm ought to have access to the same resources and support no matter their scale. The Office of Small Farms would partner closely with small farmers to help them learn about USDA programs and apply for grants. When every farm is given what they need to succeed, we grow closer to building more resilient local food systems for all Americans."

"Small farms are the drivers of our rural economy," said Darin Von Ruden, President of the Wisconsin Farmers Union and a 50-cow organic dairy farmer from Westby. "Wisconsin's local and regional supply chains contribute greatly to our nation's food security. But too often, USDA programs are built around a one-size-fits-all model that doesn't reflect the realities of smaller and diversified operations. When farms don't fit that mold, they can struggle to access the tools and support they need. An Office of Small Farms would be an important step toward making USDA policies and programs more responsive and accessible for producers of all sizes, especially those who are the backbone of our rural communities."

"Small farms play an outsized role in increasing the resilience of our food systems and our nation's food security, but they do not always receive the support they need from the federal government," said Tim Fink, Policy Director for American Farmland Trust. "This bill is about ensuring equitable access to the full range of essential support that Congress and USDA already provide to producers through Farm Bill programs. An Office of Small Farms would empower USDA to better examine its programs and delivery systems through the lens of those too often left out. We applaud Senator Booker and Representatives Strickland, Adams, and McGovern for working to level the playing field and ensure that this critical taxpayer support reaches all farmers."

The Office of Small Farms would serve as a central hub for small farms, ranches, and forest operations, providing them with comprehensive support and enabling them to benefit from available USDA programs. The Office would issue grants to small farms, provide technical assistance, recommend improvements to service delivery to small farms in programs throughout the USDA, and provide a hotline for farmers to report issues with accessing USDA programs. This proposal would make USDA programs more accessible and beneficial to small farms, which would help the Department fulfill its mission, help small farms thrive, and strengthen the food system for everyone.

The legislation proposes an annual budget of $25 million to carry out these essential functions, with $15 million allocated for the operation of the Office and $10 million dedicated to technical assistance and grants for small farms, ranches, and forest operations.

A list of endorsing organizations can be found here.

The full text of the bill can be found here.