Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 20, 2026
Bottom line
This bill creates a dedicated USDA office and state-level coordinators to centralize and enhance support, technical assistance, and grant funding for small farms, ranches, and forest operations across the United States.
What it actually does
This bill establishes an Office of Small Farms within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to coordinate support for small farm, ranch, and forest operations. It defines what constitutes a 'small operation,' outlines the duties of the new office's Director, creates liaison roles across USDA agencies, and mandates the designation of State Small Farms Coordinators. The bill also authorizes annual appropriations for the office's administration, technical assistance, and a grant program for small operations.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill would streamline access to USDA programs for small operations, address historical disadvantages, and provide crucial technical and financial assistance, fostering their economic viability and sustainability by ensuring their unique needs are met through a dedicated structure.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that creating a new office adds unnecessary bureaucratic layers and costs without guaranteeing effective delivery of services, suggesting that existing USDA programs could be reformed to better serve small farms without establishing new infrastructure and associated administrative expenses.
The bill is relatively short and clearly structured, making it accessible for a quick but informed read by interested stakeholders and policymakers.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(b) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Establishment of the Office of Small Farms
This provision mandates the creation of a new Office of Small Farms within the USDA's farm production and conservation mission area. It also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint a Director for this office, who may be a senior official already serving within the mission area, aiming to integrate the new office effectively within the existing departmental structure.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a dedicated office is essential to ensure small farms receive focused attention and that their unique needs are addressed across various USDA programs, which often tend to favor larger-scale operations due to their design.
Critics contend
Opponents might contend that creating a new office adds unnecessary bureaucracy and cost, suggesting that existing USDA agencies could be tasked with better serving small farms through internal reforms without the need for a new organizational layer.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between the desire for a dedicated focus on small farms to ensure their specific needs are met and concerns about increasing administrative overhead versus optimizing existing departmental structures and programs.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(a)(1) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Definition of 'Small farm, ranch, or forest operation'
This section defines a 'small farm, ranch, or forest operation' as one that is less than 180 acres, or meets another acreage-based definition determined by the Secretary based on region or production system, AND has an annual gross cash farm income of less than $350,000. This dual criteria aims to capture a diverse range of operations.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(c) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Duties of the Director of the Office of Small Farms
The Director is tasked with a broad range of duties, including coordinating USDA support for small operations, reviewing existing programs for disadvantages, recommending new initiatives (e.g., financing, technical assistance), tracking data, proposing research agendas, and providing direct technical assistance. Crucially, the Director will also implement a grant program offering up to $25,000 for purposes like equipment, uninsured losses, business planning, and land acquisition, and operate a hotline for reporting program access issues.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(e) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Establishment and Duties of State Small Farms Coordinators
This provision requires the Director to designate a State small farms coordinator in each state, selected from existing State office employees (e.g., Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service). These coordinators are responsible for providing state-level technical assistance, developing state plans to improve program delivery, facilitating interagency collaboration, and potentially distributing grants. A key requirement is that at least 50% of their duties must be dedicated to small farm-related activities.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(g) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Authorization of Appropriations
This provision authorizes specific funding for the new Office of Small Farms. It allocates $15,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for the administration of the Office. Additionally, it authorizes $10,000,000 annually for the same fiscal years to provide technical assistance and grants as outlined in the bill, totaling $25,000,000 per year.
Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to determine another acreage-based definition of 'small' that takes into consideration the specific State or region, or the production system of the farm, ranch, or forest operation, beyond the default 'less than 180 acres' rule.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(a)(1)(A)(ii) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to provide necessary administrative flexibility, allowing a broad definition to be tailored to the highly diverse and localized realities of agriculture across different regions and specialized production methods.
Case for: Supporters argue this flexibility is crucial for the definition to be effective and equitable across the highly varied agricultural landscape of the U.S., where 'small' in a specialty crop region might differ significantly from a traditional row crop area, ensuring the program can adapt to local contexts.
Case against: Critics might argue that such broad flexibility could lead to inconsistent application of the definition across states or allow the definition to be manipulated, potentially broadening eligibility beyond the intended scope of genuinely 'small' farms, leading to resource dilution.
Estimated impact: Potentially broad impact on which farms qualify for assistance, depending on how the Secretary exercises this discretion to tailor the definition to specific regional or production needs.
Mandates the Director of the Office of Small Farms to operate a hotline through which operators of small farms, ranches, and forest operations can anonymously report problems they encounter in attempting to access Department programs.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(c)(8) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Why it matters:It is not intentionally hidden but is part of a comprehensive enumeration of duties. Its placement reflects a functional aspect of the office rather than a central policy statement.
Case for: Proponents argue this hotline is a vital mechanism for identifying systemic barriers and ensuring accountability within USDA programs, providing a direct, low-barrier, and anonymous channel for feedback from the target audience, which can inform program improvements.
Case against: Critics might suggest that an anonymous hotline could be prone to misuse or generate unverified complaints, potentially diverting valuable resources to investigate minor or unsubstantiated issues, rather than focusing on proactive support.
Estimated impact: Could significantly improve program responsiveness and transparency by providing a direct feedback loop from beneficiaries, depending on its utilization and the USDA's capacity to effectively address reported issues.
Specifies that not less than 50 percent of the duties of an employee designated to be a State small farms coordinator shall be the duties described in subparagraph (A) or other duties relating to small farms, ranches, and forest operations.
Section 2(a), adding Section 229(e)(3)(B) to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Why it matters:This provision is intended to ensure dedicated focus for the coordinator role, preventing it from becoming a minor add-on to existing responsibilities. It's a practical constraint rather than an attempt to conceal policy.
Case for: Proponents argue this ensures the coordinator role is substantive and not merely an add-on, guaranteeing dedicated time and focus on small farm issues, which is critical for the program's success and for providing meaningful support to operators.
Case against: Opponents might argue that mandating such a high percentage of duties could be challenging for existing employees who already have full workloads, potentially requiring additional staffing or leading to neglect of other essential duties within their primary agency roles.
Estimated impact: Directly impacts the workload and primary focus of designated state employees, potentially requiring reallocation of resources, additional staffing, or a significant restructuring of responsibilities within USDA State offices.