CALL Act

This bill tells USDA (through its National Agricultural Statistics Service) to study why it’s hard to use conservation practices on rented farmland and how to fix it. The study must work with the Economic Research Service, can partner with a university or nonprofit, and must pay special attention to farmers and ranchers of color and beginning farmers. A report to Congress with results and recommendations is due by December 31, 2026. This matters because a large share of U.S. farmland is leased—about 39% of all agricultural land, including most cropland.

The study will review existing research and data (like the TOTAL Survey and an American Farmland Trust report), look at which leasing models encourage conservation, check how well current incentives are used on leased land, and examine things like cash-rent competition, what happens when a new tenant takes over, and how USDA communicates with renters and landowners.

• Who is affected: Farmers and ranchers who rent land, landowners who lease out farmland, and USDA programs that support conservation.
• What changes: A nationwide study of barriers and solutions for conservation on leased land, with a focus on equity and new farmers; USDA may work with outside experts to do it .
• When: Findings and recommendations must be reported by December 31, 2026.