Sponsors (4)
Official title: To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to expand outreach and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who are women, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 24, 2026 by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick · Last progress March 24, 2026
The bill directs a guaranteed portion of USDA outreach funds and explicitly recognizes gender to improve services for socially disadvantaged women farmers, but it may reduce resources for other disadvantaged groups, exclude some nonprofits through narrow qualification rules, and lock program priorities through 2031.
Socially disadvantaged women farmers and ranchers would receive a guaranteed 10% set-aside of outreach funds, improving their access to USDA services and resources.
Women-focused nonprofit organizations that meet the bill's criteria become eligible to receive USDA outreach and assistance support, expanding organizational access to federal program resources.
Extending the covered funding window to FY2021–FY2031 maintains program funding and oversight for a longer period, providing stability and continuity for outreach efforts.
The 10% set-aside for socially disadvantaged women could reduce funds available for other disadvantaged groups or general outreach, shifting resources away from racial/ethnic minorities, veterans, and low-income producers.
Requiring a 10-year continuous existence and 501(c)(3) status to qualify as a 'women's nonprofit' may exclude newer or differently structured organizations that serve women farmers, limiting who can receive outreach support and partnerships.
Extending the funding window through 2031 locks program priorities and could limit flexibility to reallocate funds or change outreach strategies in response to evolving needs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds gender to the "socially disadvantaged" definition, creates an eligibility path for long-standing women’s nonprofits, extends funding through 2031, and requires >=10% of program funds for socially disadvantaged women farmers and ranchers.
Amends an existing USDA program to explicitly recognize gender as a basis for being a “socially disadvantaged” farmer or rancher, creates a new definition and eligibility path for long-standing women’s nonprofit organizations, and extends and targets program funding. It requires that at least 10% of annual program funds go to programs serving socially disadvantaged women farmers and ranchers and lengthens the years covered by the funding authorization to 2021–2031. The changes add a clear statutory pathway for women-focused nonprofit organizations to participate as eligible entities and direct a portion of outreach/assistance funds toward socially disadvantaged women in agriculture, while otherwise leaving the underlying program structure intact.