Sponsor
Cory Anthony Booker
Senator · D-NJ
Senator · D-NJ
The bill creates a funded USDA Office and outreach structure that provides targeted grants and technical assistance to small farms, ranches, and forests—but does so with modest per-recipient caps, added federal spending, and implementation discretion that could limit equitable reach.
Small farm, ranch, and forest operators gain a dedicated USDA Office (with authorized funding for FY2027–2031) focused on their needs, improving federal coordination and sustained access to USDA programs.
Qualifying small operators become eligible for grants (up to $25,000) for repairs, business planning, conservation, and down payments on land, providing direct financial support for operations and resilience.
Rural communities and small operators receive improved local outreach and technical assistance through state coordinators and agency liaisons, making it easier to learn about and access USDA programs.
Grant awards are capped at $25,000, which may be insufficient for many operators to cover major capital expenses or land purchases.
The Secretary has broad discretion over acreage definitions, eligible uses, and implementation details, creating uncertainty about equitable eligibility and program design.
Creating new coordination and liaison roles could impose additional administrative burdens on USDA agencies and state/local offices without clear staffing or funding for those positions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA Office of Small Farms to coordinate support, review policies, advise on data/research, provide technical assistance, and run grants up to $25,000.
Official title: Amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish an Office of Small Farms, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Cory Anthony Booker · Last progress February 12, 2026
Creates a new Office of Small Farms inside USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation mission area to coordinate departmental support for small farms, ranches, and forest operations. The Office will have a Director and responsibilities to review policies that disadvantage small operations, recommend new initiatives, coordinate technical assistance and succession planning, advise on data and research needs, operate an anonymous hotline, and run a small grant program with awards up to $25,000.