Sponsors (12)
The bill redirects significant EQIP resources and raises baseline payments to boost income, technical help, and program access for small farms—improving support and incentives for regenerative practices while concentrating funds for small operations and potentially reducing flexibility and support for larger or mid-sized producers.
Small-scale and other eligible producers receive larger, guaranteed payments and a dedicated share of EQIP funds (minimum $2,500, at least 30% of payments directed to a Small Farm subprogram, and 50% higher payments for operations ≤50 acres), increasing direct farm income for many small farms.
Small producers gain faster and easier access to payments through continuous enrollment and streamlined application and contract approval, reducing administrative barriers and speeding payment delivery.
Small producers and rural communities receive more tailored technical support because the bill requires a significant share of subprogram funds (35%) to be used for hiring and training NRCS staff and other targeted technical assistance, improving on-the-ground capacity and service access.
Taxpayers and other EQIP participants may face higher federal spending or fewer resources elsewhere because higher minimum payments and dedicated funding shares reduce flexibility and could shift funds away from larger producers and other EQIP priorities.
Mid-sized farms that are above a state median-size cutoff can be excluded from the Small Farm subprogram, leaving some resource-constrained mid-sized producers without the new supports.
Targeted hiring and training requirements for NRCS staff will raise administrative costs and take time to implement, delaying the full delivery of benefits to producers and increasing short-term program expenses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Raises EQIP minimum payment to $2,500, creates a Small Farm EQIP Subprogram funded at ≥30% of EQIP FY2027–FY2031 funds, and adds a 50% soil-health boost for operations ≤50 acres with streamlined enrollment.
Official title: Amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a small farm EQIP subprogram under the environmental quality incentives program, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 23, 2026 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress June 23, 2026
Raises the minimum per-producer payment under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to $2,500, creates a new Small Farm EQIP Subprogram funded from EQIP payments for FY2027–FY2031, and establishes a 50% payment boost for soil-health systems on operations of 50 acres or less with streamlined enrollment. The measure requires outreach, tailored technical assistance, and training for NRCS field staff, and directs that at least 30% of EQIP payment funds be set aside for the small-farm subprogram (with 35% of that setaside for technical assistance and 65% for direct financial assistance).