S. 3860: Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026, aims to create a new government office focused on supporting small farms, ranches, and forest operations. Here are the main points of the bill:

Definitions

The bill defines a "small farm, ranch, or forest operation" as one that:

• Is less than 180 acres in size, or meets a different definition set by the Secretary of Agriculture based on location and production systems.
• Has an annual gross cash farm income of less than $350,000.

Establishment of the Office

The bill establishes the Office of Small Farms within the Department of Agriculture, specifically within the farm production and conservation mission area. The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Director for this office.

Duties of the Office

The Office of Small Farms will have various responsibilities, including:

• Coordinating support for small farms across different Department of Agriculture agencies.
• Reviewing programs and policies to identify those that may disadvantage small farms and recommending improvements.
• Developing new initiatives to provide financial and technical assistance tailored to the needs of small farms.
• Collecting and analyzing data related to small farms and suggesting research topics pertinent to them.
• Providing or arranging technical assistance to help small farms access available grants, loans, and resources.
• Operating a hotline for small farms to report issues in accessing Department programs.
• Collaborating with other federal and state agencies to better serve small farms.

Grants and Assistance

The Office is authorized to implement a grant program offering up to $25,000 to small farms for various purposes, including:

• Repairs and upgrades to equipment and infrastructure.
• Compensation for uninsured losses.
• Business planning and market development aid.
• Help with conservation practices.
• Down payments for land acquisition.

State Coordination

Each state will have a designated State small farms coordinator responsible for:

• Coordinating local technical assistance and outreach for small farms.
• Submitting state plans to improve program delivery to small farms.
• Ensuring collaboration with local organizations and agencies.

Funding

The bill authorizes funding of:

• $15 million per year for the operation of the Office of Small Farms from 2027 to 2031.
• $10 million per year to support technical assistance and grants for small farms during the same period.

Reporting

Every year, the Secretary of Agriculture must provide a report to Congress detailing efforts to enhance the participation of small farms in agricultural programs.

Technical Adjustments

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to amend existing legislation for consistency with the establishment of the Office of Small Farms.

Relevant Companies

None found.