By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued proposals intended to support small family farms across rural America.

The new Small Family Farms Policy Agenda aims to cut red tape, improve access to credit and protect farmland for future generations.

“America’s family farms help feed, fuel, and clothe the world, but they also face some of the greatest challenges in getting their farms started and keeping them running,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said. “Putting Farmers First means addressing the issues farmers face head-on and fostering an economic environment that doesn’t put up roadblocks on business creation but removes them.”

The policy proposals are a part of the broader Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative and outlines specific actions USDA will take to strengthen small family farms.

The agency will streamline application processes; improve reliable access to credit, farmland and markets; and provide business planning tools.

“Today’s policy agenda is tailored specifically to support small-scale farms to thrive for generations to come,” Rollins said. “President Trump knows America’s economic prosperity depends on the success of our farmers and ranchers. That is why we are working to ensure those who want to start and keep their own farms for generations to come are able to.”

The announcement was met with support from farm groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and Texas Farm Bureau that have long advocated for practical, effective solutions to help farmers and ranchers.

“We thank Secretary Rollins for recognizing the critical role small farmers and ranchers play in America’s food supply chain,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Almost 90% of farms in America are classified as small farms, and nearly all of them are family-owned. That’s why Farm Bureau has been such a strong advocate for their success.”

AFBF recently submitted a letter to USDA outlining policy recommendations that support small farmers, including strengthening farm safety net programs and ad hoc disaster assistance; expanding risk management tools; reforming costly and complex regulatory burdens; and developing a workforce solution to ensure access to labor for all farmers.

“Unfortunately, the 2022 Census of Agriculture shows 141,000 farms went out of business in a five-year period, and we’ve lost even more since the report was released,” Duvall said. “Our nation’s food security depends on farms of all sizes, but the reality is, it is getting more difficult for smaller farms to survive these tough economic times. We look forward to learning more about Secretary Rollins’ plan and working with USDA to ensure farm families don’t just endure, but thrive, so they can continue to grow the food every family in America relies on.”

Read the full letter here.