By Andi Anderson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the “Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda,” aiming to improve the success of small family farms across the country. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins released the agenda after traveling nationwide and meeting hundreds of farmers.
Small family farms make up 86% of all farms in the U.S. However, many face difficulties starting, operating, and passing farms to future generations. The new policy outlines a set of solutions to remove roadblocks and improve long-term viability.
Key parts of the agenda include:
- Simplifying tools and application processes
- Ensuring reliable access to credit
- Protecting working farmland for agricultural use
- Helping farms pass on to future generations
- Targeting USDA programs specifically to farmers
- Supporting labor reform
- Improving access to risk management and business planning tools
- Updating farm size definitions to match modern realities
- Expanding access to farmer education
The policy builds on recent discussions held during the USDA’s Farmers First Roundtable, where more than 20 small-scale farmers from 11 states shared challenges and ideas. State leaders and agriculture groups also took part.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall welcomed the plan, stressing that nearly 90% of farms in the U.S. are small and family-owned. “We thank Secretary Rollins for recognizing their role in our food system,” he said.
The policy responds to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which showed that 141,000 farms shut down in five years. With economic pressures rising, the agenda aims to ensure small farms don’t just survive but thrive in the future.
This Farmers First policy marks a step toward creating a more secure, supportive environment for small farms that are vital to America’s food supply chain.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Ohio, Government & Policy