Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026

This bill aims to create a dedicated Office of Small Farms within the Department of Agriculture's farm production and conservation mission area. The primary goal is to enhance support and improve access to federal programs for small farm, ranch, and forest operations , defined as those under 180 acres (or Secretary-determined acreage) with an annual gross cash farm income below $350,000. The new Office, led by a Director, will undertake several key duties. These include coordinating efforts across USDA agencies, reviewing existing programs for provisions that disadvantage small operations, and recommending changes to better serve them. It will also develop new initiatives, such as financing mechanisms and technical assistance opportunities, focusing on production, conservation, business planning, and land access. Furthermore, the Office will provide or coordinate technical assistance to help small operations access USDA grants, cost-share, and loan programs, and assist with farmland preservation. A significant provision is the establishment of a grant program, offering up to $25,000 for purposes like equipment upgrades, uninsured losses, business planning, conservation, and land acquisition down payments. The Office will also operate a hotline for operators to report program access issues anonymously. To ensure comprehensive support, the bill mandates that various USDA agencies appoint liaisons to the Office of Small Farms, facilitating coordinated outreach and education. Additionally, it establishes State Small Farms Coordinators in each state, designated from existing State office employees, to provide localized technical assistance and develop State-specific plans for improving program delivery. These coordinators will dedicate at least 50% of their duties to small farm-related activities. Finally, the legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit annual reports to Congress detailing efforts and results in enhancing small farm participation in agricultural programs. It authorizes appropriations of $15,000,000 annually for the Office's administration and $10,000,000 annually for technical assistance and grants for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.