Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026 proposes to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. This bill seeks to create an Office of Small Farms within the farm production and conservation mission area. The office would be led by a Director appointed by the Secretary. It aims to support small farms, ranches, and forest operations through various assistance and grant programs. Additionally, the bill establishes State small farms coordinators to assist at the state level.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +9
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill provides significant structural support, technical assistance, and direct grants to small farm and ranch operators.
- Scored +7
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides direct financial assistance via grants to small farm and forest operation owners.
- Scored +7
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill establishes an Office of Small Farms to provide grants, technical assistance, and program review specifically for small farm operations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Financial Assistance for Operators: The bill allows for the implementation of a program providing grants of up to $25,000 to operators of small farms, ranches, and forest operations for needs such as equipment and infrastructure repairs, uninsured losses, business planning, and land acquisition (Section 2(a)(c)(7)).
-
Improved Access to Programs: The Director is tasked with reviewing programs and policies to identify those that may disadvantage small farm, ranch, or forest operation participation and recommending changes to ensure they are adequately served (Section 2(a)(c)(2)).
-
Technical Assistance and Support: The office is responsible for providing or coordinating technical assistance to help operators access Department grant, cost-share, and loan programs, as well as assisting with farmland preservation and succession planning (Section 2(a)(c)(6)).
-
Problem Reporting: The establishment of a hotline allows operators to anonymously report problems they encounter when attempting to access Department programs (Section 2(a)(c)(8)).
-
Localized Coordination: The designation of State small farms coordinators ensures that technical assistance is coordinated at the State level to help operators access Department programs (Section 2(a)(e)(3)(A)(i)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated within the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill provides significant structural support, technical assistance, and direct grants to small farm and ranch operators. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides direct financial assistance via grants to small farm and forest operation owners. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill targets support toward small farm and forest operations, which are key to rural economies.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill establishes an Office of Small Farms to provide grants, technical assistance, and program review specifically for small farm operations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill includes a hotline for reporting problems and requires annual reports to Congress. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the role of the USDA through the creation of a new administrative office and State-level coordinators.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill supports small farm and forest operations, which are integral to rural development.
- 11/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut