Key Takeaways:
- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has released the first policy proposals under the Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative.
- The agenda focuses on strengthening the viability of small family farms, which make up 86% of U.S. farms.
- Proposed measures include streamlined USDA applications, improved access to credit, land protection, business planning tools, and labor reform.
- The release follows nearly 100 days of nationwide farmer engagement and a Farmers First Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
- Leaders from across the U.S. have expressed strong support for the initiative, highlighting its relevance to state-level agricultural priorities.
USDA Latest News: Farmers First Policy Agenda Targets Small Family Farm Sustainability
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a comprehensive set of policy proposals under the Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda, marking the initial rollout of Secretary Brooke L. Rollins’ Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative. The agenda is designed to address longstanding challenges facing smaller-scale family farms and to secure their future through targeted reforms.
Following a 100-day tour of the country and direct engagement with farmers, Secretary Rollins outlined actionable solutions intended to help family-owned operations not just survive—but thrive.
“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,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today’s policy agenda is tailored specifically to support small-scale farms to thrive for generations to come.”
Key Components of the Farmers First Policy Agenda Outlined By The USDA
The policy agenda provides a framework aimed at improving the conditions for small family farms. Core focus areas include:
- Streamlining and simplifying USDA applications
- Ensuring reliable access to credit and land
- Aligning farmland usage with food production
- Enabling intergenerational farm transfers
- Labor policy reform to support agricultural workforce needs
- Expanding access to business planning and risk management tools
- Updating definitions of farm size to reflect modern operations
- Providing enhanced educational resources for new and existing farmers
These policy priorities stem from feedback gathered during the Farmers First Roundtable and field visits with hundreds of family farmers across 11 states.
State and National Leaders Respond To The USDA News
The release of the policy proposals was met with broad support from agricultural leaders and elected officials across the country.
“Our family-owned farms and ranches are at the heart of agriculture in America and the backbone of the economy in states like Nebraska,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “I’m glad Secretary Rollins and the USDA are highlighting the value and importance of small operations.”
Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa praised the initiative’s alignment with Iowa’s agricultural makeup, where 96% of farms are family-run, calling the agenda “a comprehensive plan to better align USDA programs with the vitality of the next generation.”
Indiana Governor Mike Braun called the policy package a meaningful complement to the state’s own work supporting small farms, while Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe emphasized the importance of access to credit and risk tools for the sector’s resilience.
Similar support was echoed by governors, agriculture secretaries, and legislative leaders in South Dakota, Idaho, Arkansas, Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, and others.
“Food security is national security,” noted Tennessee Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. “This approach is needed at a time when farmers face significant challenges and opportunities.”
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