shapes what our food
system looks like.
The federal Farm Bill
The current Farm Bill expires in September 2023. This means we have a twice-in-a-decade opportunity to advocate for a new Farm Bill that invests in environmental conservation, advances food justice, and confronts climate change.
The Farm Bill impacts everyone
The Farm Bill impacts farmers
Small, diversified farms can benefit from Farm Bill (if they use it)
The Farm Bill contains vital conservation programs – like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). But it needs to do more. The next Farm Bill presents the best opportunity to compensate farmers for adopting sustainable practices. It should also invest in climate resilience to keep farms in business and ensure our food supply is secure.
The Farm Bill empowers farmers to teach each other
The Farm Bill recognizes that farmers learn best from other farmers. Many farmer mentorship programs exist thanks to Farm Bill dollars. And increasingly, the USDA is looking to farmers to provide technical assistance to their peers and, importantly, pay farmers to do that critical work. Programs like Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) provide additional pathways for farmers to share field-tested ideas with each other.
The Farm Bill funds conservation & climate resilience programs
We can’t effectively advocate for more funding and better services for small and diversified farms if these farms don’t use existing Farm Bill programs. If you're a farmer, you should contact your local USDA service centers to see what Farm Bill programs you're eligible for. You can get money for cover crops, money for wholesale readiness, money for training and technical assistance, money for [insert dream farm project here].
The Farm Bill helps farmers
grow their businesses
The Farm Bill offers a whole slew of initiatives through the Local Agriculture Market Program that helps farmers grow their businesses and strengthen local and regional food systems. The Farm Bill also funds loans intended to meet the unique needs of farmers. However, not only have farmers of color historically had limited access to these loans, they have been discriminated against. The next Farm Bill should invest more in local food systems and ensure equitable access to funding.
Many of the Farm Bill's programs were created to support farmers through financial incentives and technical assistance. Today, the Farm Bill invests mostly in large farms that grow commodity crops, like corn and soybeans. Small- and medium-scale farms, farms that grow diverse crops, farms that improve and conserve natural resources, and farmers of color have received much less support. But we can change that.
How the Farm Bill impacts farmers
The Farm Bill affects what we eat and what products we buy
Today, the Farm Bill mostly supports large farms that grow a limited number of products in mass quantities. The more the Farm Bill supports a wide variety of farms, the more everyone gets to enjoy a wider variety of foods, flowers, and fibers.
The Farm Bill impacts our air & water
The Farm Bill impacts whether farms make air and water cleaner or more polluted. Communities located near a lot of farms or downstream from farms suffer the most from destructive farming practices that leach toxins into the environment. Advocating for a better Farm Bill keeps us all safer and healthier.
The Farm Bill funds essential
nutrition programs
From SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to Senior FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) checks, the Farm Bill is the strongest tool we have to make food affordable and accessible. What’s more, these dollars bolster the bottom line of local small businesses, including farms.
The Farm Bill influences whether local food systems can thrive
Investments that help to connect the dots between producers and local customers offer significant social and economic benefits to both rural and urban communities. Farm Bill programs can help farmers connect directly with their customers, develop new products, and build needed storage and transportation infrastructure.
The Farm Bill strengthens regional food systems and connects farmers to customers
The Farm Bill has a lot of influence over the types of farms that thrive, and therefore the types of food, flowers, and fibers that everyone gets to enjoy. It also has a direct impact on public health and nutrition.
How the Farm Bill impacts everyone
Learn more about Farm Bill programs
Working with the Farm Service Agency (FSA)
- Farm Service Agency Loans Guidebook (National Young Farmers Coalition)
- Farm Service Agency Loan Assistance Tool (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)
- Easy Steps to Get Started with the Farm Service Agency (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)
- Farmer’s Guide to Conservation Stewardship Program (Nat'l Sustainable Agriculture Coalition)
- The Michigan Food and Farming Systems Farmers' Guide to EQIP (but great for all states!)
Farm Bill programs are complicated, and working with the USDA often feels overwhelming. These resources were designed to familiarize farmers with existing programs and provide some helpful first steps. They offer guidance for farmers who are new to the USDA or who want to deepen their relationship with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), or other agencies.
Are you ready to see what priorities on your farm can be #fundedbyFarmBill?
Learn more about the Farm Bill
Native Farm Bill Coalition
What is the Farm Bill? (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition)
Food, Land, and Us: A Farm Bill zine from the La Semilla Food Center
One Million Acres for the Future (National Young Farmers Coalition)
What is the Farm Bill? (Regenerate America)
Farm Bill Platform from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
The #fundedbyFarmBill campaign is brought to you by a coalition of sustainable agriculture organizations and farmers.
