S. 3860: Office of Small Farms Establishment Act of 2026

Introduced Feb 12, 20260 cosponsors

Sponsor

Cory Booker

Democrat · NJ

Small farms deserve a real seat at USDA

4 min readLast updated July 29, 2026

Why it matters

If your farm is under 180 acres and brings in less than $350,000 a year, S. 3860 would give you a USDA office built around smaller operations — plus grants up to $25,000 for repairs, uninsured losses, conservation, business planning, and land down payments. The bill's core change is simple: instead of asking small producers to fit into systems designed for bigger operations, USDA would have staff whose job is to help small farms get access.

S. 3860 would create a dedicated Office of Small Farms inside USDA for operations under 180 acres and under $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income.

The new office would sit inside USDA's farm production and conservation arm and coordinate support across the department. It would review programs that leave small producers at a disadvantage, recommend changes, propose new financing and technical assistance, and track who is and is not being served.

For individual operators, the most tangible piece is a grant program of up to $25,000. That money could be used for equipment and infrastructure repairs, uninsured losses, business planning, market development, conservation practices, and down payments on land.

The bill also tries to make USDA less fragmented. It requires liaisons from agencies including the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Management Agency, Rural Development, and several research and data offices, plus one small farms coordinator in every state.

If it works, the bill would give smaller producers both an advocate inside USDA and a clearer path to loans, grants, cost-share programs, and technical help.

There is still a practical question behind all of this: whether a new office with authorized funding can actually change how a large department behaves. The bill does not just create a title — it also funds staff, state coordination, technical assistance, and direct grants, which is what would determine whether this becomes a real access point or just another box on an org chart.

Bill Progress

IntroducedFeb 12

Committee

Pass Senate

Pass House

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Feb 12, 2026

Read twice and Referred to Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. for review

S. 3860 Bill Summary

What S. 3860 actually does.

A new USDA office focused on smaller operations

The bill creates an Office of Small Farms inside USDA's farm production and conservation mission area, led by a director appointed by the Secretary.

Small producers get grants up to $25,000

Operators could receive grants of up to $25,000 for equipment and infrastructure repairs, uninsured losses, business planning, market development, conservation practices, land down payments, and other approved needs.

Help navigating USDA programs

The office would provide or coordinate technical assistance so small farms, ranches, and forest operations can apply for USDA grants, cost-share programs, and loans, then carry out the work those programs fund.

Anonymous reporting when USDA access breaks down

The director would run a hotline so small producers can anonymously report problems they face when trying to access USDA programs.

A small farms coordinator in every state

Each state would have a designated coordinator from an existing USDA state office employee, with at least part of that person's work focused on improving how small producers access federal programs.

More coordination across USDA agencies

Multiple USDA agencies and offices would have to appoint liaisons to work with the new office on outreach, education, and internal coordination for small farms.

Who benefits from S. 3860?

Smaller farms, ranches, and forest operations under the bill's limits

If your operation is under 180 acres and under $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income, you would be the bill's target audience for direct help, advocacy, and grants.

Producers trying to buy or keep land

The bill allows grant money to be used for land acquisition down payments and succession-related assistance, which could matter if you're trying to get onto land or keep a family operation going.

Operators shut out by paperwork or agency complexity

If you have struggled to find the right USDA office, understand program rules, or get a response, the office, hotline, and state coordinators are meant to make the system easier to navigate.

Small producers with uninsured losses or repair needs

The grant program could help cover losses that are not insured and pay for repairs or upgrades that smaller operations may have trouble financing on their own.

Who is affected by S. 3860?

USDA agencies and state offices

Multiple agencies would have to appoint liaisons, coordinate with the new office, and adapt outreach and program delivery around the needs of smaller producers.

State-level USDA staff

Each state would need a small farms coordinator drawn from existing staff, plus a state plan for improving how USDA programs reach and serve small operations.

Larger agricultural operations

The bill is not aimed at larger farms. It shifts some attention and administrative capacity toward smaller operations that the bill says are underserved.

Small producers outside the bill's thresholds

If your operation exceeds the income limit or does not fit the acreage standard USDA uses, you would not qualify for the office's small-farm grant program as written.

Cost & Funding

Authorization

S. 3860 authorizes $15 million a year for administration and $10 million a year for technical assistance and grants from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 — $25 million annually, or $125 million over five years if fully funded.

The bill authorizes, but does not automatically appropriate, the money.
Of the $25 million yearly total, $10 million would cover technical assistance and grants of up to $25,000.
At the maximum grant size, $10 million could support roughly 400 full-size grants in a year, though actual totals would vary if some funds go to technical assistance or smaller awards.

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Tracking floor activity — no debate on S. 3860 yet. Updates when a legislator speaks on the record.

S3860 Legislative Journey

1 actions

Committee Action

Feb 12, 2026

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

About the Sponsor

Cory Booker

Democrat, NJ · 13 years in Congress

Committees: Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Foreign Relations

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Committee Sponsors

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

11D12R

|0 signed23 not yet

0 of 23 committee members cosponsored

No committee members have cosponsored this bill

11 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents

What laws does S. 3860 change?

1 changes

Full Text

Sections Amended

Section 296(b) of Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b))

adding at the end the following: ``(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 229

S. 3860 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

Committee: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Chamber: Senate
Policy: Agriculture and Food
Introduced: Feb 12, 2026

Read twice and Referred to Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. for review

Feb 12, 2026

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S. 3860 Common Questions

What counts as a small farm under S. 3860?

Generally, your operation would need to be under 180 acres and under $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income. USDA could also use a different acreage standard by region or production system.

Would S. 3860 send money directly to small farms?

Yes. The bill creates grants of up to $25,000 for eligible small farms, ranches, and forest operations, along with technical assistance to help people access USDA programs.

What can the $25,000 grants be used for?

Repairs and upgrades, uninsured losses, business planning, market development, conservation practices, and land down payments. USDA could also approve other uses.

Can this bill help you buy farmland?

Yes. The grant program specifically allows money for down payments on land acquisition, which could help smaller operators trying to purchase farmland.

Does S. 3860 create a small farm hotline at USDA?

Yes. The bill requires an anonymous hotline where small producers can report problems they run into when trying to access USDA programs.

Would every state get a small farms coordinator?

Yes. The bill says USDA must designate one small farms coordinator in each state from existing state office employees to help improve program access and planning.

How much would this office cost?

S. 3860 authorizes $25 million a year from 2027 through 2031: $15 million for administration and $10 million for technical assistance and grants.

Has S. 3860 become law?

No. Right now, S. 3860 has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Agriculture Committee. It would need committee action, floor votes, House passage, and the president's signature.

Based on S. 3860 bill text