Rollins’ first major policy proposal aims to boost smaller farmers

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ first major set of policy proposals are aimed at improving the viability and longevity of smaller-scale family farms — a tactic directly addressing some of her biggest critics over the past several months. The newly launched Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative has outlined a toolkit of actions, including the streamlining of application processes, improving reliable access to credit, farmland, and markets, and appropriate business planning tools that are intended to better serve the 86 percent of farms in the U.S. that are considered to be small operations.

Rollins, a Texas A&M graduate who has served as president and CEO of the nonprofit America First Policy Institute, has been accused of showing too much favoritism toward large-scale production operations, leading to concern from smaller farmers and niche interest groups. 

“Her history demonstrates a disregard for and lack of commitment to supporting Black, Indigenous, and other farmers and ranchers of color, as well as small and family farmers, farmworkers, and the working people who sustain our food system,” Nichelle Harriott, Policy Director at the HEAL Food Alliance, said just before Rollins was confirmed in January.

Her 14-page Farmers First proposal is broken down into 10 categories that will “ensure small family farmers can start and stay in business for generations to come,” the document said. “USDA is
placing specific emphasis on understanding the barriers to starting and keeping small family farms viable.” The categories are:

1. Ensure Simple Streamlined and Transparent Tools and Applications
2. Ensure Reliable Access to Credit
3. Ensure Working Farmland is Used to Farm
4. Ensure Small Farms Can Be Passed On to the Next Generation for Generations to Come
5. Hyperfocus USDA Programs for Farmers on Farmers
6. Labor Reform
7. Enhance Access to Risk Management and Business Planning Tools
8. Ensure Definitions of Farm Size Reflect Modern Day Realities
9. Enhance Farmer Access to Educational Resources
10. Other Small Farm Resources Available

This policy rollout builds on the Farmers First Roundtable event recently held at the USDA Headquarters in Washington D.C., where Rollins met with and heard from more than 20 farmers and ranchers from 11 states who run smaller-scale, family-owned operations. Also included at the even were Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, who addressed challenges facing smaller-scale family farms across America.

“America’s family farms help feed, fuel, and clothe the world, but they also face some of the greatest challenges in getting their farms started and keeping them running. 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,” Rollins said. “Today’s policy agenda is tailored specifically to support small-scale farms to thrive for generations to come. President Trump knows America’s economic prosperity depends on the success of our farmers and ranchers. That is why we are working to ensure those who want to start and keep their own farms for generations to come are able to.”

Rollins’ approach has drawn support from governors in Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, and Idaho. 

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the average farm size in the United States was 463 acres, which was a 5 percent increase from the previous census. However, the USDA defines “small farm” based on gross cash farm income (specifically a GCFI under $350,000) rather than acreage. With that, the agency says that about more than 86 percent of U.S. operations are considered “small farms,” a 5 percentage point decline over the past decade or so.

The Farmers First agenda lays out a litany of Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and Natural Conservation Resources Service programs — such as Direct Farm Ownership Loans, Down Payment Loan Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, and Federal Crop Insurance — that can help small and beginning farmers. And the agency added that as it implements its action plan, ongoing assessment of gaps in service and support will occur. 

To further the discussion, Rollins is asking small farmers to submit their stories for its new Farmers First Friday series, “because Making Agriculture Great Again means helping all farmers, ranchers, and producers not only have the tools to succeed, but elevating the men and women who feed, fuel, and clothe our great nation.”