agricultural economics research proposal

New Perspectives on Agricultural Economics, 2022-2026

The proposed initiative will involve four distinct research projects on different topics in agricultural economics. The topics will be selected each year on the basis of interests of ERS staff and some bearing on emerging or current policy issues. NBER research does not make policy recommendations, but provides background information and analysis that can inform policy decisions.

The proposed topic for the 2023 project is “Assessing the Distributional Impacts of Climate Change in the Agricultural Sector.” Climate change affects all aspects of the agricultural sector, from the production of food and fiber, through the choice of technology by producers, to the set of products that are available to consumers and the prices of those products. USDA is committed to understanding the consequences of climate change, as well as the impact of potential policy responses. Economic research on climate-related issues can advance this mission.

The 2023 project will focus on distributional impacts, because USDA is also committed to promoting equitable outcomes both in the impact of climate-related changes and in the design of policy responses. Doing so requires analysis and measurement of the effects of climate change in the agricultural sector on different groups in the population. These include producers and consumers, households in different income groups, racial and ethnic groups, those who live in different areas, and groups defined along other dimensions.

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Supported by the us department of agriculture grant #59-1000-2-0076, more from nber.

In addition to working papers , the NBER disseminates affiliates’ latest findings through a range of free periodicals — the NBER Reporter , the NBER Digest , the Bulletin on Retirement and Disability , the Bulletin on Health , and the Bulletin on Entrepreneurship — as well as online conference reports , video lectures , and interviews .

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Frontiers in Environmental Economics
Agricultural Economics
Research Topics

Insights in Agricultural Economics: 2022

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We are now entering the third decade of the 21st Century, and, especially in the last few years, the achievements made by researchers have been exceptional, leading to major advancements in the fast-growing field of environmental economics. Frontiers have organized a series of Research Topics to ...

Important Note : All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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Agricultural Economics: Agricultural Economics Research

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Census Data: data.census.gov A product of the US Census, data.census.gov is the replacement for American FactFinder. It includes data from the American Community Survey, 2010 Decennial Census, Economic Census, County Business Patterns and more.
FRED - St. Louis Fed: Economic Data This site offers a wealth of economic data and information to promote economic education and enhance economic research. The widely used database FRED is updated regularly and allows 24/7 access to regional and national financial and economic data.
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Top Agricultural Economics Databases

AgEcon Search A database that indexes and electronically distributes full text reports of scholarly research in the field of agricultural and applied economics.
CAB Abstracts CAB Abstracts covers the significant research and development literature in the fields of agricultural engineering, applied economics and sociology, animal production, animal health, animal nutrition, aquaculture, biofuels, biosafety and bioterrorism, biotechnology, breeding, chemistry, climate change, crop science and grasslands, ecotourism, entomology, environmental science, food science and technology, forestry, genetics (molecular genetics, cytogenetics, population genetics, genomics), helminthology, horticultural science, human nutrition, invasive species, leisure and tourism (recreation), medicinal plants and pharmacology, microbiology, mycology, natural resources, land/water management, nematology, organic and sustainable agriculture, parasitology, plant pathology, plant protection, postharvest, protozoology, soil science, veterinary medicine, virology, waste management.
AGRICOLA Produced by the National Agricultural Library, AGRICOLA (AGRICultural OnLine Access) contains bibliographic records of materials acquired by the National Agricultural Library and cooperating institutions in agricultural and related sciences. Records come from the NAL Online Public Access Catalog and NAL's Article Citation Database. The catalog provides citations to books, serials, pamphlets, government documents, research reports, FAO and USDA publications, conference proceedings, and translations, patents, audiovisuals and technical reports. The article database provides citations to journal articles, book chapters, reports and reprints. Coverage includes: agricultural administration, laws and regulations, economics, education, training and extension, engineering and products; animal science; aquatic sciences; chemistry; energy as related to agriculture; entomology; feed science; food science and food products; forestry; general agriculture; geography, meteriology, climatology and history; home economics and human ecology; human nutrition; institutional food service; life sciences; natural resources management and environmental pollution; pesticides; plant diseases; plant science and production; rural sociology; soil science; veterinary medicine. Coverage from 1970 to the present.
EconLit with Full Text Abstracts, indexing, and full-text articles in all fields of economics, including capital markets, country studies, econometrics, economic forecasting, environmental economics, government regulations, labor economics, monetary theory, and urban economics.
USDA Economics, Statistics, and Market Information System The USDA Economics, Statistics, and Market Information System (ESMIS) is a collaborative project between Mann Library at Cornell University and several agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The system contains over 2500 reports and datasets.
Web of Knowledge Access the world's leading scholarly literature in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Includes simultaneous access to Food & Science Technology Abstracts, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, and Zoological Records.
AgNIC Alliance The Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC) is a voluntary alliance of the National Agricultural Library (NAL), land-grant Universities and other agricultural organizations, in cooperation with citizen groups and government agencies.
OECD iLibrary OECD iLibrary is OECD's Online Library for Books, Papers and Statistics and the gateway to OECD's analysis and data. It replaces SourceOECD ... OECD iLibrary contains all the publications and datasets released by OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), International Energy Agency (IEA), Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), OECD Development Centre, PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), and International Transport Forum (ITF) since 1998.

Agricultural Economics Data Sources

World Bank Data The data catalog provides download access to over 2,000 indicators from World Bank sources.
CEIC Data Manager CEIC Data contains economic, industrial and financial time-series data. Our Global Database offers unprecedented coverage of 221 countries in Asia, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. EIC also offers 18 macro-economic concepts, and 1,400,000 time series. Data comes from analysts on the ground and the prime national and regional statistical agencies and major industrial data issuing organizations of each country covered. The CEIC Data Manager provides access to the entire CEIC database from within the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application. Times-series can be directly retrieved from the database and imported into Excel for quick analysis.
USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System The USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS) is a collaborative project between Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University and several agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It contains nearly 2500 reports and datasets
Census of Agriculture Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the census of agriculture attempts to reach every agricultural operator in America through a mail survey. Data represent all agricultural operations, defined as any place which sold or normally would have sold more than $1,000 worth of agricultural products during the census year.
FAOStat A source of economic data for all types of agriculture around the world. Includes Trade, Production, Supply, Price, and other environmental data.
Quick Stats A source for economic data for U.S. Agricultural products and concepts. Data is available on the state, county, or local levels, and goes back to the 1850's.
Quandl A new source for free and open datasets. Includes financial, economic and social data.
Datastream Advance Provides comprehensive financial data on global securities, emerging markets and new instruments. Data can be structured by the user, compared and statistically manipulated using graphics, time series analysis and report generation programs. NOTE: You must use a dedicated Datastream terminal (in Mann library or the Johnson School Library) to access this resource.
Bloomberg The ultimate source of financial and economic data. NOTE: Bloomberg can only be used at designated terminals in Mann or the Johnson School's library.

Subject Guide

Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022 11:57 PM
URL: https://guides.library.cornell.edu/agri_econ

School of Economics

Writing a research proposal.

Developing a research proposal is a necessary part of the application process it:

provides a basis for decision-making;
helps to make sure that you get the most appropriate supervisor for your research.

Your research proposal does not commit you to researching in a specific area if your application is successful.

Following a successful application, you need to provide a more comprehensive proposal which will be useful reference as your research develops.

How to write a research proposal

Organise your proposal should around a small set of ideas or hypotheses that you would like to investigate. Provide some evidence of relevant background reading if possible.

A typical research proposal might look something like this:

Rationale for the research project, including: a description of the phenomenon of interest, and the context(s) and situation in which you think the research will take place; an explanation of why the topic is of interest to the author; and an outline of the reasons why the topic should be of interest to research and/ or practice (the 'so what?' question); a statement of how the research fits in with that of potential supervisor(s) in the School of Economics.
Issues and initial research question. Within the phenomenon of interest: what issue(s) do you intend to investigate? (This may be quite imprecise at the application stage); what might be some of the key literatures that might inform the issues (again, indicative at the application stage); and, as precisely as you can, what is the question you are trying to answer?
Intended methodology: How do you think you might go about answering the question? Do you have a preference for using quantitative methods such as survey based research, or for qualitative methods such as interviews and observation?
Expected outcomes: how do you think the research might add to existing knowledge; what might it enable organisations or interested parties to do differently?
Timetable: What is your initial estimation of the timetable of the dissertation? When will each of the key stages start and finish (refining proposal; literature review; developing research methods; fieldwork; analysis; writing the draft; final submission). There are likely to overlaps between the stages.

An initial research proposal that forms part of a PhD application should be between 600 and 1,000 words in length.

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Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is the nation’s leading competitive grants program for agricultural sciences.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awards AFRI research, education, and extension grants to improve rural economies, increase food production, stimulate the bioeconomy, mitigate impacts of climate variability, address water availability issues, ensure food safety and security, enhance human nutrition, and train the next generation of the agricultural workforce.

AFRI was established by Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill and re-authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. The program was re-authorized to be funded at $700 million a year. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 funds AFRI at $455 million.

NIFA provides AFRI grants to support research, education and extension activities in six Farm Bill priority areas:

Plant Health and Production and Plant Products;
Animal Health and Production and Animal Products;
Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health;
Bioenergy, Natural resources, and Environment;
Agriculture Systems and Technology;
and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities.

AFRI-funded science is vital to meeting food, fiber, and fuel demands as the world’s population races toward a projected 10 billion by 2050 concomitant with diminishing land and water resources and increasingly variable climatic conditions. In addition, AFRI programs help develop new technologies and a workforce that will advance our national security, our energy self-sufficiency, and the health of Americans.

NIFA’s policies for accepting late applications are available at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/late-application-consideration . If your application is delayed for a valid extenuating circumstances, please let the program contact listed in the Request for Application (RFA) know about the potential delay and submit all the required documentation after your application had been submitted to us. NIFA will consider your request at that time based on the information provided.

Funding Portfolio

NIFA’s AFRI funding portfolio includes both single- and multi-function research, education, and extension grants that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance. AFRI-funded projects sustain all components of agriculture, including farm efficiency and profitability, ranching, renewable energy, forestry (both urban and agroforestry), aquaculture, rural communities and entrepreneurship, human nutrition, food safety, biotechnology, and conventional breeding. These projects also create jobs and help develop the next generation of agriculture and food scientists.

AFRI-funded integrated projects must include at least two of the three functions of agriculture knowledge – research, education, and extension – to ensure delivery of science-based knowledge to people, allowing them to make informed practical decisions.

In addition to Standard grants, the AFRI portfolio includes Coordinated Agricultural Projects ( CAP ) and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement ( FASE ) grants. CAP grants are large, multi-million dollar projects that often involve multiple institutions. FASE grants help institutions become more competitive and attract new scientists and educators to careers in high-priority areas of agriculture.

NIFA makes grants for high priority research, education, and extension, taking into consideration the determinations made by the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out the AFRI program, the Secretary may award grants to state agricultural experiment stations; colleges (including community colleges) and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of two or more of the aforementioned entities.

Each grant program has its own unique set of requirements, the details of which are available within specific Requests for Applications in Part I, C. See the list of available AFRI RFAs.

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The aim of the PhD in Agricultural Economics programme is to provide postgraduate students with useful research and analytical skills, practical knowledge and field experience, to help solve the complexity of problems facing agricultural and rural development in Ghana and across the globe. The programme is hosted in the Department of Agricultural and Food Economics under the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences. The programme is for a duration of three academic years (3 years) organize during regular academic year session.

The PhD programme in Agricultural Economics is designed with the following objectives:

To offer in-depth training in the application of contemporary economic theory and empirical research methodology to practical agricultural problems at the micro and macro levels;
To emphasize the analysis and understanding of existing and potential agribusiness problems to ensure profitability and sustainability;
To sharpen the knowledge and skills set of students to become Agricultural Economists working in the field towards the creation of pertinent innovations for agricultural development; and
To equip students with the knowledge to examine problems of choice and resource allocation, from an economic perspective, relative to the production and marketing of agricultural commodities, nationally and internationally.

Employment Prospects of Graduates

Graduates of the programme may find employment in the following job markets:
Government ministries such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to undertake work in policy analyses;
Public and private sector companies involved in agribusiness and agricultural industries;
Universities and analogous higher institutions of learning as academics;
Research institutes, international and non-governmental organisations concerned with the economic analysis of agricultural sector issues and agricultural consultancies;
Development and policy advocacy institutions;
Agricultural development, rural and other commercial banks as project officers;
Agribusiness industry; and
Agricultural trade and export industry.

A CANDIDATE SEEKING ADMISSION INTO THE PHD. PROGRAM MUST:

Have an M.Phil./M.Sc. by research degree in an appropriate field of study from a recognised University.
Submit an official transcript of your academic record.
Submit two referee reports from somebody familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
Submit a proposal of 3-5 pages of the intended study area, including a working bibliography.
Satisfy any additional requirements prescribed by the Department/Faculty.
Intake levels shall be influenced by the availability of supervisors for the student’s interest areas and fields of study.
Faculties, schools, and departments are responsible for setting admission standards in conformity with the overall university standards.

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The EEFE program was approved as new Penn State degree granting program in 2017. The degree builds on prior degrees in Agricultural Environmental and Regional Economics (AEREC) offered by the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME Energy Policy Option) offered by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The table below lists M.S. and Ph.D. thesis titles for recent AEREC and EME (Energy Policy Option) students.

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agricultural economics research proposal

39 Agricultural Economics Dissertation Topics Examples

Agricultural Economics Dissertation Topics Agricultural economics research topics focus on economics and agriculture sectors. Agricultural economics dissertation topics have gained a lot of popularity in present times. Agricultural economics thesis topics differ according to the academic levels. Check out our other related posts for economics dissertation topics and political economy dissertation topics. These are the […]

Agricultural Economics Dissertation Topics

Agricultural economics research topics focus on economics and agriculture sectors. Agricultural economics dissertation topics have gained a lot of popularity in present times. Agricultural economics thesis topics differ according to the academic levels. Check out our other related posts for economics dissertation topics and political economy dissertation topics .

These are the best Agricultural Economics Dissertation Topics for students

Agricultural economics research proposal topics have been enlisted below:

Studying the role played by agricultural economics towards the overall development of X country: an inquiry.
Investigating the importance of agricultural economics in the developing countries of the world: a review of empirical evidence.
Methodological pluralism and agricultural economics: a review of the literature.
Investigating the role played by agricultural economics in agribusiness on international levels.
Sustainable development and agricultural economics: focus on the current trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Relationship between marketing and agricultural economics: focus on the tropics.
Correlational analysis of agricultural economics and modernization in X country: a qualitative approach.
Historical analysis of the place of women in the domain of agricultural economics: a focus on last three decades.
Market structure analysis and agricultural economics: a research-oriented perspective.
Studying the role played by agricultural economics in determining farmers’ management capacity in X country.
Relationship between agricultural economics and multilevel programming.
Correlational analysis of agribusiness, farm management, and agricultural economics: focus on X country.
Legalities and regulations associated with agricultural economics in X country: an inquiry.
Comparative analysis of agricultural economics I developed and developing countries of the world.
The role played by agricultural economics in developing a consistent financial supply for the rural population of X country.
Relationship between efficiency measurement and nitrate leaching: focus on farming perspectives.
Development of the agricultural value chain in Third World countries: a review of empirical evidence.
Studying the relationship between foreign direct investment and dairy value chain up-gradation in X country.
Correlational analysis of soil nutrient deficiencies and applications of fertilizers in farms of X country.
How the poor’s economic performance is affected by their cognitive functions.
Export restrictions in the international agriculture sector: focus on economic determinants.
Teaching agricultural economics to university students: focus on potential challenges and opportunities.
Ethics in agricultural economics: a review of empirical evidence.
Historical analysis of agricultural economics: connecting the past with the present and the future.
Effects of climate change on the agriculture sector of X country: an agricultural economics perspective.
Consumption of genetically modified food.
Research in the domain of agricultural economics: focus on challenges and interventions.
Critical analysis of the agricultural economics in the African continent.
Agricultural productivity and agricultural economics: focus on the Asian countries.
Studying the relationship between agricultural growth and economic development of X country.
The role played by information technology in the field of agricultural economics.
Agricultural economics post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Agro-industrialization and its impact on global agricultural economics.
Correlational analysis of farmer investment incentives, land rights, and tenure in X country.
The current structure of food demand in the developing countries of the world.

Above is the list of best selected Agricultural Economics Dissertation Topics, fill out the form below and get out mini topics proposal service for Agricultural Economics Dissertation Topics on your specific requirements.

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Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

Degree Programs

8.0. Department Policies

The following are department policies of particular importance to graduate students.

8.1. Advisory Committee

An advisory committee chair should be selected during the student's first semester in the graduate program. The student and committee chair will jointly select other members of the advisory committee. Advisory committees for M.S. and MAB students must have a minimum of three faculty members, at least two of whom must be graduate faculty members in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. Advisory committees for Ph.D. students must have at least four faculty members, one of whom must be from outside the department.

8.2. Degree Plan

M.S. and MAB students should file a degree plan by the end of the first semester of graduate study. Ph.D. students should file a degree plan before beginning the second year of coursework. The student and committee chair should work out a tentative plan, which will be discussed and approved by the full advisory committee. Degree plans must be approved and signed by the department Graduate Advisor.

8.3. Research Topic

Students working on M.S.-thesis and Ph.D. degrees should begin discussions on possible research topics with their committee chair and other commit¬tee members during the first semester in their program.

8.4. Thesis and Dissertation Proposals

Each M.S.-thesis or Ph.D. candidate will develop a formal written thesis or dissertation proposal. The proposal should include a title, a statement of the problem and rationale for the proposed research, a statement of objectives, hypotheses to be tested, a review of the literature, and a detailed description of the design, data analysis, and procedures of the study. Proposals must also include a conceptual framework that applies relevant economic theory to an analysis of the research problem.

After your committee chair approves your draft proposal, you need to distribute copies to the other members of your advisory committee. You should allow at least two weeks for the committee to read and evaluate the proposal prior to your proposal defense.

8.5. Proposal Defense

Under the direction of your committee chair, you should prepare an oral presentation of your thesis or dissertation research proposal. This presentation is expected to be formal and scholarly. Your presentation should include a clear rationale for the proposed research, a concise statement of objectives, hypotheses, and a detailed description of the design and methods of the proposed study.

You should be prepared to defend your proposal during a question-and-answer period following the oral presentation. When the questioning has concluded, the committee will determine whether you have satisfactorily completed the defense/exam. They will also decide what modifications, if any, should be made to the proposal before proceeding with the research. All committee recommendations at the proposal stage should be appropriately reflected in the final thesis or dissertation submitted in preparation for the Final Examination.

8.6. Preparation of Thesis or Dissertation

In preparing even the earliest draft of the thesis or dissertation, you should follow style conventions currently accepted by the department and Graduate School.

8.7. Final Requirements for Graduation

Students who are within nine months of completing their graduate degree programs are advised to consult the Graduate School Web site, and personnel in the Graduate School for information on graduation requirements and deadlines. Students are responsible for meeting all of these requirements and deadlines.

8.8. Offices and Computers

Graduate student office space is assigned by the department Graduate Advisor. All funded students are provided office space. Other M.S. and Ph.D. students are assigned office space if available. Office space should be used or it may be reassigned.

The department has computer facilities which are available to all graduate students. Students with office spaces are often furnished with a computer. Students should use these computers for academic purposes only. Any relocation of departmental computers will be done by the department's computer support staff at the request of the Graduate Advisor.

8.9. Copying and Office Supplies

Office supplies are available to faculty and staff. They are available to graduate students only by special request from their graduate advisors and for use only on department business, not for the student's course or personal use.

The department copy machines are restricted to staff and faculty use. Graduate students gain access to the copy machines only when approved by the student's committee chair or work supervisor. The copy machines are intended to support research and teaching activities and are not intended for copying course work material or books

8.10. Vacations

Part-time research and teaching appointments do not carry provisions for vacation or sick leave. Absences from campus must be approved by your committee chair or work supervisor. If a requested absence conflicts with departmental needs it may be denied

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Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy, Research, Capacity and Influence

Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Practices and their Welfare Impacts: Comparative Evidence from Malawi, Uganda and Ethiopia

May 14, 2024 - Anderson Gondwe, Lemekezani K. Chilora, Dinah Salonga, Aleksandr Michuda and Kristin Davis

Sustainable intensification practices are popular interventions for enhancing soil fertility and crop yield, and eventually improving household income and food security. Using the Living Standards Measurement Study - Integrated Surveys on Agriculture panel data from Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda, we conduct a multi-country comparative analysis of the adoption of sustainable intensification practices and their impacts on food and nutritional security. While most studies use the sex of the household head to define gender, we base our gender variable on decision-making: male, female, and joint households' decision-making at a farm level. We use multinomial logit, multinomial endogenous switching regression and multinomial endogenous treatment effects models to account for selection bias and endogeneity originating from both observed and unobserved heterogeneity. Our analysis shows that adoption of sustainable intensification practices is impacted household size, wealth, livestock ownership, agroecological zones, and gender decision-making at a farm level. Our econometric analysis reveals that the relationship between the adoption of sustainable intensification practices and households' food and nutritional security varies by country, confirming the importance of considering country-specific contexts and practices when designing agricultural interventions. Policymakers should consider promoting the adoption of sustainable intensification practices as they have shown to have a positive impact on food and nutritional security. Sustainable intensification practices s, along with training programs for farmers, are crucial for enhancing knowledge and resource availability to implement sustainable intensification practices and improve food and nutrition security effectively. There is a need to increase investments in agricultural research, extension services, and climate-smart agriculture.

Sustainable intensification practices, welfare, multinomial logit, multinomial endogenous switching regression and multinomial endogenous treatment effects

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Institutional Arrangements Between Sugarcane Growers and Millers in Uganda and Implications for Grower Productivity and Profitability

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National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

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A deep dive on the senate’s farm bill proposal: the rural prosperity and food security act of 2024.

May 10, 2024

On May 1, 2024 – after months of stalled farm bill negotiations on both sides of Capitol Hill – Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a detailed section-by-section summary of her farm bill proposal. NSAC welcomed the pragmatic Senate bill, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 (RPFSA) , as an important step toward completing a bipartisan farm bill reauthorization this year.

The RPFSA protects conservation and climate funding included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), strengthens access to the farm safety net, invests in local and regional food systems, fully protects nutrition assistance, and takes meaningful steps toward a more racially just food and farm system, all while rejecting harmful policies that would undercut local and state authority and restrict the Secretary of Agriculture’s authority to respond to emergent agricultural needs. In this post, NSAC analyzes the following issue areas of RPFSA:

Building a More Equitable Food and Agriculture System

Conservation and climate, research and organics, local food: markets, supply chains and access, commodities and crop insurance, credit and land access.

The proposal – which includes numerous bipartisan priorities but has not yet been sanctioned by Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans – does not include full legislative text and thus offers only a detailed sketch of what an eventual Senate farm bill could look like. NSAC will reserve final assessment until the full legislative text becomes available. Nonetheless, a tremendous amount of information can be gleaned from the initial proposal.

Longstanding structural and institutional racism has excluded Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) from access to land, financial resources, information, political standing, and educational and professional trajectories, which limits their ability to shape the food system. As the primary vehicle for federal food and agriculture policy, the next farm bill must meaningfully advance racial equity through a wide array of policies, including by improving equitable access for underserved individuals and communities to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding and programs, enhancing program analysis and data collection to inform racial equity-driven decision making, and increasing funding for programs and policies that support underserved individuals and communities.

Throughout the RPFSA, numerous provisions take consequential steps toward a more equitable food and farm system. While equity-centric provisions are highlighted throughout this entire post, some notable provisions include:

Broad inclusion of Tribal-specific provisions that promote parity, eliminate unnecessary barriers to nutrition assistance programs, and increase access to critical USDA programs.
Heirs Property and Fractionated Land Legal Clinics (Section 7502).
Underserved Producers Report (Sec. 11206).
USDA Ombudsperson (Sec. 12203).
Civil Rights Accountability for USDA Employees (Sec. 12205).
Strengthening the Farm and Food System Workforce (Sec. 12210).
Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Grant Program (Sec. 12211).
Expanded language translation services (Secs. 11205, 12201).

For additional context and perspective on these and other provisions, see these statements from the Native Farm Bill Coalition , the National Young Farmers Coalition , and the HEAL Food Alliance .

The benefits of on-farm conservation programs are widespread. They help farmers and ranchers keep drinking water clean for our urban and rural communities, build soil resilience and limit the impacts of severe drought and flooding, provide healthy habitats for wildlife, mitigate agriculture’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and support farm operations that are productive and sustainable long-term. Yet today, funding shortages, insufficient emphasis on high-impact practices, and a lack of program coordination keep tens of thousands of farmers from achieving their resource conservation goals every year. Furthermore, historically underserved producers,

including many BIPOC farmers and ranchers, have experienced systemic and institutional racism that has further hindered their access to conservation programs.

NSAC is thrilled that RPFSA protects all unobligated IRA funding and moves it into the farm bills baseline funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) while maintaining a requirement that funds be spent addressing climate change. NSAC applauds Chairwoman Stabenow’s leadership in fighting for this massive, enduring investment.

Beyond protecting IRA investments, the RPFSA also includes dozens of additional reforms to existing conservation programs important to NSAC members.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

CSP provides comprehensive conservation assistance for farmers and ranchers who enroll their entire operations in the program to achieve higher levels of stewardship through continued improvements. NSAC is pleased to see the following provisions enhance CSP:

Major investments via IRA funding.
Permanent climate change targeting of program funds.
New language on ranking applications that plan to reduce GHG on farms.
Expanded definition of “conservation activities” to include mitigating GHG emissions.
Improved cost-share accounting for income forgone when farmers experience losses in revenue due to production changes, anticipated reductions in yield, transitioning to an organic resource-conserving system, or acreage converted to conservation uses.
A statutory minimum payment of $4,000 per year.
Authorization for payments for conservation activities related to organic production systems and transitioning to organic production.
Stronger support for soil testing as part of a CSP contract.
Extended alternative funding arrangement authority for tribal governments.

However, despite these improvements, RPFSA does include one distressing provision and several concerning omissions:

No increase in program set-asides for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers as well as Socially Disadvantaged Producers.
Excessive proposed cost-share payments for livestock feed management.
No supplemental payments for agroforestry practices and enhancements.
No language to prevent payment limitation abuse.
No language clarifying existing and planned conservation must be weighted equally when ranking CSP applications.

As with all programs, NSAC will continue to analyze the RPFSA’s CSP provisions, including a proposed one-time CSP subprogram focused on enrollment of up to 500,000 acres of native or improved pasture land used for livestock grazing in the Lower Mississippi River Valley to address water quality issues leading to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that provides farmers and ranchers with financial cost-share assistance and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on working agricultural land. Conservation practices eligible for EQIP include structural, vegetative, and management practices (e.g., improving irrigation efficiency, restoring pasture, cover cropping, or nutrient and pest management). Payments for conservation improvements and activities include income forgone, as well as costs associated with planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, and training. NSAC is pleased to see the following improvements to EQIP:

Expansion of EQIP purposes to include: 1) promoting environmental quality and climate change adaptation and mitigation; 2) assisting producers with complying with local, State, and national regulatory requirements concerning climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience; and 3) assistance to producers to install and maintain conservation practices that sustain food and fiber production while sequestering carbon, increasing drought resilience, reducing GHG emissions, and conserving energy.
Amends the definition of “practice” to include native habitat restoration and planning for reducing GHG emissions.
Creates streamlined and coordinated procedures between EQIP and CSP.
Authorizes State technical committees to select high-priority practices that further efforts to implement a State, Tribe, or locality’s climate adaptation and resilience plan.
Directs State technical committees to consult with Tribal conservation advisory councils for Tribal land when selecting state high-priority practices that receive an increased cost-share under EQIP.
Continues the 10% wildlife habitat set-aside and the wildlife habitat incentive program.
Creates a 10% set-aside of EQIP funds for payments for practices implemented on small farms.
Raises the payment cap for organic producers to $450,000.
Requires producers with confined livestock feeding operations to submit a GHG emissions reduction plan, in addition to the currently required comprehensive nutrient management plan, to be eligible to receive payments under the program.
Expands the calculation of payments for foregone income to allow the Secretary to accord greater significance to practices that promote GHG emissions reductions as part of air quality improvement.
Requires an annual report describing the amount of funding obligated with respect to each category of practice by state and the amount obligated under the program in each state, categorized by the size of operation.
Extends alternative funding arrangement authority for tribal governments.

However, NSAC is disappointed to see that the following EQIP provisions were not included:

Increase in program set-asides for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers and Socially Disadvantaged Producers.
Retargeting two-thirds of the 50 percent EQIP set-aside for livestock practices towards advanced grazing management.

NSAC will continue to analyze the RPFSA’s EQIP provisions, including the 75% cost-share for livestock management practices that reduce enteric methane emissions, and the waiver authority for the limitations in sections 1001D(b) and 1240G for water management entities to ensure they are eligible to participate in EQIP.

EQIP – Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

NSAC is pleased to see the following improvements to CIG:

Doubles the funding for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials from $25 million to $50 million for each fiscal year (FY) and directs that 50% of the funding be used for Soil Health Demonstration Trials.
Expands the types of “new or innovative conservation approaches” funded through On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials to include on-farm nutrient recycling, perennial production systems including agroforestry and perennial forages and grain crops, and livestock-related practices that reduce GHG emissions including enteric methane emissions.
Directs the Secretary to expand the current report on On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials to include any barriers to or best practices for the adoption of new and innovative conservation approaches.
Requires the Secretary to publish public-facing reports submitted by partners that contain the results of the On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials conducted under this program.
Directs the Secretary to conduct one or more studies on the changes in methane emissions and economic outcomes generated as a result of livestock-related practices that reduce GHG emissions, including enteric methane emissions, and report on the results.

However, NSAC is disappointed that the following CIG provisions were not included:

Addition of GHG emission reduction to the purposes for CIG Air Quality grants.
Increase CIG Air Quality annual funding from $37.5 million to $50 million.

EQIP – Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC)

NSAC is pleased to see two specific CIC provisions:

Allows participants in conservation incentive contracts to reduce the term of their contract in order to enroll in the CSP.
Amends the definition of “priority resource concern” to include natural resource concerns or problems identified by Tribal governments and that represent significant concerns on Tribal land.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

NSAC is pleased to see the following CRP provisions:

Gradually increases the total CRP acreage cap from 27 million to 29 million acres.
Increases the minimum CRP Grasslands acreage from 2 million to 10 million acres.
Raises rental rates for General and Continuous sign-ups.
Fully authorizes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Farmable Wetlands Program, Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR), CLEAR30, Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP), and State Acres for Wildlife (SAFE) Program.
Increases the percentage of program acres to be enrolled in the CLEAR Initiative from 40% to 45% of acres.
Allows CLEAR contracts to transition to CLEAR30.
Establishes an Agroforestry Pilot Project.
Extends the Transition Incentive Program.
Establishes a Conservation Reserve Easement program and requires the Secretary to offer to enroll land subject to an expired covered contract into a conservation reserve easement.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

NSAC is pleased to see the following RCPP provisions:

Expands the purposes of the program to include (1) encouraging the reduction of GHG emissions and adaptation to climate change; (2) establishing or implementing the soil health plan or program of a State or Tribal government; and (3) facilitating the conversion from concentrated animal feeding operations to climate-friendly agricultural production (including regenerative grazing, agroforestry, organic, and diversified crop and livestock production systems).
Authorizes indirect cost-share to cover administrative expenses of the eligible partner up to 20% of the total project cost, and up to 30% for projects primarily serving historically underserved producers.
Clarifies the contribution requirement on partners under the program to no longer require a 50% cost-share and instead establish a flexible contribution amount that may differ among partnership agreements.
Extends alternative funding arrangement authority for Tribal governments
Expands the definition of “eligible partner” to include Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and not-for-profit conservation organizations.
Amends the definition of “priority resource concern” under RCPP Critical Conservation Areas to include the restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat connectivity and wildlife migration corridors.
Establishes timelines for the Secretary to implement partnership agreements, finalize renewal and extension agreements, and reimburse partners.
Requires the Secretary to publish the report submitted by partners on the implementation and outcomes of projects in a public-facing manner.
Revises the criteria that the Secretary may use to prioritize applications to include a priority for projects that demonstrate that a significant number of historically underserved producers will benefit from a project.
Authorizes the Secretary and Indian Tribes to develop projects under the Alternative Funding Arrangement authority to address eligible resource concerns on Tribal lands and allow for flexibility in conservation implementation and administration.

State and Tribal Assistance for Soil Health Program

While the RPFSA does not create the State and Tribal Assistance for Soil Health Program as envisioned in the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), NSAC is glad to see the same purpose included in the RCPP program. This opens the door for ground truthing the concept at NRCS, should this provision of RPFSA become law. To be sure such ground truthing occurs, NSAC advocates dedicating a minimum amount or percentage of RCPP funds for the purpose of supporting State and Tribal Soil Health Programs.

Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)

The RPFSA does not contain a proposal to support AMMP technologies as envisioned in the ARA or the COWS Act . NSAC is disappointed to see this omission, as shifting the technologies used to handle manure on midsized livestock operations is critical to addressing agriculture’s contributions to climate change. However, we are heartened to see some of the intent of this proposal included in a new purpose in RCPP, “facilitating the conversion from concentrated animal feeding operations to climate-friendly agricultural production (including regenerative grazing, agroforestry, organic, and diversified crop and livestock production systems).” NSAC sees this as a commendable use of RCPP and we fully support the inclusion of this purpose in a final farm bill. As many portions of the country cannot transition fully to year-round, grass-based livestock systems, we believe it is vital for funding to be dedicated to AMMP technologies to ensure instances where confinement is likely to continue are as ecologically friendly as they can be. We hope the House and Senate will continue to consider the bipartisan COWS Act provisions.

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI)

The RPFSA maintains the current appropriations authority of $60 million per year for GLCI and adds language to ensure the program can assist grazers planning agri-voltaics projects within their operations. Both are positive proposals, though NSAC believes strongly that grazers need dependable access to technical assistance. Therefore GLCI needs a minimum of $50 million per year in mandatory funding to ensure such assistance is provided without interruption.

Conservation Practice Standards

Across the conservation proposals in the RPFSA, many provisions work to build NRCS’ knowledge of conservation practices and incorporate that knowledge into new and existing practice standards. NSAC supports such provisions, as technically sound practice standards are foundational to federal conservation programs. Language around streamlining the process for establishing interim practice standards, assessing the potential for mitigating emissions, and allowing for greater regional variability is especially appreciated. However, NSAC is disheartened to see no reference to establishing composting as a national practice standard in the RPFSA. On-farm composting is foundational to many operations’ approach to climate mitigation and broader operational sustainability. Failing to provide a practice standard, and subsequently cost-share, fails to recognize the responsible resource management that composting represents. NSAC hopes both chambers will be open to adding language to create a national composting practice standard in a final Farm Bill.

Technical Assistance

The RPFSA provides explicit authority for cooperative agreements that build capacity for farmer mentoring networks that support conservation objectives. NSAC sees this as promising – farmer-to-farmer mentoring is one of the most powerful forms of conservation technical assistance and nuanced solutions to on-farm problem-solving. However, NSAC is disheartened to see no mention of a special technical assistance initiative dedicating 1 percent of the total farm bill conservation program mandatory funding each year for a major new conservation technical assistance (CTA) initiative to assist producers in mitigating and adapting to climate change, as proposed in the ARA. With as much language as has been added to base programs to help them better address the climate crisis, NSAC believes Congress should dedicate a set portion of technical assistance funding to serve the same purpose.

Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV) of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The ARA and the Advancing Research on Agricultural Climate Impacts Act ( ARACI ) called for a robust assessment of NRCS’ approach to evaluating the performance of conservation practices with relation to the climate crisis. We applaud the RFPSA for providing just that. Specific provisions include:

$50 million to carry out MMRV activities, with at least 30% supporting culturally appropriate technical assistance and guidance to historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.
Establishment of a program to inventory, monitor, and analyze soil carbon changes to analyze soil properties and the impact of land management strategies, on soil carbon sequestration.
Requires the Secretary to develop a standardized methodology to measure soil carbon consistently over time for research and conservation purposes.
Directs the Secretary to develop and maintain a modeling tool to predict the impacts of different land management practices, including implementing conservation activities, on greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration across the United States.

Renewable Energy For America Program (REAP)

NSAC is pleased to see the following REAP provisions in RPFSA:

Extends the authorization of appropriations through fiscal year 2029 and continues the existing mandatory funding level of $50 million for each fiscal year.
Adds the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a consideration for energy efficiency improvement loan guarantees and grants.
Designates agricultural producer cooperatives as eligible entities for the newly titled “Project Development Assistance Grants.”
Amends energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems grants by Increasing the federal cost-share to 50% of the cost of the project funded by a grant.
Improves program outreach to limited resource producers.
Simplifying the application process for renewable energy systems grants by 1) striking the tiered application system and instead directing the Secretary to create a simplified application for projects under $50,000, and 2) allowing for a single application for loan guarantees and grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy system projects
Creates a new Regional Demonstration Project initiative to demonstrate on-farm carbon emission reduction projects through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.

Farmers are at the forefront of climate change, and agriculture has a role in mitigating its impacts. Addressing this challenge will require a comprehensive approach that includes focusing on reducing major sources of GHG emissions and investing in solutions that will increase carbon sequestration and help communities, especially frontline communities, adapt to a changing climate. This includes major funding increases for sustainable and organic agriculture systems that sequester carbon, improve nutrient cycling, and lower fossil fuel energy inputs.

With this in mind, there are many positive provisions included in RPFSA such as:

Increases investments in 1890 institutions, including mandatory funding for the 1890s Scholarship Program and the addition of four new 1890s Centers of Excellence focusing on climate change; forestry resilience and conservation; food safety, bioprocessing, and value-added agriculture; and food and agricultural sciences and the social sciences (Sec. 7110, 7113, 7213).
Creates an Organic Agriculture Research Coordinator within the Office of the Chief Scientist (Sec. 7210).
Reauthorizes the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program (Sec. 7201, 7202, 7203).
Reauthorizes the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) (Sec. 7209).
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) mandatory funding is increased from $80 million to $130 million per year. In addition, the proposal allows the Secretary to waive the matching funds requirement for SCRI grants, which can help make the program more accessible to a wider range of applicants.(Sec. 7305).
The addition of regionally adapted cultivar and breed development for priority areas in the Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI) (Sec. 7509).
Requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress on the public cultivar and animal germplasm research funded by USDA and any research gaps in these areas (Sec. 7509).
Creating a Farmer Seed Liaison position in the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), whose responsibilities include strengthening competition and choice in the seed marketplace (Sec. 12511).
Formally authorizes and provides $50 million annually for the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program. OMDG is a key element of USDA’s historic Organic Transition Initiative announced in 2022, and this important investment will continue to expand organic opportunities for farmers, national and regional food systems, and consumers (Sec. 10005).
Provides $5 million in mandatory funding for Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives, to remain available until expended (Sec. 10006).
Broader authorization of the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) to allow the program to provide technical assistance, education, and outreach to certified organic farmers and farmers transitioning to organic certification, though NOP’s ability to carry out its new authority will be limited without a commensurate funding increase (Sec. 10005, 10006, 10007).
Formally authorizes the “Climate Hubs” network to serve the USDA in meeting the needs of farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in addressing the climate crisis (Sec. 12305).
Despite the positive steps, RPFSA falls short in several critical areas important to NSAC members. While NSAC is pleased to see the SARE program reauthorized, we are disappointed that RPFSA includes no additional investment in discretionary funding for the program. As the only farmer-driven, sustainable agriculture competitive research grant program offered by the USDA, SARE provides farmers and researchers with vital opportunities to better understand agricultural systems, increase profitability, and build resilience to climate change.
NSAC is also disappointed to see that other organic priorities were not included in RPFSA, including those that would have removed the arbitrary limit to insuring a crop at a price secured in a contract, created a later or second final planting date for organic producers, and created an enterprise unit of insurance based on organic status.
While NSAC is glad to see increased investments in portions of the research title, we are nonetheless disappointed to see that effective, popular, and climate-oriented research programs like SARE, OREI, and ORG received no additional funding despite tens of millions in discretionary and mandatory funding increases disbursed elsewhere in the title.

The farm bill plays an important role in supporting the health and prosperity of our rural and urban communities. The next farm bill can build toward healthy rural and urban communities by strengthening the resilience of local and regional supply chains, increasing market opportunities for small and mid-sized farms and processors, enhancing job growth and local economic development through workforce development and training, and ensuring the most vulnerable have ample access to nutritious, culturally-relevant, locally-produced foods.

The RPFSA includes a number of provisions that advance these goals:

Specific to meat supply chains, it provides grants and resources for small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors, focusing on expanding processing capacity through equipment upgrades and worker training (Sec. 12103, 7124). This includes short-term staff training and workforce development grants directed towards community colleges.
The grant program will support essential employee training and certification, food safety training and certification that has the potential to greatly impact workforce development for small meat processing, among broader food safety topic areas.
Businesses, cooperatives, and other eligible entities could apply for a blend of loans and grants to finance their overall projects and offer specific workforce training (Sec. 6503).
RPFSA upholds several competition measures in the animal agriculture supply chain, like the establishment of an Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters . This position is important for USDA to fully enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect livestock and poultry producers from anticompetitive practices, particularly in the wake of ongoing rulemakings to modernize the century-old law (Sec. 12107).
It reauthorizes the Food Safety Outreach Program, an increasingly critical training program, as the Food & Drug Administration and the Food Safety & Inspection Service continue to finalize new rules, which – even when well designed – tend to place disproportionate burdens on small and very small producers and processors. (Sec. 7301)
RPFSA codifies the Regional Food Business Centers , designed to ensure small-scale producers and mid-tier food businesses can adequately compete for new funding opportunities. In addition to grant writing resources, these Centers offer broader capacity-building, training, and investments. The proposal would maintain the existing approach for at least twelve centers, with a requirement of dedicated centers to serve producers and businesses in Tribal nations, Hawaii, Alaska, the colonias, US territories, and other remote areas (Sec. 12308).
These grants will build the capacity of organizations to compete for funding opportunities and foster networks of technical assistance providers. They would specifically target those communities who have been historically left out or underfunded by USDA.
While the applicants do not necessarily have to be based in rural areas, the program efforts must benefit rural communities (Sec. Sec 6202, Sec 6203).
RPFSA codifies the popular and transformative local food purchase assistance program that empowers states and Tribes to sustain and grow the newly developed markets for their farmers while ensuring Tribal nations have equitable access to funding opportunities with set-asides. The program is intended to develop new wholesale markets for small and mid-scale local farmers, but the program design allows for innovative delivery and distribution of high quality local food into food insecure communities (Sec. 10004).
It responds to long-time requests to increase mandatory funding for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which will finally provide enough funding for the program so all interested States and Tribes can participate (Sec. 4401).
The proposal improves access to highly effective local food market development programs such as the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion programs by removing match requirements arbitrarily added in the 2018 Farm Bill . The bill also responds to the needs of underserved farmers and reduces barriers to participation by removing the match for Value-Added Producer Grants (Sec. 10003).
One example is the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, which has a dual mission to support the development and success of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural practices while improving access in food insecure areas. NSAC is thrilled to see the extensive list of provisions to grow and improve the services offered under the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, many of which came from the Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act . The Senate proposal provides annual mandatory funding of $10 million in addition to the increased appropriations levels. This is a significant win for the Office, as stakeholders have had to work diligently to secure funding each year, and the office is currently only able to fund approximately 20% of eligible grant applications. The bill also clarifies additional office responsibilities, such as leveraging USDA Service Centers to provide tailored business and conservation technical assistance to urban and innovative growers. It also offers flexibility to implement these activities through cooperative agreements with community partners. It clarifies the intentions and responsibilities of the newly developed Urban County Committees to ensure that the committees adequately represent the unique needs of the growers (Sec. 12208).
While the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program no longer exclusively serves direct-marketing farmers, the majority of nutrition incentive programs still operate programs in farmers market settings , driving more revenue to local and regional farmers. The Senate proposal recognizes the substantial growth and effectiveness of the program, scaling funding over ten years, increasing the federal cost-share, and offering pathways for cooperative agreements with partners who have the capacity to implement state-wide programs (Sec. 4403).
NSAC is extremely pleased to see the directive to streamline the vendor application process for direct marketing to farmers across all federal nutrition benefits (Sec. 4408). This has the potential to increase the number of farmers benefiting from these programs, improving revenues, and the accessibility of local products for families.

While we celebrate these many wins, there are also places where RPFSA falls short of what is needed to ensure resilient local and regional food systems:

We cannot understate our excitement to see a permanent local food purchase assistance program proposed in the Senate bill. However, a $200 million total between FY25-FY29 may inadvertently hamper the program’s effectiveness. Unprecedented funding levels provided through one-time investments were designed to respond to the immediate impacts of COVID-19; yet, the program demonstrates the capacity and interest of local farmers to scale their businesses to larger wholesale markets. Proposed funding levels may leave some states receiving as little as $40,000 annually, well below what is necessary to operate a successful program.
NSAC also continues to advocate for more opportunities for small meat and poultry producers in localized and federal-based procurement, including specific federal set-asides and studies on the barriers to entry for meat and poultry producers and processors.
NSAC believes the next farm bill should include a broader set of processor workforce development opportunities that directly fund meat processors to offer training or collaborate with community colleges, universities, or other worker training programs.
Finally, while in the proposal the Regional Food Business Centers are authorized to coordinate investments and provide technical assistance for essential elements of the food supply chain, it lacks any funding authorizations. Many of the current cooperative agreements will expire in FY28 or FY29. This may produce an otherwise avoidable gap in funding for programs that will be fully underway.

Farming is a uniquely risky business. The federal government must play a role in helping farmers mitigate financial loss from unforeseeable risks to maintain a reliable food supply chain and support family farms and the economic security of the communities in which they live. But farm safety net programs that should keep farmers farming – including commodity programs, crop insurance, and disaster assistance – tend to leave behind many small, beginning, and diversified farmers and ranchers. The next farm bill must strengthen the farm safety net to expand access to underserved producers and invest in on-farm resilience to improve farmers’ bottom lines and reduce program costs long-term.

The RPFSA takes several important steps toward that goal by:

Making much-needed improvements to Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm, as well as the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), which will streamline access to the farm safety net and enhance the quality of coverage for beginning, small to mid-sized, specialty crop, and diversified farmers (Sec. 1601,11203, 11405).
Addressing the gap in coverage for new and transitioning farmers by creating a pathway for NAP participants to graduate into WFRP enrollment once three years of revenue history – a condition for WFRP eligibility – is established (Sec. 1601).
Establishing a weather index-based insurance pilot based on the WEATHER Act as a new, responsive coverage option for small and diversified farmers (Sec. 11204).
Creating more regular opportunities for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to review current data and apply that to methodologies used to measure risk, including risk from crop genetics and worsening weather, to improve long-term program integrity (Sec. 11502).
Supporting natural resource stewardship by expanding sodsaver nationwide and codifying that NRCS conservation practices are Good Farming Practices (Sec. 11207, 11601).
Expanding the Risk Management Agency’s definition of a beginning farmer to one farming up to ten years, rather than only five, and increasing the maximum beginning farmer discount in line with the bipartisan Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act (Sec. 11101).

While we celebrate the preceding proposed improvements to the farm safety net, some aspects of the proposal require further examination, for example:

While several provisions are aimed at increasing the responsiveness of crop insurance agents to sell WFRP and area-based plans to smaller operators, because finding willing agents is a pervasive and significant barrier to insurance access , RPFSA should have gone further by codifying the comprehensive Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act (Sec. 11202, 11203, 11301, 11302, 11303, 11505).
NSAC generally supports the authorization for USDA to consider premium discounts and match state programs tied to the voluntary adoption of certain conservation practices. However, the inclusion of “precision irrigation and fertilization” broadly as an example of practices that may be eligible for a discount is concerning. We urge caution against the implementation of such a program without strict payment limits to mitigate further concentration of resources among the largest producers (Sec. 11103, 11208).
NSAC heartily welcomes a reduced $700,000 Adjusted-Gross Income (AGI) means test to Title I program eligibility and a payment band on maximum Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program payouts as steps toward responsible spending that supports working farmers. However, these provisions are not nearly enough. The $150,000 AGI carve-out for the largest specialty crop operations might make sense if AGI did not, by definition, only reflect profits and already account for expenses.
NSAC cautiously views the unspecified authorization of a permanent disaster program to supplement record farm safety net spending . This bandage would not be necessary if risk management programs actually helped farmers build resilience against loss. If it is established, any permanent disaster program must incorporate eligibility for producers without prior insurance coverage through a revenue-based approach (introduced in the Emergency Relief Program ) as well as guardrails for payments to be equitably distributed to producers who need assistance the most (Sec. 1502).

There are several places where RPFSA falls short of building a truly functional, fair, and informed farm safety net:

Following a period of record net-farm income, RPFSA raises subsidies primarily known to benefit the largest, industrial commodity operations. PLC reference prices will be increased by five percent for rice, cotton, and peanuts, which might cost up to $10 billion , despite benefiting less than 0.3 percent of farms . Meanwhile, revenue-guarantees under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program will increase from 86 to 88 percent, to the comparable benefit of corn and soybean operations. It also expands highly subsidized supplemental insurance options for commodity producers. The Chairwoman’s outline for farm safety net reform earlier this year would have raised subsidies, but in a more balanced and responsible way by prompting commodity farms to choose between the sweetened insurance or Title I benefits. This should be placed on the table once again as a condition for higher subsidies for the highest-earning commodity farms (Sec. 1101, 1107, 11102).
The RPFSA reflects a missed opportunity to incorporate the bipartisan Farm Program Integrity Act to close Title I loopholes that allow absent landowners and relatives to receive annual subsidies rather than farmers actively engaged on the farm (Sec. 1104, 1106, 1703).
Farm bill negotiations must evolve to incorporate historically bipartisan proposals , including the AFFIRM Act and the Crop Insurance Transparency Act , that introduce common-sense payment limits, means tests, and data transparency to the federal crop insurance program that similarly apply to other farm programs. These proposals would save tens of billions of dollars while impacting as few as three percent of farms.

For all farmers and ranchers, starting and managing a successful farming operation is fraught with great challenges. For beginning, BIPOC, and other historically underserved farmers, rising costs and limited availability of farmland, access to markets and infrastructure, limited or no built capital, discrimination, and the worsening impacts of the climate crisis and natural disasters are just some of the challenges these farmers face. The next farm bill must take a comprehensive approach to addressing these inequities, including through increased access to land and capital.

The RPFSA advances this goal in several key ways, by:

Improving existing programs to help farmers access land, including reducing experience needed as eligibility for farm ownership loans to one year, increasing the limitation and authorization of direct and guaranteed farm ownership loans, and increasing the limit for the Down Payment Loan Program (Sec. 5101, 5103, 5015, 5106).
Increasing the limits and authorizations for direct operating loans, farm ownership loans, and microloans to keep pace with the rising cost of assets and equipment (Sec. 5201, 5203, 5302).
Removing barriers to underserved farmers’ ability to access credit from USDA, including the removal of graduation requirements, and the restoration of loan eligibility after a write-down or forgiveness (Sec. 5202, 5303, 5305).
Extending authorization of the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach (FOTO) program, which includes 2501 and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), through 2029 (Sec. 12201).

While we celebrate these reforms, we also see some missed opportunities, for example:

The extension of the Commission on Farm Transitions and its expanded scope is a welcome acknowledgment of the pressing challenges that beginning, small, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers face to access land amid a historic generational transfer of farmland; however, proposals already exist to begin addressing some of these challenges, such as the Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act , which would invest in community-driven projects to help producers secure land and should be considered in the final farm bill (Sec. 12521).

In some places, the RPFSA falls short of what is needed to increase equitable access to land and capital. For example:

NSAC is opposed to increasing the authorization level for guaranteed operating loans without placing guardrails to prevent or reduce capital infusions to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), which are missing from the proposal (Sec. 5302).
The proposal does not address several of the most common issues for underserved farmers trying to access credit from USDA which are addressed in the Fair Credit for Farmers Act , including over-collateralization and an imbalanced appeals process.
The proposal does not authorize new programs or initiatives to fulfill unmet capital needs, such as the creation of a multiyear loan pilot for beginning farmers to invest in start-up expenditures and at least a study on the feasibility for USDA to offer pre-approvals or pre-qualifications for loans.

NSAC will continue to provide coverage of the pathway to a new farm bill on our blog , including detailed analysis of the Senate and House proposals as legislative text emerges.

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