Young farmers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and need support to continue implementing solutions on their farms. However, they often face barriers to accessing federal conservation programs, because their farms and ranches tend to be small. Farmers should not have to choose between meeting their bottom-line and investing in conservation to protect our shared resources. Young and historically underserved farmers and ranchers that manage small acreage farms have a crucial role to play in protecting our natural resources, conserving water, and improving soil health.

The Small Farm Conservation Act (S.2180, H.R.5354) can support young and BIPOC farmers by increasing their access to USDA conservation programs. We are excited to announce that over 70 national, regional, and local organizations support the Small Farm Conservation Act (S.2180, H.R.5354). With these partners, we call on Congress to include the text of the Small Farm Conservation Act in the 2023 Farm Bill. This bill helps meet the conservation needs of young and BIPOC producers through dedicated funding and a simplified application process for small operations. The Small Farm Conservation Act creates a new subprogram of EQIP dedicated to helping these producers access valuable cost-share dollars and increasing access to technical assistance.

The letter is here, and a list of endorsing organizations is below.