Jun 25, 2026 | Press Releases

Denver - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led eleven Senate colleagues in reintroducing legislation that will help small farms access federal conservation programs delivered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

"After hearing from farmers and ranchers across Colorado, especially those who are just getting started or facing barriers to accessing federal resources, it is clear our conservation programs are falling short of their promise. By making these programs more accessible to smaller operations, we can help producers adopt soil health practices, strengthen local food systems, and protect our environment," said Bennet.

USDA's EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that offers farmers and ranchers financial cost-share and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on working agricultural lands. Small farms and ranches often find it difficult to navigate federal conservation programs and, because payment rates are based on acreage, they face meaningful pay discrepancies compared to larger agricultural operations. Small farmers who wish to undertake soil health practices have to dedicate the same time and effort as larger farms to access EQIP while only receiving a fraction of the benefit.

The Small Farm Conservation Act modifies EQIP to create a new subprogram dedicated to helping small farmers and ranchers access and receive adequate financial and technical assistance.

Specifically, the Small Farm Conservation Act would:

• Create a subprogram within EQIP tailored to support small farms and ranches;
• Establish a national subprogram coordinator and one in each state;
• Streamline the application and approval processes for small farmers and ranches;
• Create a bonus payment for farms under 50 acres employing soil health practices;
• Allow small farms to enroll on a continuous basis instead of waiting for the annual ranking period; and
• Require the Natural Resources Conservation Service to train field staff on conservation tailored for small-scale agriculture and to conduct outreach to small-scale farmers and ranchers.

"Small farms are important to our rural landscape and ensure national food security. The majority of U.S. organic farms are small- to mid-sized, and OFA supports expanding conservation support for small farms through the Small Farm Conservation Act," said Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director of the Organic Farmers Association.

"The Small Farm Conservation Act is an important step in supporting young farmers who are interested in both feeding their communities and taking care of our shared resources. This bill directly addresses the challenges that these farmers face when trying to access EQIP cost-share dollars by breaking down barriers and simplifying application processes. The National Young Farmers Coalition is grateful to the leadership of the bill's sponsors and looks forward to continuing to ensure that NRCS programs work for the next generation of farmers," said Lotanna Obodozie, Climate Policy Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition.

Ensuring that conservation programs serve small farms is a top priority for NSAC, as many of our members serve small farmers directly every day. We are excited to see a strong slate of common sense reforms in the Small Farm Conservation Act. These changes will deepen USDA's institutional understanding of small farms, make EQIP more accessible, and improve the outreach, application, and technical assistance processes small farmers experience when using conservation programs," said Jesse Womack, Conservation Policy Specialist of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Accessing the USDA conservation programs has been a real nightmare for me and other small-scale producers in my community. The Small Farm Conservation Act will help young, beginning, and under-represented farmers access conservation programs and adopt important soil-health practices, without taking so much valuable time away from growing essential, healthy food for their community," said Lauren Kelso, Flatirons Farmers Coalition.

"Family farms, orchards, and ranches are the hearts of Colorado rural communities. Helping them implement more conservation-minded practices can meaningfully improve farm productivity, farm health, and watershed resilience. Promoting conservation on our smaller-acreage farms provides a real benefit for rural Colorado. It boosts our rural economies, improves the health of our land, and it strengthens resilience to extreme weather - protecting Western Colorado's agricultural heritage. By directing more support to small family farms and ranches, the SFCA will bolster Colorado rural communities and help ensure a prosperous future," said Mark Waltermire, Board President of the Valley Organic Growers Association.

"The Yampa Valley is home to a remarkable network of small farms and ranches that have helped shape the identity of northwest Colorado for generations. Many of these operations remain family-run, with knowledge and stewardship passed down from one generation to the next. If agriculture is going to thrive in this region for decades to come, we must invest in the long-term viability of these small producers and ensure they have the tools to adapt to increasing drought and water challenges. Greater access to and support through the EQIP program will help farmers and ranchers implement the resilience strategies they need to remain productive and sustainable. Western Resilience Center is proud to support Senator Bennet's legislation and its commitment to strengthening small farms, ranches, and the future of agriculture in our region," said Michelle Stewart, Executive Director of Western Resilience Center.

In addition to Bennet, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored this legislation.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

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