Family Farm Transition Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a Farm Land Link program within 180 days of enactment. The program must: set up and keep a database of (A) people who want to transition away from farming and (B) people who want to become farmers; help transfer farm businesses and properties from those leaving farming to those starting to farm; and publish guidance on how to make those transfers. The Secretary must consider the results of the Commission on Farm Transitions study called out in section 12609(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The program would end 5 years after enactment unless the Secretary extends it for another 5 years (the extension must be made at least 180 days before the planned end date). The Secretary must send reports to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: a report not later than 30 months after enactment and then annually until the program ends, plus a final report within 180 days after the program ends.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a farmer who wants to stop farming, the program would let you register in a database to be connected with people who want to take over farms or farm businesses.
  • If you want to become a farmer, you could register in the database to find available farms, businesses, or matches with those leaving farming.
  • The program would publish guidance about how farm businesses and properties can be transferred.
  • The program starts within about six months of enactment and is set to run for 5 years unless extended by the Secretary for another 5 years.
  • The program will report its activities and results to congressional agriculture committees on a regular schedule.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on funding, appropriations, or estimated costs is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on supporters' statements, endorsements, or views is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' statements, concerns, or views is included in the bill text or provided metadata.