PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 1, 2017
Young and Beginning Farmers Act
This bill amends various agricultural laws to modify and establish programs to assist beginning farmers.
The bill makes land trusts eligible for certain assistance under the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. In administering the program, USDA must prioritize an application for purchasing an easement that maintains agricultural viability, requires subsequent purchases to be at agricultural value, or both.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill modifies several agricultural programs to:
require the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to prequalify loan applicants,
increase and index for inflation the limits on the amounts of USDA farm ownership loans,
transfer jurisdiction of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers to the FSA,
establish an online customer self-service portal,
reauthorize the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program with increased mandatory funding and allow specified funds to be transferred for individual development accounts,
reauthorize the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Accounts Pilot Program,
reauthorize the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program with increased mandatory funding, and
authorize grants for farm viability programs.
The FSA must assign state coordinators to promote communication with beginning farmers or ranchers and increase their access to USDA programs.
The General Services Administration may sell surplus farm equipment or property to socially disadvantaged, veteran, or beginning farmers and ranchers.
People & committees
Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18] · D–NY
Legislative record
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Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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