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Mar. 22, 2024 Source: Representative Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) news release WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) announced Monday that she introduced a bill to address the impending transfer of over 370 million acres of farmland in the next two decades. The Farm Transitions Act is co-led by two Democrats and two Republicans: Rep. Caraveo (CO-08), Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01), Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03), and Rep. Don Davis (NC-01). The Farm Transitions Act would reauthorize the Commission on Farm Transitions included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The 10-member Commission is tasked with studying issues impacting the transition of agricultural operations to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, and making subsequent recommendations to address them, including: The availability of quality land, necessary infrastructure, affordable credit, adequate risk management tools, and apprenticeship and mentorship programs The state of current agricultural asset transfer strategies and potential improvements Incentives to facilitate agricultural asset transfers to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including an assessment of how federal tax policy impacts estate transfers The effectiveness of transition assistance programs and incentives Barriers faced by underserved and women farmers and ranchers in the ability to transfer, inherit, or purchase agricultural assets, including land The impact of leasing and ownership trends by foreign persons or entities "Over the next two decades, the United States will witness the largest farmland transfer this country has ever seen," said Rep. Caraveo. "Hundreds of millions of acres of farmland will potentially be passed on from one generation to the next, drastically changing the face of farmland ownership across the U.S. We need to start preparing for this. By passing the Farm Transitions Act, we can ensure that the farmers and ranchers of tomorrow will be well-positioned to maintain a globally competitive agriculture industry for decades to come." "The preservation of American farmland is essential for our nation's food security and agricultural heritage, especially as many Mississippi farmers and producers are retiring and farms are transitioning to the next generation," said Rep. Kelly. "Feeding and fueling the world is done because of the hands, hearts, and hard work of Iowa's farmers," said Rep. Nunn. "In the next decade, more than half of American farmland will transition hands. We need to do more to lower the barrier to buy farmland and support the next generation of farmers as they continue the tradition of agriculture in our country. This bipartisan bill is a commonsense step in the right direction." "In the span of just five years, our beloved North Carolina has witnessed the loss of 3,601 farms and over 300,000 acres of farmland, a testament to the challenges facing our farming communities," said Rep. Davis. "Eastern North Carolina farmers are concerned about the future of their farms and whether their children will be able to inherit and uphold the proud legacy of agriculture in our region. We need legislation such as this, which seeks solutions, especially tackling the issue of heirs' property, to ensure that all our farming families can look forward to a future where their lands and legacies continue for generations to come." The Farm Transitions Act is supported by the American Farmland Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect farmland and keep farmers on the land. "Nearly 300 million acres--about a third of the country's total agricultural land--will change hands over the next twenty years as current farmers retire," said Tim Fink, Policy Director for American Farmland Trust. "Ensuring that this land remains in agriculture and creates opportunities for new farmers will require deliberate policy. AFT applauds the introduction of the Farm Transitions Act which will help identify the barriers and the solutions needed to enable farms and ranches to transfer to the next generation of producers." To read the bill text of the Farm Transitions Act click here. About Congresswoman Caraveo Congresswoman Dr. Caraveo is a first generation American whose parents immigrated to Colorado from Chihuahua. She has served Colorado families as a pediatrician for over a decade and as a member of the state House. She is now the first Latina congressperson in Colorado's history and the first representative of CO-08, Colorado's newest congressional seat. She serves on the House Agriculture and House Science, Space, & Technology Committees. Tweet |
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