Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act
Senate Bill 313, titled the Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act, would create a new Small Farmers Support Grant Program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill’s stated purpose is to help preserve the viability of family farms by providing financial assistance for essential inputs, equipment, and operational improvements. It defines an eligible individual as a North Carolina resident age 21 or older who is a small farmer and had at least $1,000 in farm income in the prior taxable year, and it defines a small farmer as one with gross cash farm income of $1 million or less.
The program would be funded through a new special revenue fund, the Small Farmer Grant Fund, made up of gifts, grants, donations, and state appropriations. The Commissioner of Agriculture would administer the grants, set application procedures, establish priorities and tiered grant amounts based on need and hardship, and may use up to 1% of appropriated funds for administrative costs. The department would also be required to create an advisory committee to monitor the program and adopt rules to implement the new article. The bill appropriates $15 million in recurring General Fund money for fiscal year 2025-2026 and would take effect July 1, 2025.
If enacted, the bill would amend Chapter 106 of the North Carolina General Statutes by adding a new Article 61B establishing a permanent grant program for small farmers. It would create new administrative duties for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, authorize rulemaking, and establish a dedicated funding mechanism for grants supporting farm operations. The bill would directly affect eligible small farmers by making state grant assistance available for capital, equipment, and operational needs, while also setting income and age eligibility criteria and allowing the department to prioritize applicants based on hardship and access to capital.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and policy-driven. The measure is framed as a response to long-term pressures on family farms, including land consolidation, rising land prices, and barriers to entry, suggesting a strong pro-agriculture and pro-rural economic development orientation. No recorded opposition or amendments are shown in the provided context, so there is no documented public controversy in the materials supplied.
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and administrative rather than ideological. The bill requires a $15 million recurring General Fund appropriation, which could draw scrutiny from budget writers or lawmakers concerned about ongoing state spending. Another possible issue is program design: the Commissioner is given broad discretion to set priorities, tiered grant amounts, and eligibility administration, which may raise questions about fairness, transparency, and how limited funds will be distributed among farmers. The age threshold, income floor, and the $1 million gross cash farm income cap could also be debated as to whether they target the intended class of farmers effectively.