Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2013

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill changes how federal agricultural funding and land-transfer assistance are prioritized, specifically reserving portions of loan and grant programs for new and underserved farmers to help them acquire land and manage financial risks.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Beginning farmers and ranchers

They receive priority access to loans, grants, and technical assistance programs.

Military veterans

They gain a dedicated liaison and specific vocational training and microloan opportunities.

Socially disadvantaged farmers

They are granted priority status for various conservation and credit programs.

Retired or retiring farmers

They may receive annual payments for up to 2 years after transferring land to a beginning farmer.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill proposes new federal support, training, and loan programs to help beginning, socially disadvantaged, and military veteran farmers and ranchers enter the industry. It extends existing conservation and credit programs through 2018 and creates a new Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison position within the Department of Agriculture.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies as a beginning farmer or rancher under this bill?

The bill amends the definition to use 'average' rather than 'median' metrics, and provides specific support for those who have not operated a farm for more than 10 years.

How does this bill help military veterans?

It creates a Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison to help veterans navigate agricultural programs, provides vocational training, and allows for exceptions for veteran farmers.

Are there limits on how long a farmer can receive direct operating loans?

Yes, the bill imposes a 9-year limit on direct operating loans, with a waiver available for farmers on tribal land where commercial credit is unavailable.

Why It Matters

The bill changes how federal agricultural funding and land-transfer assistance are prioritized, specifically reserving portions of loan and grant programs for new and underserved farmers to help them acquire land and manage financial risks.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Shift toward micro-financing

The bill introduces a specific microloan program for young farmers, signaling a move toward smaller, more accessible credit instruments.

Department of Agriculture

Connected Entities

personUdall of New Mexico“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

personCasey“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

personKlobuchar“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

organizationConservation Reserve Program“A key conservation program extended by this bill.”Map →

personBrown“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

bill_numberBeginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2013“The title of the bill itself.”Map →

personMerkley“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

organizationUnited States Government Publishing Office“Source of the document.”Map →

bill_numberFood, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008“A previous law referenced in the extension of the Conservation Reserve Program.”Map →

personFranken“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

bill_numberFood Security Act of 1985“The foundational law upon which many provisions of this bill are based.”Map →

organizationFarmland Protection Program“Another key program established by this bill.”Map →

personLeahy“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

personTester“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

personHarkin“Lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

personJohnson of South Dakota“Co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

organizationEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program“A program established within this bill.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level