Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

Congress authorized the Committee in 1992 and since its inception, the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (ACBFR) has been integral to USDA strategy to engage and support our new and beginning farmers. The USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) administers the ACBFR. To view the current ACBFR charter, please view the below link.

Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Charter (2023 – 2025)

Membership

The USDA Secretary may appoint up to 20 members to the ACBFR. The members are representatives from state beginning farming programs; commercial lenders; private nonprofit organizations, community colleges and other higher education institutions, and other entities or persons providing lending or technical assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers. The Secretary may also appoint Regular Government Employees from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Farm Service Agency. Members are appointed to 2-year terms and may seek reappointment. To view the current slate of members, please view the below link.

Current Committee Members (2023 – 2025)

2023 ACBFR Public Meetings

• Federal Register Notice
• Agenda
• Presentations
• Summary Minutes

Transcripts and Recordings

• Daily PDFs
• Daily Audio Recordings (mp3s)

Recommendations

• None at this time.

Archives

Charters and Membership

• Current Committee Members (2019 – 2021)
• Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Charter

Federal Register Notices

• Federal Register notice (June 2, 2021)

• Federal Register notice (PDF, 253 KB) (October 31, 2020)

• Federal Register Notice (May 19, 2020)

• Federal Register Notice (CANCELLED: Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, March 16, 2020)

Agendas and Minutes

• Agenda (PDF, 140 KB) (June 2, 2021)

• Agenda (DOCX, 49.7 KB) (May 19, 2020)

• Agenda (PDF, 36.3 KB) (October 31, 2020)

• Minutes (DOCX, 66.1 KB) (October 31, 2020)

Transcripts and Recordings

• Transcript (PDF) (May 19, 2020)

• Meeting Presentations (Video) (May 19, 2020)

• June 2 meeting recording (video) (2021)

• June 3 meeting recording (video) (2021)

Presentations

• National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) (PPT, 7.8 MB) (10.31.20)

• Economic Research Service (ERS) (10.31.20)

• Farm Service Agency (FSA) (10.31.20)

Recommendations

• Recommendations from the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers to Secretary Perdue - April 18, 2018 (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers to Secretary Vilsack - August 31, 2015 (PDF, 935 KB)
• USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Recommendations on Land Tenure to Secretary Vilsack - August 31, 2015 (PDF, 51.9 KB)

RESOURCES FOR BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS

USDA New Farmers

USDA is an “Every Day, Every Way” department that touches the lives of every American, every day by supporting the agriculture sector, strengthening rural communities, promoting healthy eating, and helping to protect our natural resources. At the forefront of our mission is the support we provide to farmers to help them start—and continue—farming. If you have been wondering where to start at USDA, this is the place for you. Answer a few questions in our New Farmers Discovery Tool and we'll pull together personalized information we think will be helpful for you.

USDA - Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Coordinators

NRCS - Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers - Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

RMA - Beginning Farmer and Rancher (BFR) and Veteran Farmer and Rancher (VFR)

ERS – 2018 Farm Bill Highlights

FSA – Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans

NIFA - Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

Contact Us

Ms. R. Jeanese Cabrera
Designated Federal Officer
Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0601, Room 524-A
Washington, DC 20250
Phone: (202) 720-6350
Email: acbfr@usda.gov