Our farm and food system is more resilient and just with more farmers stewarding the land, growing food for their communities, but so many people who want to farm are facing significant barriers to getting established and sustaining their businesses. The Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities (LASO) Act, championed by Sen. Tina Smith would re-authorize the Land, Capital, and Market Access Program with $100 million. If passed as part of the next Farm Bill, our country would take a major step forward in addressing some of the biggest challenges our emerging and beginning farmers face.
If enacted, this innovative bill would fund powerful, community-led solutions to the land access crisis facing the new generation of young and Black farmers, Indigenous farmers, and farmers of color through the 2023 Farm Bill. This is a significant victory for young farmers, ranchers, and everyone who has been fighting to win federal funding to address issues of equitable land access, retention, and transition. This bill will increase access to capital for underserved farmers, boost training and economic opportunity for beginner farmers, and help make land more affordable for BIPOC farmers through the 2023 Farm Bill.
Please contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to support the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act and to invest in secure, equitable access to land in the next Farm Bill.
If you are contacting U.S. Senator Tina Smith, please thank her for being a champion for the LASO Act!