Bill
SB 313
Creates a Small Farmer Grant Program with a $15M Fund to provide financial aid for inputs, equipment, and upgrades to NC small/family farmers.
Status and key dates
- Bill number: SB 313
- Short title: Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act
- Introduced: February 10, 2025
- Reported status (provided): Withdrawn from committee (check legislative record for current status)
- Proposed effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025
Purpose
- To strengthen the economic viability and long‑term sustainability of North Carolina small and family farms by creating a dedicated grant program that provides targeted financial assistance for essential farm inputs, equipment, and operational improvements.
What the bill would do — major provisions
- Establishes a new Article (Article 61B) in Chapter 106 (Agriculture) to create the Small Farmers Support Grant Program (the Program).
- Creates the Small Farmer Grant Fund (the Fund) as a special revenue fund to hold:
- General Fund appropriations,
- Gifts, grants, and donations from non‑state entities.
- Provides an initial funding authorization: $15,000,000 in recurring General Fund dollars for FY 2025–2026 to capitalize the Fund and support grants.
- Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a North Carolina resident at least 21 years old.
- Must be a “small farmer,” defined as a farmer with gross cash farm income of $1,000,000 or less (method of determination to be specified by the Department).
- Must have had at least $1,000 of farm income in the prior taxable year.
- Grant administration:
- Grants awarded by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), administered by the Commissioner.
- Commissioner may set application forms, priorities (e.g., by farm size, income, hardship), tiered maximum grant amounts, and retain up to 1% of appropriated funds for program administration.
- Department must adopt rules to implement the Program.
- An advisory committee shall be established to monitor Program effectiveness and recommend improvements.
Who would be affected
- Direct beneficiaries: eligible small farmers across North Carolina (family farms, beginning farmers, operations with limited revenue).
- State agencies: NCDA&CS (program design, rulemaking, application processing, reporting).
- State budget: initial and recurring appropriation of $15 million (and ongoing fiscal impact if continuation occurs).
Implementation and procedural notes
- The Commissioner has discretion to establish priorities, tiers, and administrative procedures via rulemaking.
- The Fund can accept private gifts/grants in addition to state appropriations.
- The bill leaves detailed grant amounts, selection criteria, reporting and audit requirements to Department rules and advisory committee input.
- If enacted as drafted, the appropriation begins in FY 2025–2026 and the statute would take effect July 1, 2025.
Potential impacts (high‑level)
- Positive: Immediate financial relief and investment for small farm operations; may help preserve farmland, improve productivity, and reduce barriers to entry/continuation for family farmers.
- Fiscal: Requires recurring General Fund resources ($15M for 2025–26 per bill text); administrative cost allowance is minimal (up to 1%).
- Administrative: NCDA&CS will need staff, processes, and rulemaking to operate the grant program and monitor outcomes.
For further tracking
- Check the North Carolina legislature’s bill status page for SB 313 (Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act) for amendments, committee action, fiscal analyses, and whether the bill is reintroduced or advanced.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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