{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-bill-addresses-financial-hurdles-new-farmers-and-ranchers", "Adams Bill Addresses Financial Hurdles for New Farmers and Ranchers", "2025-09-15", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "Alma S. Adams", "A000370", "adams.house.gov", "adams", "https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswomen Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12)and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), alongside Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), introduced the bicameral Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act. The bill will help address financial challenges for new farmers and ranchers, especially as farm input costs continue to rise and agricultural prices continue to fall in 2025.\n\nBeginning farmers often face immediate financial hurdles during their first years of operation. This legislation directs the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to develop a multi-year loan pilot program to address financing challenges for beginning farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cThe future of our agriculture industry depends on the next generation of farmers and ranchers, but high costs and shrinking profit margins make it difficult for them to enter the field,\u201d said Congresswoman Adams. \u201cThe Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act is a lifeline for our new agriculture producers, ensuring their access to essential programs like long-term loans, flexible financing terms, and technical assistance that strengthen their operations. Our farms, especially small, mid-sized, and family farms, need our support and I\u2019m proud to introduce this bill to give them the resources they need to be successful.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew farmers starting their businesses often face financial barriers,\u201d said Representative Strickland. \u201cThis bill gives farmers immediate access to capital as they begin their farming operations.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupporting aspiring and beginner farmers is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our food systems and the health and welfare of our communities. Start-up funds are vital to building a business in any industry, and farming is no exception. Yet for many beginning farmers\u2014especially first-generation and farmers of color\u2014financial barriers can make it difficult to break ground on their farm,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cOur bicameral bill will make it easier for beginning farmers in Vermont, North Carolina, Washington, and across the country to start and maintain farming operations.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/adams-bill-addresses-financial-hurdles-new-farmers-and-ranchers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2362860143184662, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}