WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) announced the introduction of two bills focused on strengthening rural communities, expanding access to federal resources, and supporting family farm succession: the Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act and Farm Transitions Act of 2025. Together, these bills are designed to help rural communities build long-term capacity and ensure younger farmers can carry on agricultural traditions.
The Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act will provide technical assistance to help rural communities build local capacity and improve access to federal rural development programs. The bill, co-led by Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23), allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance to strengthen local capacity and improve access to rural development programs.
Farm Transitions Act of 2025 will reauthorize and update the Commission on Farm Transitions and require it to complete its report with recommendations to help farms transition from one generation of ownership to the next. Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03) will serve as the bipartisan co-lead of the legislation. The legislation reauthorizes and updates the Commission on Farm Transitions. The Commission will be tasked with:
- Studying the barriers to transferring land and agricultural assets to next-generation producers, including the ability to transfer, inherit, or purchase land.
- Examining the effectiveness of current agricultural asset transfer strategies and programs, and assessing the impact of current tax policy on transfers.
- Identifying barriers faced by next-generation producers, including the availability of land, credit, apprenticeships, business training, and technical assistance.
- Considering the impacts of broader farmland ownership trends such as farm consolidation and foreign ownership, and the challenges associated with owning heirs’ property.
- Developing recommendations to Congress to help retiring and aspiring farmers overcome these challenges and barriers.
The Farm Transitions Act of 2025 is supported by the American Farmland Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect farmland and keep farmers on the land.
“We’re committed to ensuring rural communities have the tools they need to grow, thrive, and prepare for the future. From expanding access to federal rural development resources to supporting the next generation of family farmers, this work is critical to the long-term success of eastern North Carolina and rural communities nationwide,” said Congressman Don Davis.
“Far too often, rural areas are left out of the picture when it comes to accessing federal development programs and grants,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “The Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act is a bipartisan bill that levels the playing field by improving access to rural development programs and providing technical assistance for applicants. This bill will go a long way in strengthening community development initiatives across Texas and the nation.”
“Nearly 300 million acres—about a third of the country’s total agricultural land—will change hands over the next twenty years as current farmers retire,” said Tim Fink, Vice President of Policy for American Farmland Trust. “Ensuring that this land both remains in agriculture and creates opportunities for new farmers will require deliberate policy. AFT applauds the introduction of the Farm Transitions Act which will help identify the barriers and the solutions needed to enable farms and ranches to transfer to the next generation of producers.”
“In Iowa, farming is a way of life that’s passed down from one generation to the next,” said Congressman Nunn. “With over half of U.S. farmland set to change hands in the next two decades, we need to ensure that family farms can stay in the family. This bipartisan bill would give young and beginning farmers better access to the tools, capital, and support they need to build successful operations and keep our rural communities strong.”