Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Fetterman, John [D-PA]
Introduced
Summary
Expand federal support for urban and controlled‑environment agriculture. This bill would enlarge the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, create competitive grants and cooperative agreements for urban and innovative farms, add controlled‑environment systems like hydroponics to research programs, and strengthen agricultural data collection for cities and territories.
Show full summary
- Families and communities: Prioritizes projects that improve local access to fresh foods in areas with limited options, aiming to increase produce availability in urban neighborhoods.
- Urban and small producers: Would authorize competitive grants, subgrants, and technical help for business setup, zoning navigation, conservation tailored to cities, and farm tract number management for small or noncontiguous parcels.
- Tribal, territorial, local governments and schools: Broadens who can receive support to include Tribal and territorial governments, local units, nonprofits, cooperatives, producer networks, and K‑12 schools.
- Researchers and tech developers: Adds hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, and other controlled‑environment technologies to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
- Federal programs and data: Would require regular agricultural censuses and raise census funding, anchor a $15.0 million annual Commodity Credit Corporation transfer, and authorize up to $50.0 million per year for 2026–2030 to run the office and projects.
*Would increase federal spending by mandating $15.0 million annually from the Commodity Credit Corporation, authorizing $50.0 million per year for 2026–2030, and raising census funding to $18.0 million annually for 2026–2030.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New urban farming grants and help
This bill would create a USDA program to fund and help urban and innovative farms. Eligible groups would include nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, agricultural cooperatives or producer networks, and K–12 schools. Grants would be competitive, grantees could make subgrants to urban producers, and USDA could use cooperative agreements. The program would fund business setup, zoning help, farm tract number help for small parcels, conservation practices for cities, and help with Federal, State, Tribal, and local rules. The bill would authorize $50 million per year for FY2026–FY2030 and require $15 million per year from the Commodity Credit Corporation starting in FY2026.
More funding for agriculture census
This bill would change the law to require that each Census of Agriculture be conducted, rather than referring only to the 2017 census. It would also provide $18 million for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the Census of Agriculture. Those funds would remain available until expended.
More research for indoor farming
This bill would add hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, and other controlled-environment production technologies to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) research topics. If enacted, researchers and producers using these indoor systems would be explicitly eligible for AFRI grants. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov