Today’s post was written by Kaitlyn Kimball, organic farmer and founder of Sunset Farm in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Kaitlyn is a member of CT NOFA and joined our DC fly-in last month, where we collectively advocated for fair and equitable farm policies on Capitol Hill.
Urban farmers from Kentucky. Ranchers from Montana. Fisherfolk from Louisiana. Organic growers from Connecticut. The scary part? We can finish each other’s sentences about the similar threats our small farms face.
Small farms make up the backbone of American agriculture. Roughly 86% of all farms in the United States are small family farms, operating about 40% of American farmland and making less than $350,000 per year. And yet, we are the group of farmers most often neglected in federal farm policy.
Kaitlyn owns and operates Sunset Farm in Connecticut with her husband, Lawrence. They cultivate 19 acres of land for organic vegetable, fruit, and flower production. Photo courtesy Kaitlyn Kimball.
On February 18 and 19, I traveled from my organic produce operation in Connecticut to Washington DC with the National Family Farm Coalition to represent Connecticut’s Northeast Organic Farming Association, joining other small farmers and advocates from across the nation. Our ask? Legislation that supports small to midsize operations in the wake of a looming economic farm crisis.
Unstable markets, tariffs, weather events, and corporate consolidation threaten the small family farm. With overall farm income declining for a fourth consecutive year, and farm bankruptcies rising by an alarming 46% in 2025, many believe we are already past the tipping point.
The contrast of my leathered boots on the white marble floors of the House and Senate buildings reminded me of the intense political divide plaguing our country and communities. I am tasked with the seemingly impossible ask of positioning my issue in Congress’ hierarchy of importance. As we geared up for our first meeting, I thought to myself, surely stories of farmers can give us common ground. As it turns out, I might be right.
As we sat in brightly lit offices, Congressional staffers heard our stories from across the nation, our ballads in sync with an eerily similar tune. My costs are increasing. My debt is growing. My market prices are dropping. I need help. Offices from North Carolina, Oregon, California, Alabama, Kentucky, and Connecticut listened as I recounted my experience as a young farmer facing barriers to credit. Our stories united to push the Fair Credit for Farmers Act that would amend aspects of the FSA Loan program to make loans more accessible for small farmers.
Our farmer-led coalition mobilized independent producers and advocates to urge Congress for a fair and transformative new Farm Bill.
Farm debt in the US is the highest it’s ever been, a staggering $625 billion. Small farms carry an average of $239,000 worth of debt, with younger farmers under 45 tending to have higher debt to asset ratios.
The House version of the 2026 Farm Bill introduced late last week already faces heavy criticism, offering little to no solutions to address the viability of small farms. With increases and provisions largely focused on commodity growers, this farm bill leaves small producers behind.
As we moved from office to office, the mood felt different this year compared to last. Instead of an outright unwillingness to engage with an industry or issue not seen as partisan, many offices where we would assume political stalemate seemed to express cautious solidarity with farmer voices. Farmers accessing loans and disaster relief after Hurricane Helene in the South now seemed to ring true with producers in California facing drought. The plight of urban farmers in the Northeast facing land access issues now seems more relevant to Midwest producers facing foreclosure and land seizures. There seemed to be an awakening in these meetings that our challenges with farm viability do not discriminate by party. Our food system, like many other issues, should not be partisan. The dissonance on other social issues faded for a brief moment as we collectively agreed on one thing: small farmers need our help.
This was Kaitlyn’s second year attending the NFFC fly-in as a delegate for CT-NOFA.
During my trip to Washington, we lost the great Jesse Jackson. Jackson was a fierce Civil Rights Activist, but many do not know that Jesse was also an impactful farm advocate. As I reflected on his passing and work as I traveled to DC, I read more about his involvement in farm advocacy, including Jackson leading a tractorcade to support Northwest Missouri farmers facing foreclosures. Jackson famously said, “If you eat, you’re involved with agriculture.” Jackson’s words remind us that food is a common language that unites us all.
As I leave Washington I wonder if our stories and solidarity as small farmers have the power to create a shared discourse in Washington, and most importantly, our communities back home. NFFC’s strategy of centering farmer voices is so powerful because it gives producers a seat at the problem-solving table, supporting the belief that those closest to the problem are the closest to the solution. To our legislators, listen to your farmers. Design policies with input from producers that support small family farms, not corporate commodities. Family farms are the backbone of American agriculture and deserve policies that bolster their viability. To our communities, invest in local. Shorten your food supply chain and become a farm stand or farmers market customer.
The livelihoods of small farms depend on a collective solution!
Kaitlyn and Lawrence sell certified organic vegetables at their farmstand in Connecticut. Photo courtesy Kaitlyn Kimball.