It’s really important not only for our public health , not only for our economy but really for our security as a Commonwealth to have a locally grown productive food system.
— State Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Chair of Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries
Will State Bill Help Cape Farmers?
The State Senate unanimously passed a new bill supporting all things farm, from agri-tourism to Farm to School food programs.
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16 April 2026 – CAPE COD, MA – With spring sprouting and an embrace of all things earth in April, it only seems fitting that the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed the so-called FARM Bill.
“This is the largest bill we’ve done in my nine years of being here to support farmers and to support a healthy locally grown food system,” said State Sen. Dylan Fernandes, who represents Barnstable and Plymouth and also serves as the chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.
What does the act do?
The act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts (FARM) expects to support the more-than 7,000 agriculture and aquaculture farms in the state as well as strengthening local food supplies and delivering a boost to agri-tourism.
Among the bill’s highlights:
- Extends a grant process that enables farmers to apply for capital funds
- Makes the Health Incentives and the Farm to School programs permanent, which means SNAP benefits can purchase local food in locations like farmers markets and school districts can purchase locally grown food for students
- Enables tourism activities like pick your own berries” and bog tours by adjusting zoning regulations
- Sets up a next generation fund that provides grants for training new farmers
Why does FARM matter?
Farmers face huge pressures and much of the state’s traditional farmland now holds homes or commercial development instead of strawberries, apples, or asparagus.
“This is about how to we level the playing field a little bit to make sure we can keep farms viable here,” said Fernandes.
What happens next?
The bill based the senate in a unanimous bipartisan vote. It now moves onto the House and eventually to the Governor. It could be signed into law before the end of the year.
“It’s really important,” said Fernandes, “Not only for our public health , not only for our economy but really for our security as a Commonwealth to have a locally grown productive food system.”
For more information
Statehouse release on passage of bill
Full text of bill
