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A new small farm assistance program would let Utah's conservation commission award loans and grants from the Agriculture Resource Development Fund to small farmers — defined as individuals who own or lease a single active farm of 20 acres or less — to help them buy or expand a farm up to 20 acres, make a down payment on land, purchase equipment, or cover operating costs tied to developing or maintaining agricultural land. The commission would gain authority to set rules for the program, including loan terms, repayment methods, and interest rates, and could take security interests in property or foreclose on loans that aren't repaid. The bill appropriates $20 million to fund the program, with at least $10 million directed toward grants and up to $10 million toward loans, and requires the Department of Agriculture and Food to report to a legislative committee by October 2026 on how the money has been used and who has been helped.