Assemblyman Alex Sauickie’s bill lowering expenses for New Jersey farmers by increasing access to less costly agricultural supplies through regional bulk purchasing programs was cleared by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday.  

The bill (A4029), based on recommendations in a 2025 state report, would help farmers, especially beginning farmers who may have less capital, pool their resources to purchase the supplies they need at a lower cost. County agriculture development boards would manage each “Farmer Supply Link Program.” 

“The high cost of living in New Jersey is threatening the livelihoods of farmers, who have fewer financing options than business owners in other industries. The price of equipment, fertilizer, fuel and labor keeps increasing, creating major barriers for beginning farmers in particular,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) explained. “A supply link program would serve area farmers, allowing them to stretch funds further by lowering costs and establishing a reliable local supply source, which would free up time to focus on farming.” 

County agriculture boards would work with businesses that consolidate and distribute produce from multiple farms to purchase discounted bulk supplies, including equipment, compost, fertilizer, fuel, seeds, livestock and more, to sell to farmers. Boards could prioritize participation in the program for new and beginning farmers, or farmers with demonstrated financial need. 

“To ensure the long-term viability of the program, it would be self-sustaining,” Sauickie said. “Farmers could count on the program to help them meet their financial goals, which would go a long way toward protecting the future of farming in New Jersey.”

The bill authorizes county boards to establish regulations, fees and formats to distribute supplies. Fees must be reasonable, annually adjusted for inflation, and adequate to recover all costs of administration. Excess revenue would be refunded to program participants.