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European funding received as part of rural development programs has a major political impact in Romania, as it helps to shape the legitimate form of agriculture. It is used as a support for new representative claims. At the same time, it feeds conflicts within national administration. Firstly, several professional organizations claim to stand for “small-scale capitalist agriculture,” located between small plots dedicated to consumption on the farm and huge operators who export a large amount of their crops. They use the concept of “semi-subsistence” as a means to make a clear distinction between farms that deserve support and those that are doomed to disappear. Statistical tools and rhetorical devices used to make a selection are not sufficient to bring out new economic practices. But they give a sense of purpose to self-appointed spokespersons. Second, several divisions compete against each other within the Romanian Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. As they struggle to delineate their respective scope for action, some of them call upon professional organizations that claim to support “small-scale capitalist agriculture.” High-ranking officials who look for such reinforcements attempt to legitimate their position, arguing that they are backed by a strong external mobilization. The analysis is based on a systematic examination of appropriate trade journals and on semi-structured interviews with leaders of professional organizations and heads of administrative divisions.