Farm Bill Clears The House, Now On To The Senate

By a 224-200 vote Thursday, the House passed the Farm Bill, a move many in the Ag community say will bring stability to farmers and ranchers.  The legislation reauthorizes key food and farm programs for five years while expanding rural investment and improving regulatory certainty.

Lawmakers say those provisions will help producers better plan for the future amid volatile markets and rising input costs.  Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said this has been a long time coming.

"It has been eight years since the last farm bill, so we are truly grateful the House found a bipartisan path forward on this bill,” he noted.

Now It's The Senate's Turn

Glenn said while this is a key step, the farming community isn’t done with D.C. quite yet.

"We need the Senate to follow the House's lead and move this important bipartisan legislation forward," Glenn added.  "Food security is national security, so we need to get this farm bill across the finish line. We are urging Senate leadership to take this up and move this quickly."

An amendment from Anna Luna of Florida, approved 280-142, removed proposed Farm Bill language that would establish federal law over state and local pesticide regulations.

I Can Think Of No More Important Work

“Working in Congress on behalf of our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities is an honor — even when the work requires debating the farm bill through the night,” Chairman GT Thompson said. “I can think of no more important work than championing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, and I am extremely pleased to see this bill pass out of the House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote.

“It is clearer every day that farm country needs updated policy that reflects current challenges, and the 2026 farm bill fills that gap. I look forward to seeing Chairman Boozman and the Senate make progress on this important legislation so we can get the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 sent to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible.

Commodity/Grower Reaction:

“America’s apple growers thank Chairman GT Thompson for his leadership in advancing a new Farm Bill through the U.S. House of Representatives. This is a critical step toward long-term certainty for growers," said Jim Bair President & CEO of U.S. Apple Association.  "The bill includes meaningful investments in specialty crops, and we’re especially encouraged by a more responsive framework for specialty crop assistance.  USApple urges the Senate to act swiftly so that a bipartisan farm bill can get to the President’s desk as soon as possible."

“While we’re pleased that the House Farm Bill contains some provisions beneficial to America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, we still have a long way to go to meaningfully incentivize the rebuilding of our decimated cowherd inventory. Congress can still accomplish this in the Farm Bill process so our focus will now turn to the Senate,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

“Thank you to Chairman GT Thompson, House leadership, and members from both parties for listening to real farmers and ranchers and passing the Farm Bill through the House," said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.  "Instead of caving to attacks on the livestock industry from shell activist groups that impersonate real producers, a bipartisan group of lawmakers advanced a bill that will provide certainty and important policy fixes for cattle country. We look forward to engaging with the Senate to advance this Farm Bill to the president’s desk.”

“NASDA applauds the House of Representatives and congratulates Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson and members of the House Agriculture Committee for passing the bipartisan farm bill,” said Ted McKinney National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO. “This legislation supports farmers, ranchers and consumers and provides economic growth for rural communities. NASDA stands ready to continue collaboration to advance this critical legislation.”

“The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson for his leadership and perseverance, and we thank the House for advancing H.R. 7567, marking a pivotal step forward for American agriculture. This bill includes key bipartisan provisions that would strengthen the competitiveness of family farms producing specialty crops across the nation.”

“As specialty crop producers face urgent and unprecedented economic pressures, enacting a comprehensive five-year farm bill is vital to their sustainability and to the communities they serve. We strongly urge the Senate to act swiftly so that a bipartisan farm bill can get through conference and to the President’s desk this year. American specialty crop growers cannot afford further delay.”

Industry Reaction:

“We thank the House for passing the 2026 Farm Bill, critical legislation that supports farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country," said Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO of the American Bankers Association.  "Banks remain a primary source of credit for agricultural producers of all sizes, and this bill strengthens the tools lenders need to meet the evolving needs of rural America.

“The Farm Bill includes important policy reforms that enhance credit availability, strengthen risk management, and improve lending programs for producers facing rising costs and uncertain markets. We also appreciate provisions that modernize Farm Service Agency loan guarantee limits, improve beginning farmer programs, update the Farmer Mac statute, and create opportunities for faster access to credit when it is needed most.

“We urge the Senate to complete its work on the Farm Bill so Congress can provide the long-term certainty and stability that America’s agricultural economy depends on.”

“Today’s House vote is the largest step in eight years towards delivering a farm bill for family farmers, ranchers and rural America. We appreciate Chairman Thompson’s work to advance this piece of legislation," said Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union.

“However, the bill largely continues existing farm safety net programs that do not match the scale of the current economic crisis family farmers are facing. It also maintains cuts to the nutrition safety net at a time when too many American families are struggling to make ends meet. Other missed opportunities include authorizing year-round E15, restoring mandatory country-of-origin labeling, addressing rising input costs, protecting farmers and ranchers from the threat of market concentration and expanding domestic market opportunities for U.S. producers.

“Farm bill policy must evolve to meet the realities of today’s economy, and while this bill provides some needed certainty, it does not fully address what is at stake. We look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen this bill and deliver more effective safety nets for farmers and families.”

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