Farm Bill Clears Senate Ag Committee

The Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Agriculture Act of 2026 out of committee. Senator Mitch McConnell’s vote allowed the farm bill to pass along party lines 12 to 11. The bill includes a provision for year-round E15 and mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef.

SNAP State Cost-Share Requirements

Democrats on the committee continue to support a two-year cost shift delay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar says she appreciates committee chairman Boozman’s SNAP offer but hopes a solution can still be created to address inequities for states across the country.

“We are in good faith, and I appreciate the chairman trying to fix that second year, which we have been from the beginning,” Klobuchar says.

“If this doesn’t go anywhere and current law stays in effect, the states, many of them represented on the committee, are going to pay a total of $17 billion more,” adds Senator Jerry Moran. “There are a lot of states that are going to pay more if this doesn’t become law.”

Future of the Farm Bill

Next, the farm bill will be voted on by the full Senate. The Senate will recess next week before midterm elections. Chairman of the Russell Group, Tyson Redpath, tells AgriTalk’s Chip Flory it’s unlikely a vote will happen before the break.

“For the next six weeks, both chambers are going to be out of Washington,” Redpath says. “After the election, depending on how the election goes, we will see.

“We really can’t afford to not get this done by the end of this year,” Klobuchar says, and thanked Boozman for his work on the legislation.

House Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson also issued a statement, “Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026 out of committee. The legislation complements the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, approved by the House Committee on Agriculture and passed out of the House of Representatives in April.”

"Advancing the Agricultural Act of 2026 from committee is a significant step in the right direction as we work to restore certainty and common sense to agricultural policy," Chairman Thompson said. "Farm country cannot wait any longer for updated policies, and I applaud Chairman Boozman and Senate Republicans for recognizing this urgency to support American producers.

"Passing a full, five-year farm bill remains my top priority, and I look forward to working with any lawmakers who make good faith efforts to support our producers in the coming months."

Response from Industry

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) applauds the bill’s movement. “It’s been almost a decade since Congress last passed a farm bill. In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 family farms have gone out of business, as farmers grappled with a pandemic, global unrest, rising expenses and falling prices paid for the food they grow. A new, modernized farm bill will help give farmers the tools they need to survive continued and unforeseen challenges ahead,” says AFBF President Zippy Duvall in a statement.

With various hurdles cleared, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says now is the time for leaders in D.C. to hear the persistent, urgent plea of America’s 60,000-plus pork producers to finally stop the threat of a state-by-state patchwork of farm animal housing laws spurred by California Proposition 12.

“America’s pork producers deserve a robust farm bill, which should come with protection from being forced to rebuild our barns every time another state decides it knows what is best for animal welfare,” says Rob Brenneman, NPPC President and pork producer from Washington County, Iowa.

The Renewable Fuels Association also thanks the committee for moving the legislation forward: “Now, we urge the full Senate to pass year-round E15 legislation as quickly as possible, reconcile the language with the House, and get a viable solution to President Trump’s desk for his signature,” stated RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

It may be a bit premature for Congress to pat itself on the back. Advancing a farm bill in its present form through the Senate depends heavily on the results of the midterm elections. After years of kicking the proverbial can down the road, it certainly would be a relief for farmers/ranchers across the nation if a five-year farm bill were passed and signed by the President.

It might be a very good gesture on your part to contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to pass the Agriculture Act of 2026. After you do that, let farmers/ranchers and agricultural organizations know that you are supporting their interests in Washington, D.C.