By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

The farm bill has passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

The Agricultural Act of 2026, the Senate Ag’s farm bill draft, advanced in a 12-11 party line vote Wednesday afternoon.

“America’s farmers and ranchers have waited far too long for the certainty a new farm bill provides, and this vote is an important step forward,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said. “Agriculture is a national food security issue, and the families who produce our food, fiber and fuel deserve to be a priority.”

According to the Senate Ag Committee, the bill bolsters animal health programs, addresses barriers to trade, increases funding for trade promotion programs, expands the Livestock Indemnity Program and rural broadband, updates loan limits and boosts credit access for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

It builds upon progress made to farm bill programs through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and would allow the year-round sale of gasoline mixed with 15% ethanol, or E15.

“A lot of the farm bill was addressed last year. We did the safety net programs. We did crop insurance, ARC (Agriculture Risk Coverage), PLC (Price Loss Coverage), conservation (and) disaster programs, but there are pieces of the farm bill that didn’t get done, and our farmers need certainty,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said. “One of the things that’s included in here is E15, which is something I think a lot of us have fought long and hard for, and which is really important to a lot of producers across this country, and I would argue would help lower gas prices.”

Prior to the vote, there was some debate amongst senators as to whether or not amendments would be considered Wednesday. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) wanted the committee to consider an amendment on California’s Proposition 12. The senator argued that because the amendment was filed on time, and the Aug. 6 session of the committee meeting was in recess until Wednesday, the amendment could be heard.

Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) did not want to re-open the farm bill to amendments Wednesday, saying he asked for amendments to each title of the farm bill before the recess, and there were no additions.

The legislation improves accessibility and expands eligibility for existing commodity, dairy and standing disaster programs.

The farm bill failed to pass out of the committee Aug. 6 in a 10-11 party line vote.

Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) were not present at the Aug. 6 vote but were present Wednesday to pass the legislation.

Democrats on the committee voted against the bill due to a disagreement over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“Farm country is hurting and needs results now. Advancing this bill out of committee is a critical step toward getting a fully updated farm bill signed into law,” Boozman said. “While this is clearly welcome progress, we need more of our colleagues’ votes to reflect the urgency of supporting farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and rural communities. I will always stand with the families who feed America and the world. They continue to have my commitment on getting bipartisan Farm Bill 2.0 across the finish line.”

Despite the disagreement, Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) thanked Boozman for his work on the legislation.

“We’ve worked together for many years, and it is my goal and our goal on the Democratic side to get this farm bill done and to get it done by the end of the year,” Klobuchar said. “We will do that by working with the House leaders. We will do that by working on the remaining issues. That is key when you see what our farmers and ranchers are facing right now throughout our country.”

Now that the bill passed the Senate Ag Committee, it awaits consideration on the Senate floor.

If the legislation passes there, a conference committee will work to combine the House and Senate passed versions of the farm bill into a single bill.

“We thank Chairman Boozman and the committee staff for their hard work and persistence. As the bill moves to conference, we will continue working to ensure the final product delivers the strongest possible support for America’s farmers and ranchers.” Boening said. “We urge the full Senate to act quickly and keep the process moving.”

The 2018 Farm Bill expired in 2023 but was extended by a single year three times.

The farm economy has changed significantly since the prior legislation was written, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) reports, emphasizing the need for new, updated legislation for U.S. farmers, ranchers and foresters.

Since the 2018 Farm Bill was written, total production expenses for farmers and ranchers have risen nearly 44%, interest expenses have risen nearly 63%, farm debt has increased about 50% and cropland values have climbed nearly 46%.

There’s also been a global pandemic and new geopolitical tensions, along with supply chain disruptions.

“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,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “A new, modernized farm bill will help give farmers the tools they need to survive continued and unforeseen challenges ahead.”

More than 100 farmers and ranchers, including some from Texas, were in Washington, D.C. this week, and earlier this year, to discuss the need for a farm bill with Congress.

“We are thankful for the relentless effort of state and county Farm Bureau leaders who stressed the critical need of a new farm bill in Washington, D.C., and at home during the congressional recess,” Boening said.

The text of the Agricultural Act of 2026, along with amendments presented by the committee, is available here: https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/farm-bill.