2026 Farm Bill: Time to Act

Congress has not passed a traditional five-year farm bill since 2018. America’s farmers, fishers and foresters have continued to be helped by short-term extensions and other ad-hoc support. While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) updated and authorized certain components of the farm bill, there are still significant programs that require action.

Over the past several months, the House of Representatives and Senate have brought us closer to a new farm bill than any time in the last eight years, but the job isn’t done yet.

Senate Takes Action

In August, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing to mark up the farm bill “discussion draft,” previously released by Chairman John Boozman (AR). Though there were more than 200 amendments submitted, the committee advanced a smaller package of bipartisan amendments. Included was an amendment directing the Farm Credit Administration to conduct a study on gaps in rural housing credit markets. This has been a priority for the Farm Credit System in an effort to increase the rural home lending population limit, allowing more rural homebuyers to utilize Farm Credit lending products. A full list of amendments can be found here .

During this hearing, committee members failed to move the bill forward, voting 10-11 along party lines. Both Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL) were absent for the vote, guaranteeing a stalled effort. Chairman Boozman called the committee to recess until both senators could be present. On September 16, the committee reconvened for a final vote that did advance the bill, voting 12-11, once again along party lines.

It is worth noting that the House version of the farm bill (H.R. 7567) and the Senate version (S. 5526) are similar in many ways, though there are several areas that vary. Most notably, the Senate bill would delay implementation of new state SNAP benefit cost-sharing requirements by one year, while the House bill does not alter the timeline established under the OBBBA. The chambers also differ on Proposition 12; certain Farm Credit System provisions; international food assistance; and portions of the commodity and conservation titles. You can see a more detailed comparison in a previous blog post.

Comparing the House and Senate Proposals

What Comes Next?

Currently, both the House of Representatives and the Senate are in recess until after the election on November 3, leaving the path forward for the 2026 Farm Bill hanging in the balance. Since the House passed its version of the bill, we await the same action from the Senate. There are roughly five working weeks left on the legislative calendar, commonly referred to as “lame duck.” There is a myriad of competing priorities, leaving a small window of opportunity to pass a farm bill out of Congress and onto the President’s desk for final approval. Additionally, election day results will surely impact the bill’s path forward.

Call to Action

This legislation has advanced further than any point since the 2018 Farm Bill expired and marks a significant step toward a new, five-year farm bill. While Members of Congress are home during recess, it is a great time to continue to advocate to #FinishtheFarmBill.

Find the contact information for your members of Congress here . If you’re hosting your member of Congress, participating in town hall events or amplifying your message on social media, your voice can have an impact. Please use #FinishTheFarmBill in any social media posts to amplify our collective voice.