The bill passed with a 12-11 vote on Sept. 17
The 2026 Farm Bill cleared a significant hurdle on Sept. 17.
The Republican-controlled Senate Ag Committee passed the bill on a 12-11 party-line vote to send the support package to the full Senate for consideration.
“Advancing this bill out of committee is a critical step toward getting a fully updated Farm Bill signed into law,” Committee Chairman Senator John Boozman said in a statement following the vote. “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.”
Industry groups celebrated the bill progressing out of the committee stage.
U.S. farmers are still operating under the authority of the 2018 Farm Bill and need a new one that reflects the current ag climate, the American Farm Bureau Federation said.
“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,” Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said.
The American ag industry, however, is also reminding lawmakers the time for feet dragging is over.
“Congress spent the last four years debating the next ‘five-year’ farm bill. America’s wheat farmers need action now. The full Senate must build on today’s momentum, pass a comprehensive farm bill, and work with the House to deliver a final package to the President’s desk without further delay,” Sam Kieffer, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said in a statement.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA is also urging Congress for an expedited Farm Bill passage.
The language in the bill about year-round E15 can be a gamechanger for producers.
“The Senate farm bill would expand year-round consumer access to E15, which is important to farmers and the rural economy. It has the potential to significantly lower gas prices across the country while shoring up the nation’s energy security,” NCGA President Jed Bower said in a statement. “There is still work to be done.
Other segments of the U.S. ag industry are pleased the bill made it out of committee but want to see specific items addressed.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), for example, thanked senators for their work, but is calling for a nationwide solution to California’s Proposition 12.
Allowing one state to dictate certain ag requirements could set a challenging precedent.
“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,” NPPC President Rob Brenneman said in a statement from the organization.
The Meat Institute is concerned with a proposed amendment.
The amendment, spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, directs the USDA and USTR to find a World Trade Organization-compliant way of reinstating mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.
MCOOL would increase consumer costs and create trade friction, the organization says.
“MCOOL is a misguided solution in search of a problem. Cattle producers have experienced nearly two years of exceptionally strong cattle prices, including record highs for fed and feeder cattle in 2025 and 2026,” Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said in a statement. “While the US herd rebuilds from historically small numbers, and consumers still demand high-quality beef, cattle producers will continue to benefit from strong market conditions. We need more cattle for more beef; not protectionist trade measures that will raise prices for consumers."
The Farm Bill still needs to clear multiple steps before it becomes law.
It must first pass a full vote in the Senate.
Then the Senate and House, which passed its bill earlier in the year, must work together to pass a mutual bill.
Once those occur the bill can receive the president’s signature.