By Zippy Duvall
Farmers and ranchers can handle hard work and tough seasons. That’s in our DNA. What gets more difficult to manage is prolonged uncertainty. After years of economic pressure, farm families need the stability and certainty that comes with a new, modernized farm bill.
That’s why last week’s vote in the House of Representatives matters. The bipartisan passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is an important step toward giving America’s farmers and ranchers the support and certainty they need. We appreciate Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s leadership in moving this legislation forward and building a bipartisan path for action.
But farmers know better than anyone that starting the job is not the same as finishing it. Now, the Senate must act.
Food Security Is National Security
I’ve said it many times because it is true: food security is national security. When America’s farmers and ranchers are struggling, it has a ripple effect far beyond the farm gate. Farmers work every day to provide a safe, nutritious food supply for American families. But they cannot continue doing that without policies that reflect today’s economic realities.
The last farm bill was written nearly a decade ago in a very different economic environment. Farm families have been facing tightening margins for years, and the pressure keeps building. USDA projects farm income to be roughly $48 billion below the highs we saw in 2022. Expenses are rising, markets are shifting, and low commodity prices keep squeezing balance sheets on family farms.
Click here to see more...