Farm Bill 2.0 Advances Out Of Committee
This week, the House Agriculture Committee voted 34-17 to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as the Farm Bill 2.0. Seven Democrats joined with Republicans to move the bill forward. Although the farm bill is typically reauthorized every five years, the last time a full farm bill was passed was in 2018. Since then, the 2018 farm bill has been extended three times and is set to expire September 30, 2026.
Chairman GT Thompson Leads The Charge On A Much Needed Bill
Advancing the farm bill out of committee is a necessary step in protecting our nation’s food supply and advancing our national security, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson worked tirelessly to make sure the bill proceeds to the House floor for a vote. As Chairman Thompson explains, “After a markup that lasted over 20 hours, the legislation reflects the will of the committee, and it is filled with bipartisan provisions that will move the needle for farmers, ranchers and rural Americans across the country … Throughout this markup, it became clearer than ever before that our country needs a new farm bill, and we don’t need it next year, or next Congress. We need it now. I look forward to working in good faith with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we move toward a final vote on the House floor.”
The Farm Bill Means A More Secure Food Supply For Our Country
As we’ve written before, short-term extensions of the previous farm bill left American farmers at a crucial disadvantage to foreign competitors and in turn makes American agriculture more vulnerable to disruption. Setting new, long-term policy that is tailored to our current and future needs is the only way to bring clarity and security to our farmers and give them the tools they need to feed America. It would also serve as a welcome companion to bolster President Trump’s recent executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to ensure an adequate supply of glyphosate-based herbicides in order to protect our domestic agricultural capabilities.
In his closing remarks, Chairman Thompson made sure to emphasize the importance of the farm bill’s role in shoring up national security, arguing that “above all, if you believe food security is national security, I encourage you to support this bill. We know that a full, five-year farm bill moves the needle for our entire nation, not just farm country. Before us, we have a real opportunity to move American agriculture forward.” Some of the provisions included in the farm bill include:
Commodities: directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a framework to support specialty crop producers in times of economic peril, and creates a standing block grant authority for future disaster payments.
Trade: prioritizes U.S. commodities in Food for Peace, addresses trade barriers and unfair trade practices from foreign countries.
Credit: more financing options for producers who are unable to obtain credit from a commercial lender, enhances the ability of commercial lenders to provide rural America with credit and capital.
Research: supports R&D for specialty crops and funds research on mechanization and automation.
Regulatory Reform: provides certainty for farmers with language reaffirming that the EPA is the sole authority for making safety findings related to pesticides.
Crop Insurance: directs R&D of new policies to support crops that do not currently have access to crop insurance.
Miscellaneous: reforms reporting requirements under the Agriculture and Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) to improve the accuracy and transparency of data on farmland owned by foreign persons or entities, requires a report on any agriculture land owned by citizens or entities with ties to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other state sponsors of terrorism and identifies potential threats from that ownership.
What’s Next For The Farm Bill
Now that the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 has advanced out of committee, it will proceed to the full House for consideration. Chairman Thompson reportedly has spoken to Speaker Mike Johnson about scheduling time for the bill. On the Senate side, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman had earlier indicated that his committee would also plan to mark up the farm bill.
The Protecting America Initiative believes that food security is national security and that passing a new five-year farm bill this year is necessary to protect our domestic food supply chain. We urge the House to pass and the Senate to take up the farm bill to ensure that we maintain a robust and resilient food supply.