Congress Passes Farm Bill For The First Time In 8 Years

From the Nebraska Farmers' Union

The House passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 on

Thursday morning by a vote of 224-200. Three Republicans were opposed and five did

not vote. Fourteen Democrats crossed party lines to vote yes and one did not vote.

All three of Nebraska's Representatives - Mike Flood (CD1), Don Bacon (CD2), and

Adrian Smith (CD3) - voted yea.

The House's successful vote marks the farthest a farm bill has made it in Congress

since the most recent reauthorization was signed into law in 2018. The bill updates

farm loan and income support programs, and reauthorizes programs that support

voluntary conservation and rural development.

"Nebraska family farmers and ranchers are currently facing one more year of the

toughest financial challenges since the 1980s farm crisis," NeFU President John

Hansen said. "The 2018 Farm Bill is using 2014 data, so updating the reference and

target numbers is helpful, but we need a Farm Bill that deals with the 2026 economic

realities we are facing today. We were hoping for more substantial improvements."

"From a process standpoint, the passage of the House Farm Bill represents an

important first step after three years of delays," continued Hansen. "It is not a

perfect bill, but there are provisions that will benefit family farmers and ranchers

and rural communities. We are deeply disappointed that the House again missed an

opportunity to pass permanent year-round E15. Family farmers need strong, stable

domestic demand-based domestic markets that utilize our own domestically produced

agricultural products. We are facing strong export competition, and 9 billion

bushels of corn stocks that needs a home."

House Leaders agreed to decouple the Farm Bill and year-round E15 and hold a

standalone vote on E15 on May 13 but that means the House's farm bill can't be sent

to the Senate until that time. Senate counterparts have yet to introduce text or

provide a timeline for moving their Farm Bill legislation.

The House also voted 280-142 to remove controversial pesticide labeling language,

which was championed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and the Make America Healthy

Again movement. That language had threatened to derail the Farm Bill on the House

Floor if it remained included.

"Farm bill policy must evolve to meet the realities of today's economy, and while

this bill provides some needed certainty, it does not fully address what is at

stake. We look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen this bill and

deliver more effective safety nets for farmers and families," National Farmers Union

President Rob Larew added.

"Family farmers and ranchers are facing a mounting crisis. We must do more to

address skyrocketing fertilizer and fuel costs and record setting ag input costs,

depressed market prices, and lost export markets. We look forward to continuing

our work to strengthen the Farm Bill in the Senate, address corporate consolidation,

and provide a meaningful income safety net to producers," Hansen concluded.