U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued the following statement on Farm Bill negotiations. “I am committed to continuing to work with Chairman Boozman on this bill to get it done and there are good things in it for our farmers and ranchers. I also appreciate he has acknowledged the problem with the SNAP cost shift to states and counties. But amid tariff-related rising grocery prices in states across the country where SNAP has been critical, this is only a one-year fix. It still advantages high error rates states over states with mid-level error rates. A state with an error rate twice that of Minnesota will pay nothing in the second year, whereas states that have reduced their error rates will still be disadvantaged over high error rate states. Our members are simply asking for the two-year delay so all states will be on the same footing in working to reduce their error rates. That is ten percent of the total SNAP cuts.”
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today expressed deep disappointment in the failure of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to advance a farm bill. He called on senators to return to the negotiating table for the sake of rural communities across America. “We are deeply disappointed that senators failed to advance a farm bill today,” said Duvall. “At a time when farmers, ranchers and rural communities across the country are facing multiyear losses, the need for a strong, bipartisan farm bill, one that included the long-awaited year-round E15, has never been greater. We appreciate the efforts of Chairman Boozman and members who supported the bill and urge them not to give up. “An overwhelming majority of Americans recognize that the farm bill is a matter of national security to ensure we continue to have a safe and abundant food supply. In fact, most Americans say they would be more likely to support a member of Congress who votes to reauthorize the farm bill, which makes the current gridlock even more puzzling. “We urge senators to return to the table, work across party lines, and advance a farm bill out of committee in order to continue the negotiations toward a bipartisan farm bill that provides the long-term support and certainty our farmers, ranchers and rural communities need. The reality is that this might be our last chance this year to get it done. The stakes are too high to allow the opportunity to slip away.”
National Farmers Union (NFU) today sent a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR.) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN.), urging the committee to make key improvements to the farm bill as it prepares to debate the legislation this week. In the letter, NFU President Rob Larew acknowledged progress in the bill’s most recent draft, including the permanent, year-round authorization of E15, but warned that the legislation as currently written falls short of what family farmers and ranchers need. “After years of delays, family farmers and ranchers need a bipartisan farm bill that addresses today’s challenges and strengthens our food system for the future”, wrote Larew. “But as currently drafted, the legislation does not rise to meet the challenges family farmers are facing.”
In a separate letter, NFU joined the American Farm Bureau Federation in urging committee leadership to support an amendment from Senator Grassley (R-IA) to codify the USDA’s recently finalized Packers and Stockyards Act rules. NFU urged committee leaders to keep working through these issues so the bill can earn broad support from producers and consumers and pledged to work with the committee to ensure the final legislation delivers meaningful support for family farmers and ranchers. Read the full letter here.
Farm Credit Council President and CEO Christy Seyfert made the following statement after the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry’s markup of the Agriculture Act of 2026: “Farm Credit thanks Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar and the Senate Agriculture Committee for their efforts to advance a Farm Bill 2.0. Though we are disappointed that the committee could not successfully pass the Agriculture Act of 2026 today, we support the Chairman and Ranking Member in their commitment to continue negotiating over the in-state work period. “As producers navigate ongoing economic uncertainty, completing a five-year Farm Bill is more important than ever. The Farm Bill includes bipartisan provisions to increase credit availability for farmers and ranchers, strengthen crop insurance, and modernize Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans and programs. We remain committed to working with members on both sides of the aisle to advance a complete, five-year Farm Bill this year to provide certainty for rural America.” Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. It has been fulfilling its mission of helping rural America grow and thrive for more than a century with the capital necessary to make businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. For more information visit www.farmcredit.com.
The American Soybean Association is disappointed that the Agricultural Act of 2026 was not advanced during today’s markup by the Senate Agriculture Committee. While the legislation was tabled for further consideration, today’s action delays much-needed progress toward enacting a bipartisan five-year farm bill. America’s soybean farmers continue to face a challenging farm economy marked by rising input costs, low commodity prices, and ongoing trade uncertainty. ASA urges lawmakers to use the August recess to continue bipartisan negotiations, engage directly with farmers and agricultural stakeholders, and resolve the remaining issues preventing the bill from moving forward. The Senate should return in September prepared to advance a comprehensive five-year farm bill and deliver the certainty and support America’s farmers need.
The Agriculture Act of 2026 failed to garner enough votes to pass out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today. The bill, also commonly referred to as “Farm Bill 2.0”, included many corn grower priorities, such as language that would allow for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends. In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower released the following statement: “We are extremely disappointed that legislation important to so many Americans failed to advance. This bill was particularly important to corn growers who have long pushed for legislation that would allow for the year-round sale of E15, a bright spot in an otherwise dim economic outlook. “We implore senators to approve a bipartisan farm bill that extends consumer access to E15 and serves the interests of America’s farmers. We are running out of time in this Congress and urge action as quickly as possible.”
The following is a statement from NCFC President and CEO Duane Simpson: “We are deeply disappointed that the Senate Agriculture Committee was unable to advance the Agricultural Act of 2026. This is a critical setback for the farmers, ranchers, co-ops, and rural communities who have waited far too long for meaningful relief. “American agriculture is already under extreme economic strain while producers must use programs that have not been updated since 2018. Our nation’s farm families, along with the American consumers who depend on a safe and reliable food supply, cannot go another year without the certainty they urgently need. We urge the Senate Agriculture Committee to find a path forward for agricultural producers and Americans without further delay.”
Following today’s Senate Agriculture Committee markup, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is calling on committee leaders to quickly resume bipartisan negotiations and reconvene to advance a comprehensive farm bill. Although the legislation did not advance, the committee adopted several important agricultural priorities, including language permanently transferring the Food for Peace program to USDA. NAWG appreciates the work undertaken by committee members and urges lawmakers to build on that progress rather than allow the process to stall. Wheat growers need the certainty of an updated farm safety net as farmers continue to face significant economic pressure. NAWG will remain engaged with lawmakers to support passage of a bipartisan farm bill and additional economic and disaster assitance.
