LUBBOCK, TX – Lawmakers are working toward a new farm bill before the September deadline, with broader policy provisions beyond commodity programs remaining critical for agriculture.
The House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on March 5, a wide-ranging proposal covering 12 titles, including conservation, trade, credit, energy, and crop insurance. The bill spans more than 800 pages and incorporates 181 provisions from individual lawmakers, reflecting the scope of policy priorities across rural America.
According to Dr. Joe Outlaw with the Agricultural Food Policy Center at Texas A&M, the bill includes updates to livestock marketing rules tied to California’s Proposition 12, reauthorizes the Conservation Reserve Program at 27 million acres, and raises farm credit borrowing limits. These changes aim to support producers facing tighter margins and financial pressure in the current farm economy.
Regionally, provisions affecting livestock, conservation acreage, and rural credit access could have varying impacts across crop and livestock operations nationwide.
Looking ahead, House leadership must schedule floor consideration, while the Senate develops its version before negotiations begin. Election-year politics may slow progress, though past farm bills have passed late in the year.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Farm bill progress remains uncertain ahead of the deadline.