ANAHEIM, CA – Farmer and rancher delegates closed the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention by adopting a wide-ranging set of policy positions to guide the organization’s work in 2026, underscoring economic pressure across U.S. agriculture. Voting delegates emphasized rising input costs, trade imbalances, and weak commodity prices as shared challenges facing operations of all sizes.
Delegate polling showed nearly 99 percent of voting members operate family farms, with more than two-thirds representing small- to mid-size operations under USDA definitions. That data framed policy discussions centered on labor access, animal health, market risk, and farm viability.
Key actions included formal support for the updated Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology within farm labor programs, paired with calls to reduce future wage volatility. Delegates also backed expanded federal investment in agricultural research and biosecurity, including targeted efforts to eradicate New World screwworm and maintain restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico until the pest is controlled.
Additional policies strengthened risk-management protections for dairy producers and promoted the prioritization of locally produced foods in institutional purchasing programs, such as schools. Members also directed Farm Bureau leadership to further study the impacts of tariffs and insurance availability for poultry growers.
The convention concluded with the unanimous re-election of President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal to new two-year terms.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Farm Bureau’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms.