Farm Bill Path Emerges
Mar 23, 2026
Congress is weighing two parallel tracks to support agriculture: advancing a scaled-down farm bill and approving billions in additional emergency assistance as farm finances remain under intense pressure.
The House Agriculture Committee last week approved a slimmed-down version of the farm bill — sometimes called “farm bill 2.0.” Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) says the streamlined approach could help move the legislation through Congress more quickly.
The bill passed the committee with all Republicans and seven Democrats in support, signaling potential bipartisan momentum.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has reportedly included the scaled-down farm bill
among several bipartisan policy priorities lawmakers hope to advance this year. The approach focuses on legislation that delivers real benefits to Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
Senate Democrats are warning that provisions in last year’s reconciliation package
shifting some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs to states could
complicate negotiations. Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said the changes — requiring some states to cover 5–15% of SNAP benefit costs if error rates exceed 6% — are likely to unite Senate Democrats in opposition unless addressed.
At a recent hearing, Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) underscored the urgency for action on assistance to producers.
“If you're putting something in the ground, you're probably losing money,” Boozman said, noting Arkansas now leads the nation in Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies.
Lawmakers are discussing about $15 billion in additional farm aid, according to Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chair John Hoeven (R-N.D.). That would come on top of the $11 billion in assistance announced by the administration last December.
Senate Republicans have discussed attaching the aid to a supplemental spending package, potentially tied to funding related to the conflict with Iran.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has indicated he is open to using such a legislative vehicle, though details remain unsettled.
Hoeven and others are pushing to include a provision allowing year-round nationwide sales of E15 ethanol blends, a measure supporters say would expand domestic demand for corn and lower fuel prices.
Congress appears to be pursuing a two-step strategy for agriculture: move a scaled-down farm bill to extend key programs while separately delivering near-term financial relief to producers facing one of the toughest farm economies in years.
— Courtesy of National Council of Farmers Cooperatives
The House Agriculture Committee last week approved a slimmed-down version of the farm bill — sometimes called “farm bill 2.0.” Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) says the streamlined approach could help move the legislation through Congress more quickly.
The bill passed the committee with all Republicans and seven Democrats in support, signaling potential bipartisan momentum.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has reportedly included the scaled-down farm bill
among several bipartisan policy priorities lawmakers hope to advance this year. The approach focuses on legislation that delivers real benefits to Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
Senate Democrats are warning that provisions in last year’s reconciliation package
shifting some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs to states could
complicate negotiations. Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said the changes — requiring some states to cover 5–15% of SNAP benefit costs if error rates exceed 6% — are likely to unite Senate Democrats in opposition unless addressed.
At a recent hearing, Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) underscored the urgency for action on assistance to producers.
“If you're putting something in the ground, you're probably losing money,” Boozman said, noting Arkansas now leads the nation in Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies.
Lawmakers are discussing about $15 billion in additional farm aid, according to Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chair John Hoeven (R-N.D.). That would come on top of the $11 billion in assistance announced by the administration last December.
Senate Republicans have discussed attaching the aid to a supplemental spending package, potentially tied to funding related to the conflict with Iran.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has indicated he is open to using such a legislative vehicle, though details remain unsettled.
Hoeven and others are pushing to include a provision allowing year-round nationwide sales of E15 ethanol blends, a measure supporters say would expand domestic demand for corn and lower fuel prices.
Congress appears to be pursuing a two-step strategy for agriculture: move a scaled-down farm bill to extend key programs while separately delivering near-term financial relief to producers facing one of the toughest farm economies in years.
— Courtesy of National Council of Farmers Cooperatives