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Agriculture is a major economic driver in Ohio, with family farms producing billions of dollars annually and serving as the backbone of the state’s rural economy. As producers navigate changing markets, environmental regulations and the impending farm bill, the election for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat will determine who champions the state’s agricultural community in Washington. The race pits Republican incumbent Jon Husted —who was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in early 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Vice President J.D. Vance — against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
The two candidates offer differing backgrounds and priorities for rural Ohio. Brown, who served three terms in the U.S. Senate until 2025, historically centered his legislative focus on labor, trade policy, and shaping federal farm safety nets and rural development programs. Husted brings a deep background in conservative policy and serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, as well as the Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, championing regulatory certainty, expanded market access and investments in agricultural education.
Top Positions and Priorities
We reached out to both candidates with questions about their campaign and agricultural platforms. As of publication, we have received responses only from Husted’s campaign.
Although you do not serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee, agriculture is a major economic driver in Ohio. How do you plan to advocate for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in your role in the Senate?
In the Senate, Husted has successfully advocated for common-sense policy solutions that extend beyond his committee assignments. A great example is his effort to include five bills he is championing to support Ohio’s farmers in the Senate version of the farm bill. These proposals will support American agriculture by investing in the next generation of farmers through expanding agricultural education programs, updating outdated FSA loan rules, making sure that rural seniors aren’t left behind, and giving Ohio’s farmers a better look at the fertilizer marketplace. Husted has made it a priority to listen directly to producers about what they need, and this input is helping to shape one of the most comprehensive farm bills in history.
Husted plans to continue his bipartisan work for farmers as well. Since joining the U.S. Senate, he has worked across the aisle on several priority items, such as advocating for farmers during the USMCA review process.
Additionally, as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Husted has worked with his colleagues to support the EPA’s work that relates to farmers.
What is your message for farmers/growers and ranchers? Why should they elect you to speak for them?
Ohio’s family farmers deserve certainty on how Congress is working to support them as they plan for the future. Husted is an advocate for improving and expanding the programs and resources that Ohio farmers rely on to continue to feed and fuel our nation. Husted puts the needs of Ohio farmers first, consistently working across the aisle to ensure farmers’ needs are met.
Husted was proud to help pass the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which includes updates to the farm safety net and risk management programs to better protect Ohioans against economic uncertainty and market volatility.
What are your top three key agricultural policy positions?
Husted’s approach to agriculture policy is grounded in expanding market access, ensuring rural communities have the tools they need to thrive, and strengthening the long-term viability of family farms across Ohio. This policy angle, in conjunction with conversations with farmers across the state, has driven the following policy actions:
- Signing a March 2026 letter to USDA Secretary Rollins, Treasury Secretary Bessent and Energy Secretary Wright earlier this year advocating that the final 45Z clean fuel production credit rule recognizes a wide array of on-farm practices that put family farmers first.
- Signing an April 2026 bipartisan letter to USTR Representative Jamieson Greer highlighting USMCA’s positive impact on Ohio agriculture and encouraging continued engagement with farmers and ranchers. Husted’s top trade priority is securing a USMCA reauthorization that provides certainty and opportunity for Ohio agricultural producers who help feed the world.
- Introducing the USDA Loan Modernization Act, which would update loan eligibility standards to better reflect the structure of today’s multi-generational, family-owned farms, expanding access to guaranteed and direct operating, emergency and real estate loans for producers across the country. This legislation has passed the House and is included in the Senate Farm Bill discussion draft.
- Using his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee to advocate for continued and robust funding for USDA programs critical to rural development and Ohio farmers.
What are two things you would like to see change for American agriculture?
Husted has been very vocal about making sure Ohio’s voice is included in important pieces of legislation. Year-round E15 is the clearest example of a major policy objective for Ohio’s corn growers. They have waited years for a permanent, nationwide fix, and it is long overdue. Closing the loophole that treats E15 differently gives retailers certainty to install new infrastructure for blending and gives our farmers a market for their corn, and Husted looks forward to getting year-round E15 across the finish line. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Husted has spoken directly with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin about his efforts to allow nationwide E15 sales.
Farmers feed America and feed the world. We must ensure producers earn a fair profit while keeping grocery prices affordable for families, which requires striking a steady regulatory and economic balance.
Preserving Ohio’s farmers’ right to manage their land as they see fit is critical to supporting a thriving farm economy. In the U.S. Senate, Husted will continue fighting for policies that allow them to do just that. In his role on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Husted continues to focus on addressing America’s broken permitting system that impacts Ohio’s farmers, ranchers, and our rural economy.
He introduced the Water Authority and Timely Environmental Review (WATER) Act of 2025 to streamline the permitting process for water projects and provide much-needed regulatory certainty for Ohio’s farmers. He also continues to engage the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a revision of the definition of Waters of the United States to give farmers clear and predictable rules to comply with the Clean Water Act.
What is your favorite connection to or story about agriculture and farming?
Earlier this month, Husted was proud to host Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman in Ohio to tour Cooper Farms Hatchery in Oakwood and spend time with Ohio farmers to hear directly about the issues facing the agricultural industry. Ohio is one of the top producers of eggs nationwide, and this tour allowed us to see the operations that drive our agricultural economy firsthand.
The visit highlighted the importance of Ohio’s agricultural industry and provided an opportunity to ensure that the needs of our farmers help shape the policies that support their success and keep Ohio’s agricultural economy strong.
How do you/will you champion ag producers in your constituency when faced with bipartisan hurdles?
As Congress continues to work on a bipartisan basis to pass the farm bill, Husted’s role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee has allowed him to work with colleagues across the aisle to advance solutions to issues that are impacting Ohio’s farmers.
Supporting farmers is not a partisan issue. Since becoming a U.S. Senator, Husted has worked across the aisle to advance the needs of farmers and ranchers.
He has also had bipartisan success in addressing challenges across Ohio. He was proud to join Senators Hickenlooper, Fischer, Klobuchar, Hyde-Smith, and Kelly in introducing the Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2025, which would establish a competitive grant program for junior or community colleges to enhance workforce training, education, research, and outreach in agriculture and related fields.
Ohio’s farmers produce billions of dollars in agricultural products each year, serving as the backbone of our state’s economy. Supporting the next generation of Ohio farmers is critical to ensuring that family farms stay operational, and this initiative is a great example of how both sides of the aisle can come together to help American producers.
