House Ag Committee
The debate over immigration and ag labor reform has been a political hot potato for decades now and has led to inaction by Congress, but leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees say they are making it a priority for 2026.
Farmers need to be prepared to pay substantially more for their coverage in 2026, unless Congress acts now to address the impending price surge.
The companion piece to the Senate’s Fertilizer Research Act of 2025 has the same, ultimate goal: to provide U.S. farmers with more clarity on the pricing of crop nutrients, lawmakers say.
As a handful of corporations influences more of the agricultural supply chain, row crop growers say they are left with fewer input choices, higher prices and diminishing control over their own operations.
The groups are urging the administration to “formally include farmers, ranchers and food producers in a collaborative stakeholder process.” An action report — a follow-up to the MAHA report released in May — is due by August 12.
The Senate and House each have their own Committee proposals for President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. There are some key differences in each that could impact farmers and ranchers.
The move would increase biomass-based diesel requirements, from 3.35 billion gallons in 2025 to 5.61 billion gallons in 2026, supporting American row-crop growers in the process.
A chief concern is whether glyphosate will be targeted by the report, which is expected to be unveiled on Thursday. A number of farmers have voiced concerns collectively and individually this week.
Tara Smith, executive vice president of Torrey Advisory Group, joins the Top Producer podcast to discuss being an advocate for ag in Washington D.C., the future of the Farm Bill and the importance of crop insurance.
The resolution directs the Agriculture Committee to find $230 billion in spending reductions over 10 years. However, the exact breakdown of these cuts is not specified in the resolution itself.
The CR includes nearly $110 billion in disaster and farmer aid, which includes $10 billion in farmer aid and $21 billion ag disaster aid. $2 billion of that disaster aid is specifically for livestock producers. The measure also includes a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.
The House of Representatives released its Continuing Resolution text, which includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, $10 billion in farmer economic aid, $21 billion in ag disaster funding for 2023 and 2024 and year-round E15 sales.
Farmers and lawmakers are focused on disaster relief, economic aid and completing the farm bill.
John Newton, former Senate Ag Committee economist and now executive head at Terrain, highlights three priorities and a timeframe for a final farm bill.
House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-Pa.) believes the CBO’s methodology underestimates the potential savings criticized them for what he sees as a history of underestimating Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) outlays.
From differences within Title I of the new farm bill to possible ways both the Senate and House Ag Committee are working to find more funds, U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke one-on-one with AgriTalk this week.
The farm bill finally saw some movement in Washington last month, but the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor found most economists don’t think it will be passed this year, with some even saying it could be as late as 2026.
The House Ag Committee on Thursday will mark up the House farm bill. House Ag Chair GT Thompson told AgriTalk the panel will have the votes to clear the panel, but he has yet to receive any firm Democratic support.
The first look at a new farm bill could happen as early as next week. It’s long overdue after nothing was released out of Committee in 2023. Now, there’s growing doubt a farm bill will even be passed in 2024.
The attack on Israel by Hamas adds urgency to GOP efforts to elect a new House speaker. The need to focus on Israel may help get a House GOP leadership decision this week, several lawmakers said.
House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, along with other members, is seeking additional funding sources for the bill, but that will likely be the biggest farm bill hurdle that may trip up lawmakers.
While Sen. McConnell says the budget has little give, Sen. Boozeman has consistently said he will not support a farm bill that doesn’t provide an increase in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program’s reference prices.
The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. “Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue,” said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).
It’s not as simple as you might think. House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson shares a rundown of the funding and extension processes. He says the ag committees need to find new dollars to expand the farm bill budget.
The Senate and House Ag committees are facing delays in drafting the next farm bill, and it is expected to be the most expensive farm bill to date, clocking in at around $1.5 trillion.
“We can’t prioritize one natural resource concern over all others and we shouldn’t prioritize one solution above all others,” Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) said.
Rep. Thompson signaled he wants to hear “commitment from everyone, including the president, that we will get this done and in the manner I’ve been speaking about. Bipartisan, bicameral, on time and highly effective.’”