US House advances long‑delayed farm bill, Senate fight looms Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State FarmerFri, May 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC 14 It has been more than seven years since the United States last enacted a new farm bill, but it&x27;s getting closer. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a new fiveyear farm bill April 30 by a slim bipartisan 224200 vote. The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 now moves on to the Senate, where policy disputes are likely to drag out the lawmaking process.
US House advances long‑delayed farm bill, Senate fight looms
Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State FarmerFri, May 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC
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It has been more than seven years since the United States last enacted a new farm bill, but it's getting closer.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a new five-year farm bill April 30 by a slim bipartisan 224-200 vote. The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 now moves on to the Senate, where policy disputes are likely to drag out the lawmaking process.
While farm bills are designed for a five-year lifespan, wrangling over nutritional spending, farm safety net programs, conservation and energy policy, and most recently a provision to block some lawsuits against pesticide makers has delayed passage of a new bill.
The most recent bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2018. The country since has been operating under the same framework, relying on a series of short‑term extensions rather than a full reauthorization.
“It is more evident than ever that rural America needs a new farm bill now – not next year or next Congress. Producers are operating under the third consecutive farm bill extension, and the simple truth is that the policies of 2018 are no match for the challenges of 2026. It is time to get this critical legislation done,” Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, said in his floor remarks, ahead of the bill’s passage by the U.S. House.
Fourteen Democrats voted for the bill, and House Speaker Mike Johnson held the vote open for more than five hours as he worked to get enough of his fellow Republicans to embrace the measure. Some, from farm states, were holding out for a future vote on expanding sales of gasoline blended with ethanol, Reuters reported.
“We look forward to working with our allies in Congress over the next two weeks to secure passage of the E15 legislation. Thanks to continued efforts on this issue from our biofuel champions, Speaker Johnson promised a vote on E15, and we refuse to allow a handful of multi-million and multi-billion-dollar energy companies to derail our efforts," Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower said in a statement. "Allowing the year-round sale of E15 would help our growers by expanding ethanol sales while also saving consumers money at the pump at a time when fuel prices are on the rise."
The House is expected to vote on a standalone E15 bill on May 13.
“I especially want to thank all parties who were involved in the negotiations that allowed the farm bill to proceed to the floor and secure a future vote on year-round E15,” Thompson said. “Members of the Biofuels Caucus are tireless champions for rural America, and I look forward to joining them May 13 in advancing that important legislation.”
Glyphosate chemical takes center stage
One of the largest sticking points of the bill was what critics called a "loophole" that protected pesticide companies like Bayer, which has contended with many lawsuits alleging that its Roundup herbicide products, which contain the chemical glyphosate, cause cancer, USA TODAY reported.
The contentious pesticide provision was stripped from the proposed legislation at the behest of President Donald Trump's own "Make America Healthy Again" movement.
Proponents of the legislation, including Thompson and Trump, have argued that glyphosate is a boon to American farmers.
In February, Trump said the chemical allowed farmers to "efficiently and cost-effectively produce food and livestock feed." Lobbying groups have also said that the measure would not directly impact current or future legislation, but would reaffirm existing federal law, USA TODAY reported at the time. In a statement to USA TODAY on April 30, Bayer said the provision was supported by "hundreds of ag and farm groups" and was a "missed opportunity" for Congress.
"By taking this vote, Congress has turned their backs on U.S. farmers in an increasingly competitive global landscape by allowing blatant misinformation to undermine support for this critical provision," the company said.
Farmers have been hit hard by rising input costs - fuel, fertilizer and seed - and uncertainty in the marketplace.Agriculture groups say farmers under great strain
Farm groups largely cheered the passage of the bill, which they said could provide some stability for farmers facing the pressures of higher fuel and fertilizer costs from the U.S. war in Iran.
"Important updates to research and conservation, as well as increased loan limits and clarity on interstate commerce, will help farmers survive today’s challenges and give them the tools to thrive in the future," American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a statement.
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But some Democrats argued the bill did not go far enough for farmers.
"The so-called farm bill that passed the House today does nothing to resolve high input costs, lost markets, surging food prices or provide a single penny in economic assistance to struggling family farmers," said Angie Craig, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said while the members of his group appreciate Chairman Thompson’s work to advance this piece of legislation, he agreed it doesn't go far enough for struggling farmers.
“The bill largely continues existing farm safety net programs that do not match the scale of the current economic crisis family farmers are facing," Larew said. "It also maintains cuts to the nutrition safety net at a time when too many American families are struggling to make ends meet. Other missed opportunities include authorizing year-round E15, restoring mandatory country-of-origin labeling, addressing rising input costs, protecting farmers and ranchers from the threat of market concentration and expanding domestic market opportunities for U.S. producers.
“Farm bill policy must evolve to meet the realities of today’s economy, and while this bill provides some needed certainty, it does not fully address what is at stake.”
Meanwhile, anti-hunger groups criticized the bill for failing to overturn $187 billion in cuts to SNAP passed in Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.
Wisconsin ag groups weigh in
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson says House passage of the bill comes at a critical moment for agriculture.
"For Wisconsin, the stakes are especially high as our state is the center of the nation’s dairy industry. The risk of the ‘dairy cliff’ remains very real for our farmers and we urge the U.S. Senate to act fast," Olson said. "We would especially like to recognize U.S. Representatives Derrick Van Orden and Tony Wied for their leadership and work on the House Agriculture Committee to craft, support and ultimately progress this bill that ensures a stable food supply and supports rural communities.”
The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association applauded passage of a long-awaited new five-year Farm Bill in the U.S. House.
"After a week of uncertainty and late-night negotiations, we are encouraged to see bipartisan action delivering meaningful support for dairy through expanded nutrition programs, strengthened trade promotion, and risk management tools for producers and processors alike," said Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy.
The full strawberry moon is seen past the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2022.Senate leaders expected to butt heads in the coming weeks
National Milk Producers Federation President & CEO Gregg Doud said he hopes the bill will advance promptly in the Senate.
"At a time where farmers face unprecedented challenges, Congress needs to provide the stability of a five-year, comprehensive farm bill," Doud said.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who is ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, along with all of the Democrats on the committee, said they have been clear that the Farm Bill must address the needs of American farmers and families.
"With a five-year high in small farm bankruptcies, the Farm Bill must address rising input costs, provide new opportunities for domestic markets, and fight for a trade agenda that works for everyone," the Committee said in a statement. "Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring all states are treated equally by delaying the new SNAP cost shifts and addressing the needs of farm country. We look forward to working with Senate Republicans on a bipartisan Farm Bill that can be successful on the Senate floor."
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman said in a statement that he would release that chamber's farm bill text in the coming weeks. The bill still needs to pass the Senate before it can advance to President Donald Trump's desk. The latest extension of the current farm bill is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2026.
Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Zachary Schermele of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: House sends five‑year farm bill to Senate after contentious vote
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Published: May 12, 2026 at 08:18AM on Source: MANUEL MAG
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