The Senate Agriculture Committee on Sept. 16 advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026, also known as the farm bill, on a 12-11 vote, moving it one step closer to consideration by the full Senate.
The vote came after the bill failed to advance on a 10-11 vote during an Aug. 6 markup. This time, Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) were both present to cast their votes, giving Republicans the 12 votes needed to report the bill. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) specifically thanked McConnell for making a special effort to return for the vote, saying he had put Kentucky farmers “one step closer to the certainty that they need.”
Before the final vote, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) sought to introduce an amendment to bring up the Save Our Bacon Act to address California’s Proposition (Prop) 12 requirements for pork production. Ernst argued the amendment had been timely filed, but Boozman ruled it out of order because the committee had already closed consideration of all 12 titles.
“We closed out all of the titles; they’re all closed,” he said, adding that reopening the bill for one amendment would mean allowing others to be considered as well.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also expressed frustration that the committee did not consider the Prop 12 amendment, noting Iowa’s position as the nation’s largest pork-producing state. Grassley also said he had hoped to offer a bipartisan amendment addressing Packers and Stockyards Act rules intended to protect livestock and poultry producers.
Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) urged members to move the legislation to the Senate floor to continue debating unresolved issues.
“Our farmers and ranchers need help now,” Hoeven said, pointing to low commodity prices and high input costs. “It’s past time. We got to get to the floor and get this done for our farmers and our ranchers.”
Brief SNAP discussion
A major sticking point remains the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and when states would begin sharing benefit costs based on payment error rates.
Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said Democrats remain committed to completing the legislation this year but continue to seek additional time before the SNAP cost-sharing requirements take effect. She said Democrats want a two-year delay so states have more time to lower their error rates, while also pointing to areas of bipartisan agreement throughout the legislation.
“I truly believe we are much closer to agreement than we were six months ago,” Klobuchar said. “I appreciate the chairman’s desire to move this process forward.”
Boozman said Republicans had offered a compromise that would give states additional time before the SNAP cost-sharing requirements take effect, but the proposal was not accepted.
“The rest of the story is this: we offered a one-year delay with no payment, no cost. It was rejected,” Boozman said. “We’re running out of time, and we’re rapidly losing a window that we can actually get this thing passed.”
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) called the committee vote an important step forward, saying farmers need certainty. He highlighted year-round E15 and said the bill includes numerous priorities from members of both parties.
“This has been a very bipartisan process,” Thune said. “It is a product that deserves our support.”
Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) offered a similar message, saying farmers and ranchers are depending on Congress to finish the legislation.
“If we don’t get this done for our farmers and our ranchers, shame on us,” Justice said. “We’ve got to get it across the finish line.”
Reactions from ag
Agriculture groups quickly welcomed the committee action.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said the organization applauded committee members for recognizing the “critical support the farm bill provides for America’s farmers and ranchers.” Duvall said more than 100 Farm Bureau farmers and ranchers were in Washington over the week urging Congress to advance a bipartisan bill.
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said the legislation contains “real wins for family farmers and ranchers,” highlighting mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) and nationwide year-round E15. However, he said producers continue to face rising input costs, concentrated corporate power and a farm safety net that does not fully reflect current conditions.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, USA (R-CALF) also welcomed the bill’s MCOOL provisions for beef. CEO Bill Bullard said the committee recognized that cattle producers should have the opportunity to compete for consumers seeking American beef.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure MCOOL remains in the Farm Bill through the next steps of this process and is ultimately restored into law,” Bullard said.
The committee action came as Farm Bureau and other agriculture organizations were in Washington, D.C., for fall fly-ins, where farmers and ranchers met with lawmakers and pressed Congress to complete the legislation.
The House passed its version of the farm bill on April 30 by a 224-200 vote. The Senate must now move the legislation through the full Senate before lawmakers can resolve differences between the two chambers and send a final package to the president.
Time is also running short under the current extension. The 2018 Farm Bill is now in its third consecutive year under an extension, which is scheduled to expire Sept. 30. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
