(WASHINGTON D.C.) — On Friday, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) released the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. In a statement, Chairman Thompson said that “A new farm bill is long overdue, and the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is an important step forward in providing certainty to our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. We made historic agricultural investments last summer in the Working Families Tax Cuts (H.R. 1), but there are many key policy components that remain to be addressed. With that in mind, the House Committee on Agriculture will begin marking up a new farm bill February 23.”
He added that “this bill provides modern policies for modern challenges and is shaped by years of listening to the needs of farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans. The farm bill affects our entire country, regardless of whether you live on a farm, and I look forward to seeing my colleagues in Congress work together to get this critical legislation across the finish line.”
The full text of the bill can be found here. View a short overview here and a title-by-title summary here.
Multiple agriculture groups have shared their responses, you can view many of those below:
Statement from NCFC President and CEO Duane Simpson on Release of Draft Farm Bill
Washington, D.C. (February 13, 2026) — The following is a statement from Duane Simpson, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), regarding the release of the House Agriculture Committee’s draft Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026:
“The release of a draft farm bill is an important and welcome step forward for farmers, co-ops, and rural America. Finishing the farm bill process started in last year’s reconciliation is overdue, and we appreciate Chairman Thompson’s leadership in moving this process ahead.
“Farmer co-ops rely on strong risk management tools, effective conservation and trade programs, and policies that support investment and innovation across rural communities. This draft reflects meaningful progress in a number of areas that matter to our members and reauthorizes a number of critical programs left out the reconciliation process.
“As the House Agriculture Committee moves toward markup later this month, we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and hope to see amendments considered and approved on issues that are particularly important to farmer cooperatives.
“NCFC remains committed to supporting a strong, bipartisan farm bill that gives farmers and the cooperatives they own the certainty they need to plan, invest, and continue feeding and fueling the country.”
ASA Welcomes House Ag Action on 2026 Farm Bill
The American Soybean Association commends the House Agriculture Committee on advancing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.
“We appreciate that Chairman Thompson heard the concerns and needs of soybean farmers and addressed them in the bill,” said Scott Metzger, ASA president and a soybean farmer from Ohio. “The provisions included will provide much-needed market and regulatory certainty for producers facing new risks and difficult business decisions.”
Over the past two years, ASA has advocated for strengthening the farm bill to meet the pressing needs of soybean farmers. The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 includes significant enhancements to improve access to credit, meaningful investments to promote expansion and diversification of markets, and support for vital provisions such as the BioPreferred Program, pesticide labeling uniformity, full access to domestic markets for the meat products of our livestock customers, and investments in precision agriculture.
Strengthening the farm bill is critical for the future of U.S. soybeans, and ASA stands ready to work with lawmakers to advance this legislation and help stabilize today’s challenging farm economy.
NCC Welcomes Thompson’s Farm, Food, and National Security Act
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Cotton Council (NCC) applauds House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson for releasing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, which includes a wide range of farm bill provisions that were unable to be included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
“Thanks to Chairman Thompson’s tireless work, we were fortunate to see much of the farm bill signed into law as part of the OBBBA,” said NCC Chairman Nathan Reed, “but now is the time to finish the job. Passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act would significantly benefit the cotton industry by safeguarding the marketing loan program during future shutdowns, advancing the effort to create a harvest incentive insurance option, and providing a commonsense regulatory framework for crop protection products.”
The NCC urges bipartisan support for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act and stands ready to work with House and Senate leadership to secure final passage this year.
Farm Credit Applauds House Farm Bill 2.0 Draft
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Farm Credit today issued the following statement regarding the release of The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 by the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture:
“Farm Credit applauds Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for their work to produce The Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026. While H.R. 1 addressed certain agricultural needs, many policies were not addressed and remain stuck in 2018. It is critical that policies – especially those impacting credit availability – are updated to provide certainty and growth opportunities for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
“The draft released today incorporates vital bipartisan marker bills that are important to Farm Credit and the producers we serve. Most notably, this draft legislation includes policies to modernize Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits and programs, expand access to credit for young and beginning producers, and strengthen rural communities by offering additional financing options for essential community facilities like hospitals and community care centers.
“With the U.S. farm economy and rural communities facing ongoing challenges, we cannot and should not wait to finish the Farm Bill. We urge the House Agriculture Committee to advance the Farm Bill 2.0 process to ensure these forward-looking policies are enacted in 2026. Farm Credit supports Chairman Thompson’s draft and looks forward to working with members on both sides of the aisle to secure passage.”
Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. It has been fulfilling its mission of helping rural America grow and thrive for more than a century with the capital necessary to make businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. For more information visit www.farmcredit.com.
IDFA Lauds House Farm Bill Draft Expanding SNAP Dairy Nutrition Incentives and Strengthening Key Dairy Programs
WASHINGTON, February 13, 2026—Today, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) released a draft Farm Bill that would expand the SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) projects into a broader Dairy Nutrition Incentive Projects (DNIP) that encourages the consumption of additional varieties of milk, as well as cheese.
“Chairman Thompson’s draft Farm Bill builds on the strong momentum behind dairy nutrition incentives and reflects a clear commitment to making America healthy again,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). “By expanding SNAP dairy incentives to include additional nutritious dairy products and providing certainty to core federal dairy programs, this legislation ensures low-income families have greater access to affordable, wholesome dairy foods while giving farmers and processors the certainty they need to continue delivering for America.”
The House Farm Bill’s dairy incentives reflect provisions from the bipartisan Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act (H.R. 2496) co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), and 21 additional bipartisan Members of Congress in the House. The Senate version of DNIP (S. 1021) is co-led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and has 9 bipartisan co-sponsors. The House Farm Bill provisions expand the SNAP incentives beyond non-fat (skim) and low-fat (1%) milk to include additional varieties of milk, including whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk, as well as cheese. As of September 30, 2025, SNAP milk incentives have been redeemed by more than 600,000 unique SNAP households in 32 states.
In 2025, the Make America Healthy Again Commission highlighted how increasing dairy consumption through SNAP healthy eating incentives can improve health. Milk, cheese, yogurt and other cultured dairy products provide essential nutrients including high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, that support improved health outcomes for Americans.
“This Congress and the Administration have an opportunity in the next Farm Bill to better leverage SNAP to expand access to nutritious dairy products and improve health outcomes for Americans,” said Dykes. “IDFA encourages Congress to include yogurt and other cultured dairy products in the DNIP program alongside milk and cheese. Strengthening dairy incentives through DNIP will help families put wholesome, affordable foods on the table while advancing the Make America Healthy Again agenda. SNAP purchases of more varieties of dairy also means greater support for America’s dairy farmers.”
The draft Farm Bill released today also includes several other IDFA priorities that support U.S. dairy. The bill includes a permanent authorization for Mandatory Cost Surveys that will ensure make allowances in the Federal Milk Marketing Orders accurately reflect the cost of manufacturing dairy products. The bill would also make the Dairy Forward Pricing Program permanent, thereby eliminating the possibility that forward pricing programs for Class II, III and IV proprietary plants and their producers will lapse if a new Farm Bill is not passed before the existing Farm Bill expires. In addition, the bill transfers administration of the Food for Peace program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). IDFA supports USDA taking on responsibility for Food for Peace and looks forward to continued collaboration with USDA officials during the transition, including exploring opportunities to incorporate U.S. dairy products into future Food for Peace efforts.
“This draft Farm Bill further positions dairy at the heart of America’s nutrition strategy,” Dykes added. “When we invest in programs that expand access to milk, cheese, yogurt, and other nutritious dairy products, we invest in healthier families and a stronger nation. IDFA appreciates Chairman Thompson’s leadership and looks forward to working with lawmakers and the Administration to move this bill forward.”
USDEC Praises House Ag Committee for Advancing Key U.S. Dairy Priorities
ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) thanked the House Committee on Agriculture for including three major dairy priorities in its updated Farm Bill legislative text released today.
The framework includes the Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields (SAFETY) Act, a landmark bipartisan measure to protect American producers’ ability to use common names in international markets; continued funding for vital trade promotion programs; and support for the use of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) that contain dairy in U.S. international aid programs.
“We are grateful to Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for advancing policies that strengthen the competitiveness of America’s dairy industry,” said Krysta Harden, USDEC President and CEO. “These provisions will help reinforce the dairy supply chain, support rural communities, and ensure the United States remains a reliable supplier of high-quality dairy products to markets around the world.”
Authored in the House by Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-SD, Jim Costa, D-CA, Michelle Fischbach, R-MN, and Jimmy Panetta, D-CA, and in the Senate by Sens. John Thune, R-SD, Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Tina Smith, D-MN, the SAFETY Act would establish a permanent policy directive for USDA to work with the U.S. Trade Representative to include the protection of commonly used terms like “parmesan,” “feta” and “asiago” as a priority in international negotiations.
The language complements the string of victories that the U.S. Trade Representative has secured in proactively negotiating protections for generic terms in a series of Agreements on Reciprocal Trade, including a deal inked with Taiwan late yesterday.
The farm bill legislation would also reassign funding initially authorized through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year to effectively double export agricultural export promotion efforts. The funds would be consolidated into existing Farm Bill programs like the Market Access Program.
The bill also continues $200 million in annual funding for RUTF purchases thanks in key part to advocacy from USDEC and its members. RUTF is a nutrient-dense paste that incorporates milk powders used in international food aid packages to treat chronic malnutrition. USDEC also commends the bill’s initiative to transfer the Food for Peace program, under which RUTF is administered, to USDA.
Farm Action Responds to House Farm Bill
Washington, D.C. — Farm Action issued the following response to the House Agriculture Committee’s 2026 Farm Bill text released today.
This statement can be attributed to Sarah Carden, Farm Action’s Research and Policy Director:
“The 2026 Farm Bill is an opportunity for Congress to reshape our food system, but the House’s newly released bill text signals more of the same. Instead of rebalancing the rules in favor of independent farmers and rural communities, this bill largely preserves a status quo that benefits the largest corporations.
We are disappointed that the bill includes efforts to revoke state authority to enact laws like California’s Proposition 12, which would undermine the thousands of independent hog farmers who have gained rare market access under that law. Similarly, harmful provisions granting pesticide manufacturers immunity would strip protections from farmers and rural communities while shielding corporations from accountability.
We’re encouraged to see improvements to specialty crop risk management tools, along with a few other advances aimed at restoring local food supply chains. Through the markup process, we will continue urging Congress to use this opportunity to restore competition to the food and agriculture system, rebuild local and regional supply chains, and support farmers in feeding their communities healthy food.”
Farm Action’s farm bill platform lays out actionable ways Congress can address the impacts of food and farm system consolidation and bring back competition to give independent farmers and ranchers a fair shake.
Modern Ag Alliance Applauds Much-Needed Farm Bill Language Reinforcing Science-Based Pesticide Labels
OMAHA, NE — The Modern Ag Alliance welcomes the release of new Farm Bill text, underscoring the critical role the legislation plays in providing stability and certainty for farmers at a time of significant economic pressure across rural America. The Alliance was encouraged by the inclusion of a labeling uniformity provision that supports farmers’ continued access to essential crop protection tools.
“Farmers are continually asked to do more with less,” said Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director of the Modern Ag Alliance. “A strong Farm Bill provides the certainty they need to plan ahead, manage risk, and bring a robust, safe supply of food, fuel, and fibers to market for consumers. Clear, science-based labeling standards are an important part of that equation.”
This legislation comes as American agriculture is facing one of its most challenging periods in a generation. Persistent economic pressures—from rising input costs, to declining farm income—combined with growing regulatory uncertainty around the tools and practices farmers rely on are placing real strain across the country. And these challenges don’t stop at the farm gate—they extend to the grocery store, contributing to higher food costs for consumers. Recent survey data underscores the urgency of action: a majority of farmers express concern about the long-term viability of farming without meaningful policy support.
The Farm Bill remains one of the most important and impactful ways Congress can support American farmers. This policy helps them manage risk, plan ahead, and stay in business during volatile times. We need to ensure American farmers continue to have all the tools in the tool box to be successful, especially crop protection chemistries. These safe, EPA-approved tools help control weeds and pests, protect yields, and manage costs, while also supporting conservation practices like no-till farming, which reduces soil erosion, improves water quality, and lowers fuel use. Ensuring farmers can continue to rely on these tools strengthens both farm viability and the broader food system.
“On behalf of our more than 110 organizations from coast to coast, the Modern Ag Alliance applauds Chairman GT Thompson for his leadership and for keeping farmers’ priorities front and center as this Farm Bill moves forward,” Burns-Thompson added. “As lawmakers work together during markup, it’s essential they continue building on this momentum by advancing policies that provide the policy clarity that farmers deserve.”
