Farm Bill Stalls as Midterms Approach
Congress has not passed a 2026 farm bill and may recess before the November election, leaving the five-year measure unfinished. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a version, but disputes over Proposition 12, SNAP, country-of-origin labeling, and farm program funding remain unresolved. The 2018 farm bill expired in 2023, and farmers have operated under extensions since.
The Senate Agriculture Committee approved its draft on Sept. 17 with only one party’s support. No full Senate vote is scheduled, and the House passed its own measure in April. Negotiators would still need to merge the two chambers’ texts.
The 2018 law lapsed in 2023, so producers have relied on temporary extensions. The Senate proposal would update farm programs, permit ethanol sales all year, and raise equipment and production loan caps. Disagreements persist over SNAP, beef origin labels, Proposition 12, and farm funding.
The impasse could leave farmers and ranchers without updated safety-net and disaster support as costs and weather risks persist. Pork producers may face continued uncertainty from conflicting state animal-housing rules. Low-income households relying on SNAP could see benefit debates delayed. Consumers might eventually feel effects through food prices or availability. State authority over agricultural standards and animal-welfare rules may remain contested.