The U.S. Senate has released its version of the five-year farm bill, which renews and enhances crop insurance, disaster assistance, and federal agricultural research. The 983-page Agricultural Act of 2026 also outlines investments in rural broadband connectivity, forest management, and water infrastructure.
Farm Bill Details
The Senate’s version of the bill authorizes year-round sales of E15 gasoline nationwide and delays state cost-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by one year. The House and Senate will ultimately reconcile their differences to produce a single compromise bill.
According to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., the bill strengthens the future of agriculture, supports rural communities, and provides farmers with indispensable resources. The American Farm Bureau Federation praised the Agricultural Act of 2026 and urged the Senate to move forward quickly.
The U.S. has lost over 156,000 farms between 2017 and 2025, according to the 2026 U.S. Census data. Farm bankruptcy filings jumped by 46% from 2024 to 2025, the American Farm Bureau Federation reported. The farm bill aims to stabilize the struggling farm economy and ensure America’s food security for generations to come.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
