Farm Bill Passes House for First Time in 8 Years

LINCOLN, NE — The House passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 on Thursday morning by a vote of 224-200. Three Republicans were opposed and five did not vote. Fourteen Democrats crossed party lines to vote yes and one did not vote. All three of Nebraska’s Representatives – Mike Flood (CD1), Don Bacon (CD2), and Adrian Smith (CD3) – voted yea.

The House’s successful vote marks the farthest a farm bill has made it in Congress since the most recent reauthorization was signed into law in 2018. The bill updates farm loan and income support programs, and reauthorizes programs that support voluntary conservation and rural development.

“Nebraska family farmers and ranchers are currently facing one more year of the toughest financial challenges since the 1980s farm crisis,” NeFU President John Hansen said. “The 2018 Farm Bill is using 2014 data, so updating the reference and target numbers is helpful, but we need a Farm Bill that deals with the 2026 economic realities we are facing today. We were hoping for more substantial improvements.”

“From a process standpoint, the passage of the House Farm Bill represents an important first step after three years of delays,” continued Hansen. “It is not a perfect bill, but there are provisions that will benefit family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. We are deeply disappointed that the House again missed an opportunity to pass permanent year-round E15. Family farmers need strong, stable domestic demand-based domestic markets that utilize our own domestically produced agricultural products. We are facing strong export competition, and 9 billion bushels of corn stocks that needs a home.” 

House Leaders agreed to decouple the Farm Bill and year-round E15 and hold a standalone vote on E15 on May 13 but that means the House’s farm bill can’t be sent to the Senate until that time. Senate counterparts have yet to introduce text or provide a timeline for moving their Farm Bill legislation.

The House also voted 280-142 to remove controversial pesticide labeling language, which was championed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and the Make America Healthy Again movement. That language had threatened to derail the Farm Bill on the House Floor if it remained included.

“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. We look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen this bill and deliver more effective safety nets for farmers and families,” National Farmers Union President Rob Larew added.

“Family farmers and ranchers are facing a mounting crisis. We must do more to address skyrocketing fertilizer and fuel costs and record setting ag input costs, depressed market prices, and lost export markets.   We look forward to continuing our work to strengthen the Farm Bill in the Senate, address corporate consolidation, and provide a meaningful income safety net to producers,” Hansen concluded.