Senate Agriculture Committee Advances Senate Farm Bill
Published Friday, September 18, 2026
The Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or the Farm Bill, along party lines in a 12-11 vote. The committee resumed the markup after recessing it during its first attempt in early August.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, sought to introduce an amendment related to Proposition 12—the 2018 California voter-approved law that sets minimum space requirements breeding pigs, egg-laying hens and veal calves—but committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., maintained that debate on all titles had closed and that the committee had reconvened only to vote on the bill. As a result, the meeting was relatively brief. The return of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who provided the majority vote needed to advance the bill, was also notable.
The bill now heads to the Senate floor, where it likely will not be considered until the lame-duck session following the election. Democrats are expected to continue pursuing a two-year extension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cost-share payments scheduled to begin next year for 49 states. Several amendments and other issues raised by both parties are also likely to be considered. Some may be reserved for a conference committee, which is expected to be necessary if the Senate passes the bill with at least 60 votes.
Staff contact: Erin Huston, ehuston@cfbf.com.
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