Lawmakers could take another run at passing a new farm bill when Congress returns in September. The Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance the legislation earlier this month. The latest setback adds to a farm bill process that has stretched on for more than three years.
The Senate Agriculture Committee took up the roughly 900-page bill in early August, debated it and considered amendments before ultimately failing to move it out of committee.
Mike Stranz, vice president of advocacy for the National Farmers Union, says farmers need a new farm bill. But they also need lawmakers to get it right.
“We do need to see a farm bill get done, but we also need to make sure it’s the right one,” Stranz said.
This farm bill update is part of the “Lunch on the Hill” program hosted by Teri Barr. You can listen to the entire episode here:
Why did the farm bill stall?
The farm bill is a massive piece of legislation that covers far more than traditional farm programs. It provides a safety net for farmers, ranchers and growers when disasters strike, crops fail, prices fall or input costs rise. But the bill also includes programs involving nutrition, conservation, rural development, forestry, biotechnology and horticulture.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) accounts for the largest share of farm bill spending, and disagreements over the program helped prevent the Senate bill from moving forward.
Democrats did not support provisions that would shift more SNAP costs onto state governments in the coming years,” Stranz explained. “Those disagreements, along with lingering tension over the 2025 legislation commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” made it difficult to build the bipartisan support traditionally needed to advance a farm bill.”
The committee also faced a unique voting situation. Republicans hold a 12-11 advantage on the Senate Agriculture Committee, but Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was unavailable for the August meeting due to health issues. Without him, the committee was effectively deadlocked.
Farmers are still working under an eight-year-old farm bill
The last full, five-year farm bill was passed in 2018. Congress has repeatedly extended the legislation rather than passing a new version. And this is problematic because agriculture has changed significantly since 2018.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s food supply chain. Trade policies have shifted, agricultural markets have become more volatile and input costs have increased,” Stranz said. “A farm bill written in 2018 wasn’t written with all the issues we’ve gone through since that time.”
And for farmers, those changes can have a direct impact on the bottom line. Weather can swing from drought to excessive rainfall. Commodity prices can fall. Input costs can remain high. And changes in international trade can quickly affect markets.
Farmers want more than a short-term safety net
One area of concern for National Farmers Union members is the country’s reliance on export markets. Stranz pointed to soybeans and the changing relationship with China as an example of how vulnerable farmers can be when international markets become less predictable.
“There needs to be some farm policies that aren’t reliant solely on exports,” he said. “Lawmakers should consider policies that help farmers participate in local and regional food systems and address what happens when there is too much of a particular commodity.”
The goal, according to Stranz, should be farm policy to help farmers get ahead of a challenge — not simply respond after it happens.
What could happen when Congress returns?
The next opportunity could come in September. Congress is expected to return in early to mid-September, and the Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to reconvene around September 14-16. But, which version of the farm bill lawmakers will consider remains unclear.
There were some provisions added during the August committee process that Stranz sees as positive steps. One would provide additional funding to help connect farmers with local institutions. The program had been cut earlier in 2025 but remains popular.
Another provision would reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. This is particularly important as beef imports increase.
“Consumers want to see it, farmers want to show it,” Stranz explained.
Wisconsin lawmakers could have a voice
There aren’t currently any Wisconsin members on the Senate Agriculture Committee, but senators from the state could still play an important role when a farm bill reaches the full Senate. Stranz encouraged farmers to make their priorities known to their elected officials.
Wisconsin does have members on the House Agriculture Committee. They could have a role as the legislation moves through Congress.
If you are watching the farm bill debate, September could bring another important opportunity. Yet, exactly what version could be considered, and whether they can find the bipartisan support needed to pass it, remains unclear.
After years of extensions, farmers are still waiting for more than another temporary fix. They’re waiting for a farm bill that reflects the realities of agriculture in 2026.
How to contact your federal legislators:
- Senator Tammy Baldwin: Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224-5653 Madison Office: (608) 264-5338
- Senator Ron Johnson: Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224-5323 Milwaukee Office: (414) 276-7282
- Your U.S. Representative: Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office.
