Breaking: Farm Bill Passes House of Representative

Today, the U.S. House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a major step toward a bipartisan, five-year Farm Bill and renewed stability for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

At the heart of it: reauthorizing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through 2031, one of the most important tools we have for supporting working lands while conserving habitat for upland birds and wildlife across the country.

Next stop: the Senate. 

Congress now has an opportunity - and a responsibility—to deliver a stronger, truly bipartisan Farm Bill. By removing problematic pesticide provisions, strengthening conservation investments, and rejecting amendments that would undercut this historic opportunity, lawmakers can advance a bill that works for producers, wildlife, and communities alike.

The good:

• Protects historic conservation investments, maintaining an $11 billion increase that could expand access to voluntary programs for farmers and ranchers

• Reauthorizes CRP through 2031, continuing its benefits for soil, water, and wildlife

• Elevates wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity as priorities, supporting innovative tools like virtual fencing

• Includes forestry provisions that support wildfire risk reduction, restoration, and improvements to forest data, nurseries, and wood product innovation

The not so good:

• Includes harmful pesticide provisions that could override safeguards in the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act, limit state authority, and shield manufacturers from liability

• Contains forestry provisions that could weaken environmental review and limit the use of beneficial fire

• Restricts renewable energy opportunities for producers by limiting REAP funding for solar

• Limits states’ ability to set livestock production standards, even when needed to protect water quality and communities

The path forward is clear: strengthen what works, fix what doesn’t, and pass a Farm Bill that reflects the shared values of conservation, productivity, and stewardship.