Congress Must Act on the Farm Bill

This week, the House Agriculture Committee is marking up a new farm bill.

This is an important step forward, but farmers know real progress is measured by results, and it’s time for Congress to deliver on a new farm bill.

At the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), we’ve dug through and analyzed the bill. We’re following amendments closely and providing input to Congressional leaders and their staff. This is all part of a critical first step in the process. 

With a new farm bill, farm families will have access to critical programs ranging from conservation and rural development to research and energy. 

While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made an important investment in strengthening the farm safety net, it did not replace the need for a new, modernized farm bill.

Just last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) for a roundtable discussion with farmers in Texas. 

Hearing directly from farmers about the challenges they’re facing reinforced why getting a new farm bill across the finish line matters so much. 

Every delay leaves farmers facing more uncertainty at a time when agriculture can least afford it, and Congress has an opportunity to act now.

Why the farm bill matters for farmers and families

The farm bill is more than a piece of agricultural legislation. 

As I have said before, it’s a food and farm bill impacting every American, whether they live in a rural town, a suburb or the middle of a major city. 

It helps ensure a stable food supply, supports conservation and research, strengthens rural communities and provides farmers with the tools they need to manage risk in an increasingly unpredictable world.

The last farm bill was written for a very different economic environment nearly a decade ago. 

Since 2018, agriculture has endured a pandemic, runaway inflation, rising interest rates and historic supply chain and market disruptions. 

Costs for fuel, fertilizer, equipment and labor have surged and margins have narrowed. The pressure on farm families has only intensified.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we’ve lost over 175,000 farms since 2017. This trend should concern anyone who cares about food security and the future of American agriculture. 

Passing a modernized farm bill is about keeping farmers in business so they can continue doing what they do best – producing safe, abundant food, fiber and renewable fuel for our country.

America’s food security depends on a strong farm economy. When farmers succeed, consumers benefit from a reliable, domestic food supply and rural communities remain vibrant.

Congress must finish the farm bill

Thompson’s leadership in releasing bill text and advancing to a committee markup shows Congress can still work toward solutions. 

We appreciate the work that has gone into moving this process forward, and we support efforts to pass a bipartisan farm bill reflecting today’s realities in agriculture.

As this process moves forward, it’s critical lawmakers hear directly from the people living with these decisions every day. I encourage farmers and ranchers to visit the Farm Bureau Action Center and make their voices heard as Congress works to finalize a farm bill.

This week’s action shows the farm bill is moving, but movement alone isn’t enough. Congress must finish the job and deliver a modern farm bill which keeps American agriculture strong and our food supply secure for years to come.

Zippy Duvall is the president of AFBF. This opinion column was originally published in his weekly column “The Zipline” on March 4.