Farm Bill 2.0 Advances Support for Farmers and Ranchers

By Scout Nelson

Senator John Hoeven welcomed the Senate Agriculture Committee’s approval of the Agricultural Act of 2026, also known as Farm Bill 2.0. The legislation is designed to provide long-term support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities while strengthening the nation's agricultural economy.

The bill includes more than 100 bipartisan proposals that address important issues facing agriculture today. It also contains a compromise proposal introduced by Chairman John Boozman to authorize the year-round sale of E15, expanding market opportunities for ethanol producers.

"Farm Bill 2.0 is focused on supporting family farms and ranches and providing the tools and resources they need to succeed. The legislation improves the farm safety net, advances ag research and develops better market access for producers," said Senator Hoeven. "Given the challenges in farm country, our producers need long-term certainty, and this legislation includes more than 100 bipartisan proposals to address real issues facing U.S. producers, including enhancements to the farm safety net, increased access to credit, year-round sale of E15, and many others. We’ll continue working with our colleagues to find a path forward for the Farm Bill."

The legislation strengthens the farm safety net by building on improvements approved through the Working Families Tax Cut Act. It also increases investment in agricultural research, expands support for specialty crops, develops new market opportunities, and authorizes year-round E15 sales.

Several provisions written by Senator Hoeven are included in the bill. These include the PACE Act, which raises Farm Service Agency loan limits, and the BINS Act, which supports fertilizer storage and handling infrastructure.

The legislation also includes the SCALE Act to support state-led soil health and wildlife habitat programs. Additional measures address prairie dog management, require mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef, authorize the BARD Program for agricultural research between the United States and Israel, and reauthorize the Joint Chiefs Program that supports grassland conservation.

Other provisions establish a pilot program for Farm Service Agency ownership loans, authorize a study on adding dry edible beans as a Title I commodity, improve Livestock Indemnity Program payment categories, and protect producers affected by the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project through crop insurance improvements.