After tense markup, Farm Bill’s true test awaits on the Senate floor

Washington, DC, September 16, 2026 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s reconvened markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026:

“Today’s passage is a step forward, although the work to craft a farm bill that levels the playing field for family farmers and makes bold new investments is just beginning. Farmers and ranchers are facing steep challenges – from rising costs to unstable and uncertain markets – and status quo farm policy is not a serious solution. They need and deserve a farm bill that invests new, permanent funding across all titles rather than picking winners and losers. NSAC appreciates the scattered positives in this bill – including mandatory funding for local food programs – yet remains committed to working toward a bipartisan farm bill that eliminates deep cuts to popular, oversubscribed conservation programs, levels the playing field for family farmers, and invests meaningful, permanent resources in building domestic markets for local and regional farmers.”

The Senate Agriculture Committee’s passage of the updated Agricultural Act of 2026 succeeded on a party-line vote, 12-11.

-National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition