Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A bill to regulate market concentration and competition in the food and agriculture industry, and for other purposes.

The legislation would give the federal government stronger tools to prevent large companies from dominating the food and agriculture industry, potentially blocking mergers or breaking up existing companies that reduce competition and harm farmers or consumers. The bill aims to address concerns that a few massive corporations control too much of the market for seeds, meat processing, grain handling, and other agricultural sectors, which can lead to higher prices for shoppers and lower prices paid to farmers. The measure is currently under review by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

A resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United States Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

This resolution honors the 70-year history of a specialized research center that studies and manages forests in Pacific Island territories. The institute helps protect and sustainably manage these unique island ecosystems while supporting local communities that depend on forest resources. The recognition acknowledges the center's contributions to forestry science and conservation in the Pacific region.

Opening Programs to Organic Farms Act

The Agriculture Department would be required to study and report back to Congress about what obstacles prevent organic farmers and farms considering switching to organic methods from fully participating in USDA programs. The report would identify specific barriers these farms face, helping lawmakers understand what changes might be needed to make it easier for farmers to adopt or maintain organic practices. This affects organic farmers, conventional farmers interested in transitioning, and the USDA programs designed to support agricultural operations.

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters. The bill also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures. The bill expands advance ECP payments to include the replacement, repair, or restoration of farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response. Producers may receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for 75% of the cost of the replacement and 50% of the cost of the repair or restoration. Current law limits advance payments to 25% of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing. Under EFRP, the bill allows owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures. Currently, advance payments are not available under the program. ECP and EFRP recipients must use the funds within 180 days after the funds are disbursed. This provides additional time to ECP recipients who currently must use the funds within 60 days. The bill also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.

Risk-based Oversight for Integrity Act

The government would study how to improve its inspection system for organic farms and food producers by focusing resources on the highest-risk operations that could compromise organic standards. The bill would define what "risk to organic integrity" means and give the Department of Agriculture authority to make regulatory changes based on the study's findings. This affects organic farmers, food companies, and consumers who buy organic products.

BUFFER Act

The proposal would clarify which types of land can be enrolled in a federal program that pays farmers to take environmentally sensitive acres out of production and protect them through conservation practices. This affects farmers and landowners who participate in the conservation reserve program, as well as the government's ability to manage which properties qualify for these payments. The change aims to remove confusion about land eligibility rules that have existed since the original 1985 farm bill.

Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act of 2026

The federal government would create a grant program to help pay for safely transporting hazardous fuels, which are flammable materials that require special handling and equipment. This would assist companies, local governments, and organizations that need to move these dangerous materials by providing financial support to cover transportation costs and safety measures. The program aims to reduce risks and accidents associated with hazardous fuel transport across the country.

Child Care Innovation Advancement Act of 2026

The bill would create a pilot program to test new ways of providing nutritious meals to children in child care settings, with the goal of improving their access to healthy food. The program would likely involve grants or funding to child care facilities to help them serve better meals and potentially experiment with different nutrition approaches. This would affect child care providers, the children they serve, and families looking for quality nutrition options for their kids.

Milk From Family Dairies Act of 2026

The bill would create a new program to help stabilize dairy prices and production when market conditions become unstable, protecting dairy farmers from extreme price swings. The program would give farmers tools to manage their milk supply during periods of oversupply or undersupply, similar to existing programs for other agricultural products. This affects dairy farmers, milk processors, and ultimately consumers who buy milk and dairy products.

U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan Act of 2026

The bill would create a national plan to improve the health and disease prevention of pigs raised in the United States, giving the federal government tools to monitor and manage swine diseases more effectively. This would affect pig farmers, meat producers, and potentially consumers by helping prevent disease outbreaks that could harm the pork industry and food supply. The plan would likely include requirements for disease reporting, research funding, and coordination between farms and government agencies.

Farmers’ Market Local Revitalization Act of 2026

The bill would increase federal funding and support for farmers' markets and nutrition programs that help low-income people buy fresh produce from local farmers. By expanding these programs, the legislation aims to make healthy food more accessible to communities while helping small farmers increase their sales and income. The changes would affect farmers, shoppers on limited budgets, and rural communities looking to strengthen their local food systems.

CHILE Act of 2026

The bill would create a system to help farmers who grow specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, and nuts when they face emergencies such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks. It would establish rules for how the federal government provides financial assistance to these farmers when their crops are damaged or destroyed. Specialty crop farmers would benefit from having a clearer, more predictable way to get emergency help compared to the current system.

Small Farm Conservation Act

The proposal would create a special program within the Agriculture Department's environmental incentives initiative specifically designed to help small farms adopt practices that protect soil, water, and wildlife. Small farmers would receive financial assistance and technical support to implement conservation improvements on their land, making it easier for them to participate in environmental programs that might otherwise be too complex or costly. This targeted approach aims to give smaller agricultural operations better access to funding and guidance that larger farms already use.

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to consider certain acreage not planted due to a lack of irrigation water to be eligible for prevented planting payments, and for other purposes.

Farmers who cannot plant crops because they don't have enough water for irrigation would become eligible for government payments that normally go to farmers whose crops are prevented from being planted by weather or other disasters. This would help agricultural producers in water-scarce regions recover some of their lost income when drought or water shortages force them to leave fields unplanted. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to treat lack of irrigation water the same way it treats other prevented planting situations.

SCALE Act of 2026

The proposal would create new state-run programs to help farmers improve soil quality and create better habitats for wildlife on their land. Farmers and landowners would receive assistance—likely financial support or technical guidance—to implement practices that protect soil health while supporting local ecosystems. This would affect agricultural communities and conservation efforts across the country.

Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

The bill would expand and improve federal assistance programs for farmers and ranchers who face discrimination or economic disadvantages, as well as for veterans who want to start or continue farming operations. These programs would provide better access to loans, training, land, and other resources to help these groups succeed in agriculture. The changes aim to make it easier for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers to compete and build sustainable farming businesses.

BINS Act of 2026

Farmers would become eligible to use government-backed loans to build or improve fertilizer storage facilities on their property, similar to existing loan programs for other farm storage structures. This change would help agricultural operations better manage their fertilizer supplies and potentially reduce costs by allowing them to purchase and store fertilizer more efficiently. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act

The bill would make permanent a federal program that helps communities build stronger local food systems and create regional hubs where farmers and food producers can connect with buyers and consumers. This would support farmers, food businesses, and communities by providing funding and infrastructure to reduce dependence on long-distance food supply chains and create more resilient local markets. The measure is currently being reviewed by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2026

The proposal would allow states to use a mix of government employees and private contractors to run the food stamp program (SNAP), rather than requiring all workers to be state employees. This change would give states more flexibility in how they staff their nutrition assistance offices, potentially allowing them to hire temporary or contract workers under certain conditions. The bill affects both state governments managing the program and people who apply for or receive food assistance benefits.

Fresh Produce for Families Act of 2026

The bill would let food banks and emergency food programs buy fresh fruits and vegetables through the same ordering system that the Department of Defense uses to purchase produce, potentially making it easier and cheaper to get healthy food to people in need. This change would apply to the emergency food assistance program that helps distribute food to low-income individuals and families across the country. By using the military's existing supply chain, the program could streamline how it obtains fresh produce for distribution.