Rep. Jackson Secures Major Victories for TX-13 in the 2026 Farm Bill

WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) championed Texas' agriculture priorities during the House Committee on Agriculture's markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 - commonly known as the Farm Bill. The 2026 Farm Bill ensures agriculture producers have the tools necessary to face the challenges of the modern agricultural industry.

"As the Representative for the number one agriculture district in Texas, I know firsthand that an updated Farm Bill is long overdue," said Rep. Ronny Jackson. "Our farmers and ranchers in TX-13 work tirelessly to feed and fuel this nation, and they deserve policies that provide them the certainty needed to remain in operation for generations to come. I'm proud to have secured key wins for our district and for the agriculture industry as a whole, and I look forward to getting this Farm Bill across the finish line and signed into law."

Rep. Ronny Jackson's Included Provisions:

Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program Coordination with Land Grant Universities: Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to partner with qualified land grant universities, like Texas A&M, to strengthen feral swine control, eradication, and land remediation efforts

Dietary Guidelines Reform Act: Codifies the Trump administration's evidence-based reforms to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and removes the Biden administration's weaponization that promoted radical environmental policies and attacked conventional protein sources

Rural Health Care Technical Assistance Program Act: Codifies and expands USDA's Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program, helping to enhance financial and operational capabilities for critical health care facilities in rural America

Pilot Program to Review Effectiveness of Coverage Penalty: Establishes a USDA pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of crop insurance coverage penalties for late-planted crops in the Texas Panhandle

Agriculture Infrastructure Stability Act: Directs the USDA Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to develop a crop insurance policy to help cotton producers manage increased risks associated with harvesting crops that were failed in the early growing season, ensuring additional cotton bales are processed throughout the cotton industry supply chain

Enhanced Biosecurity During a Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak: Strengthens USDA's foreign animal disease preparedness and response capabilities by explicitly including biosecurity assistance and the costs of enhanced biosecurity measures in producer support programs

Rep. Ronny Jackson's Included Amendments:

Lamb Industry Insurance Policy Study: Requires the USDA to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility and design of a federal insurance program for the domestic lamb industry, assessing options to provide sheep producers with risk management tools comparable to those available in other livestock sectors

Adverse Weather Exemption for Livestock Risk Protection Insurance: Directs the USDA to evaluate the potential for additional flexibilities under the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program that would allow feeder cattle producers impacted by adverse weather events, including wildfires, to sell covered livestock outside the current 60-day marketing window without losing insurance coverage

15% Cap for Administrative Fees on USDA Animal Disease Program: Ensures more federal funding for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program is used by eligible entities to conduct critical animal disease surveillance, prevention, and diagnostic work that keep America's livestock producers safe by capping eligible entities' administrative costs at no more than 15%

Topline Wins:

Credit:

• Updates and modernizes USDA farm loan limits to reflect real-world land values and rising input costs, increasing Guaranteed Operating Loans to $3 million and Guaranteed Ownership Loans to $3.5 million

• Allows distressed guaranteed loans to be refinanced into direct loans, helping family farmers and ranchers navigate high-interest-rate environments and volatile commodity markets while maintaining operational stability

• Streamlines experience requirements for beginning farmers and ranchers to expand access to credit for new agricultural producers

• Establishes a pre-approval pilot program for ownership and operating loans to streamline producer's access to capital

• Strengthens the Farm Credit System and expands partnership flexibility with community lenders to finance essential rural facilities, including health care, childcare, and emergency services infrastructure
  
  

Conservation:

• Integrates precision agriculture technologies into Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), expanding cost-share support for water conservation, irrigation efficiency, and innovative soil health practices

• Maintains the statutory 50% livestock allocation within EQIP, ensuring cattle producers in the Texas Panhandle remain prioritized under working lands conservation programs

Rural Development:

• Invests in rural water and wastewater infrastructure through zero- and low-interest loans, principal forgiveness for distressed systems, emergency assistance grants, and codification of the Circuit Rider Program

• Reauthorizes and strengthens rural broadband programs, raises minimum speed standards, prioritizes truly unserved areas, and limits overbuilding to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while expanding high-speed connectivity across rural America

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