House Ag Committee Releases Farm Bill Proposal

By Marlee Jackson

Alabama farmers are hailing the proposed 2026 Farm Bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. G.T. Thompson, R-Pa., chair of the House Ag Committee.

The bill's text was released Feb. 13 and builds on a strong foundation of farm-focused provisions passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill last summer. Thompson's farm bill would address many of the remaining, soon-to-expire provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill, including issues related to animal welfare, research and specialty crops.

Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell thanked Thompson for his efforts to help farmers burdened with low commodity prices, high input costs and other difficult economic conditions.

"Farmers across this country are hurting," Parnell said. "We appreciate Chairman Thompson's work to provide real solutions to help the men and women who work tirelessly on their farms and in their fields. I'm asking members of Congress to rally together, to solve the crisis in farm country."

Thompson said a new farm bill is long overdue, noting the last bill was passed in December 2018.

"The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is an important step forward in providing certainty to our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities," Thompson said. "This bill provides modern policies for modern challenges and is shaped by years of listening to the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural Americans. The farm bill affects our entire country, regardless of whether you live on a farm, and I look forward to seeing my colleagues in Congress work together to get this critical legislation across the finish line."

The House Ag Committee will begin marking up the bill Feb. 23.