Alford Votes to Send Relief to Missouri Farmers and Ranchers with 2026 Farm Bill

Today, Congressman Mark Alford issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. H.R. 7567 provides vital support to farmers and ranchers in Missouri as they confront a troubling agriculture economy, while refocusing our American nutrition programs on health and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.

Learn more about the Farm Bill here.

"The 2026 Farm Bill is a critical investment in America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities-the backbone of our nation's food security and economic strength," said Congressman Alford. "As a proud representative of Missouri's agricultural heartland, I was proud to this legislation because it builds on the One Big, Beautiful Bill to deliver real tools for our producers: stronger risk management, expanded access to credit, enhanced conservation programs on working lands, and targeted support for beginning farmers who will carry forward our family farm legacy. By prioritizing American agriculture, promoting precision farming innovation, and ensuring fair markets, this Farm Bill will help keep our farms profitable, our rural economies thriving, and our tables full of safe, abundant, home-grown food."

Congressman Alford secured critical provisions in the 2026 Farm Bill, including:

• The A-PLUS Act to expand consumer choice for meat products, especially local options, by increasing processing capacity through reduced regulatory roadblocks to spur additional competition by allowing livestock auction market owners to invest in small and regional packing facilities.
• The SHOPP Act to increase healthy food options for low-income households by incentivizing frozen fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP recipients and allowing frozen fruits, vegetables, and legumes to be purchased through the GusNIP program.
• Provisions to provide resources to new, young, beginning, and veteran farmers in their transition to farming and ranching.
• Language to reauthorize and improve the BioPreferred Program by requiring the Secretary to issue procurement guidance to agencies, implementing more thorough reporting procedures for agency procurement, and increasing procurement accountability and verification. This includes provisions from Congressman Alford's Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act.
• Provisions to codify and strengthen the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program to preventing closures, strengthening essential health services, and improving the financial and operational sustainability of rural healthcare facilities.
• Language to enhance disaster assistance programs and expand eligibility, including for droughts like to one currently devastating many communities in Missouri.

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