Senate Panel Advances 2026 Farm Bill 12-11 as Farmers Press for Inflation Update
Updated
Updated · WPSD Local 6 · Sep 19
Senate Panel Advances 2026 Farm Bill 12-11 as Farmers Press for Inflation Update
3 articles · Updated · WPSD Local 6 · Sep 19
Summary
A 12-11 Senate Agriculture Committee vote moved the Agricultural Act of 2026 forward after August’s failed attempt, sending the long-delayed farm bill toward full Senate and House votes.
Farmers said the 2018 law—extended in one-year patches since 2023—no longer matches costs and policy needs, with diesel cited at $6.15 a gallon versus about $1.30 nine years ago and fertilizer at $1,200 a ton versus $200.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell backed provisions including year-round E-15, mandatory country-of-origin labeling and stronger risk-management tools, saying they would aid corn and livestock producers.
Shell also urged changes for tobacco, including ending limits on federal trade promotion and tightening import tariff-rate quotas that he said have not been revised in 30 years.
The committee win, enabled by Mitch McConnell’s return after a three-month absence, still leaves the bill needing bipartisan support on the Senate floor and in the House to become law.