The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a sweeping overhaul of federal agriculture policy, passing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 in a narrow 224-200 vote after days of intense negotiations and overnight debate.
But prospects in the Senate remain uncertain, where the legislation faces a steeper and more complex path to passage.
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) emphasized the importance of advancing the bill, particularly for Indiana’s agricultural sector.
“It’s really important for Hoosier farmers that we get this done. Agriculture is so important not just to Indiana but our country and the Farm Bill is too important to miss an opportunity to pass it,” Banks told Hoosier Ag Today.
Banks pointed to the procedural and political hurdles in the Senate, where bipartisan support is required to reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage.
“In the Senate we have to get 60 votes—so, the Farm Bill has to be bipartisan and we have to find a way to get that done, but in a common sense way,” said Banks. “What the Democrats did under President Biden, they politicized the Farm Bill with a lot of new regulations and the Green New Deal. A lot of those regulations were bad for farmers and not good for our economy. So now, on our watch, we need to pass something that’s common sense, good for farmers, bipartisan as much as it can be, and get the 60 votes.”
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) expressed cautious optimism that lawmakers from both parties could come together to advance the legislation, noting that farm policy has historically drawn bipartisan cooperation.
“We need the 60 votes here [in the Senate], but farm policy hasn’t historically been a highly partisan area of public policy, and I think we just might, in this case, have the opportunity to finally advance the Farm Bill,” Young said.
Young also acknowledged frustration among farmers over repeated delays and uncertainty surrounding the bill’s future.
“I remind myself, Groundhog Day is not in May. I know our farmers have been through promise after promise related to the Farm Bill. Maybe this time will be a little different. I represent a farm state, and I never forget it. I keep hearing that they can’t do their work without some of these policy uncertainties being put to bed,” said Young
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) indicated that the chamber will soon begin its own work on the legislation now that it has passed the House.
The Farm Bill’s fate in the Senate will likely hinge on whether lawmakers can bridge partisan divides and deliver the bipartisan support needed to pass a measure that farmers across the country have long awaited.
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