The following opinion/editorial commentary was written by Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04) and provided to Hoosier Ag Today by the Office of Congressman Jim Baird.
Indiana’s rich agricultural industry is the lifeblood of our economy, with our landscape defined by fields of corn and soybeans. In Indiana and across the nation, our farmers produce the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. As a farmer myself, I understand that farmers take on significant risk and often operate on tight margins. Our farmers and producers deserve a Congress that advocates for them and addresses the modern challenges they are facing. That’s precisely why the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or the 2026 Farm Bill, last month.
The House Agriculture Committee made a generational investment in Rural America last summer through the Working Families Tax Cuts (H.R. 1). This package expanded the farm safety net, increased reference prices, expanded access to crop insurance, funded research and conservation programs, and invested in trade promotion programs and livestock biosecurity measures. Congress could only fund certain mandatory programs, however, and could not make necessary policy changes through this legislation, underscoring the need for a full Farm Bill. This year’s Farm Bill makes investments and policy updates that provide economic certainty so our farmers have the confidence to plan and improve their productivity.
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 invests heavily in agricultural research to ensure that our farmers remain at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation and new technologies. This research helps drive productivity and lowers costs across the ag industry. I am proud to have played a large role in shaping this legislation, and I was pleased to see that the Committee’s final version of the bill included my legislation, the NSF and USDA Interagency Research Act, to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work with the National Science Foundation (NSF) on agricultural research.
Promoting agricultural research also benefits my district as well as farmers and land-grant universities across the nation. My district is home to Purdue University, one of the leading agricultural research institutions. The discoveries and innovations from Purdue’s College of Agriculture produce incredible advancements in crop science, soil health, precision agriculture, biotechnology, and supply chain resilience. This directly allows farmers to improve their crop yields and crop resilience, prevent pests, and fight diseases to better protect their livestock.
Another key victory for farmers is the increase in reference prices. Farmers’ incomes are subject to unpredictable market prices, natural disasters, and market disruptions, making a strong farm safety net essential. Farm safety net programs help stabilize farm revenue and manage risk. In particular, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 raises reference prices and strengthens commodity programs for corn and soybean producers, greatly benefiting Indiana.
The 2026 Farm Bill also provides long-overdue clarity for pork and egg producers. In 2018, California passed Proposition 12, which banned the sale of pork, veal, and egg products unless they are produced in compliance with California’s arbitrary housing requirements. After a lengthy legal battle, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress alone could change this regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, consumers have faced a large increase in prices for pork and egg products, and small to mid-size producers have struggled to comply with the law. The 2026 Farm Bill puts an end to California’s overreach by ensuring producers only have to comply with housing standards in their own state.
At its core, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is about delivering certainty and stability to our farmers. I am grateful for the collaborative work on the House Agriculture Committee that produced this legislation. The 2018 Farm Bill expired three years ago, making this legislation more pressing than ever. Farmers cannot afford any additional delays. It’s time for my House and Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do their job and pass this Farm Bill quickly. Our farmers are counting on us.
