OPINION:
No single piece of legislation has a greater impact on rural America than a farm bill. And that, of course, is because a farm bill is not really a single piece of legislation at all.
The 2026 farm bill officially called the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 contains policy inspired by more than 200 bills. Its policies span crop insurance, conservation, trade, livestock, farm loans, forest management and everything in between.
The farm bill is often framed as something that matters a whole lot to farmers and ranchers, but less so to the other 98% of our country. While it’s true that our producers care deeply about this legislation, it affects our entire nation. A forward-looking farm bill can make life better back home for both consumers and producers especially those in rural America.
In fact, an entire section of the farm bill is dedicated to uplifting rural communities. The rural development title contains over 70 programs that invest in rural America. These programs strengthen broadband connectivity, protect access to health care, enhance childcare availability, provide workforce training, incentivize lending institutions to broaden access to capital for rural businesses and much more.
In addition to the rural development title, the new farm bill focuses on practical policy improvements things like expanding farmers’ access to credit. Access to affordable, reliable credit is what keeps family farms in business and main streets in our rural communities alive. The new farm bill expedites approval times for loans, bolsters access to current loan programs and increases USDA loan limits for both upfront land purchases and yearly purchases of critical crop inputs.
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 also works to bring specialty crop producers into the crop insurance fold. Specialty crops fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and florals play an important role in the agricultural economy, and it is high time they’re given a seat at the same table as traditional row crops like corn and soybeans. The 2026 farm bill makes sure that producers across the nation are supported, regardless of whether they grow cotton or celery and no matter the size of their operation.
Preventing wildfires and protecting rural communities is an additional priority of the 2026 farm bill, and the forestry title prioritizes active land management in our national forests by strengthening the U.S. Forest Service’s toolbox for active management authorities. Active management of our federal forests is the ultimate form of protection for public lands, and it also protects the private forest landowners and communities living and working in adjacent areas. Additionally, policy changes in the farm bill allow for the responsible harvest of timber, thus providing opportunities for steady employment and sustainable economic growth in rural communities.
Another concern of the farm bill is making sure farmers maintain enough freedom to run their businesses and do the important work of feeding the world. In recent years, a patchwork of state regulations has sprung up in both the livestock and crop space, bringing uncertainty and higher costs for producers. The 2026 farm bill corrects this regulatory overreach and prioritizes science-driven policy.
It’s clear that the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is a significant part of any strategy to improve life in rural communities. However, it’s certainly not the only thing Congress has been working on recently in this space.
Last summer, the Working Families Tax Cuts contained the largest investment in agriculture in a generation, making key enhancements to commodity and crop insurance programs that help keep families on the farm. It also locked in huge tax savings, so rural Americans keep more dollars in their pockets to invest in their local communities.
Also signed into law was the Secure Rural Schools Act, which provides critical funding for counties with significant amounts of tax-exempt federal lands, such as national forests. This funding goes toward schools, roads and essential public services, making sure that American children don’t go without a quality education just because of where they live.
Whether it’s the farm bill, the Working Families Tax Cuts, or other standalone legislation, the end goal remains the same: Keep rural America moving forward.
That’s why it was so important that the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 in April, and why it remains critical that this legislation gets taken up soon in the Senate. The eyes of rural America are on Congress. Now is not the time to walk away with unfinished business.
• Rep. Glenn Thompson is the descendant of a long line of dairy farmers and a lifelong resident of Howard Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Elected to the House in 2008, Thompson represents Pennsylvania’s Fifteenth District. As a proud and active Member of the House Committee on Agriculture for more than a decade, Thompson formerly served as Ranking Member of the full committee during the 117th Congress and as Vice Chairman during the 116th Congress. He’s also served as Chairman of the Subcommittees on Conservation and Forestry and Nutrition, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.