WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The Farm Bill is headed toward the full Senate after clearing the Senate Agriculture Committee, and getting closer to the Sept. 30 deadline.
The Senate Agriculture Committee says the “Farm Bill 2.0 " legislation is intended to provide updated agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and rural policy, with year-round E15 among its provisions.
However, Senate lawmakers now say they likely will not take up the legislation until after the November midterm elections.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who participated in the committee’s consideration of the bill, joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report with an update on the Farm Bill.
In her interview with RFD News, Ernst said she recently spoke with Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman about the path forward. The committee advanced the Agriculture Act of 2026 on Sept. 16.
“I do think it will wait until after the election,” Ernst said. “We have one week remaining on the Senate calendar before we break before the November elections. So, I sat down with Senator John Boozman this morning, and we were strategizing on how we move this forward. But unfortunately, it will be a little bit of a wait until we get after that election cycle.”
Proposition 12 Remains a Sticking Point
Ernst said she wants the final Farm Bill to address California’s Proposition 12, which establishes animal housing requirements for certain pork and other livestock products sold in the state.
She argued that state-level requirements can affect producers outside California and said Congress needs to find a federal solution.
“There are some Democrats who are very interested in a fix to Proposition 12,” Ernst said. “Another issue with having states doing their own regulation is they’re trying to regulate outside states and the commerce coming into their states.”
Ernst said the Senate and House have different approaches to addressing Proposition 12 and that negotiators will have to find a path forward.
“We have to find some resolution marrying up the Senate version of our Prop. 12 fix with the House version of the Prop. 12 fix,” she said.
Year-Round E15 Remains a Priority
The Senate Farm Bill includes language authorizing year-round E15 sales.
Ernst said the provision would be particularly important for Iowa corn growers and ethanol producers by providing another domestic market for corn.
“E15 year-round, this is a huge deal for our farmers,” Ernst said. “Again, it’s all about choice and providing additional choice at the pump for consumers that would like to use a renewable source of energy in their vehicle.”
Ernst has previously identified permanent, year-round E15 as one of her Farm Bill priorities.
Foreign Ownership of Farmland
The legislation also includes Ernst’s FARMLAND Act provisions addressing foreign-owned agricultural land. Her office says the measure would strengthen oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign entities and address potential national security concerns.
Ernst said the provision is intended to prevent China and other countries she considers potential adversaries from purchasing American farmland.
“What we are doing is putting all of these transfers of land or property through a process that would determine, is this a national security risk?” Ernst said.
She said the goal is to protect opportunities for future generations of American farmers.
“I want to know that my family, other farm families, that they have the opportunity for their children, their grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren to continue farming in our great United States of America,” Ernst said.
Ernst Calls for a Five-Year Farm Bill
Ernst said completing a five-year Farm Bill is important for providing certainty to farmers, livestock producers and ranchers.
She credited Boozman and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson with working toward a final agreement.
“We have to get this Farm Bill over the finish line,” Ernst said. “Let’s all come together and make sure that we are keeping our farms and our ranches safe and strong for future generations.”
