WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The Senate Agriculture Committee has advanced the latest Farm Bill proposal, moving the legislation one step closer to consideration by the full Senate.
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026 on September 16 by a 12-11 vote. Now, the clock is ticking, because the bill must land on President Donald Trump’s desk by Sept. 30 or lawmakers will have to start over from scratch in the next session.
However, it’s not just seasoned farmers and industry leaders like the Farm Bureau hoping to see the Farm Bill land on the president’s desk this year. Young farmers have a stake too, and the National Young Farmers Coalition says the Senate Farm Bill leaves some of their biggest challenges unaddressed.
The National Young Farmers Coalition says the bill includes some wins for small farms, farmer education and local food programs.
But the coalition says the legislation still lacks key support for beginning farmers, including greater investment in land access and economic support during the early years of building a farm business.
The group also has concerns about nutrition spending. The coalition says the bill does not reverse the $187 billion in SNAP cuts enacted earlier this year.
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026, also known as Farm Bill 2.0, on Sept. 16. The bill includes authorization for year-round E15 sales.
Members say the bill includes provisions intended to strengthen support for the next generation of producers, including expanded financing tools for farmers and investments in research and extension.
Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, who participated in the committee vote, joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to discuss the key issues producers in her state are looking for: certainty, disaster assistance, and new markets, including year-round nationwide E15.
In her interview with RFD News, Fischer said her conversations with pork producers, cattle ranchers and other agricultural producers in Nebraska have centered on getting a Farm Bill completed.
“We want to have certainty,” Fischer said. “That’s what I hear all across the state of Nebraska, from our ag producers. Just get the Farm Bill done.”
She said producers also want programs they need, disaster payments and year-round E15.
“Make sure we look at disaster payments,” Fischer said. “As you know, Nebraska’s gone through fires, we’ve gone through drought, and get that year-round sale of E15 done.”
Year-Round E15 Identified as a Key Priority
Fischer has made year-round nationwide E15 a major priority. The Farm Bill proposal includes a provision authorizing year-round E15 sales.
Fischer said the provision could benefit both consumers and corn producers.
“This is so important for consumers,” Fischer said. “They have a choice then at the pump where they can fill their cars, and it won’t be as expensive.”
For corn producers, Fischer said year-round E15 would provide another market for their crop.
“When we’re looking at those blends of ethanol and making them year-round, it’s going to help our producers when they go in and talk to their lenders,” she said. “They’ll know that there’s certainty there. There’s going to be another market for them.”
Fischer said she has worked on the issue for about a decade and worked with senators from oil-producing states on concerns surrounding small refineries.
Farm Bill Addresses Broader Producer Pressures
Fischer said farmers are also dealing with high input costs, commodity prices and continued market uncertainty.
She pointed to provisions involving trade, conservation and disaster assistance.
“We want to make sure that we can support trade, that we can support conservation measures and again that we can have the funding there working with Appropriations also in the Farm Bill to be able to address disaster payments,” Fischer said.
She also pointed to legislation she worked on earlier in the year that she said would provide flexibility to get disaster payments to producers earlier.
Fischer said the broader goal is to give farmers and ranchers tools to manage their operations and provide greater certainty.
Precision Ag Provisions Target Technology Costs
Fischer also highlighted provisions aimed at helping producers access precision agriculture technology.
The Farm Bill package includes the PRECISE Act and the Precision Agriculture Loan Act, both associated with Fischer’s efforts to expand access to precision-ag technology.
Fischer said precision agriculture can provide producers with more information and tools to manage crops, livestock, and land, but the technology can be expensive.
“I have some bills on precision ag that are included in the Farm Bill geared for what I hope will be our smaller producers or younger producers so that they can take advantage of some low-cost loans through USDA to access that precision ag technology,” Fischer said.
She said the goal is to help producers use the technology while also improving conservation and profitability.
Path Forward Stays in the Senate
The committee advanced the Farm Bill on a 12-11 vote Sept. 16.
Fischer said completing the legislation will require lawmakers to continue working together after the election.
“We have to do this,” Fischer said. “Every state is dependent on agriculture. Our country is.”
She described agriculture and food production as matters of national security and said the Farm Bill is intended to provide tools and certainty for agricultural families.
Fischer also said the committee incorporated bipartisan measures and amendments while working on the legislation.
“We worked in a really bipartisan way to put this bill together,” she said.
Fischer said she hopes lawmakers will continue working toward a final Farm Bill after the election.
