WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Attention is now shifting to the United States Senate as lawmakers prepare to take up the latest Farm Bill, following its passage in the House after hours of debate and key amendments. The bill’s advancement has sparked a strong reaction across the agriculture industry.
One of the biggest points of contention—year-round E15 sales—was removed from the final House version and is now slated for a separate vote expected around May 13.
Other changes included the removal of pesticide labeling provisions, while language addressing California’s Proposition 12 remains intact. National Pork Producers Council President Rob Brenneman praised lawmakers for keeping that provision in place.
“He and congressional supporters on both sides of the aisle heard our plea to help America’s pork producers,” Brenneman said. “Now, we look to the Senate to follow suit and pass this Farm Bill for us and others in agriculture without delay.”
Congressional Western Caucus Chair Celeste Maloy called the legislation a win for rural America.
“The Farm Bill is more than legislation; it is a promise to rural America,” Maloy wrote. “It reflects our long-standing commitment to support farmers, strengthen communities, and make sure farm to table isn’t just a catchy slogan but a reality.”
Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt, who voted in favor of the bill, said it provides much-needed certainty for producers.
“And when we get this bill enacted, it will eliminate the government-caused uncertainty in the areas within the scope of the bill,” Rep. Schmidt told RFD News on Thursday. “And that gives our farmers some more ability to plan, not just year to year, which is where we’ve been for the last three years since the last farm bill expired, but into the horizon for the next five years in most cases.
The vote largely followed party lines, with limited Democratic support. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig opposed the measure and pushed for reconsideration, arguing it falls short for farmers:
“It does nothing to lower costs on farm inputs,” Craig said. “It opens the door for a bill that does not provide a single penny of additional farm aid. It locks in the $187 billion cut to SNAP, which has already deprived 3.4 million Americans of food assistance.”
Now, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman says he is ready to move forward.
“I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue this momentum and deliver Farm Bill 2.0 to the president’s desk to be signed into law,” Boozeman said. “I look forward to releasing legislative text in the coming weeks.”
The bill faces several hurdles in the Senate, including disagreements over SNAP benefits, environmental regulations, pesticide policy, and the language around Proposition 12. Lawmakers are also navigating a narrow majority and an election-year calendar that could slow progress.
Separate Vote Scheduled for E15 in Mid-May
Meanwhile, debate continues over the E15 provision. Supporters say expanding year-round access to E15 fuel would boost domestic corn demand and provide relief at the pump, while opposition—primarily from oil-producing states—has delayed its inclusion in the broader bill.
“That’s right, the agreement we got—I’m a supporter of the E15 legislation, obviously very important for the Midwest—and we want to get it done, want to get our vote on it,” Rep. Schmidt told RFD News. “And the commitment we got from leadership was we will get our vote on the standalone E15 bill on or about May 13th, in that week.”
Economists say momentum remains strong for the standalone measure, noting potential benefits for both farmers and consumers.
As lawmakers debate policy in Washington, pressure continues to mount on producers. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Director of Government Affairs
Ryan Yates says many farmers are facing multiple years of financial losses.
“You know, this is a challenging time in the United States farm economy — and frankly, the global ag economy is in a tough spot, Yates said. “And so, we hear from farmers across the country, they’re looking, this is their second, third, 4th crop they’ve put in the ground where they’re losing money. So with suffering commodity prices, record high inflation from seed to chemical to diesel to fertilizer, it is just probably the most expensive crop that we’ve ever put in the ground, and maybe we’ll get a return on it.”
Yates added that regulatory concerns remain a top issue for producers, though he noted appreciation for recent efforts to address them:
“Regulation is an important part of the world we live in, but making sure that we have smart regulations,” Yates continued. “Things that work well, that really don’t slow down the important work that farmers do each and every day.”
With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.
