Senate Agriculture Committee Advances Farm Bill

On September 16, 2026, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced their Farm Bill out of committee by a narrow 12–11 party-line vote, with Senator Mitch McConnell’s support helping provide the votes needed to advance the measure. Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) called the vote a critical step toward getting a fully updated Farm Bill signed into law, stressing that farm country is hurting and needs results now. The legislation complements the House Farm Bill, which cleared the House in April under Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA). Key provisions include permanently authorizing year-round E15 sales and expanded agricultural risk management tools.

The committee passage followed an earlier failed markup attempt in August. Chairman Boozman recessed the committee rather than adjourn it, allowing members to reconvene and revisit the bill in September. For agricultural aviators, the bill’s research and precision agriculture provisions matter with expanded support for pest and disease management, crop protection research, and the adoption of advanced application technologies stand to reinforce the role of aerial application in efficient, targeted crop protection. With the full 12-title Farm Bill still pending, the measure now heads to the Senate floor, where it faces an uncertain path given the narrow committee margin and the ongoing shadow cast by reconciliation efforts that proposed cutting nearly $200 billion from SNAP. NAAA will continue to monitor the bill’s progress and its implications for agricultural aviation as the legislation moves forward.