Senate Agriculture Committee Releases Farm Bill Language

On Tuesday, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026, outlining several provisions that could have implications for the agricultural aviation industry.

Among the most notable provisions for the industry are updates to the energy title that incorporate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into existing USDA programs supporting advanced biofuels and biorefinery development. The proposal authorizes year-round loan guarantees and competitive grants for pilot- and demonstration-scale projects designed to accelerate the commercialization and deployment of SAF technologies. It also directs USDA to develop a department-wide SAF strategy focused on strengthening supply chains, promoting rural economic development, expanding commercialization opportunities and leveraging agricultural production.

The Senate proposal also includes crop protection and precision agriculture provisions that align with industry priorities. The legislation extends the deadline for interim registration review decisions under FIFRA through 2031 and requires EPA to coordinate with USDA when developing mitigation measures related to the implementation of the Endangered Species Act. In doing so, the agencies must consider both the economic impacts of proposed measures and the practicality of implementing them in the field.

In addition, the bill incorporates planning for the adoption of precision agriculture into conservation activities and establishes a broad definition of precision agriculture technologies, including aerial imaging, geospatial systems, sensors, connectivity tools, advanced analytics and variable rate application technologies.

The Senate Farm Bill does not include the state pesticide preemption or NPDES permit relief provisions that were stripped from the House Farm Bill by floor amendment. The bill also does not include pesticide labeling uniformity. Chairman Boozman aims to advance the measure through committee before Congress adjourns for its August recess. The legislation may be amended during the committee markup process.

NAAA will keep you updated on the status of the legislation. We are currently reviewing the details of the voluminous bill and exploring opportunities to address state pesticide preemption and NPDES permit relief, among other provisions. NAAA has a longstanding positive relationship with Chairman Boozman, and we look forward to working with him to advance additional priorities important to agricultural aviation.