U.S. Senator John Boozman of Arkansas says he is deeply disappointed after Democrats on the Senate Agriculture Committee voted against advancing the Agricultural Act of 2026, commonly known as Farm Bill 2.0.
Boozman, a Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, said the outcome adds uncertainty for farmers, ranchers and rural communities already facing serious economic challenges.
The proposal was designed to strengthen the agricultural safety net, update federal farm policies and increase investments in rural America. Boozman said the legislation incorporated more than 100 bipartisan bills and priorities, including a provision authorizing year-round sales of E15 fuel.
Boozman argued that farmers and ranchers need the stability and certainty provided by a long-term farm bill. He called the current situation unsustainable and said continued delays could have severe consequences for agriculture.
The Arkansas senator blamed the disagreement on a dispute involving federal food assistance programs. He accused Democrats of prioritizing state spending policies within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP, over advancing the broader agriculture legislation.
Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Democrats continue to support several agricultural provisions in the bill, including year-round E15 sales. However, she said concerns remain about how proposed SNAP policy changes would shift costs to states and counties.
Klobuchar said Democrats are seeking a 2-year delay in the SNAP cost-shift provisions so states would have additional time to reduce payment error rates. She said Boozman’s negotiated proposal only provides a 1-year adjustment and could treat states differently based on their error rates.
Boozman said the legislation was developed in coordination with the administration to help ensure it could be signed into law if approved by Congress. He pledged to continue working with lawmakers willing to prioritize farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
The committee meeting remains open, leaving the possibility that members could resume negotiations and reconsider the proposal. The bill did not advance from the committee during Thursday’s vote.
The farm bill is a wide-ranging package that governs federal agriculture, conservation, rural development and nutrition programs. Congress has faced repeated delays in approving a new long-term authorization.
Boozman’s full statement and Klobuchar’s response were released by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Thursday, August 6. Senate Agriculture Committee majority statement and Senate Agriculture Committee minority response.
Leave a Reply