Agricultural Act of 2026

This provision expands the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program to allow producers to construct or upgrade storage facilities for propane and fertilizer primarily used for agricultural production. It directs the Secretary to amend regulations to ensure eligibility for various fertilizer storage types, including dry bins, liquid tanks, and anhydrous ammonia pressure vessels, along with necessary infrastructure like foundations and electrical systems.

This section reforms the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program by eliminating the administrative fee for all participating dairy operations. Additionally, it removes premiums for the first 6,000,000 pounds of milk marketings included in a dairy operation's production history, allowing participation at this level without an annual coverage election. It also clarifies premium calculations for higher-tier coverage.

This section establishes a new framework for providing direct assistance to specialty crop producers impacted by adverse events, such as economic crises or market disruptions. Payments will be calculated based on a producer's sales preceding the event, multiplied by a payment factor. It includes special rules to consider the higher value and input costs of specialty crops and diverse business structures, and sets payment limitations, with higher limits for producers deriving 75% or more of their income from farming.

This section reauthorizes and provides mandatory funding for several key conservation programs through fiscal year 2031. It allocates specific amounts for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the new Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP). For example, it sets CRP enrollment at not more than 27,000,000 acres for FY2027-2031, with specific funding for grazing infrastructure, and increases EQIP funding to $3.255 billion by FY2031.

This section expands and streamlines the delivery of technical assistance for conservation programs. It broadens the definition of eligible non-Federal entities to include private sector entities and establishes a new process for certifying third-party providers, including agricultural retailers and professional societies. It also creates a 'farmer-to-farmer network' program to build capacity for peer-to-peer learning and support among farmers, with cooperative agreements for eligible entities and priority for historically underserved farmers.

This section establishes a new Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) to conserve and restore eligible forest land and natural resources through the acquisition of forest land easements or forest reserve easements. It replaces the Healthy Forests Reserve Program. FCEP aims to protect working forests, enhance ecosystem functions, promote species habitat, and provides specific criteria for eligible land, entities, and cost-share assistance, including higher federal shares for special environmental significance or socially disadvantaged landowners.

This section establishes a permanent Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program, replacing the previous pilot program. It mandates the Secretary to study damage caused by feral swine, develop eradication/control methods, restore damaged areas, and provide financial assistance to agricultural producers. The program receives $150 million in mandatory funding for FY2027-2031, with 40% allocated to NRCS for on-farm trapping and technology, and 60% to APHIS for population reduction methods.

This section mandates the transfer of the Food for Peace program's functions, duties, and responsibilities from the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Secretary of Agriculture. It requires USDA to submit a transfer and reorganization plan within 180 days, detailing internal reorganization, fund transfers, and staffing. The interim interagency agreement between State and USDA is extended until the plan is submitted.

This section defines 'common name' for agricultural commodities and food products, including specific examples like 'parmesan' and 'cheddar' for cheese, and various grape varietal terms for wine. It directs the Secretary to advise and support the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in negotiating bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral agreements to secure the right of U.S. producers to use these common names in foreign markets.

This section transitions the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online purchasing initiative from pilot status to permanent nationwide program operation. It mandates the Secretary to issue regulations within two years to implement this, including provisions for program integrity, consumer protections, and equitable access in rural areas. It also requires formal consultation with stakeholders like State agencies, retailers, and consumer advocates.

This section mandates new cybersecurity and digital service regulations for EBT cards, requiring chip-enabled cards and mobile-friendly user interfaces for State agencies. It sets deadlines for issuing chip-enabled cards (starting 2 years after regulations, no new magnetic stripe cards after 4 years, reissuing all existing cards after 5 years). It also provides full federal reimbursement for State agencies' reasonable costs for 5 years and establishes a grant program for retailers to upgrade payment terminals.

This section reforms the process for developing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It changes the publication frequency to at least every 10 years (starting 2030), requires rulemaking procedures, and mandates that guidelines be based on 'significant scientific agreement' and 'evidence-based review.' It establishes an Independent Advisory Board to generate scientific questions and explicitly excludes certain topics (e.g., taxation, social welfare, food production practices, socioeconomic status) from the guidelines. It also adds transparency requirements for advisory committee members' financial disclosures.

This section authorizes Farm Credit System (FCS) institutions to provide financing and technical assistance for 'essential community facilities' in rural and Tribal areas. Eligible facilities are defined broadly (e.g., community centers, healthcare, childcare). There are limitations: only entities eligible for USDA's Section 306(a) financing can receive FCS assistance, and the amount cannot exceed 15% of the FCS institution's total assets. FCS institutions must offer participation to other domestic non-governmental lenders, prioritizing community banks.

This section reauthorizes and significantly expands the Heirs Property Intermediary Relending Program through FY2031, increasing its funding to $50 million. It also adds new authority for the Secretary to provide direct support for administrative costs and technical assistance related to these loans, including planning for and addressing heirs property issues. Additionally, it establishes a new program for cooperative agreements with eligible entities to provide direct public interest legal services to underserved heirs to resolve undivided ownership interests on farmland or forest land.

This section expands the definitions of 'farmer' and 'rancher' to include individuals or entities engaged in commercial fishing, and 'farm' and 'ranch' to include commercial fishing vessels, for the purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans. This makes commercial fishing operations eligible for USDA farm operating loans, specifically for costs associated with acquiring, operating, or maintaining a commercial fishing vessel. It also mandates USDA to integrate the commercial fishing industry into relevant programs through outreach and technical assistance.

This section reforms the ReConnect Program for rural broadband access, updating minimum speed definitions to 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream. It streamlines the application process by reducing data requirements and allowing bond ratings in lieu of full financial documentation for some applicants. It also clarifies eligibility, prohibits restrictions based on legal structure, and allows alternative security for grants. The section also addresses obligations of other broadband providers in proposed service territories and simplifies reporting for recipients.

This section establishes the 'Last Acre Program' to provide grants and loans to covered providers to deliver 'qualifying connectivity' (at least 100/20 Mbps) to unserved and underserved eligible land for precision agriculture. It defines precision agriculture and eligible land (cropland, rangeland, farm sites). The program prioritizes unserved/underserved land in remote areas, includes cybersecurity requirements for providers, and prohibits funding for inhabitable residences or commercial use outside eligible land. It also includes a competitive bidding process and sets a maximum buildout timeframe of 4 years.

This section establishes the 'Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Assistance Program' (Healthy H2O Program) to provide grants to eligible end users (homeowners, renters, childcare facilities, etc.) and nonprofit organizations in rural areas to improve drinking water quality. Grants cover the purchase, installation, and maintenance of eligible point-of-use or point-of-entry drinking water quality improvement products (e.g., filters) that address health contaminants. It requires qualified water quality tests and approved installation/maintenance by qualified third-party installers. Income limitations apply, and the Secretary must report annually on program outcomes and water quality issues.

This section establishes a new program for temporary zero-percent interest loans to eligible rural hospitals for constructing new or renovating existing facilities. Eligible hospitals must be in counties with populations under 20,000, meet certain distance criteria from other hospitals, and demonstrate financial stability (though this can be waived for significant community impact). Loans are interest-free for 5 years, then refinanced at prevailing rates. A 1-time renewal for another 5 years is possible if the hospital still lacks financial strength or if prevailing interest rates are high (above 2.5%).

This section prohibits USDA's Research, Education, and Economics mission area from conducting or funding research, education, or extension activities involving vertebrate animals in, or in collaboration with, the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or any other foreign country of concern. The Secretary may waive this prohibition on a case-by-case basis if necessary to protect national security, animal/crop health, or public health/safety/welfare, with a 30-day congressional notification requirement for each waiver.

This section significantly expands the list of high-priority research and extension initiatives eligible for grants. New initiatives include research on PFAS agricultural effects, peanut aflatoxin, biochar, spotted wing drosophila, spotted lanternfly, wheat resiliency, invasive species, artificial intelligence in agriculture, aquaculture, white oak, sunflower breeding, equine health, grazing for wildfire mitigation, and emerging tick-borne livestock diseases. These additions aim to address a wide range of current and emerging challenges facing various agricultural sectors.

This section restores the Secretary of Agriculture's authority over the 4-H emblem and name, which was inadvertently repealed in 2019. It ratifies all civil acts related to 4-H name/emblem use and club recognition between 1914 and enactment. The Secretary can now grant authorizations for use, with or without fees, and deposit fees into a special account for furthering the 4-H Program. It also establishes a civil action for unauthorized use of the 4-H emblem or name in commerce.

This section amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to state that the Secretary is not required to reinitiate consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on a land management plan or land use plan when a new species is listed, critical habitat is designated, or new information reveals effects not previously considered. This applies to both Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management plans.

This section expands the Good Neighbor Authority, allowing the Secretary to enter into agreements with Indian Tribes and 'special districts' (in addition to states and counties) for forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration projects on federal lands. It also expands eligible activities to include constructing new permanent roads necessary for restoration, completing new permanent roads to replace and decommission existing ones, and using remaining funds for administration of the program by non-federal partners. The authority is extended through 2031.

This section establishes a new title for Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), authorizing specialized training programs in forestry, rangeland management, and wildland firefighting. It creates a Wildland Firefighting Workforce Development Pilot to provide career and technical education at CCCs and sets recruitment goals for hiring CCC graduates into federal wildland firefighting and natural resource positions. It also establishes a Wildland Firefighting Housing Pilot Program to employ CCC students to improve federal housing stock for wildland firefighters and other agency employees.

This section expands the scope of the existing loan guarantee program to include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and makes grants available for pilot or demonstration-scale biorefineries. It clarifies that loan guarantees are available year-round and grants are competitive. It also streamlines the loan guarantee application process by allowing waivers for feasibility studies for proven technologies and establishes technical review agreements with clear guidelines for determining technical feasibility, including timelines and evaluation criteria.

This section mandates the Secretary to issue rules within one year to implement national uniform labeling standards for specific bioproduct terms, including 'bio-attributed plastic,' 'bio-attributed product,' 'biobased plastic,' and 'plant-based product.' It also requires the inclusion of existing defined terms like 'biobased product' and 'renewable chemical.' The Secretary must consult with biomanufacturers, researchers, feedstock growers, and other industry stakeholders in developing these rules.

This section establishes a new 'Strengthening Local Food Security Program' under which the Secretary enters into noncompetitive cooperative agreements with eligible state agencies (including territories and Tribal governments). The program aims to support covered local producers (fishermen, farmers, etc.) by purchasing unprocessed or minimally processed foods and distributing them to hunger relief organizations and schools. It requires at least 51% of purchases to come from small-size, medium-size, beginning, or veteran farmers/ranchers, and provides technical assistance to producers. It allocates mandatory funding of $200 million for FY2027 and FY2028, with additional authorized appropriations.

This section amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to revise the definition of 'plant regulator' and explicitly exempt 'plant biostimulants' and 'nutritional chemicals' from FIFRA regulation as pesticides. It defines 'plant biostimulant' as substances that support natural nutrition processes, improving nutrient use, stress tolerance, or growth, independently of nutrient content. It also exempts certain 'plant-incorporated protectants' from FIFRA if they result from endogenous genetic material and have a low-risk profile, with guidance to be issued by EPA.

This section establishes an Office of Biotechnology Policy within USDA to coordinate agricultural policies and activities related to biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Its responsibilities include facilitating policy development, coordinating USDA activities (research, extension, education) regarding biotechnology tools and products under various acts (Plant Protection, Animal Health Protection, Meat Inspection, etc.), offering consultation to other USDA agencies on biotechnology-related responsibilities under FIFRA and FDCA, and engaging with stakeholders. The Office will be led by a Director appointed by the Secretary and is authorized $1 million annually for FY2027-2031.

This section restores the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation's (FCIC) exclusive authority to interpret its regulations, insurance plans, and policies. It establishes a process for program participants to request written interpretations, which are considered 'final agency determinations' (FADs) and must be provided within 90 days. These FADs are generally applicable and binding on all participants, including producers, insurance providers, and the National Appeals Division. Crucially, it states there shall be no judicial review of any FCIC determination made under this subsection or prior similar provisions.

This section freezes the reimbursement rates paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to approved insurance providers and agents for their administrative and operating costs. For the 2027 and subsequent reinsurance years, these rates will be equal to the rates applicable for the 2026 reinsurance year, rather than being subject to annual adjustments or a different formula.

This section mandates the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to conduct or contract for extensive research and development (R&D) on new and improved crop insurance policies. New R&D areas include: impediments for organic producers, wildfire smoke exposure for wine grapes, mushroom insurance, index-based frost/freeze/cold weather policies, double cropping/rotational cropping for certain oilseeds, a study on the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) for large counties, blueberry insurance improvements, pecan revenue enhancements, a standalone hurricane/tropical storm policy, and harvest incentives for revenue policies, and separate enterprise units for fallow cropping systems.

This section directs the Secretary to revise regulations (9 CFR 201.67) to exempt certain small and medium-sized packers from the prohibition on livestock auction owners having an ownership interest in, financing, or participating in the management of meatpacking businesses. The exemption applies to packers with cumulative slaughter capacities below specific thresholds (e.g., less than 2,000 cattle/sheep per day or 700,000 per year; less than 10,000 hogs per day or 3,000,000 per year). Market agencies with such interests must disclose the packer's name and relationship on the account of sale.

This section reinstates mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef by amending the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to include 'beef' and 'ground beef' in the definitions and labeling requirements. It mandates the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the Secretary, to determine and implement a World Trade Organization (WTO)-compliant means of reinstating COOL for beef within one year of enactment. The amendments take effect upon USTR's determination and implementation, or one year after enactment, whichever is earlier.

This subtitle significantly reforms the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). It updates definitions, including 'agricultural land' and 'foreign person.' It expands reporting requirements for foreign persons acquiring, transferring, or leasing agricultural land (for leases longer than 5 years) and for changes in foreign person status or land use. It increases civil penalties for non-compliance (up to 25% of fair market value), allows liens on land, and mandates public disclosure of enforcement actions. It also requires USDA to conduct annual compliance audits, provide training to state/county personnel, and carry out a nationwide outreach program.

This section expands the duties of the USDA Office of Homeland Security to focus on leveraging intelligence community capabilities to inform the Secretary of threats by foreign actors to the 'food and agriculture critical infrastructure sector.' It mandates advising the Secretary on foreign efforts to steal knowledge/technology, sabotage the sector, and prepare intelligence briefings. The Office will serve as the Federal Senior Intelligence Coordinator for USDA, coordinate with FSA on AFIDA compliance, and refer transactions with national security concerns to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). It also allows for detailees from the intelligence community.

This section establishes a new program for mandatory weekly reporting of fertilizer and fertilizer product price and quantity information by 'covered fertilizer manufacturers' and wholesalers to the Secretary. It requires categorization by domestic vs. foreign origin. Cooperatives and retailers are exempt from mandatory reporting but can voluntarily and confidentially report. The Secretary must publish the aggregated information weekly, nationally, and regionally. It also mandates a competitive effects analysis and allows for new regulations if reporting no longer reflects market methods. It clarifies that custom blending by retailers is not 'producing' a chemical under OSHA regulations.

This section allows for the year-round sale of E15 (gasoline blended with 15% ethanol) by modifying Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limitations under the Clean Air Act. It also reforms the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by terminating small refinery exemptions (SREs) for calendar year 2028 and beyond, prohibiting new SRE petitions after 2027, and requiring EPA to act on outstanding petitions by October 1, 2028. It provides 'small refinery certainty' by reducing compliance requirements for previously exempted small refineries and reallocates the exempted volumes to other obligated parties, with a volume adjustment mechanism.

This section establishes new requirements for importing live dogs into the U.S., repealing a similar section of the Animal Welfare Act. It mandates electronic documentation prior to transport, demonstrating good health, necessary vaccinations/parasite treatment, negative test results, and permanent identification. Dogs intended for transfer must be at least 6 months old and have an import permit. Exceptions exist for personal pets, military working dogs, and specific transfers (research, veterinary treatment, Hawaii imports). USDA must promulgate regulations within 18 months, including electronic submission, post-arrival verification, denial of entry, and fees. It also establishes penalties for non-compliance.

This section establishes an Office of Small Farms within USDA's farm production and conservation mission area. Its responsibilities include coordinating support for small farms, ranches, and forest operations across all USDA agencies, reviewing programs for disadvantages to small operations, and recommending changes or new initiatives (e.g., financing, technical assistance, land access). The Office will also implement a grant program (up to $25,000) for small operations for equipment, uninsured losses, business planning, conservation, and land acquisition down payments. It is authorized $15 million for administration and $10 million for technical assistance/grants annually for FY2027-2031.

This section amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to define 'zootechnical animal food substance' as a substance added to animal food/water intended to affect digestive byproducts, reduce foodborne pathogens, or alter gastrointestinal microbiome, acting solely within the GI tract. It explicitly excludes substances intended for disease treatment, hormones, active moieties in animal drugs, or ionophores. These substances are deemed 'food additives' and regulated under FDCA Section 409, meaning they are not considered 'drugs' solely due to their intended effect. Labeling must state 'Not for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in animals.'

This section aims to enhance precision agriculture participation and U.S. leadership in standards development. It mandates the Secretary, in consultation with NIST and FCC, to develop voluntary, consensus-based, private sector-led interconnectivity standards, guidelines, and best practices for precision agriculture within two years. These standards will promote economies of scale and ease adoption, considering connectivity needs, cybersecurity challenges, and the impact of advanced wireless communications and artificial intelligence. It also requires the Comptroller General to conduct biennial studies assessing these standards and their impact on precision agriculture adoption.