The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the Agricultural Act of 2026 by a party-line vote of 12-11 on Wednesday, moving the long-delayed farm bill to the full Senate, where backers will need at least 60 votes — and therefore Democratic support — to pass it.

Sen. Mitch McConnell's return to the committee gave Republicans the one-vote margin they needed to advance the bill without any Democratic support during a brief and at times contentious markup.

What stands between the bill and the president's desk?

Michigan Farm Bureau Associate National Legislative Counsel Jacob Smith said the committee vote was only the first step.

"If approved, the bill will then go to a conference committee of Senate and House members to reconcile the unique differences between the two versions and negotiate a final bill that will clear both chambers and ultimately be approved by President Trump," Smith said.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall put the stakes in farm-level terms, noting it has been almost a decade since Congress last passed a farm bill.

"In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 family farms have gone out of business, as farmers grappled with a pandemic, global unrest, rising expenses and falling prices paid for the food they grow," Duvall said. "A new, modernized farm bill will help give farmers the tools they need to survive continued and unforeseen challenges ahead."

Duvall also praised more than 100 farmers who traveled to Washington this week to lobby for the bill. Among them was Antrim County Farm Bureau member Greg Shooks, who met with eight congressional offices during a fly-in visit and pressed lawmakers on H-2A wage certainty.

What did commodity groups get?

The bill's provisions drew a wave of reaction from commodity organizations, with several pressing for bipartisan follow-through:

• The American Soybean Association urged continued bipartisan negotiation, writing: "That bipartisan commitment must continue across Congress to deliver a final farm bill that can be signed into law."
• The National Association of Wheat Growers cited support for agricultural research, risk-management and trade programs, expanded access to agricultural credit, and the permanent transfer of the Food for Peace program to USDA.
• The U.S. Dairy Export Council highlighted language protecting U.S. exporters' rights to use common cheese names such as "parmesan" in international markets.

USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden said the bill also redesignates funding toward USDA's export promotion programs, including the Market Access Program.

"These provisions will help our dairy exporters compete on a more level playing field and expand opportunities in growing overseas markets," Harden said.

The National Corn Growers Association welcomed the advance but flagged mounting cost pressure. NCGA President Jed Bower wrote that "the 2026 corn crop is the most expensive crop we've ever planted, raised, and are now harvesting," and urged the full Senate to act.

Why does the E15 provision matter for corn demand?

NCGA also backed a provision allowing year-round sale of E15 fuel, which would secure a major demand channel for corn growers. The 15% ethanol blend sells for as much as 47 cents less per gallon on average than regular fuel, according to the Department of Energy.

"Consumers deserve lower-cost fuel options and farmers deserve reliable markets," said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, the nation's largest biofuels trade association. "Year-round E15 delivers on both fronts, and we're grateful to our bipartisan Senate champions for making E15 an urgent priority."

Where does Proposition 12 stand?

A last-ditch effort by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to include language invalidating California's Proposition 12 pork law did not make it into the version headed to the Senate floor. Senators did voice support for taking it up as an amendment during final consideration.

"America's pork producers deserve a robust farm bill, which should come with protection from being forced to rebuild our barns every time another state decides it knows what is best for animal welfare," said National Pork Producers Council President Rob Brenneman.

The NPPC urged the Ag Committee chairmen and ranking members to produce a bipartisan bill that keeps pig farming affordable, checks California's interstate-commerce overreach and protects animal care. "That bill must include a solution to the state patchwork problem of Prop. 12," the group wrote.

With the bill now before the full Senate, attention shifts to whether negotiators can assemble the 60 votes needed for passage and then bridge differences with the House in conference before a final measure reaches the president.