Other Ag News: Comment: In Moment of Need, House Farm Bill Underdelivers with Empty Promises

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Washington, DC, February 14, 2026 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released the following statement attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, in response to the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, House Agriculture Committee Republican’s draft farm bill text released yesterday:

“More than seven years since the last farm bill, and in a moment of need for farmers, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act lacks the robust investments and reforms necessary to propel American agriculture forward. The bill takes no meaningful steps toward building a fair, responsible, and accessible farm safety net while needlessly siphoning funding away from popular and effective conservation programs. 

It does, however, create opportunities for important steps forward, particularly for local and regional food systems – by connecting local farmers to nearby communities and expanding meat processing capacity. Unfortunately, these investments lack mandatory funding, severely stunting their potential to improve farmer viability and community health.

Moreover, dozens of critical programs, including those that support beginning farmers and ranchers, organic agriculture, and vital farmer-driven research, are both unimproved and level-funded, representing a roughly twenty percent cut due to seven years of inflation. NSAC will continue its review of legislative text in the days ahead. Farmers deserve a farm bill that delivers a fair farm safety net, builds climate resilience, and invests in strong local supply chains – anything less would fall short of what American agriculture actually needs.”

Stay tuned to NSAC’s blog for deeper analysis and coverage of the farm bill reauthorization, including the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. 

Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net

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