H.R. 7567: Farm Bill of 2026

Summary

Updates and provides money for farm, food, and land-saving programs from the Department of Agriculture for the next several years.

What problem does this solve?

Many government programs for farming, food help, and saving land are about to end, which makes things uncertain for farmers and families. This bill renews and changes these programs, giving steady money and new rules for farming, food, and land use through 2031.

Who does this affect?

Farmers and ranchers
Low-income families
Rural communities

What does this bill do?

Restricts state laws on livestock production

Stops states from making or enforcing rules about how farm animals are raised if the meat or dairy products are sold across state lines.

Adds Secretary of Agriculture to national security committee

Makes the Secretary of Agriculture a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for deals involving farm land or the agriculture industry.

Changes wildfire suppression policy

Requires the Forest Service to use its resources to put out wildfires on certain high-risk federal lands within 24 hours of detection.

Transfers food aid program to Department of Agriculture

Moves the authority for the Food for Peace Act, which provides international food aid, from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Makes SNAP online purchasing permanent

Changes the food stamp program's online shopping option from a pilot project to a permanent, nationwide program.

Tightens 'Buy American' rules for school meals

Requires schools to buy at least 95% domestic products for each food category. Prohibits schools from buying poultry or seafood from China or Russia.

Limits local government rules on pesticides

Stops cities and counties from creating their own rules about the sale, use, or labeling of pesticides if the state or federal government already regulates them.

Increases farm loan limits

Raises the maximum amount for direct farm ownership loans from $600,000 to $850,000 and direct operating loans from $400,000 to $750,000.

Creates a new Forest Conservation Easement Program

Establishes a new program to protect and restore private forest land through the purchase of conservation easements.

Establishes new emergency aid for specialty crops

Creates a new system to provide direct financial help to producers of specialty crops, like fruits and vegetables, who are affected by bad events like an economic crisis.

Allows contractors for SNAP processing

Lets state agencies hire outside contractors to help process food stamp applications during busy times, such as emergencies or when many people apply at once.

Creates program to expand childcare in rural areas

Starts the 'Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative' to give priority to projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas.

What is the real world impact?

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Provides stability for the agricultural sector

Renews funding and rules for critical farm, food, and conservation programs that would otherwise expire. This ensures farmers, ranchers, and consumers have a predictable framework for the next several years.

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Increases government spending and subsidies

Expands several government programs and increases loan limits and funding for agricultural promotion. This could lead to higher government spending and be seen as market-distorting subsidies.

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Combines many different topics into one large bill

Bundles dozens of unrelated topics from nutrition assistance to forestry and energy into a single vote. This makes it difficult for lawmakers and the public to debate each part on its own merits.

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Limits state and local rules on farming

Stops states from setting their own rules for how farm animals are raised if the products are sold across state lines. It also prevents local governments from making their own rules about pesticides.

When does this start?

The changes and funding in this bill would take effect for several years, with most programs running through the 2031 fiscal year.

EBT card security rules

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to propose new rules to make EBT cards more secure within 6 months of the bill becoming law.

SNAP online purchasing transition

Requires the Secretary to begin making the SNAP online purchasing program permanent within 120 days of the bill's effective date.

Loan refinancing regulations

Requires the Secretary to create rules within one year to allow certain guaranteed farm loans to be refinanced into direct loans.

Tree assistance initial payments sunset

Ends the authority for orchardists and nursery tree growers to receive initial assistance payments before they have incurred costs on September 30, 2035.