By Jamie Martin
The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomed the release of a new Senate farm bill discussion draft but called for additional measures to help farmers navigate ongoing economic challenges.
The draft, introduced by Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, includes several provisions aimed at strengthening agriculture and rural communities.
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said the proposal offers meaningful support through improved lending opportunities, stronger investments in specialty crops, increased fertilizer market transparency, and enhanced funding for conservation and agricultural research initiatives.
“Farm Bureau appreciates Sen. Boozman’s work to move a farm bill forward in the Senate. The bill text provides important support for farm families. The benefits include improved access to credit, expanded investments in specialty crops, increased transparency in fertilizer markets, and enhanced research and conservation programs. The discussion draft is a good first step and provides a solid foundation that Farm Bureau will work to improve upon as the Senate moves toward markup.”
Duvall pointed to concerns Farm Bureau raised in communications sent to President Trump and congressional leaders in late 2025. Those messages emphasized the financial strain caused by inflation, high production costs, and the prolonged downturn affecting many agricultural operations.
Although he praised recent developments, Duvall said more work remains. He urged Congress to address three major priorities that are absent from the current proposal.
These include providing economic relief for struggling farmers, safeguarding interstate commerce from inconsistent state regulations, and authorizing year-round sales of E15 fuel.
The Farm Bureau president noted that President Trump has publicly supported congressional action on E15 and economic assistance, while Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has repeatedly stressed the importance of protecting interstate commerce.
Duvall encouraged lawmakers to move quickly toward passing a bipartisan farm bill and to address these outstanding issues with equal urgency, ensuring farmers and ranchers have the tools and support needed to remain productive and competitive.
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