The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement in response to the introduction of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.):
“ARA commends Chairman G.T. Thompson for his leadership in advancing the 2026 Farm Bill and for his commitment to providing long term certainty for America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural supply chain partners,” said ARA President & CEO, Daren Coppock. “Agricultural producers continue to face significant challenges, including volatile markets, extreme weather, global trade instability, labor shortages, and rising input costs. A strong, forward looking Farm Bill is essential to maintaining a reliable safety net that supports our nation’s food, energy, and fiber supply, while also investing in conservation, research, rural development, crop protection, trade promotion, and nutrition programs.”
Protecting farmers’ continued access to modern agricultural technologies, including pesticides, is also critical for ARA members. These tools play an essential role in managing risk, improving productivity, and helping farmers produce more with fewer resources—supporting both the economic viability of farm operations and the environmental sustainability of American agriculture through science based policies.
While some Farm Bill provisions were addressed in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, many of ARA’s priorities were not included due to the limitations of the budget reconciliation process, which generally excludes discretionary programs.
ARA appreciates Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for their work on this critical legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to advance a Farm Bill that strengthens the farm economy and ensures a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply for American consumers and global markets.
