By Alex Enlow, Director of Communications & Member Experience
Agriculture doesn’t move in straight lines; it moves in seasons — periods of patience, hard work and decisive action when the window opens. During the last week of April, just as we entered spring planting season, that window finally opened in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The House passed H.R. 7567 — the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 — marking the most significant legislative milestone for the farm bill this Congress. For the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and the thousands of retailers, crop consultants and input suppliers it represents, this vote was more than a procedural step; it’s a signal Washington is finally moving on the policies our industry has championed for years.
Several ARA-supported provisions made it into the House bill, and that didn’t happen by accident. It happened because our members showed up and made their voices heard at our fly-in in March — meeting with lawmakers, working alongside coalition partners and making the case that agricultural retailers are essential links in the food and fiber supply chain.
What Is in the Bill
The legislation includes reforms to the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program that recognizes Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) as TSPs, improving producers’ access to conservation planning expertise through our members. A federal definition for plant biostimulants, something ARA has pursued for years, was also included, finally bringing regulatory clarity to an innovative and growing product category. Modernized agricultural credit language to help ensure producers of all sizes can access the financing they need to operate made it into the farm bill as well.
This bill also took meaningful steps on crop insurance, expanding access for underserved and veteran producers, improving coverage for specialty crops and targeting affordability through subsidy reforms. ARA supported these provisions that affect the farmer customers our members serve.
Progress is never perfect, and unfortunately, the House also adopted an amendment that stripped out priority language on uniform pesticide labeling, federal preemption and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide General Permit reform. This amendment replaces a science-based federal pesticide framework with unpredictable jury-driven outcomes.
By weakening EPA-approved label preemption, the amendment exposes the agricultural supply chain to conflicting standards, expanded liability and higher costs, threatening both crop protection access and food affordability.
A Look Ahead
While ARA did not secure every policy objective in the House package, that’s the reality of legislating in a divided political environment, and advancing a farm bill through the chamber remains a significant achievement and keeps momentum moving forward. Passing a farm bill through the House is genuinely difficult, and it has not always happened. The fact that it did, with our core priorities in the text, gives us a foundation to build on as the fight now moves to the Senate.
ARA is already working with Senate offices to continue advocating for the inclusion of critical reforms in the Senate package. ARA will continue to keep members informed as the farm bill process moves into its next phase.
To our members: Your engagement matters now more than ever. Senators need to hear directly from the businesses and communities they represent that a strong farm bill is an economic necessity. Visit aradc.org/take-action to send a letter to your senator and tell them that agricultural retailers need a farm bill that works for the entire supply chain.
