The Texas Farm Bureau this week praised the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture for advancing the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026” — or Farm Bill — out of committee with bipartisan support.
The five-year farm bill, aimed to extend U.S. Department of Agriculture programs through 2031, was approved late Wednesday, March 4, by a margin of 34-17 in the House committee, with U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson championing many items in the package.
“This vote is a critical step toward delivering certainty for farmers, ranchers, and consumers who have waited far too long for an updated farm bill,” reads a statement from the Farm Bureau. “We thank Chairman G.T. Thompson and his team for their leadership and hard work to move this legislation forward in a thoughtful, bipartisan manner focused on real world challenges facing agriculture.
“Texas Farm Bureau is proud to have played an active role in shaping this bill, including hosting a U.S. House Committee on Agriculture listening session in Waco in 2024 and taking committee members on farm tours so they could see firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing Texas producers. That direct engagement makes a difference, which is reflected in the policies advancing today.
“Now, the full House of Representatives must step up and finish the job. Congress should move swiftly to pass a comprehensive farm bill and ensure it aligns with key farm bill provisions already included in the ‘Working Families Tax Cut Act,’ also known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,'” the Farm Bureau statement continues. “Farmers and ranchers need action, not delays. Congress must come together and deliver.”
U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson touts benefits for Texas agriculture
Jackson, who represents the sprawling U.S. House 13 district that stretches from the Panhandle into north Texas, said he worked to champion Texas’ agriculture priorities during the House Committee on Agriculture’s markup of the Farm Bill.
In a statement, he said the 2026 Farm Bill ensures agriculture producers have the tools necessary to face the challenges of the modern agricultural industry.
“As the Representative for the number one agriculture district in Texas, I know firsthand that an updated Farm Bill is long overdue,” Jackson said. “Our farmers and ranchers in TX-13 work tirelessly to feed and fuel this nation, and they deserve policies that provide them the certainty needed to remain in operation for generations to come. I’m proud to have secured key wins for our district and for the agriculture industry as a whole, and I look forward to getting this Farm Bill across the finish line and signed into law.”
Jackson’s included provisions are:
Jackson’s included amendments are:
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Farm Bureau, U.S. Rep. Jackson eager as Farm Bill advances
Reporting by Adam D. Young, Amarillo Globe-News / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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