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Policy Updates and Issue News February 2026

Agriculture and Food

Farm bill 2.0 starts moving on the Hill

The House Agriculture Committee will begin markup of the “skinny” farm bill (the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026) the week of March 1. This action is intended to complete action on the overall farm bill, which began with several titles of the farm bill (commodity programs, crop insurance, foreign market development, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law July 4, 2025. Major farm and commodity groups generally support the Ag Committee draft bill prior to markup. Several nutrition, environmental, and animal welfare groups oppose certain sections of the bill. The legislation includes reauthorization of the popular Conservation Reserve Program and increases USDA loan limits, but reduces funds authorized for the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Pesticides, animal welfare, and nutrition programs could become divisive issues in the bill’s markup debate, with several amendments to be offered to the bill text. Here are some of the possible contentious provisions:

  • SNAP restrictions. The bill contains provisions to restrict certain food purchases while tightening eligibility for the program.
  • Pesticide liability shield. This provision prevents individuals from suing pesticide companies based on state-level health claims.
  • Animal welfare/Prop 12 (EATS Act). Language is designed to override state-level animal welfare standards, specifically aimed at neutralizing California’s Proposition 12, which imposes stricter housing requirements for farm animals producing food products shipped into the state.
  • Food for Peace transfer. The proposal moves the Food for Peace Program from USAID to the USDA, a move critics say risks the effectiveness and efficiency of international food aid.
  • Climate and conservation. The bill decreases emphasis on climate-smart agriculture, reduces funding for certain conservation programs, and places restrictions on solar projects on certain farmland.
  • Omission of E15 ethanol. Lawmakers from corn-producing states had hoped for language supporting year-round E15 sales.

Farmers can now apply for aid payments

Enrollment is now open until April 17 for the USDA’s $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, with applications available at local USDA Farm Service Agency offices. The one-time payments are available to row crop producers in response to temporary trade disruptions to markets and increased production costs. These Bridge payments were authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Farm finances weaken

Farmers’ debt-to-asset ratios are increasing, loan volumes are rising, and bankruptcies ticked up in 2025, according to the USDA. Farm sector solvency is expected to weaken this year as producers increasingly turn to debt to make it through a challenging farm economy.

Half of U.S. ag production is by large family farms

Large-scale family farms with more than $1 million in annual gross cash farm income account for 50% of domestic agricultural production, according to the USDA. They operate on 33% of the total U.S. agricultural land base, yet account for only 5% of all farms. Midsize family farms, which have gross incomes between $350,000 and $1 million, account for 18% of production and operate on 18% of the land base. They make up 6% of all farms. Small family farms with gross annual income less than $350,000 operate on 46% of the land, produce 17% of our food and fiber, and represent 86% of all farms in the U.S.

Health Care

Grange gets huge health care wins on the Hill

When Congress recently passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, several National Grange bipartisan health care priorities were included. Here’s a rundown:

  • Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) legislation that authorizes Medicare to cover the costs of the MCED screening that detects over three dozen cancers with a simple blood draw. This action will save lives in rural America, where cancer specialists and screening services are scarce. Passing the MCED bill has been a multi-year priority for the National Grange.
  • Sweeping new disclosure requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), which include all the different ways they get money from brokering prescription drug prices, brands, and plan coverage. Rebates will now be passed directly to patients and plan sponsors. PBMs have been a major driver in creating higher prescription drug prices for patients. PBM transparency and accountability have been another long-term priority for the National Grange.
  • A new allocation of $418 million for rural health (including hospitals), and maintains $1.9 billion in funding for community health centers
  • An allocation of $1.4 billion is set aside to support the health care workforce and connect them with rural areas
  • Expiring telehealth and virtual care programs are extended
  • Provides relief from further cuts to tests and services reimbursement under the Medicare fee schedule for one year to give the clinical laboratory industry and Medicare time to evaluate service and cost data

GRAIL president thanks the Grange

National Grange president Chris Hamp and Legislative Director Burton Eller received a personal note of thanks from Josh Ofman, President of Grail, the company that developed the MCED cancer screen test, for their efforts to pass the MCED bill. Ofman said, “On behalf of the entire executive leadership team at GRAIL, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks and admiration to you for your extraordinary leadership in passing the MCED legislation into law. From the 2023 Cancer Report you published to your direct Hill engagements, you helped ensure policymakers understand why earlier detection for multiple cancers is not just a scientific breakthrough, but a moral and public health imperative. Your organization has been a true champion for the cancer community – especially those living in rural communities.”

PBM group recognizes Grange

The PBM Accountability Project, the national coalition urging major Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform, recently presented the National Grange with its PBM Accountability Grassroots Champion of 2026 award. In recognizing the Grange, the Accountability Project said, “In recognition of your sustained advocacy work, you are being honored with our PBM Accountability Grassroots Champion award for your critical role in transforming the PBM reform debate into a national movement and helping to advance key reforms.”

Telecommunications

Grange supports FirstNet reauthorization

In preparation for the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on FirstNet reauthorization recently, the National Grange sent members of the subcommittee copies of Chris Hamp’s op-ed in the Spokane Spokesman Review, which gave a first-hand critique of her experience with the success of FirstNet in disaster response. The FirstNet reauthorization bill passed the subcommittee unanimously.  FirstNet is a nationwide public safety network designed by first responders for first responders.

Pole dispute resolution to speed broadband buildout

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued new enforcement guidance to resolve broadband pole attachment disputes in under 60 days. Cost allocation disputes between pole owners and prospective attachers have been slowing broadband deployment. A cornerstone requirement of the new guidance states that a new attacher is not required to pay the entire cost of pole replacement when the pole already fails to comply with existing safety or engineering standards. The National Grange has petitioned the FCC for the past two years to set standards to resolve pole attachment disputes in a timely fashion.

Of Interest

Population shifts could shrink rural clout in Congress

According to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice, population shifts over this decade could give Republicans a greater edge in presidential elections while reducing representation in rural areas and the Midwest agricultural belt in Congress. After the 2030 census, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas are in line to gain a net nine electoral votes. For the House of Representatives, Texas would gain four seats, Florida three, and Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, North Carolina, and Utah would each gain one seat. California stands to lose four seats, while Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin each stand to lose one seat. The population shift is likely to reduce the number of rural districts with shrinking, stagnant, or slower-growing populations, compared with cities or suburbs. Southern states could control 40% of the House for the first time in history.

Perspectives

“To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.” ~ Pope John Paul II

 

“It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.” ~  Horace

 

“The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.” ~  Clarence Darrow

 

“If your parents never had children, chances are you won’t either.” ~  Dick Cavett