Deeply disappointed. That’s how House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) said he felt after the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry failed to advance the Agricultural Act of 2026. It’s also the sentiment of the U.S. pork industry.
Typically reauthorized every five years, the most recent farm bill is in its third consecutive year under an extension. It will expire on September 30. The House Committee on Agriculture advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of committee on March 5 by a vote of 34-17. The House of Representatives passed the bill on April 30 by a vote of 224-200.
As farm bill negotiations continue, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) encourages Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to produce—and pass—a bipartisan farm bill that focuses on keeping pig farming in the U.S. affordable, checks the overreach of interstate commerce California has enjoyed, and bottom line, offers the best care for animals.
“When Congress passes a new farm bill, it must include the ask of America’s 60,000-plus pork producers to finally stop the threat of a state-by-state patchwork of farm animal housing laws spurred by California Proposition 12,” says NPPC President Rob Brenneman, a pork producer from Washington County, Iowa. “America’s pork producers deserve a robust farm bill, which should come with protection from being forced to rebuild their barns every time another state decides it knows what is best for animal welfare over farmers. Not only does Prop 12 make sustaining their businesses onerous for pork producers, but also it hinders the critical input and expertise of swine veterinarians.”
The Pork Industry Ask is Simple
Over the last few months Lori Stevermer, a Minnesota pork producer, has personally met with Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Klobuchar about the Farm Bill and Prop 12.
“They understand NPPC’s position and are supportive of finding a solution,” Stevermer says. “It’s extremely disappointing that the Senate ag committee can’t come together, iron out their differences and pass the farm bill out of committee. Time is running out and everyone knows it.”
Perhaps what adds frustration for Stevermer is that pork producers aren’t asking for money or financial support.
“We just want business certainty for the future and avoiding a patchwork of regulations,” Stevermer says.
It’s Not Over
Nathan Schroeder, president of the Ohio Pork Council Board of Directors who raises hogs in Putnam County, echoes Stevermer’s frustration.
“Pig farmers have been asking Congress for certainty for years, and seeing the bill fail to advance is another reminder of how difficult it has become to get that certainty,” he says. “For those of us actually raising pigs, this isn’t an abstract policy debate. We are making decisions today about buildings, animal care, financing and whether the next generation can come back to the farm.”
Those decisions have a long-reaching effect on the lives of many — beyond the farm, the community and the state.
“This isn’t over,” Schroeder points out. “Chairman Boozman recessed the markup rather than adjourned it, which gives the committee an opportunity to come back after August and find a bipartisan path forward. I hope members on both sides of the aisle use the next several weeks to work through their differences and get a Farm Bill across the finish line.”
