The 2026 Farm Bill: It’s Finally Happening
The farm bill process is one of those things that sounds boring until you realize it's basically deciding where billions of dollars go for conservation, research, and agricultural support for the next five years. And right now, we're at a critical juncture.
On February 13, 2026, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson released an 800-page bill called the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The committee is scheduled to begin markup this week—which is Washington-speak for "debating, amending, and voting on whether to recommend this to the full House." This is a key moment, and if you care about conservation programs, native plants, or reforestation efforts, now's the time to pay attention.
The Backstory: How Did We Get Here?
The 2018 Farm Bill was supposed to be replaced years ago, but it's been extended multiple times. Then in July 2025, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" passed through budget reconciliation, which fundamentally changed the game by addressing some traditional farm bill programs (like commodity subsidies and SNAP) outside the normal process. This left other programs—research, marketing, and many conservation programs—still needing authorization through a standalone farm bill.
According to the Congressional Research Service, this split approach means the upcoming farm bill focuses on programs with discretionary spending that couldn't be included in the reconciliation bill. It's being called a "skinny" farm bill by some, but it's still got major implications for anyone working in conservation, native plant restoration, or forestry.
Section 8305: Reforestation, Nursery, and Seed Orchard Support
Here's where it gets interesting for those of us in the native seed world. Section 8305 of the proposed bill deals with "Reforestation, nursery, and seed orchard support." This section partially authorizes what's known as the RNGR Act—the Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources Support Act.
The USDA Forest Service's RNGR program already exists, but it's been chronically underfunded. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, expanding this program would "strengthen the seedling supply chain and provide technical training, coordination and support to state, tribal, and private tree nurseries across the country."
On a recent Coffee Time episode, we talked about this section and what it might mean for native seed availability. The reality is that nursery capacity—whether we're talking trees or prairie plants—is a major bottleneck for restoration work. Riley made a good point about the need for genetic diversity in tree planting programs, noting that large-scale planting with just a few species creates what Judd called a "bug and blight buffet." The same principle applies to native seed mixes. Diversity isn't just nice to have; it's essential insurance against disease, pests, and changing climate conditions.
Why Nursery Programs Matter
The RNGR program, as described by the US Forest Service Research and Development, serves as "a center of reforestation, nursery, and tree improvement expertise." It provides technical assistance to state, industrial, and private forest and conservation nurseries throughout the country. The program includes research projects, Internet resources, and publications that help nursery operators improve seedling quality and field performance.
Representative Kim Schrier (D-WA), who introduced the standalone RNGR Support Act in 2023, explained that forests nationwide face "immense danger due to diseases, pests, and climate change," sparking the need to strengthen seed selection, nursery capacity, and workforce development.
For those of us working with native prairie plants, the parallels are obvious. We need robust genetic resources, we need nurseries that understand ecotype-specific seed production, and we need technical support to scale up production while maintaining quality. The question is whether funding will materialize and whether it'll actually reach smaller operations that are doing the hard work of preserving regional genetics.
The Broader Conservation Picture
Beyond forestry, the 2026 Farm Bill proposes updates to major conservation programs. According to the National Association of Counties, the bill would:
Reauthorize and update the Conservation Reserve Program
Enhance working lands conservation programs by incorporating precision agriculture into EQIP and the Conservation Stewardship Program
Advance the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program
Update watershed programs with technical and financial assistance
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership notes that "the Farm Bill directly supports wildlife habitat and the hunting and fishing opportunities that depend on healthy working lands." For a bill to pass in this closely divided Congress, it'll need to be bipartisan—which means there's still plenty of negotiating ahead.
What Happens Next?
Here's the timeline as it stands: The House Agriculture Committee was scheduled to begin markup on February 23, 2026. If the bill passes committee, it still needs to go through the full House process, and then the Senate needs to introduce and pass its own version. The two chambers would then need to reconcile any differences. And all of this needs to happen before the current extension expires on September 30, 2026.
According to Iowa State's Beginning Farmer Center, "A new farm bill draft has not yet been introduced in the Senate," which means we're still early in the process. The National Organic Coalition warns that "prospects for moving a House Farm Bill to the floor remain uncertain, and bipartisan agreement has not yet been secured."
In other words: nothing's guaranteed. Which is exactly why now matters.
What You Can Do
If these programs matter to you—whether you're a farmer, a landowner, someone doing restoration work, or just someone who cares about conservation—this is your moment to weigh in. Committee markup is when amendments get offered and priorities get adjusted. Your House representative needs to hear that these programs matter.
Specifically, if you care about reforestation, nursery support, or native plant genetic resources, mentioning Section 8305 in your communication makes it clear you've done your homework. And if you want to emphasize the importance of genetic diversity in planting programs (which you should), that's worth mentioning too.
The USDA Economic Research Service provides resources on farm bill development, including contact information for the agriculture committees. Don't wait until the bill's already passed to wish you'd said something.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Farm Bill is moving forward, even if it's not getting the same attention as other policy fights in Washington. For those of us working in native plant restoration, conservation, and sustainable land management, this bill will shape what resources are available, what programs get funded, and what kind of technical support will exist for the next five years.
Section 8305's reforestation and nursery support provisions could make a real difference in seedling supply chains and genetic resource conservation—if they're properly funded and implemented. The broader conservation programs could maintain critical habitat work and support farmers trying to balance production with environmental stewardship.
But none of it's guaranteed. The markup phase is where details get hammered out, priorities get shifted, and the final shape of the bill starts to emerge. If you've got a stake in how this turns out, now's the time to make your voice heard.
Sources:
House Agriculture Committee. (2026). "Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026." Retrieved from https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/fb26combo_02_xml.pdf
Bipartisan Policy Center. (2026). "Ten Conservation and Forestry Policy Priorities for the 2026 Farm Bill." Retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/ten-conservation-and-forestry-policy-priorities-for-the-2026-farm-bill/
Congressional Research Service. (2025). "The Farm Bill After FY2025 Budget Reconciliation: Frequently Asked Questions." Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48775
Farm Aid. (2026). "The Latest Updates on the Farm Bill." Retrieved from https://www.farmaid.org/issues/farm-policy/the-latest-updates-on-the-2025-farm-bill/
Iowa State University Beginning Farmer Center. (2026). "What's Up with the Farm Bill?" Retrieved from https://beginningfarmer.iastate.edu/post/whats-farm-bill
National Association of Counties. (2026). "House Agriculture Committee introduces 2026 Farm Bill." Retrieved from https://www.naco.org/news/house-agriculture-committee-introduces-2026-farm-bill
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. (2026). "House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson Introduces Farm Bill Proposal." Retrieved from https://www.trcp.org/2026/02/13/house-agriculture-committee-chairman-gt-thompson-introduces-farm-bill-proposal/
US Forest Service Research and Development. "Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR)." Retrieved from https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/centers/reforestation-nurseries-genetic-resources
Rep. Kim Schrier. (2025). "Rep. Schrier Introduces Legislation to Solidify the Forest Service's National Reforestation Efforts." Retrieved from https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-introduces-legislation-solidify-forest-services-national
USDA Economic Research Service. "2025 Farm Bill." Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-bill/2025-farm-bill
National Organic Coalition. (2026). "Farm Bill Update: House Markup Signals Movement, but Big Questions Remain." Retrieved from https://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/blog/2026/2/4/farm-bill-update-house-markup-signals-movement-but-big-questions-remain
Need native seed for your restoration project? Visit hokseynativeseeds.com to see our Iowa ecotype mixes, or give us a call to discuss what'll work best for your site.
