# The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR48918 ## Record - **Collection:** Congressional research report - **Document type:** Reports - **Published:** July 29, 2026 - **Citation:** R48918 ## Text The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Updated July 29, 2026 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R48918 SUMMARY The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law The farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law and is the primary piece of legislation that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. The most recent farm bill is the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill; P.L. 115-334). The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) would add, amend, and reauthorize some of the programs in the 2018 farm bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee chairman released a discussion draft (referred to here as the Senate bill) of the Agriculture Act of 2026 on June 23, 2026. This report provides an overview of H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill and compares those bills with current law. R48918 July 29, 2026 Lisa S. Benson, Coordinator Specialist in Agricultural Policy Across Titles I-XII, H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would reauthorize and amend food and agricultural policies in a wide variety of ways, with certain differences, as in the following examples. Title I of H.R. 7567 would restore tobacco eligibility for funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), whereas the Senate bill would amend and add reporting requirements of CCC expenditures and activities. Title II of both bills contain reauthorizations, amendments, and new programs that aim to incentivize farmers and ranchers to voluntarily implement resource-conserving practices on private land. Under H.R. 7567, proposed changes would center on directing programs to specific resource concerns and production methods. The Senate bill includes several changes relating to disaster and watershed programs, as well as guidelines for conservation practice standards. Title III of both bills would reauthorize and amend international food assistance and export programs. H.R. 7567 would move the responsibilities of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Food for Peace Act (P.L. 83-480), as amended, to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including administration of Food for Peace Title II Grants. Title IV of both bills would generally extend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other related nutrition programs through September 30, 2031. While both nutrition titles include many of the same nutrition policies, at times with substantive differences, there are provisions only in H.R. 7567 or only in the Senate bill. Examples of nutrition policies only in H.R. 7567 are amending the statutory purpose of the SNAP program to reflect health objectives, allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken, and creating a new option for fresh food access in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Only in the Senate bill are nutrition policies such as requirements for tribal input and supply chain response in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and stricter authorization rules for certain SNAP retailer types. Title V of both bills would increase the maximum loan amounts for individual farmers and ranchers who borrow from USDA. Both bills would add eligibility for farm loans to commercial fishing entities; the House bill would allow farm ownership loans and farm operating loans and include fish processing facilities; the Senate bill would allow farm operating loans only and exclude fish processing. Title VI of both bills would expand the types of health care institutions eligible to refinance debt using Rural Development loans under certain circumstances. Only in H.R. 7567 would the Circuit Rider Program be expanded to also provide rural water and wastewater systems with disaster recovery assistance. Title VII of both bills would reauthorize USDA agricultural research, extension, education, veterinary, and land-grant institution authorities through FY2031. H.R. 7567 would generally make broader administrative and programmatic changes, including the repealing of several existing authorities and establishing new programs. The Senate bill would generally retain more existing authorities, authorize higher funding levels for selected programs, and establish a smaller number of new initiatives. Title VIII of both bills includes a variety of provisions relating to forestry research, federal forest management, and financial and technical assistance to nonfederal forestland owners. In addition to other differences, the House bill includes a subtitle concerning giant sequoia protection, whereas the Senate bill does not. Title IX of the House-passed bill would reauthorize most of the 2018 farm bill energy title programs and repeal two programs; whereas the Senate bill energy title would reauthorize all the energy title programs. Both bills would modify certain programs. Among other things, the House bill would add new sections to Title IX pertaining to solar energy; the Senate bill does not contain such sections. Title X of both bills would reauthorize USDA to issue block grants to states through FY2031 to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Only in H.R. 7567 would the domestic hemp production program be amended to reflect changes to the statutory definition of hemp that were made in P.L. 119-37. Title XI of both bills would modify the definition of veteran farmers and ranchers used in the Federal Crop Insurance Program and increase premium subsidies available for these individuals, among other program changes. Title XI of H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill differ in terms of the changes they would make to final agency determinations, the composition of the board of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, and research and development priority areas, among other differences. Title XII of H.R. 7567 would restrict a state from enacting and enforcing production standards on livestock products not produced in the state and amend the authorities of USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations and the National Appeals Division. The Senate bill would establish a crop input economist within USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist and direct USDA to produce a report on fertilizer production and use. Congressional Research Service The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 House Action ............................................................................................................................. 1 Senate Action ............................................................................................................................ 2 Budgetary Impact ............................................................................................................................ 2 Title-by-Title Summary ................................................................................................................... 6 Title I, Commodity Program ..................................................................................................... 6 Commodity Policy .............................................................................................................. 6 Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs ......................................................................... 7 Title II, Conservation .............................................................................................................. 16 Conservation Reserve Program......................................................................................... 16 Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program.......................................................................................................................... 16 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program ................................................................. 17 Forest Conservation Easement Program ........................................................................... 17 Other Conservation Programs ........................................................................................... 18 Title III, Trade ......................................................................................................................... 51 Title IV, Nutrition .................................................................................................................... 72 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program .................................................................... 72 Food Distribution Programs .............................................................................................. 73 Other Nutrition Programs and Policies ............................................................................. 74 Title V, Credit .......................................................................................................................... 95 Title VI, Rural Development ................................................................................................. 108 Rural Health Care ........................................................................................................... 109 Broadband Deployment .................................................................................................. 109 Water and Waste Disposal Infrastructure ......................................................................... 110 Rural Child Care .............................................................................................................. 111 Title VII, Research, Extension, and Related Matters ............................................................ 137 Title VIII, Forestry ................................................................................................................ 166 Title IX, Energy ..................................................................................................................... 207 Title X, Horticulture, Marketing, and Regulatory Reform .................................................... 219 Title XI, Crop Insurance........................................................................................................ 237 Implications for Policyholders ........................................................................................ 237 Implications for Approved Insurance Providers ............................................................. 237 Implications for USDA ................................................................................................... 238 Title XII, Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................ 246 Livestock and Other Animals.......................................................................................... 247 Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ................................................. 247 National Security ............................................................................................................ 248 Fertilizer .......................................................................................................................... 249 U.S. Grain Standards Act Reauthorization...................................................................... 249 Other Miscellaneous Provisions ..................................................................................... 250 Tables Table 1. Estimated Changes in Mandatory Spending in H.R. 7567 ................................................ 3 Congressional Research Service The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Table 2. Baseline Projections by Title of the Farm Bill ................................................................... 4 Table 3. Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation in H.R. 7567 .......................................... 5 Table 4. Title I, Commodities .......................................................................................................... 8 Table 5. Title II, Conservation ....................................................................................................... 19 Table 6. Title III, Trade .................................................................................................................. 54 Table 7. Title IV, Nutrition............................................................................................................. 75 Table 8. Title V, Credit................................................................................................................... 96 Table 9. Title VI, Rural Development .......................................................................................... 111 Table 10. Title VII, Research, Extension, and Related Matters ................................................... 138 Table 11. Title VIII, Forestry ....................................................................................................... 167 Table 12. Title IX, Energy ........................................................................................................... 209 Table 13. Title X, Horticulture, Marketing, and Regulatory Reform .......................................... 221 Table 14. Title XI, Crop Insurance .............................................................................................. 239 Table 15. Title XII, Miscellaneous .............................................................................................. 251 Contacts Author Information...................................................................................................................... 280 Congressional Research Service The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Introduction Congress has established federal policy related to the food and agriculture sectors through periodic farm bills since the 1930s. The farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law and is the primary piece of legislation that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. Policy areas addressed in farm bills have expanded from providing support for selected commodities to providing support for a wide range of programs and policies, such as commodity support, conservation, trade, domestic nutrition assistance, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, horticulture, and crop insurance.1 The farm bill contains a number of different authorities for programs to exist, operate, and receive funding. Certain programs are permanently authorized and would continue in the absence of new farm legislation. Other farm bill programs have authorizations that expire approximately every five years and require reauthorization to continue. The most recent farm bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill; P.L. 115-334), expired in 2023. It was extended three times, for a year at a time: in November 2023 to cover FY2024 and crop year 2024 (P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102); in December 2024 to cover FY2025 and crop year 2025 (P.L. 118-158, Division D, §4101); and in November 2025 to cover FY2026 (P.L. 119-37, Division E, §5002). Congress amended selected provisions of the 2018 farm bill through Title I of the FY2025 budget reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21).2 The FY2025 budget reconciliation law did not reauthorize all expired or expiring programs or authorizations of the 2018 farm bill. For mandatory spending programs, budget reconciliation rules did not allow policy changes that did not have a budgetary effect. Policy changes and reauthorizations to discretionary spending programs were not allowed under budget reconciliation. The FY2025 budget reconciliation law included changes for mandatory spending programs in certain titles, including the commodities, nutrition, crop insurance, and conservation titles, as well as relatively smaller programs with mandatory funding in the trade, research, energy, horticulture, and miscellaneous titles. House Action The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) would add to, amend, and reauthorize some of the programs in the 2018 farm bill. H.R. 7567 would also amend and reauthorize certain provisions of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (P.L. 64-190). H.R. 7567 was introduced on February 13, 2026. The House Committee on Agriculture considered the bill and ordered it reported favorably, as amended, to the House on March 5, 2026, by a vote of 34-17. Members submitted 155 committee amendments. During committee markup, • • • 45 amendments passed by vote (including 1 manager’s amendment, 5 as part of an en bloc amendment, and 1 second-degree amendment to another amendment);3 29 amendments failed by vote (3 amendments failed by voice vote, and 26 amendments failed by recorded vote); 32 amendments were offered and withdrawn after discussion; 1 CRS In Focus IF12047, Farm Bill Primer: Background and Status, by Jim Monke and Megan Stubbs. 2 CRS Report R48775, The Farm Bill After FY2025 Budget Reconciliation: Frequently Asked Questions, by Jim Monke and Megan Stubbs . 3 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Agriculture, “Markup of ‘To Consider H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,’” https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=118990. Congressional Research Service 1 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law • • 47 amendments were not offered; and 2 amendments were ruled out of order as not germane. H.R. 7567 was reported on April 21, 2026, with the committee’s report, H.Rept. 119-620. In developing the rule for floor consideration, 371 amendments were submitted, of which 57 were made in order for floor consideration (H.Res. 1224, H.Rept. 119-628).4 On April 27, 2026, the House considered 57 amendments for H.R. 7567. Of the amendments made in order, • • • • 45 amendments passed by voice vote (24 as part of an en bloc amendment, 21 individually); 5 amendments passed by recorded vote; 4 amendments failed by recorded vote; and 3 amendments were not offered. The House passed H.R. 7567, as amended, by a vote of 224-200 on April 30, 2026. Senate Action The Senate Agriculture Committee chairman released a discussion draft of the Agriculture Act of 2026 on June 23, 2026.5 For comparison to the House bill, this report refers to the discussion draft as “the Senate bill.” This report provides a summary of each title included in the House-passed version of H.R. 7567 and in the Senate bill. Following the summary of each of the 12 titles included in H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill, this report includes tables describing each provision in the House and Senate bills and provides a comparison of the House bill, Senate bill, and current law. For any program authority affected by an extension, the most recent extension law is noted. In certain cases, the Senate bill includes comparable provisions that are in a different title than the House bill. In those cases, the provisions are cross-referenced in the title where the House bill provision is located as well as in the title where the Senate bill provision is located. Budgetary Impact The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a score of H.R. 7567, as reported, on April 24, 2026, ahead of House floor consideration. CBO has not released a score of the Senate bill. The score of H.R. 7567 indicates that the bill would be budget neutral for mandatory (direct) spending over an 11-year budget window (FY2026-FY2036).6 In the shorter term, it is expected to increase mandatory spending by $162 million over the first six years (FY2026-FY2031) (Table 1). Changes in the score are relative to the February 2026 CBO baseline (Table 2).7 4 House Committee on Rules, “H.R. 7567—Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” April 27, 2026, https:// rules.house.gov/bill/119/hr-7567. 5 U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, “Farm Bill 2.0,” available at https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/agricultural-act-of-2026-farm-bill-20. See the discussion draft of the Agriculture Act of 2026 at https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/agricultural_act_of_20261.pdf. 6 Congressional Budget Office (CBO), “H.R. 7567, Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” April 24, 2026, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62376. 7 CBO, “Details About Baseline Projections for Selected Programs,” February 2026, https://www.cbo.gov/data/ baseline-projections-selected-programs. Congressional Research Service 2 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law The largest budgetary changes to mandatory spending are in the conservation title; the bill would reduce outlays for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by $786 million over FY2026-FY2036 and redistribute funding to other conservation programs, most with temporary budget effects. The bill would also extend authority in the trade title to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust; its budget effects would be offset from restructuring trade promotion authorities that were included in FY2025 budget reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21). The bill also extends funding in the energy title for the Biobased Markets Program, offset by a rescission to the Biorefinery Assistance Program. For discretionary spending programs, CBO estimates that increases in authorizations that are subject to appropriation total $22 billion over 5 years (FY2027-FY2031) and $22 billion over 10 years (FY2027-FY2036) (Table 3). FY2026 is not included in these estimates because appropriations have already been enacted. Estimated outlays from these authorizations of appropriation are nearly $16 billion over 5 years (FY2027-FY2031) and $21 billion over 10 years (FY2027-FY2036). Details are not available about the shares that are reauthorization of currently authorized appropriations and the amounts that are new programming. Budget Background for the Farm Bill Budget enforcement in Congress for mandatory spending uses baseline and scoring procedures that are followed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The goal is to determine whether proposed changes in a bill would increase or decrease government spending. The baseline is a projection of what outlays would be under current law if it were continued; it is the benchmark against which proposed changes in a bill are compared. The baseline incorporates current assumptions about economic conditions, including expectations about prices, acreage, trade, inflation, poverty, program participation, and eligibility. The score is the effect that each provision, or the bill in total, is expected to have compared with the baseline (CRS In Focus IF13124, Distinguishing Between Discretionary and Mandatory Spending; and CRS Report 98-560, Baselines and Scorekeeping in the Federal Budget Process). The total score of a bill determines whether the bill meets budget enforcement requirements, such as pay-as-yougo (PAYGO) or cut-as-you-go (CUTGO) (CRS In Focus IF11032, Budgetary Decisionmaking in Congress). A bill may add or subtract funds from programs, or transfer funds among programs and titles using reductions to offset increases. PAYGO refers to both a law and House and Senate rules that bills should not increase the deficit, essentially, that budgetary increases are fully offset by spending reductions or additional revenue, so that the net score of a bill is zero (CRS Report R41157, The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010: Summary and Legislative History; CRS Report R47413, Points of Order in the Congressional Budget Process; and CRS Report RL31943, Budget Enforcement Procedures: The Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule). CUTGO is a protocol in the House during the 119th Congress prohibiting offsets from having revenue-raising provisions (CRS Report R41510, House Rule XXI, Clause 10: The CUTGO Rule). Budget laws require CBO to score proposed changes over an 11-year budget window regardless of the length of the new authorization period. The current 11-year scoring period is FY2026-FY2036 for authorizations in H.R. 7567 that generally would expire in FY2031 (Table 1). Four titles of the 2018 farm bill account for 99% of the baseline projection (nutrition, crop insurance, farm commodities, and conservation). The total 10-year baseline is $1.374 trillion over FY2027-FY2036 (Table 2) (CRS In Focus IF12233, Farm Bill Primer: Budget Dynamics). Table 1. Estimated Changes in Mandatory Spending in H.R. 7567 in millions of dollars, mandatory outlays Title and program FY2026-FY2031 FY2026-FY2036 Title I. Commodities Tree Assistance Program 5 0 Title I Subtotal 5 0 Title II. Conservation Congressional Research Service 3 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Title and program FY2026-FY2031 Environmental Quality Incentives Program FY2026-FY2036 -593 -786 Conservation Stewardship Program 47 49 Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program 56 56 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act 50 54 Emergency Conservation Program 43 0 Emergency Watershed Program 16 15 Farm Management Incentive Payments 11 11 Transition Option for Certain Farmers 47 47 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, including Adjusted Gross Income provision 173 216 Forest Conservation Easement Program 198 227 Regional Conservation Partnership Program 53 110 Title II Subtotal 101 -1 Agricultural Trade Promotion and Facilitation -35 -70 Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act 70 70 Title III Subtotal 35 0 Title VI. Rural Development 2 0 Title VII. Research, Extension, and Related Matters 1 1 Title VIII. Forestry 20 0 Biobased Markets Program 16 18 Biorefinery Assistance -18 -18 Title IX Subtotal -2 0 162 0 Title III. Trade Title IX. Energy Total Changes in Mandatory Spending Source: CRS using Congressional Budget Office (CBO), “H.R. 7567, Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” April 24, 2026, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62376. Notes: Estimates are based on the House-reported version of H.R. 7567. The House-passed version did not amend provisions related to this score. Estimated changes in outlays are relative to the February 2026 CBO baseline (https://www.cbo.gov/data/baseline-projections-selected-programs). Omits titles with a score of $0 or unspecified amounts less than +/-$500,000. Some titles in the CBO score did not have program-level detail. Table 2. Baseline Projections by Title of the Farm Bill in millions of dollars, 10-year mandatory outlays Farm Bill Title FY2027-FY2036 (February 2026) Title I. Commodities 142,625 Title II. Conservation 73,004 Title III. Trade 8,280 Title IV. Nutrition Congressional Research Service 985,379 4 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Title VII. Research 3,510 Title IX. Energy 535 Title X. Horticulture 2,440 Title XI. Crop Insurance 155,539 Title XII. Miscellaneous 2,248 Total 1,373,560 Source: CRS analysis of Congressional Budget Office, “Details About Baseline Projections for Selected Programs,” February 2026, https://www.cbo.gov/data/baseline-projections-selected-programs, for the five largest titles and amounts in law for programs in other titles. Note: Not all farm bill titles have programs that receive mandatory spending and projected baseline. Amounts in the February 2026 baseline incorporate policy changes as a result of 2025 budget reconciliation in P.L. 119-21, as well as changed economic assumptions. Table 3. Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation in H.R. 7567 in millions of dollars, discretionary authorizations of appropriation and estimated outlays Title and program FY2027-FY2031 FY2027-FY2036 Title II. Conservation Authorization of appropriations 750 750 Estimated outlays 627 750 Authorization of appropriations 625 625 Estimated outlays 357 490 1,196 1,196 997 1,066 1,190 1,190 325 405 Authorization of appropriations 4,705 4,705 Estimated outlays 2,542 4,691 Authorization of appropriations 8,324 8,361 Estimated outlays 5,869 8,345 Authorization of appropriations 4,225 4,225 Estimated outlays 3,886 4,225 715 715 Title III. Trade Title IV. Nutrition Authorization of appropriations Estimated outlays Title V. Credit Authorization of appropriations Estimated outlays Title VI. Rural Development Title VII. Research, Extension, and Related Matters Title VIII. Forestry Title IX. Energy Authorization of appropriations Congressional Research Service 5 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Title and program Estimated outlays FY2027-FY2031 FY2027-FY2036 516 715 Authorization of appropriations 495 495 Estimated outlays 458 495 Authorization of appropriations 219 219 Estimated outlays 208 219 Authorization of appropriations 22,444 22,481 Estimated outlays 15,785 21,401 Title X. Horticulture, Marketing and Regulatory Reform Title XII. Miscellaneous Total Source: CRS using Congressional Budget Office, “H.R. 7567, Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” April 24, 2026, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62376. Notes: Estimates are based on the House-reported version of H.R. 7567. The House-passed version did not amend provisions related to this score. Authorization amounts are for specific appropriations; indefinite amounts that would need to be estimated are not included. Title I (Commodities) and Title XI (Crop Insurance) do not contain any specific authorizations of appropriations. Title-by-Title Summary Title I, Commodity Program8 The commodity titles of H.R. 7567, as passed by the House, and of the Senate bill would authorize and amend many of the agricultural commodity support and disaster assistance programs administered by the Farm Service Agency in USDA (Table 4). Title I of the FY2025 budget reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21) amended and/or reauthorized various programs included in the commodity title of the 2018 farm bill through the 2031 crop year.9 As a result, H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill do not include provisions relating to many of these programs, and the scope of the commodity title in H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill is limited compared with previous farm bills. Commodity Policy H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would continue the suspension of non-expiring farm bill commodity support provisions from the 1930s and 1940s through crop year 2031, as was done in recent farm bills.10 H.R. 7567 does not make changes to the commodities eligible for support from the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC), or Marketing Assistance 8 This section was prepared by Christine Whitt, Analyst in Agricultural Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division (RSI); Jim Monke, Specialist in Agricultural Policy, RSI; Stephanie Rosch, Analyst in Agricultural Policy, RSI; and Megan Stubbs, Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources, RSI. 9 See CRS Report R48574, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1): Title I, Farm Safety Net and Miscellaneous Provisions, coordinated by Stephanie Rosch. 10 See CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension for 2025, by Jim Monke, Randy Alison Aussenberg, and Megan Stubbs. Congressional Research Service 6 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Loan (MAL) programs.11 The Senate bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to study making dry edible beans eligible for these programs and authorize appropriations of “such sums as necessary” for a new program to reduce and maintain dry edible beans stocks-to-use ratios at historical levels. H.R. 7567 would not make changes to the eligible entities who can submit information to USDA about a producer’s average adjusted gross income.12 The Senate bill would add enrolled agents licensed to provide tax services by the U.S. Treasury to the eligible entities list. H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would mandate that dairy product manufacturers report production costs and yield information to USDA. This information would be used to update factors that represent the costs to manufacture a dairy product (the dairy industry refers to these costs as make allowances) for the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system.13 Both bills would clarify the timeline for USDA to submit certain dairy reports to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Both bills would make the Dairy Forward Pricing Program permanent.14 H.R. 7567 would increase the number of eligible entities for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, whereas the Senate bill would increase the program’s authorized appropriations. H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would allow producers to repay nonrecourse marketing assistance loans during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., during a government shutdown) when USDA employees may be furloughed.15 H.R. 7567 would authorize USDA to provide storage facility loans for on-farm storage of propane used for agricultural production and to conduct a study on the feasibility of providing storage facility loans for fertilizer. The Senate bill would authorize storage facility loans for on-farm storage of propane and fertilizer, including equipment and infrastructure necessary for fertilizer storage. The Secretary of Agriculture has broad authority to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding to support agricultural commodities.16 H.R. 7567 would remove the exclusion for tobacco from the list of eligible agricultural commodities, thereby restoring tobacco eligibility for funding from the CCC.17 The Senate bill would make no changes to the tobacco exclusion from the list of CCC-eligible agricultural commodities (i.e., the bill would retain the existing statutory exclusion for tobacco). The Senate bill would also amend and add reporting requirements for CCC expenditures and activities. Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would amend the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to provide payment recipients flexibility in replanting after losses and give recipients the option of receiving an initial partial payment prior to incurring replanting or rehabilitation costs. In H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill, USDA’s authority to offer initial partial payments would expire (sunset) on September 11 For background on the Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage, and Marketing Assistance Loan programs, see CRS Report R45730, Farm Commodity Provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill (P.L. 115-334), by Stephanie Rosch. 12 Statute restricts eligibility for certain farm programs based on a producer’s average adjusted gross income. For background, see CRS Report R46248, U.S. Farm Programs: Eligibility and Payment Limits, by Megan Stubbs and Stephanie Rosch. 13 See CRS In Focus IF12923, Pricing Amendments to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders, by Christine Whitt and CRS Report R48573, U.S. Dairy Policy, by Christine Whitt. 14 See CRS Report R48573, U.S. Dairy Policy, by Christine Whitt. 15 See CRS In Focus IF12140, Farm Bill Primer: MAL and LDP Farm Support Programs, by Stephanie Rosch. 16 See CRS Report R44606, The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), by Megan Stubbs. 17 See CRS In Focus IF13196, Farm Support for Tobacco and the 2026 Farm Bill, by Stephanie Rosch. Congressional Research Service 7 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law 30, 2035. The Senate bill includes provisions that would expand covered losses under TAP to commercial trees that are no longer commercially viable due to a natural disaster. H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would require USDA to establish a framework to provide assistance to specialty crop producers for certain losses, including economic crises and market disruptions. The Senate bill includes a provision that defines the term specialty crop. H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill would authorize USDA to use block grants for administering supplemental ad hoc agricultural disaster assistance. The Senate bill includes language clarifying that USDA is required to administer such block grants via states. H.R. 7567 would require USDA to expand the proof of death standards in the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for losses due to depredation by Mexican wolves.18 The Senate bill would clarify that Mexican gray wolves and panthers are eligible under LIP. In addition, the Senate bill would require USDA to accept documentation showing probability or confirmation of an eligible livestock attack by animals or avian predators. The Senate bill would clarify that the definition of livestock used to determine eligibility for USDA’s livestock disaster assistance program includes unweaned livestock. The Senate bill would also expand covered losses under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and would codify elements of LIP and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish that can be found in the program’s respective regulation. Table 4. Title I, Commodities Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Suspension of permanent price support authority. Suspends the permanent price support authority of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (P.L. 75-430) and the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1949 (P.L. 89-439) for certain commodities for the 2014-2026 crop years and for milk through December 31, 2026. (7 U.S.C. §9092; P.L. 119-37) Suspension of permanent price support authority. Extends the suspension of permanent price authority through crop year 2031 for commodities other than dairy. Extends the suspension for dairy through December 31, 2031. (§1001) Suspension of permanent price support authority. Identical to House provision. (§1101) 18 See CRS In Focus IF12101, Farm Bill Primer: Disaster Assistance, by Christine Whitt. Congressional Research Service 8 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Provides payments to eligible orchardists and nursery growers to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters. Eligible losses must exceed normal mortality. Payments reimburse eligible orchardists and nursery growers for 65% of the cost of replanting trees or nursery stock and 50% of the cost of rehabilitation (e.g., pruning and removal). (7 U.S.C. §9081(e)) Tree assistance program. Expands coverage to include biennial tree crops and losses due to pest infestations. Clarifies that trees that are no longer producing an economically viable crop as a result of a natural disaster are eligible for TAP payments. Adds requirements for TAP recipients to replant or rehabilitate trees within two years after the application approval or at a time necessary to ensure tree survival. Provides recipients flexibilities in the alternative planting activities that can be reimbursed, which include replanting alternative varieties, replanting alternative stand densities, and replanting in alternative locations. Additional payments are not provided for these alternative activities. Requires USDA to notify applicants of application receipt and approve or deny the application within 120 days of submission. Adds the authority for USDA to administer an initial payment before incurring eligible covered costs. Adds required payment calculation components, such as estimates for initial partial payments for the cost of replanting or rehabilitating the eligible tree, bush, or vine; subsequent payments; and potential overpayments. The payments provisions sunset in September 2035. (§1002) Tree assistance program. Expansion of the program, timing requirements, flexibilities and payment limitations for alternatives used in replanting, requirement to notify applicants within 120 days, initial payments, and sunset provisions are functionally the same as the House provision. Does not include the economically viable provision. (§1303) Congressional Research Service 9 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill No comparable provision. Specialty crop emergency assistance framework. Requires USDA to establish a framework to provide payments to specialty crop producers impacted by adverse events, such as economic crises and market disruptions. Requires USDA to calculate payments based on the producer’s previous sales history and availability of funds. Authorizes USDA to create special rules that take into account crop value, production costs, and the legal and organizational structure of producers. Applies payment limits used for other USDA direct payment programs and excepts entities that derive 75% of their average gross income from farming and other related activities. Authorizes USDA to establish a separate payment limit of not less than $900,000 for each excepted entity for any crop year. Applies producer reporting and payment limits as used in other USDA direct payment programs. Does not specify a funding mechanism for this framework. (§1003) Specialty crop emergency assistance framework. Defines a specialty crop to mean the same collection of crops defined in 7 U.S.C. §1621 statutory note. This definition includes fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture). Other provisions are functionally the same as the House provision. (§1304) No comparable provision. Assistance in the form of block grants. Authorizes USDA to use block grants when administering additional funds for agricultural disaster assistance to address losses for which other federal assistance is unavailable. (§1004) Assistance in the form of block grants. Provides the same general block grant authority as H.R. 7567. Specifies USDA may make such block grants to states. (§1305) Dairy Forward Pricing Program. Authorizes a USDA dairy forward pricing program that applies to milk purchased for manufactured products and excludes milk purchased for fluid consumption. Expires September 30, 2026. (7 U.S.C. §8772; P.L. 119-37) Dairy-related extensions. Removes the program termination date. (§1005(a)) Reauthorizations. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§1201(a)) Dairy Indemnity Program. Authorizes payments to dairy farmers when a public regulatory agency directs removal of raw milk from the market because of contamination by pesticides, nuclear radiation or fallout, or toxic substances and other chemical residues. Authority expires September 30, 2026. (7 U.S.C. §4553; P.L. 119-37) Dairy-related extensions. Extends authority through September 30, 2031. (§1005(b)) Reauthorizations. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§1201(b)) Congressional Research Service 10 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Dairy Promotion and Research Program. Authorizes the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board to oversee a generic dairy product promotion and a research and nutrition education program (i.e., “dairy checkoff”) and to spend funds to develop foreign markets for U.S. dairy products. Authority expires September 30, 2026. (7 U.S.C. §4504(e)(2); P.L. 11937) Dairy-related extensions. Extends authority through September 30, 2031. (§1005(c)) Reauthorizations. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§1201(b)) Mandatory reporting for dairy products. Requires USDA to establish a mandatory program for dairy product manufacturers to report to USDA price, quantity, and moisture content of sold products. (7 U.S.C. §1637b) Mandatory reporting of dairy product processing costs. Amends the manufacturers reporting requirements to include production costs and product yield information to USDA, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Requires USDA to publish a report with cost and yield information not more than two years after enactment and every two years thereafter. (§1006) Mandatory reporting of dairy product processing costs. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences to the House provision. Data reporting and publishing requirements are functionally the same as the House provision. (§1202) Dairy reports. Requires USDA to submit annual reports for the dairy checkoff and Dairy Products Promotion and Research order (i.e., “fluid milk checkoff”) to the agriculture committees of jurisdiction.a (7 U.S.C. §4514) Dairy reports. Clarifies USDA’s dairy reporting requirements. Requires USDA to submit dairy reports to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona for each calendar year after enactment and for each report to be submitted not more than 18 months after the last day of the calendar year. (§1007) Dairy Reports. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§1203) Repayment of nonrecourse marketing assistance loans. Provides terms for the repayment of marketing assistance loans. (7 U.S.C. §9034; 7 U.S.C. §7272(d)) Limitation on voluntary services. Sets limits on government employment and services during a lapse in appropriations (during a government shutdown). (31 U.S.C. §1342) Processing of certain loans. Authorizes USDA to allow producers to repay marketing assistance loans during a lapse in appropriations (a government shutdown) when USDA employees may be furloughed. Designates this activity as excepted from furlough for the safety of human life or protection of property. (§1008) Servicing of loans. Identical to House provision. (§1102) Farm storage facility loans. Authorizes USDA to provide loans to producers of grains, oilseeds, pulse crops, hay, renewable biomass, and other storable commodities (other than sugar) to construct or upgrade storage and handling facilities for various commodities. (7 U.S.C. §8789(a)) Storage facility loans. Adds the authority for USDA to provide loans for producers to construct or upgrade storage facilities for propane that is primarily used for agricultural production. (§1009) Storage facility loans. Adds authority for USDA to provide loans for producers to construct or upgrade storage facilities for both propane and fertilizer that are primarily used for agricultural production. (§1105(a)) Congressional Research Service Senate Bill 11 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Study on storage facility loans for on-farm fertilizer storage. Directs the Secretary to conduct and submit a study to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona, within a year of enactment, on the feasibility of providing storage facility loans for on-farm fertilizer storage. (§1013) Rulemaking. When amending the Code of Federal Regulations to allow loans for fertilizer storage, the bill requires USDA to include various types of infrastructure and equipment necessary to receive, store, and remove fertilizer products. (§1105(b)) No comparable provision. Strengthening domestic food production supply chains. Requires the President to prioritize preserving and strengthening domestic production of sugar for domestic food use when administering federal policies. (§1010) Strengthening domestic food production supply chains. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§1106) Administration Generally. Provides for expedited rulemaking for amendments made under Title 1 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-79), Title I of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115334), and certain crop insurance and horticultural provisions. (7 U.S.C. §9091(c)) Regulations. Provides for expedited rulemaking for amendments made by Title I of the Farm Food and National Security Act of 2026. (§1011(a)) Regulations. Provides for expedited rulemaking for amendments made by Title I of the Agricultural Act of 2026. (§1401) Loan implementation. Requires USDA to use Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to ensure that the Marketing Assistance Loan program benefits are provided in full in any year that discretionary spending limits are enforced via sequestration or other means. (7 U.S.C. §9097(d)) Regulations. Makes minor conforming amendments and clarifies the applicability for sugar loans. (§1011(b)) Implementation. Makes minor conforming amendments and clarifies the applicability for sugar loans with wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§1403(1)) The Secretary of Agriculture has broad authority of the CCC Charter Act (P.L. 80-89), as amended, to use CCC funding in fulfillment of its purpose to support certain agricultural commodities. Tobacco is specifically statutorily excluded from eligibility. (15 U.S.C. §714c) Restoration of tobacco as an agricultural commodity in Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. Removes the exclusion on tobacco being considered an agricultural commodity, thereby making tobacco eligible for funding from the CCC. (§1012) No comparable provision. No directly comparable provision. Electronic forms for covered disaster assistance programs. Requires USDA, as soon as practicable, to allow producers the option to enroll in certain agricultural disaster assistance programs using electronic forms. (§1014) No comparable provision. Congressional Research Service 12 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Dairy Businesses Innovation Initiatives (DBI). Requires USDA to provide grants to at least 3 eligible regionally located entities to conduct dairy related technical assistance and training and to provide sub-grants for dairy-related modernization, specialization, value chain innovation, product development, and marketing. (7 U.S.C. §1632d) Dairy business innovation initiatives. Requires USDA to provide grants to at least 4 eligible regionally located entities. (§1015, Title X—Horticulture) Dairy business innovation initiatives. Increases the authorization of appropriations to $36 million per fiscal year. (§12503, Title XII— Miscellaneous) Definitions. Defines the types of livestock eligible for USDA’s natural disaster assistance programs. (7 U.S.C. §9081(a)) No comparable provision. Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance. Expands the definition of livestock to include unweaned livestock. (§1302(a)) Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). Provides payments to eligible livestock owners and contract growers for livestock and unborn livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality or livestock that are sold at reduced price because of an eligible loss condition (e.g., adverse weather, disease, or animal attack). Eligibility is predicated on the occurrence of an eligible loss condition and direct causation of the death or injury of the animal. LIP regulations require documentation to substantiate eligible attacks, obtained from a source such as, but not limited to, the following: APHIS, state level Department of Natural Resources, or other sources or documentation, such as third parties, as determined by the Deputy Administrator. LIP regulations define non-adult cattle, including beef, beefalo, buffalo, bison, and dairy, as being delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time of death or reduced sale. (7 C.F.R. §1416.305(d)(7)) (7 U.S.C. §9081(b)) (7 C.F.R. §1416.302) Revision of evidence standards for livestock indemnity payments for losses by Mexican wolves. Requires USDA, within 180 days of enactment, to expand the LIP proof of death standards for livestock losses due to depredation by Mexican wolves to include evidence that does not primarily depend on subcutaneous hemorrhaging. (§1016, Title X— Horticulture) Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance. Clarifies livestock losses due to depredation by Mexican gray wolves and panthers are eligible under LIP. Requires USDA to accept documentation showing probability or confirmation of an eligible livestock attack by animals or avian predators. Requires USDA to determine LIP payments for eligible livestock on the basis of weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more. Other eligible livestock weight categories may be used but may be set only at an amount greater than 400 pounds. (§1302(b)) Congressional Research Service 13 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Emergency assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP). Requires USDA to make payments to producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish as compensation for losses due to disease, adverse weather, feed or water shortages, or other conditions (such as wildfires) that are not covered under other livestock natural disaster direct assistance programs. (7 U.S.C. §9081(d)) No comparable provision. Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance. Codifies assistance for transportation costs that are necessary to reduce losses due to drought. Expands ELAP to cover losses of winter stockpile grazing. (§1302(c)) Adjusted gross income limitation. Allows certified public accountants or attorneys to submit certified information regarding a producer’s adjusted gross income. (7 C.F.R. §1308-3a) No comparable provision. Certification of average adjusted gross income by enrolled agents. Allows enrolled agents licensed by the U.S. Treasury to provide tax services in accordance with 31 U.S.C. §330 to submit certified information. (§1103) Records; annual report. Requires an annual report of CCC business to be forwarded by the Secretary to the President for transmission to Congress. Also requires quarterly itemized reports for certain expenditures over $10,000. (15 U.S.C. §714k) No comparable provision. Commodity Credit Corporation records, reports, and data. Amends CCC reporting requirements to allow for the Secretary to transmit annual reports directly to Congress. Increases quarterly reporting threshold to $25,000 for certain expenditures. Adds a biannual report requirement for publicly available Commodity Estimates Books containing budget data, policy assumptions, and supporting economic data. Requires that each report to Congress be submitted to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona and the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Reports that include expenditures made using CCC authority by the Secretary (referred to as “section 5” authority) must include reference to the corresponding subsection of the CCC Charter Act. (§1104) Congressional Research Service 14 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill No directly comparable provision. Statute defines eligible covered commodities for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs and eligible loan commodities for the Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) program. (7 U.S.C. §9011 and 7 U.S.C. §9031(a)) No comparable provision. Dry edible beans study. Requires the Secretary to contract with one or more qualified entities not later than 60 days after enactment to study the inclusion of dry edible beans as covered commodities and/or loan commodities for the purpose of providing an effective safety net for producers. Requires the Secretary to provide a report of the study’s findings to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona not later than 120 days after enactment. Authorizes appropriations of “such sums as necessary” for a mitigation program to reduce stocks-to-use ratios of dry edible beans to maintain average historical levels. (§1107) Administration and operation of noninsured crop assistance program (NAP). NAP can provide coverage for eligible commodities against losses caused by eligible natural disasters, such as drought, flood, and freeze for which crop insurance, with limited exceptions, is not available. Eligible losses must be due to an eligible event and must directly affect the enrolled crop. (7 U.S.C. §7333) No comparable provision. Noninsured crop disaster assistance program. Expands the loss requirements to include losses resulting from a lack of water from the community ditch because of an eligible natural disaster. Defines a community ditch as a private, unincorporated or cooperative irrigation ditch system, including an acequia or unincorporated mutual ditch company. (§1301) Education Program. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an education program for certain USDA staff for the purpose of uniformly applying payment limits and other restrictions for certain program. No comparable provision. Technical Correction. Amends the office that makes the initial determination about the application of payment limits and other restrictions to be the Farm Service Agency. (§1402) Deobligation of unliquidated obligations. Requires the Secretary to deobligate and return to the Treasury certain funds not disbursed to recipients within 5 years of obligation. (7 U.S.C. §9097(e)) No comparable provision. Implementation. Extends deobligation requirement to certain funds provided in P.L. 117-328, P.L 117-43, P.L. 116-260, P.L. 116-94, P.L. 116-20, P.L. 115-334, P.L. 115123, and the Agricultural Act of 2026. (§1403(2)) Report. Requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona on January 1 of each year for 2020-2023 describing tilled native sod acreage that received reduced crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance program benefits. (7 U.S.C. §9097(f)) No comparable provision. Implementation. Extends requirement through January 1, 2031. (§1403(3)) Congressional Research Service 15 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Sources: Compiled by CRS from H.R. 7567 and a discussion draft of the Agriculture Act of 2026 issued by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee chairman on June 23, 2026. a. “Agriculture committees of jurisdiction” refers to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Title II, Conservation19 The conservation titles of H.R. 7567, as passed by the House, and of the Senate bill contain reauthorizations, amendments, and new programs that aim to incentivize farmers and ranchers to voluntarily implement resource-conserving practices on private land. Both bills would reauthorize expiring programs and provisions, create a new forest easement program and a new state-centered soil health program, and emphasize the goal of streamlining conservation program delivery (Table 5). The proposed changes in H.R. 7567 center on expanding precision agriculture, establishing wildlife corridor habitat, and amending program implementation requirements. The Senate bill focuses on drought and water-related activities and would amend existing emergency and watershed programs and guidelines for conservation practice standards. Conservation Reserve Program The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides federal payments to landowners to remove agricultural land from production and restricts the conversion of grasslands to non-grazing uses. Under both H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill, CRP would be reauthorized at its current level of 27 million acres through FY2031. Existing CRP subprograms would be reauthorized at current levels, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (8.6 million acres of total CRP acres), CRP grassland contracts (a minimum of 2 million acres of total CRP acres), and the Farmable Wetlands Program (not more than 750,000 acres total). Under H.R. 7567, funding for CRP initiatives would be reauthorized, including $12 million total for forest management incentive payments and $50 million total for the Transition Incentives Program. The Senate bill would not reauthorize these initiatives. The Senate bill would limit enrollment in CRP grassland contracts (maximum of 12 million acres of total CRP) and expand payments for grazing and water infrastructure. The bill would provide additional flexibilities for haying in the last two weeks of the primary nesting season if they would not cause long-term damage to the vegetative cover for wildlife populations. The Senate bill would also increase the rental payment limit of $50,000 per fiscal year to $125,000 per fiscal year, the first increase since the program’s creation in 1985.20 Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program The two working lands programs—the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)—provide technical and financial assistance to farmers to improve land management practices. Many of the proposed amendments in H.R. 7567 to EQIP and CSP would emphasize the use of precision agriculture practices and technology, composting, and wildlife corridor habitat. The bill would create new subprograms and initiatives under both programs, including a U.S. southern border initiative under EQIP and a state assistance for soil health initiative under CSP. Funding for the new initiatives would come from 19 This section was prepared by Megan Stubbs, Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources, RSI Division. 20 The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was originally established in the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198). Congressional Research Service 16 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law existing funds authorized for EQIP and CSP. Payment limits restricting total funds received per person under EQIP and CSP, which have expired, would be reestablished and in effect through FY2031.21 H.R. 7567 would use EQIP funding to pay for a new Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) and funding increases in other conservation programs. In total, H.R. 7567 is estimated to reduce EQIP budget authority by $1.0 billion over 10 years (FY2026-2036), less sequestration. This is estimated to result in $786 million less in EQIP spending (outlays) over the same period, less sequestration.22 The Senate bill contains similar language to the House-passed bill’s precision agriculture language but does not include wildlife corridor habitat or composting. Payment limits for both EQIP and CSP would also be extended by the Senate bill. The soil health program created in the House-passed bill under CSP is created as a stand-alone program in the Senate bill and referred to as a conservation assistance program. The new program would authorize $50 million annually through FY2031 and be offset, in part, with the bill’s reductions to EQIP and CSP.23 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance through two types of easements: (1) agricultural land easements that limit nonagricultural uses on productive farm or grasslands and (2) wetland reserve easements that protect and restore wetlands. Most of the changes to ACEP in H.R. 7567 would focus on additional incentives for socially disadvantaged farmer participation, the federal share of easement costs, enforcement rights of an easement, and modification and exchange requirements. The bill would exempt ACEP participants from the adjusted gross income (AGI) limit, which restricts eligibility for various USDA programs to persons and legal entities whose average AGI is less than $900,000, unless 75% or more of the income is from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities.24 The Senate bill would also include the AGI exemption for ACEP participants but would include different changes to the federal share of easement costs, certification of eligible entities, and the use of de minimis adjustments to easements. Forest Conservation Easement Program The House-passed and Senate bills would both create a new Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) that would fund two types of easements: forest land easements and forest reserve easements. Forest land easements would be similar to ACEP agricultural land easements in that they would protect the sustainability of forestlands by limiting non-forest land uses. Forest reserve easements would be similar to Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) easements in that they would protect and enhance forest ecosystems and species habitat. Both bills would repeal HFRP and provide FCEP mandatory funding through FY2031. 21 Payment limits under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) restrict the amount of funds a person or legal entity may receive under the program. Limits under both programs expired in FY2023 and were extended through FY2024 under the FY2024 farm bill extension (P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102). The most recent two farm bill extensions have excluded EQIP and CSP payments limits (P.L. 118-158, Division D, §4101(e)(2)(B); and P.L. 119-37, Division E, §5002(e)(2)(B)). 22 See Table 3 in Congressional Budget Office, Estimated Changes in Direct Spending Under H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, February 23, 2026, pp. 4-5, https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/202602/hr7567.pdf. 23 At the time of publication, no official CBO score of the Senate draft bill has been released. 24 7 U.S.C. §1308-3a. Congressional Research Service 17 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Other Conservation Programs Both H.R. 7567 and the Senate bill include adjustments to other conservation programs. The House-passed bill would increase funding for programs, such as the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program, as well as make changes relating to the delivery of technical assistance, streamlining, adjustment of federal cost share, or altering of eligibility requirements to programs (e.g., the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Emergency Conservation Program, Emergency Watershed Protection Program, and Watershed Rehabilitation Program). The Senate bill includes some of the House-passed bills changes, such as the funding increases to the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program, changes relating to the delivery of technical assistance, and advanced payment options under the Emergency Conservation Program. Other changes included in the Senate bill are not included in the House bill, such as amendments to the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 83-566). Nearly all the conservation programs receive mandatory funding. Much of this funding was adjusted under the FY2025 budget reconciliation law.25 Under H.R. 7567, the conservation title is estimated to be budget neutral with reductions in EQIP offsetting increases in other programs. A score of the changes proposed in the Senate bill has not been released as of this report’s publication date. 25 For additional information, see CRS In Focus IF13114, Agricultural Conservation After Enactment of the FY2025 Budget Reconciliation Law (P.L. 119-21), by Megan Stubbs. Congressional Research Service 18 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Table 5. Title II, Conservation Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Definitions. Defines 27 terms for the purposes of all conservation programs within the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. (16 U.S.C. §3801; P.L. 99-198) Definitions. Adds definitions for precision agriculture, precision agriculture technology, and wildlife habitat connectivity. Does not change existing definitions. Defines precision agriculture as “managing, tracking, or reducing” inputs with a high level of precision to “improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality.” Defines precision agriculture technology as any technology that “directly contributes” to a reduction or improvement in input use. Defines wildlife habitat connectivity as the degree to which landscape or habitat elements facilitate native species’ movements among seasonal habitats. (§2001) No comparable provision. Mitigation banking. Authorizes appropriations of $5 million annually through FY2026 for grants to develop wetland mitigation banks for agricultural use. (16 U.S.C. §3822(k)(1)(B); P.L. 119-37) Mitigation banking. Reauthorizes appropriations at current levels through FY2031. (§2002) No comparable provision. Conservation reserve. Authorizes CRP through FY2026 to enter into contracts with eligible landowners and operators to conserve and improve soil, water, and wildlife and to address state, regional, and national conservation initiatives. (16 U.S.C. §3831(a); P.L. 119-37) Conservation reserve. Reauthorizes the program through FY2031. (§2101(a)) Conservation reserve. Identical to House provision. (§2101(a)) Eligible land. One type of land eligible for enrollment into CRP is highly erodible cropland if (1) untreated it could substantially reduce the land’s future agricultural production capability, or (2) it cannot be farmed in accordance with a conservation plan and has a cropping history or was considered to be planted for four of the six years preceding December 20, 2018 (except for land previously enrolled in CRP). (16 U.S.C. §3831(b)) Conservation reserve. Replaces the December 20, 2018, date with the date of enactment of the House bill, shifting the six-year cropping history to include land planted for four of the six years preceding the date of enactment. (§2101(b)) Conservation reserve. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2101(b)) Congressional Research Service Senate Bill 19 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Maximum acreage enrolled. Authorizes CRP to enroll up to 24 million acres in FY2019, 24.5 million acres in FY2020, 25 million acres in FY2021, 25.5 million acres in FY2022, and 27 million acres in FY2023-FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3831(d)(1); P.L. 119-37) Conservation reserve. Maintains enrollment at 27 million acres through FY2031. (§2101(c)(1)) Conservation reserve. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2101(c)(1)) Grasslands. Requires USDA to enroll 2 million acres through CRP grassland enrollment by the end of FY2023. Incrementally increases the minimum enrollment of grassland acres to 1 million acres in FY2019, 1.5 million acres in FY2020, and 2 million acres in FY2021-FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3831(d)(2); P.L. 119-37) Conservation reserve. Reauthorizes the CRP grassland enrollment minimum of 2 million acres through FY2031. (§2101(c)(2)) Conservation reserve. Reauthorizes the CRP grassland enrollment minimum of 2 million acres through FY2031. Adds a maximum CRP grassland enrollment of 12 million acres. (§2101(c)(2)) State enrollment rates. Requires 60% of available CRP acres to be allocated per state on the basis of historical enrollment. Enrollment rates must consider the average number of acres enrolled in each state each year of FY2007FY2016, the average number of acres enrolled in CRP nationally each year of FY2007-FY2016, and the acres available for enrollment each year of FY2019-FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3831(d)(4); P.L. 11937) Conservation reserve. Extends the state enrollment rate requirement to include the acres available for enrollment for FY2026FY2031. Historic enrollment dates for FY2007-FY2016 remain unchanged. (§2101(c)(3)) No comparable provision. Continuous enrollment procedure. Sets continuous CRP enrollment targets of not fewer than 8 million acres by FY2019, 8.25 million acres by FY2020, 8.5 million acres by FY2021, and 8.6 million acres by FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3831(d)(6)(B); P.L. 119-37) Conservation reserve. Maintains enrollment target of 8.6 million acres through FY2031. (§2101(c)(4)) Conservation reserve. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2101(c)(3)(B)) Congressional Research Service 20 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Continuous enrollment procedure. Requires CRP enrollment to be continuous for marginal pastureland, land that would have a positive impact on water quality if enrolled, selected cropland, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) contracts. (16 U.S.C. §3831(d)(6)(A); P.L. 119-37) The State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) is a CRP initiative administratively created by USDA in which it partners with nonfederal entities to protect wildlife habitat through CRP contracts. Conservation reserve. Adds SAFE to the list of contracts required to be considered continuously. (§2101(c)(5)) Conservation reserve. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2101(c)(3)(A)) Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP). A subprogram under CRP since 2008, FWP is authorized through FY2026 to enroll up to 750,000 acres of wetland and buffer acreage in CRP. (16 U.S.C. §3831b(a)(1); P.L. 119-37) Farmable wetland program. Maintains enrollment limit and reauthorizes FWP through FY2031. (§2102) Farmable wetland program. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2103) Eligibility for consideration. Allows for land that expires from CRP to be considered for reenrollment. Land devoted to hardwood trees is only eligible for one reenrollment, unless the land is part of a riparian forested buffer, forested wetlands, or shelterbelt. (16 U.S.C. §3831(h); P.L. 11937) No comparable provision. Conservation reserve. Adds that land with grazing infrastructure established under a CRP grassland contract is eligible for reenrollment. (§2101(d)) Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Establishes CREP as a subprogram of CRP, in which USDA enters into agreements with states and conservation groups to target selected areas and natural resource concerns in exchange for continuous CRP sign-ups and higher payments for enrollment. (16 U.S.C. §3831a) No comparable provision. Conservation reserve enhancement program. Adds the option to update agreements under CREP following enactment. Adds payment requirements for CREP agreements that include the retirement of water rights or dryland agricultural uses. (§2102) Congressional Research Service 21 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Specified activities permitted. Permits certain specified activities (e.g., harvesting, grazing, or other commercial uses of the forage) on CRP land under selected conditions, including but not limited to emergencies. Allows emergency grazing at 50% of the normal carrying capacity on all practices during the primary nesting season without a reduction in rental rate under certain drought and forage loss conditions. (16 U.S.C. §3833(b)) No comparable provision. Duties of the Secretary. Allows for emergency haying on 50% of contract acres during the final two weeks of the primary nesting season without a reduction in rental rates under certain drought and forage loss conditions. Adds that emergency haying or grazing is not permitted during the final two weeks of the primary nesting season if doing so would cause long-term damage to the vegetative cover for wildlife populations. Provides that haying and grazing activities without a reduction in rental rate are not required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. (§2104) Cost sharing payments. Defines land enrolled in CRP as eligible to receive cost-share assistance for implemented practices. Limits costshare payments to 50% of the actual cost of establishing the practice and no more than 100% of the total cost. Limits cost-share for seed to 50% of the seed mixture cost. No cost-share is available for midcontract management activities. Owners are ineligible from receiving cost-share payments if assistance is provided under other federal programs, unless it is related to a CREP contract. (16 U.S.C. §3834(b)) No comparable provision. Payments. Adds grazing and water infrastructure as eligible for up to 50% cost-share if grazing is included in the conservation plan and addresses a resource concern. Allows cost-share for mid-contract management activities, excluding grazing or haying. (§2105(a)) Annual rental payments. Authorizes annual rental payments for land enrolled in CRP. Provides USDA discretion in determining the amount to be paid, considering factors including the amount necessary to encourage enrollment. (16 U.S.C. §3834(d)(1)) No comparable provision. Payments. Requires that the rental rate be based on the three predominant soils on the land. Does not allow for inflation adjustments to payments. (§2105(b)) Payment limitations for rental payments. Limits the total amount of rental payments received under CRP directly or indirectly to $50,000 per fiscal year. (16 U.S.C. §3834(g)) No comparable provision. Payments. Increases rental payment limit to $125,000 per fiscal year. (§2105(c)) Congressional Research Service 22 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Definitions. Defines 10 terms under EQIP. Defines practice as one or more improvements (e.g., structural, land management or vegetative practice; forest management; and other practices defined by USDA) or conservation activities (e.g., comprehensive nutrient management plans, precision conservation management planning, and other plans as determined by USDA). (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-1(6)) Definitions. Amends the definition of practice to include composting practices in the description of improvements to eligible land and precision agriculture practices and technology in the description of a conservation activity. (§2201) Definitions. Adds definitions of precision agriculture and precision agriculture technology. “Precision agriculture” is defined as a way of managing, tracking, or reducing inputs to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality. “Precision agriculture technology” is defined as a technology that contributes to a reduction in or improved efficiency of inputs. (§2201) Special rule involving payments for income forgone. Allows USDA, when determining payment rates, to accord great significance on certain practices that promote natural resource improvements. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-2(d)(3)(F)) Establishment and administration. Adds wildlife habitat connectivity to the list of practices that may be accorded great significance by USDA when determining payment rates. (§2202(a)(1)) No comparable provision. Other payments. Prohibits duplicative payments from other federal programs for EQIP-funded practices. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa2(d)(6)) Establishment and administration. Exempts from the prohibition on duplicative payments USDA loans or loan guarantees used to cover the costs of EQIP practices. Requires USDA to inform EQIP participants that they may be eligible for a USDA loan for costs associated with implementing EQIP practices. (§2202(a)(2)) Establishment and administration. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§§2202(a)(1) & (a)(2)) Increased payments for highpriority practices. Allows states the option, in consultation with the state technical committee, to identify no more than 10 highpriority practices that will be eligible for up to 90% of the practice cost. Practices must address nutrients in groundwater and surface waters, conservation of water, identified wildlife habitat, or watershed-specific resource concerns. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa2(d)(7)) Establishment and administration. Adds “Statedetermined” to the paragraph heading. Expands the list of resource concerns that eligible practices may address to include restoration of wildlife habitat and increased carbon sequestration or reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. (§2202(a)(3)) Establishment and administration. Adds “Statedetermined” to the paragraph heading. (§2202(a)(3)) No comparable provision. Establishment and administration. Allows payments for up to 90% of the cost of precision agriculture practices and technology. (§2202(a)(4)) No comparable provision. Congressional Research Service 23 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill No comparable provision. Establishment and administration. Allows payments for wildlife corridor costs on land enrolled in CRP and of ecological significance. Multiple payments may not be made for the same practice. (§2202(a)(5)) No comparable provision. Allocation of funding. Requires that 50% of payments go to practices related to livestock production through FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-2(f)(1); P.L. 119-37) Establishment and administration. Reauthorizes required payments for livestockrelated practices through FY2031. (§2202(b)) Establishment and administration. Identical to the House provision. (§2202(b)) Water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice. Allows EQIP payments to producers or selected eligible entities for water conservation or irrigation efficiency practices. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-2(h)(1)) Establishment and administration. Expands eligibility to include the adoption of precision agriculture practices and technology relating to water conservation and energy efficiency. (§2202(c)) No comparable provision. Payments for conservation practices related to organic production. Limits a participant’s payments for organic production conservation practices to a total of $140,000 for FY2019-FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-2(i)(3); P.L. 119-37) Establishment and administration. Increases a participant’s payment limit for organic production conservation practices to a total of $200,000 for FY2027-FY2031. (§2202(d)) Establishment and administration. Extends a participant’s payment limit for organic production conservation practices of a total of $140,000 for FY2027-FY2031. (§2202(d)) Conservation incentive contracts. Conservation incentive contracts under EQIP are multiyear contracts that address priority resource concerns within selected geographic regions. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-2(j)(2)) Establishment and administration. Amends incentive practices to include precision agriculture practices and technology. (§2202(e)) No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Establishment and administration. Creates an initiative to provide payments to address and repair agricultural land or infrastructure damage that may contribute to natural resource concerns. Limits eligibility to land at or near the U.S. southern border. (§2202(f)) No comparable provision. Limitation on payments. Limits an EQIP participant’s payments to an aggregate of $450,000 for FY2019-FY2024. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-7; P.L. 118-22) Limitation on payments. Limits an EQIP participant’s payments to an aggregate of $450,000 for FY2027-FY2031. (§2203) Limitation on payments. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2203) Congressional Research Service 24 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Conservation innovation grants and payments. Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive grant program within EQIP. Grants include cost-matching requirements to implement innovative conservation projects. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-8(a)) Conservation innovation grants and payments. Adds development and evaluation of new technologies as an eligible project. (§2204(a)) Conservation innovation grants and payments. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2204(a)) On-farm conservation innovation trials. Requires $25 million of EQIP funds to be used for on-farm conservation innovation trials to test new or innovative conservation approaches either directly with producers or with eligible entities annually for FY2019FY2031. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa8(c)) Conservation innovation grants and payments. Adds perennial production systems as an eligible approach. (§2204(b)) No comparable provision. Reporting and database. Requires USDA to establish and maintain a public conservation practice database based on data reported under completed CIG projects. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa8(d)) Conservation innovation grants and payments. Requires database to include management and structural conservation practices and data that may be used to evaluate new and emerging technologies. (§2204(c)) Conservation innovation grants and payments. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2204(b)) Definitions. CSP defines conservation activities as conservation systems, practices, or management measures, including structural, vegetative, and land management measures (including drainage management systems); priority resource concern planning; comprehensive conservation planning; soil health planning; and activities that assist with adaptation or mitigation against weather volatility. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa21(2)) Conservation activities defined. Adds “energy-efficient pumping systems” and “composting practices” to conservation activities definition. (§2205) No comparable provision. No directly comparable provision. USDA requires, through regulation, that for an EQIP contract to include irrigation-related practices, the participant must provide documented evidence that there is a history of irrigation on the land. (7 C.F.R. §1466.78(f)) No comparable provision. Establishment and administration. Adds a requirement that state technical committees be given the opportunity to apply for a waiver of the irrigation history requirement. The waiver request may cover the entire state or regions of the state. Approval may be contingent on demonstration of no adverse impact to aquifer depletion or surface stream flow. Water efficiency requirements apply to contracts resulting from a waiver. (§2202(a)(4)) Congressional Research Service 25 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice. USDA may enter into an EQIP contract with states, irrigation districts, groundwater management districts, acequias, land-grant Mercedes, or similar entities to implement water conservation or irrigation practices. Practices must be implemented on eligible land or land under the control of the entity. USDA can waive payment and eligibility limitations for these contracts. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa2(h)(2)) No comparable provision. Establishment and administration. Deletes the waiver authority for these contracts. Adds a requirement that payments to an entity, directly or indirectly, may not exceed a total of $2 million between FY2027 and FY2031. (§2202(c)) No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Establishment and administration. Adds that USDA is not allowed to require soil testing (unless the practice requires soil testing) or planning beyond what is required to implement the practice under EQIP. (§2202(e)) No comparable provision. Conservation stewardship program. Allows payments for wildlife corridor costs on land enrolled in CRP and of ecological significance. Multiple payments may not be made for the same practice. Payments for wildlife corridor costs do not alter emergency haying or grazing access on CRP acres. (§2301(2)) No comparable provision. Conservation stewardship payments. CSP enrolls land into multiyear contracts to encourage producers to address priority resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. CSP payments are required to be based on several factors (e.g., costs incurred, income forgone, expected conservation benefits, and integration across an entire operation). (16 U.S.C. §3839aa24(c)(2)) Duties of the Secretary. Adds costs associated with planning and adopting precision agriculture technology to the factors in which CSP payments are based. Requires program annual payments to be no less than $4,000. (§2302(a)) No comparable provision. Congressional Research Service 26 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Supplemental payments for resource-conserving crop rotations and advanced grazing management. Authorizes additional payments for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations and advanced grazing management. Requires payments for these practices to be at least 150% of the annual payment rate. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa-24(d)) Duties of the Secretary. Adds precision agriculture conservation activities as eligible for additional payments. (§2302(b)) No comparable provision. Payment limitations. Limits CSP payments to a total of $200,000 for all CSP contracts entered into by an individual participant for FY2019FY2024. (16 U.S.C. §3839aa24(f); P.L. 118-22) Duties of the Secretary. Limits CSP payments to a total of $200,000 for all CSP contracts entered into by an individual participant for FY2027-FY2031. (§2302(c)) Duties of the Secretary. Identical to House provision. (§2301) No comparable provision. State assistance for soil health. Creates a new Soil Health Program for eligible states and Indian Tribes. Grants are authorized to supplement existing state and tribal soil health programs. Limits grants to $5 million annually or to 50% or 75% of the cost of implementing a state program or tribal program, respectively. Grants are one year with the possibility of renewal. Makes $100 million of CSP funds available for the program annually for FY2027-FY2031, with limitations on administrative expenses. (§2303) State conservation assistance. Similar to House provision, including the creation of a new program, grants to supplement existing state and tribal soil health programs, and limits for grants and cost-share payments. Differences from House version include the program name (Conservation Assistance Program). Grants may be for up to five years, with possible renewal. Limits administrative expense for USDA to 3% of total program funding and for state and tribal participants to 7% of total grant funding. Authorizes $50 million annually in mandatory funding from the CCC for FY2027-FY2031. (§2805) Conservation of private grazing land. Authorizes appropriations of $60 million annually for the program through FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §3839bb(e); P.L. 119-37) Conservation of private grazing land. Reauthorizes appropriations at current levels through FY2031. (§2401) Conservation of private grazing land. Identical to House provision. (§2804) Congressional Research Service Senate Bill 27 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. Requires USDA, under the pilot program, to study the extent of damage from feral swine, develop eradication and control measures and restoration methods, and provide cost-share funding to agricultural producers in established pilot program areas. Requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate the pilot through NRCS state technical committees. Limits cost-share assistance to 75% of the costs of eradication and control measures or restoration. Provides $75 million in mandatory CCC funding for FY2019-FY2023, $15 million for FY2024, and $105 million for FY2025-FY2031. Requires funding to be split equally between NRCS and APHIS, with no more than 10% for administrative expenses. (7 U.S.C. §8351 note) Feral swine eradication and control program. Codifies the pilot as a program with nearly identical requirements. Increases total funding for FY2025-FY2031 to $150 million. Amends the funding split as 40% to NRCS and 60% to APHIS. Retains the 10% limit for administrative expenses. Requires NRCS and APHIS to contract with one or more land-grant universities to assist with the program. Limits eligibility to selected universities. (§2402) Feral swine eradication and control program. Similar to House provisions, including codification of the pilot program, program requirements, funding levels, and agency funding split. Does not include the House version’s requirement to contract with certain land-grant universities. (§2803) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. The Watershed Operations program provides technical and financial assistance to states and local organizations to plan and install watershed projects. (16 U.S.C. §1003) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Adds a new provision allowing USDA to fund remedial actions for completed work under the program. (§2403(a)) No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Adds a new provision requiring USDA to streamline procedures and expedite agreement approval methods for the Watershed Operations program. (§2403(a)) No comparable provision. Data. Requires USDA to collect and maintain data at the national and state levels for the Watershed Operations program, including program expenditures and expected benefits from project implementation. (16 U.S.C. §1010) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Requires USDA to make collected data publicly available. Requires additional data to be collected and made public related to total allocations, funds expended, and contract and agreement details. The public data requirement is to exclude information relating to agreements with individual landowners. (§2403(b)) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Requires USDA to make collected data publicly available. (§2801(i)) Congressional Research Service 28 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Watershed Rehabilitation Program. Provides 65%-100% of the cost of rehabilitating dams built by NRCS that are near, at, or past their evaluated life expectancy. Implemented as the Watershed Rehabilitation Program. (16 U.S.C. §1012(b)(2)) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Increases the minimum required federal share of the cost of rehabilitation to 90%. Removes the requirement that 20% of total benefits of the watershed rehabilitation project must relate to agriculture, which may include rural communities. Removes the requirement that more than 50% of land situated in the drainage area above retention reservoirs have agreements to carry out recommended soil conservation measures and farm plans. (§2403(c)(1)) No comparable provision. Funding. Authorizes appropriations of $85 million annually for the Watershed Rehabilitation Program through FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §1012(h)(2)(E); P.L. 119-37) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Reauthorizes appropriations at current levels for the Watershed Rehabilitation Program through FY2031. (§2403(c)(2)) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Identical to House provision. (§2801(j)) Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to producers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. Producers may accept a reduced payment for repairing or replacing fencing rather than receive a higher payment following the completion and inspection of fence installation. Limits advanced payments for fences to 25% of the total payment (based on cost). (16 U.S.C. §2201) Emergency conservation program. Increases the advanced payment limit for repairing or replacing damaged fencing to 75% of the payment for replacement or rehabilitation of fencing (based on market value) and not more than 50% of the payment for fence repair (based on market value). Repair and replacement can include updated technology if it does not increase cost. Expands eligibility of the program to include wildfires not caused naturally, including wildfires caused by the federal government. (§2404) Emergency conservation programs. Contains minor wording and grammatical differences from the House provision. (§2802(a)) Congressional Research Service Senate Bill 29 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. Assists sponsors, landowners, and operators in implementing emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by natural disasters, including the purchase of floodplain easements. (16 U.S.C. §2203(b)) Emergency watershed program. Amends the floodplain easement requirements under the EWP program to include floodplain restoration, maintenance, and compatible use authority. Allows restoration on floodplain easements to be undertaken at levels above immediate impairment needs if it is in the best interest of the long-term health and protection of the watershed. Requires that USDA identify a list of costs that may be incurred prior to entering into an agreement with USDA under EWP. These identified pre-agreement costs may count toward the sponsor’s share of the total cost of the project if an agreement is entered into. (§2405) Emergency watershed program. Similar to House provisions regarding amendments to allow increased restoration. Amends the eligible purpose of floodplain easements to also include restoration and enhancement of the hydraulic functions and values of a floodplain and to conserve the natural values of a floodplain. Requires USDA to acquire the rights and interests necessary to restore, protect, manage, maintain, enhance, and monitor floodplain easements. Allows for compatible uses. (§2802(c)) No directly comparable provision. The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is a USDA-created multiagency effort led by NRCS to quantify the effects of conservation practices on agricultural lands. National agriculture flood vulnerability study. Requires a CEAP report to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona within two years of enactment on the flood risk on agricultural lands, including analysis of economic loss, effectiveness of mitigation activities, analysis of flood risk based on available data, existing risk reduction activities, and recommendations for further flood risk reduction. (§2406) No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Study on environmental benefits of winter wheat as a cover crop. Requires NRCS to submit a study on the environmental benefits of using winter wheat as a cover crop to the House Committee on Agriculture. (§2407) No comparable provision. Declaration of policy. Provides a declaration of policy that erosion, floodwater, and sediment damage in watersheds cause loss of life and property constituting a national menace. Declares that it is the sense of Congress that the federal government should cooperate with state and local governments to prevent such damages through preservation, protection, and improvement in water resources. (16 U.S.C. §1001) No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Retitles the section and adds a congressional finding that expands the declaration of policy to include drought, declines in agricultural production, and harm to wildlife as constituting a national menace. Amends the sense of Congress to focus on cooperation with local organizations. (§2801(a)) Congressional Research Service 30 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Definitions. Defines 3 terms under the Watershed Operations program, including Secretary, works of improvement, and local organization. “Works of improvement” is defined as any undertaking for flood prevention; the conservation, development, and utilization of water; or the conservation and proper utilization of land. Projects may not exceed 250,000 acres and no structure may exceed more than 12,500 acre-feet of floodwater detention capacity or 25,000 acrefeet of total capacity. Limits appropriations for larger projects. Requires that at least 20% of the total benefits of the project must directly relate to agriculture (including rural communities). “Local organizations” is defined as a state, political subdivision of a state, soil and water conservation district, flood prevention or control district, irrigation or reservoir company, water users’ association, or tribal organization. (16 U.S.C. §1002) No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Adds definitions for conservation of water and management of water and makes amendments to the definitions of local organization and works of improvement. “Conservation of water” means a reduction in the total annual consumptive use of water created under the program. “Management of water” means a project or activity that increases water efficiency. Amends the defined list of “local organization” to also include a canal company, ditch association, or acequia. Amends the acreage limit under “works of improvement” to not exceed 250,000 acres, including federal land. Adds a definition of “rural communities” required to meet the 20% benefits threshold. Moves the appropriation limit for larger projects to a separate section. (§2801(b)) Assistance to local organizations. Authorizes USDA to conduct investigations and surveys, prepare plans (including engineering evaluation), enter into cooperative agreements with local organizations for works of improvement, and enter into agreements with landowners, operators, and occupiers based on developed conservation plans. Applications must be made in writing to the soil and water conservation districts involved with conservation plan development. Cost-share is determined by USDA. USDA may terminate agreements if determined to be in the public interest. USDA may waive watershed plans for projects if considered to be duplicative. (16 U.S.C. §1002) No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Adds subsection headings and conforming amendments. Adds a requirement that the NRCS state conservationist have final authority to approve watershed plans for works of improvement within the state. Local organizations may use program funds for approved third parties to conduct preliminary investigations. Additional authorities may be granted to the NRCS state conservationist if the authorities support streamlining efforts. USDA has 45 days, plus a 45-day extension, to approve or disapprove applications. No funds may be provided for a project without an approved watershed plan, unless the need for a plan has been waived. (§2801(c)) Congressional Research Service 31 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Cost share assistance. Cost share assistance of up to 50% of the cost of acquiring an easement may be provided for perpetual wetland or floodplain conservation easements. (16 U.S.C. §1003a) No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Adds that other non-USDA federal funding provided for a project would be considered part of the nonfederal share of the project cost. (§2801(d)) Works of improvement. Works of improvement under the Watershed Operations program include flood prevention (both structural and land treatment measures) and water and land utilization projects with specific size limits. No appropriations are to be provided for projects that need an estimated federal contribution of more than $25 million for construction or include a storage structure with a capacity in excess of 2,500 acre-feet, unless the plan is approved by the agriculture committees of jurisdiction.a No appropriations are to be provided for a projects with a single structure with a capacity in excess of 4,000 acre-feet, unless the plan (including the plan for the structure) is approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. (16 U.S.C. §1002) No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Moves and restructures the congressional approval requirement to include a requirement that no funds be provided for works of improvement involving a federal contribution over $50 million or including any structure that provides more than 2,500 acre-feet of total capacity, unless approved by resolution adopted by certain congressional committees, specifically as follows: the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona for plans involving a structure with less than 4,000 acrefeet of total capacity and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (§2801(f)) No comparable provision No comparable provision. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. Adds a requirement that USDA, in collaboration with NRCS state conservationists and project participants, review and update the engineering standards and requirements used for projects. (§2801(g)) No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Emergency conservation programs. Adds a new provision allowing users (through permit or lease) of federal, state, and local lands to conduct permanent and temporary improvements on the land using ECP. Waives public comment periods and allows for the acceptance of certain environmental reviews on federal land. (§2802(b)) Congressional Research Service 32 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). EFRP provides cost-share assistance to private forestland owners to repair and rehabilitate damage caused by a natural disaster, such as wildfires, hurricanes or excessive winds, drought, ice storms or blizzards, or floods, on nonindustrial private forestlands. (16 U.S.C. §2206) No comparable provision. Emergency conservation programs. Expands EFRP land eligibility to include federal, state, and local lands. Expands the type of eligible assistance to include water for grazing livestock and affected structures. Expands eligible events to include wildfires not caused naturally, including wildfires caused by the federal government. Adds an option for advance payment for up to 75% of the fair market value of the cost of repairs or rehabilitation. Advance payment funds must be used within two years or returned. Waives public comment period and allows for the acceptance of certain environmental reviews on federal land conducted by approved qualified contractors under certain circumstances. (§2802(d)) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), CRP funding. Provides a total of $12 million for forest management thinning payments and a total of $50 million for transition contracts in mandatory CCC funding for FY2019-FY2023. Limits total funding for CRP by enrolled acres, not total dollars. (16 U.S.C. §3841(a)(1)) Commodity Credit Corporation. Reauthorizes mandatory funding authority for forest management payments and transition contracts through FY2031. (§2501(a)(1)) Funding. Does not reauthorize mandatory funding authority for forest management payments and transition contracts. Adds $100 million annually in mandatory CCC funding for FY2027-FY2031 for CRP grazing and water infrastructure cost-share payments on land not enrolled in a CRP grassland contract. (§2401(1)) EQIP funding. Provides mandatory CCC funding of $2.655 billion for FY2026, $2.855 billion for FY2027, and $3.255 billion annually for FY2028-FY2031. (16 U.S.C. §3841(a)(3)(A)) Commodity Credit Corporation. Reduces the mandatory CCC funding authority for EQIP to $2.53 billion in FY2027, $2.73 billion in FY2028, $3.13 billion in FY2029, $3.175 billion in FY2030, and $3.255 billion in FY2031. (§2501(a)(2)) Funding. Reduces the mandatory CCC funding authority for EQIP to $2.5 billion in FY2027, $2.6 billion in FY2028, $2.7 billion in FY2029, $2.9 billion in FY2030, and $3.255 billion in FY2031. (§2401(2)(A)) No directly comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) of $12 million annually through FY2026. (16 U.S.C. §6578; P.L. 119-37) Commodity Credit Corporation. Provides mandatory CCC funding for a new Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) of $25 million in FY2027, $50 million annually for FY2028FY2030, and $65 million in FY2031. (§2501(a)(3)) Funding. Identical to House provision. (§2401(3)) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding. Provides mandatory CCC funding of $425 million for FY2026 and $450 million annually for FY2027-FY2031. (16 U.S.C. §3871d(a)) Commodity Credit Corporation. Moves funding authority for RCPP from within the program and provides mandatory CCC funding of $450 million annually for FY2027-FY2031. (§2501(a)(3)) No comparable provision. Congressional Research Service 33 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Regional equity. Requires regional equity through proportional distribution of conservation program funds based on historical funding levels. (16 U.S.C. §3841(e)) Commodity Credit Corporation. Excludes FCEP from regional equity requirements. (§2501(b)) No comparable provision. Acceptance and use of contributions for public-private partnerships. Requires USDA to establish contribution accounts for public-private partnership projects to address natural resource priorities (e.g., climate change and carbon sequestration). Contributed funds are used to leverage existing funds for certain conservation programs (e.g., EQIP, CSP, ACEP, and RCPP). Requires annual reports to the agriculture committees of jurisdictiona through FY2031. (16 U.S.C. §3841(f)) Commodity Credit Corporation. Amends eligible programs to include FCEP. (§2501(c)) No comparable provision. Report on program enrollments and assistance. Requires annual reports to the agriculture committees of jurisdiction,a through FY2026, on program enrollments and assistance under conservation programs, including significant payments, waivers, and exceptions. (16 U.S.C. §3841(i); P.L. 119-37) Commodity Credit Corporation. Reauthorizes the annual report requirements through FY2031. (§2501(d)) No comparable provision. Conservation standards and requirements. Requires that NRCS serve as the lead USDA agency for developing and establishing technical standards, including standards for conservation practices, and requirements for conservation programs. Requires that technical standards used by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) be consistent with the technical standards developed by NRCS. (16 U.S.C. §3841(j)) Commodity Credit Corporation. Adds a requirement that USDA provide a technical standard for composting. Defines composting as an activity to produce compost from organic waste that is used and managed on a farm. Requires consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency on whether nearby community contribution of organic waste would result in a net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. (§2501(e)) Conservation standards and requirements. Adds that NRCS is also the lead USDA agency for scheduling revisions to existing standards and establishing new standards. (§2402) Congressional Research Service Senate Bill 34 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Delivery of technical assistance. Requires USDA to provide all producers participating in conservation programs technical assistance, either by USDA or through an approved third-party provider. (16 U.S.C. §3842(a)) Delivery of technical assistance. Adds definitions for nonfederal certifying entity and farmerto-farmer network. Defines “nonfederal certifying” entity as a nonfederal entity, Indian Tribe, or state agency that is approved by USDA to certify thirdparty technical service providers. Defines “famer-to-farmer network” as an association of farmers that share technical assistance, information, or related support. (§2502(a)) Delivery of technical assistance. Similar to House provisions, including definition of nonfederal certifying entity. Does not include the House provision adding a farmer-to-farmer network definition. (§2404(1)) Certification of third-party providers. Technical Service Providers (TSPs), as labeled by USDA, are third-party providers (individuals or businesses) that have technical expertise in conservation planning and design for a variety of conservation activities. Farmers, ranchers, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies hire TSPs to provide these services on behalf of NRCS. NRCS certifies and approves TSPs through a certification process. (16 U.S.C. §3842(e)) Delivery of technical assistance. Expands TSP definition to specifically include commercial and nonprofit entities, state and local governments, and federal agencies. Amends the certification process to allow for other nonfederal certifying entities to approve TSPs. Adds requirements, including application deadlines for nonfederal certifying entities. (§2502(d)) Delivery of technical assistance. Similar to House provisions, including the expansion of TSP definition, allowance of other nonfederal certifying entities to approve TSPs, and additional requirements for nonfederal certifying entities’ applications, duties, and deadlines. (§§2404(2)(4)) Administration. Allows USDA to use mandatory funding authorized for CRP, ACEP, EQIP, and CSP to fund TSPs. Establishes terms of agreements with TSPs and requires a review of TSP certification requirements. Requires payments to TSPs to be based on fair and reasonable amounts. (16 U.S.C. §3842(f)) Delivery of technical assistance. Expands the use of mandatory funding to include all USDA conservation programs. Requires additional review of TSP certification requirements and adjustments for increased use, outreach, and quality of TSP services. Amends payment rates to be equal to, but not exceed, the cost of USDA providing technical assistance. Adds additional payment considerations for specialized equipment and services. Excludes TSP payments from any cost-share requirements under applicable conservation programs. Requires TSP information to be made public. Requires USDA to emphasize TSP use for planning relating to cover crops, precision agriculture practices, and comprehensive nutrient management. Allows mandatory funding to be used to fund farmer-to-farmer networks. (§2502(e)) Delivery of technical assistance. Amends required review of TSP certification requirements to occur within one year of enactment. Adds a review requirement to conduct outreach and receive input from TSPs. (§2404(5)) Congressional Research Service 35 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill Review of conservation practice standards. Requires USDA to complete a review of conservation practice standards. Expands consultation requirements to include input from state technical committees. Requires USDA to develop an administrative process to expedite revisions of conservation practice standards, to consider scientific and technological advancements, to provide local flexibility in the creation of interim practice standards and partnerproposed techniques, and to solicit input from state technical committees. Requires a report to Congress every two years on the process and the revisions and innovations considered under the process. (16 U.S.C. §3842(h)) Delivery of technical assistance. Renames the section heading to “Establishment and Review.” Reauthorizes required review of conservation practice standards and requires additional reviews at least every five years. Requires the evaluation of new and innovative technologies that provide equivalent or improved natural resource benefits compared with existing standards. Requires public input and reporting of the final decisions. Creates a new process for establishing interim and new conservation practice standards, including development of a streamlined process, consideration of public input, public reporting requirements, and required reports to Congress. Prioritizes review for innovative technologies, such as precision agriculture technologies, biological fertilizers, and perennial production systems. Establishes a new Office of Conservation Innovation within NRCS that would require the detailing of up to six staff to support and carry out the conservation practice standard review and revision processes. Requires the creation of a composting practice standard. (§2502(f)) Establishment and review of conservation practice standards. Similar to House provisions, including the heading change, reauthorization of reviews every five years, required evaluation of new and innovative technology, prioritization of review for innovative technologies, and required reports to Congress. Differences to House version include the establishment of conservation practice standard requirements and considerations for local flexibility. Requires more detailed public information reporting. Does not include the House creation of an Office of Conservation Innovation. (§2403) No comparable provision. Delivery of technical assistance. Provides USDA with direct hire authority to appoint individuals to positions that provide technical assistance to NRCS conservation programs. Allows appointments to be made without regard to federal hiring preferences, standards, and ranking requirements. Maintains requirements for Selective Service registration and prohibition on the consideration of recommendations of Senators and Representatives. Requires applicants to meet qualifications relating to the provision of technical assistance and standards established by the Office of Personnel Management. (§2502(g)) No comparable provision. Congressional Research Service 36 The 2026 Farm Bill: Comparison of the House and Senate Bills with Current Law Current Law/Policy House-Passed H.R. 7567 Senate Bill No comparable provision. Delivery of technical assistance. Requires USDA to support nonstructural methods of livestock control (e.g., virtual fence) and other practices to support wildlife habitat connectivity. (§2502(h)) No comparable provision. No comparable provision Delivery of technical assistance. Creates a provision allowing USDA to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities, such as nonprofits, Indian Tribes, local governments, institutes of higher education, states, and farmer-to-farmer networks, to build capacity and support for farmer-to-farmer networks. Priority is given for entities that would work with historically underserved and limited-resource producer groups or in high poverty areas. Entities would be required to complete certain actions, such as facilitating access to farmer-to-farmer networks and mentoring resources, coordinating training, supporting other farmer-to-farmer networks, or issuing subawards to increase farmer-to-farmer assistance. Requires USDA to provide a report to the agriculture committees of jurisdiction.a (§2502(i)) No comparable provi [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR48918. Public record. Not legal advice.