The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act with a vote of 87-9. The legislation allocates $27.1 billion in discretionary funding aimed at supporting rural communities, strengthening food security, assisting farmers and ranchers, and maintaining nutrition programs for low-income families.
Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, stated: “This important bill supports our farmers and rural communities, the safety of our food supply, critical federal nutrition programs, and medical research and advancements. This bill also provides much needed investments in rural housing programs to help address severe affordable housing shortage felt in Maine and states across the country. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Senator John Hoeven, who chairs the Agriculture Subcommittee overseeing this legislation, commented: “Our farmers and ranchers provide the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world, and this legislation makes important investments to ensure they can continue this good work. As Chairman of Agriculture Appropriations, we made it a priority to support our nation’s producers with tools like better access to capital, marketing assistance and funding to prevent pest and disease like the avian flu and chronic wasting disease. At the same time, we invest in agriculture research, food safety and other programs to strengthen rural America.”
Key provisions include $3.6 billion for agricultural research through agencies such as the Agricultural Research Service ($1.9 billion) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture ($1.7 billion), including competitive grants under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
Funding is fully provided for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to bolster animal health protections.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) receives $1.2 billion for disease prevention efforts affecting animals such as chronic wasting disease or avian influenza; it also supports compliance measures related to animal disease traceability.
Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) is allocated $223 million for domestic/international marketing support programs; this includes efforts to close regulatory gaps around intoxicating hemp products that have appeared on markets nationwide.
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) receives $1.2 billion—supporting nearly 8,000 inspection personnel across more than 6,800 facilities—and an additional $15 million for state-level meat inspection initiatives requested by federal authorities.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) will receive $1.6 billion—including resources backing up to $10.5 billion in farm loans—and will continue its policy against closing county offices.
Additional funds are dedicated toward tracking foreign ownership of farmland while maintaining Department of Agriculture representation on interagency panels regarding land investment oversight.
Conservation initiatives are funded at $895 million via technical/financial assistance from Natural Resources Conservation Service; watershed/flood prevention gets $52 million while urban agriculture program funding decreases.
Rural development programs are supported with a total allocation of $3.7 billion—covering affordable housing rental aid ($1.7 billion), single-family home loan authority ($26 billion combined direct/guaranteed), water/waste infrastructure ($1.3 billion), business growth grants/loans ($1.8 billion), electric loan authority ($8 billion), broadband expansion ($96 million). The bill removes funding for recent Rural Partners Network activities but maintains “Buy American” procurement requirements.
Nutrition assistance includes $8.2 billion for Women Infants & Children (WIC) benefits plus $425 million targeting senior nutrition needs through commodity distribution efforts.
Internationally focused allocations include $1.5 billion for Food For Peace Title II Grants as well as continued support through McGovern-Dole International Food For Education Program ($240 million). A required report will examine moving responsibility for Food For Peace from USAID to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
For FDA operations specifically related to food/drug oversight—including user fees—the bill authorizes total spending near $7 billion with targeted increases supporting new school meal pilot grants among other priorities.
