The U.S. Senate has approved a funding measure that will reopen the government and provide funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The package also extends farm programs and authorities that were set to expire at the end of the year, as well as federal grain inspection activities.
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) commented on the passage of the measure: “Ending the government shutdown ensures critical USDA services resume so vulnerable families no longer experience disruptions to nutrition benefits, farmers can access the programs and personnel they rely on to keep their operations running efficiently and disaster assistance is delivered,” Boozman said. “We advanced long-overdue farm bill policy improvements in the One Big Beautiful Bill, including enhanced risk management tools farmers have been calling for, and we’re continuing work to reauthorize other key initiatives. Extending the farm bill and the U.S. Grain Standards Act gives us more time to finalize these programs essential to farmers, ranchers and rural America.”
The extension of these programs allows lawmakers additional time to finalize legislation important to agricultural producers and rural communities.
