The House Committee on Agriculture has advanced the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026. In response, Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), issued a statement recognizing the committee's bipartisan efforts but expressing ongoing concerns about the bill’s adequacy for family farmers and ranchers.
“We appreciate the effort of House Agriculture Committee members on both sides of the aisle to advance a farm bill, and we recognize the hard work that went into this markup. Bipartisan progress in today’s Congress is not insignificant, and we are grateful to the members who engaged seriously with the challenges facing family agriculture.
“That said, we remain concerned that this proposal does not yet meet the scale of the crisis facing family farmers and ranchers. The fundamental changes needed to fix what’s broken in American agriculture — reining in corporate consolidation, building true safety nets, and investing in local communities — still need to be made.
“The path from committee to a final, signed farm bill is long. NFU will continue working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to strengthen this legislation. The challenges facing family farmers and ranchers are urgent, and the final farm bill must reflect that reality. They deserve one that delivers real fairness, resilience, and opportunity for their operations and their communities.”
The National Farmers Union supports family farmers through advocacy for fair farm policy, sustainable agriculture practices, and climate resilience initiatives as outlined on its official website. The organization operates through state and local divisions nationwide to provide programs and services aimed at improving economic well-being for rural communities.
Founded in 1902, NFU promotes member engagement via annual conventions and fly-ins for policy discussions while offering leadership training events to build community among its members. Its efforts include educational initiatives, cooperative activities, and ongoing policy advocacy designed to support rural economies across the country (source).
Rob Larew has served as president of NFU during these developments (source).
