House Farm Bill Advances with Some Organic Wins—but Falls Short of What Farmers Need

The House Agriculture Committee has advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 in a 34–17 vote, supported by all Republicans on the committee and seven Democrats. The vote marks the first step in what will likely be a long and uncertain process to pass a new Farm Bill. Congress has not enacted a new farm bill since 2018, relying instead on multiple short-term extensions that have carried the previous law forward to the present moment.

While the bill includes a few modest improvements for organic agriculture, it ultimately fails to meet the needs of the rapidly growing organic sector. The legislation largely assumes a stagnant organic marketplace rather than making the investments needed to support the continued growth of organic food and farming in the United States.

Modest Progress for Organic

The bill maintains funding for several key organic programs, including the National Organic Program (NOP), the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (enacted previously through the reconciliation legislation in July 2025), and the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI).

It also includes a few improvements that NOC and our coalition members support:

Better data for organic dairy.
The bill includes provisions to improve data collection in the organic dairy sector, including information on organic milk prices, feed costs, and other production expenses. These improvements will help build the transparency needed to better understand the economics of organic dairy farming.

Authorization of the Organic Transitions Program.
An amendment led by Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA) formally authorizes USDA’s Organic Transitions Program, which supports research helping farmers move from conventional to organic production. The program has historically been funded through appropriations, but has never been formally authorized by statute.

Higher payment limits for the EQIP Organic Initiative.
The legislation increases the payment cap for farmers participating in the EQIP Organic Initiative from $140,000 to $200,000 over five years. While this is a step forward, it still falls well below the $450,000 limit available through the broader EQIP program.

Support for regionally adapted seeds and breeds.
The bill also encourages the development of crop varieties and livestock breeds better suited to regional conditions and climate challenges. However, it does not include the dedicated funding that NOC requested to fully support this work.

Local food system investments.
The bill includes language from the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act, which would authorize a program building on the successful Local Food Purchase Assistance initiative. The program aims to strengthen local markets for small and mid-sized farmers. However, it authorizes only discretionary funding, raising concerns about whether the program will ultimately receive the resources needed to succeed.

Major Gaps Remain for Organic

Despite these improvements, the bill leaves out several priorities essential for the long-term success of the organic sector.

Flat funding for the National Organic Program.
The legislation authorizes $24 million annually for the National Organic Program—effectively flat funding that does not keep pace with the continued growth of the organic marketplace. Adequate funding for the NOP is essential to enforce organic standards, stop fraudulent imports from entering the U.S. market, and protect consumer trust in the USDA organic seal.

No relief for rising certification costs.
Organic certification costs have risen more than 85 percent since 2012, yet the bill does not increase reimbursement levels under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, nor does it provide the necessary resources to fully fund the program over the life of the Farm Bill.

Flat funding for organic research.
The bill maintains funding for OREI at $50 million per year. After years of inflation and delays in passing a new Farm Bill, flat funding effectively represents a cut in research support for organic farmers. (NOC is also deeply concerned that the funding authorized by Congress for 2025 has not yet gone out.)

Missing investments in organic transition and market development.
The bill does not include provisions from the Opportunities in Organic Act or the Domestic Organic Investment Act, both of which would support farmers transitioning to organic production and help develop markets for organic products.

At the same time, USDA agencies that organic farmers rely on—including the National Organic Program, NRCS, and FSA—have experienced significant staffing reductions in the past year. The bill does not address these workforce challenges.

Risk-based certification amendment

The bill also includes an amendment from Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI) that would allow USDA to develop risk-based certification procedures, including allowing virtual inspections or less frequent inspections for lower-risk operations. NOC has not yet taken a position on this proposal and will continue working to ensure that any changes to organic certification requirements protect the integrity of the USDA organic seal.

Broader Concerns in the Bill

Beyond its shortcomings for organic agriculture, the legislation also includes several provisions that raise broader concerns for farmers, consumers, and rural communities.

Cuts to nutrition assistance.
The bill does not reverse the $187 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enacted earlier through budget reconciliation legislation (H.R. 1). These reductions are expected to cause millions of Americans to lose some or all of their benefits while shifting additional costs to states.

Pesticide liability and state preemption.
The bill includes language that could shield pesticide manufacturers from certain lawsuits and limit the ability of states to establish their own warning labels or use restrictions. An amendment from Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) to remove this provision was voted down during committee markup.

Reduced conservation funding.
According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) would see roughly $1 billion in reduced funding over the next four years. These cuts could limit farmers’ ability to implement conservation practices and make it harder for producers to transition to or maintain organic production.

What Comes Next

The committee vote is only the beginning of the legislative process. The bill must still pass the full House, and the Senate will likely develop its own version before the two chambers attempt to reconcile differences.

With the 2018 Farm Bill already extended through September 2026, Congress could still pass a new Farm Bill this year—but many observers believe doing so will be difficult given deep policy divisions, the complexity of the legislation, and the approaching midterm elections. Another short-term extension remains a real possibility.

NOC will continue working with lawmakers to ensure the final Farm Bill invests in organic farmers, strengthens markets, and protects the integrity of the organic label.

For a detailed comparison between the bill and NOC’s policy priorities, see the annotated letter NOC sent to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders last September.