House Farm Bill Falls Short—Senate Must Do Better for Organic
House Passes Farm Bill, But Major Gaps Remain for Organic
On April 30, the House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 by a vote of 224–200, marking the most significant movement on a new Farm Bill since 2018. After years of extensions and stalled negotiations, the vote represents an important milestone—but the path forward remains uncertain, with the Senate expected to pursue its own approach and key policy disagreements still unresolved.
While the bill includes a handful of modest improvements for organic agriculture, it ultimately falls short of meeting the needs of a rapidly growing sector. As written, the legislation largely assumes a stagnant organic marketplace rather than making the targeted investments needed to support continued growth and ensure the integrity of the organic label.
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. The new name for the program is the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP).
Higher payment limits for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (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 amends the current statutory language for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), USDA's biggest competitive grant research program, to include "regionally adapted" cultivar development, and "breeding for environmental resilience" to the list of priority areas for the program. 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.
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/less frequent in-person 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
Update on Pesticide liability and state preemption.
Earlier versions of the bill included language that could have shielded pesticide manufacturers from certain lawsuits and limited states’ ability to set their own warning labels or use restrictions. In a major win, this provision was stripped from the bill on the House floor in a bipartisan vote following significant opposition. The removal preserves the current legal framework and state authority, marking a notable shift from the committee-passed version.
Even with that change, the legislation continues to 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.Reduced conservation funding.
According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, 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
Despite House passage, the Farm Bill faces a murky path forward in the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to revise or remove some of the more controversial provisions to secure bipartisan support. Disagreements over nutrition spending, conservation funding, and regulatory issues remain significant obstacles.
In short, while the House vote represents progress, it is far from the finish line. A final bill—if one is passed this year—will require substantial negotiation between the House and Senate.
Our Work Continues
With the Senate now taking up its version of the Farm Bill, this is a critical moment for the organic community to engage. NOC is urging farmers, businesses, and advocates to make their voices heard to ensure the final bill more fully reflects the needs of the organic sector.
NOC will continue working with lawmakers in the Senate to ensure that the final Farm Bill:
Provides adequate resources to enforce organic standards and protect consumer trust
Invests meaningfully in organic farmers and businesses
Strengthens markets and supports transition to organic production
We encourage members of the organic community to stay engaged in the weeks ahead. NOC plans to issue an action alert soon with opportunities to weigh in as the Senate process unfolds.