June 30, 2026

Contents

• What We’re Watching
• Notable News
• This Week’s Legislation
• Upcoming Hearings
• Contact the Team

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Farm Bill

Last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee released a discussion draft of their version of the 2026 Farm Bill. The bill excluded a number of controversial provisions, including year-round E15, disaster assistance for farmers, preemption of Prop 12, and the two-year delay to the SNAP cost-share that has long been seen as the “entry fee” for Democratic votes for the bill. Also, left out was the pesticide preemption language, but that has since been taken care of by the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Monsanto in Monsanto v. Durnell. The Committee has requested feedback on the bill in preparation for an anticipated markup before the August recess. As the bill stands, it would not garner bi-partisan support, making anything more than a Committee markup impossible in the Senate because a 60-vote threshold is required.

Click here to read the discussion draft.

Click here to read a summary of farm bill titles.

Click here to read a section-by-section.

Click here to read a one-pager.

Appropriations

The House Appropriations Committee has moved all 12 Fiscal Year 2027 bills through their subcommittees and the full committee, including the Ag-FDA bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee had been scheduled to markup the Ag-FDA FY27 appropriations bill last week; however, with Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) absence due to illness, the markup was postponed. If the markups are partisan, Chair Collins will need to have all Republican votes available in order to report the bill out of committee.  

Water Resources Development Act of 2026 Released

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the text of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. WRDA 2026 authorizes 131 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water resources infrastructure projects and 10 projects that have been vetted by the Corps and are ready for construction authorization by Congress. In addition, the bill includes various policy changes to improve infrastructure project delivery. These include strengthening and reauthorizing alternative project delivery programs, emphasizing non-federal interests’ input for feasibility studies, and helping ensure non-federal interests can find the right Corps resources to get projects off the ground. Click here for legislative text and here for a summary.

House Agriculture Chair Proposes H-2A Workforce Expansion

Today, House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) introduced the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026, a proposal to expand and revise the H-2A agricultural guestworker program. The bill would broaden access to H-2A workers for year-round agricultural employers such as dairy farms, remove the requirement that agricultural work must be seasonal, and broaden the program to sectors including forestry and aquaculture. It would also shift authority to define agricultural labor from the Department of Labor to USDA, codify changes to H-2A wage methodology, and create a streamlined online platform for employers, workers, and federal agencies. There is currently no companion bill in the Senate. View the press conference announcing the bill here.

Administration

USDA Releases SNAP Error Rates

USDA released the FY25 improper payment rates for SNAP, which will be used as one of the reference years that states can use in determining their cost share for benefits. FY26 error rates that will come out in June of 2027 are the other available option for determining the cost share that will go into effect on October 1, 2027.  While some progress was made in lowering the error rate, most states still have rates above 6% and will need to pay between a share of 5-15% of the benefits. Due to the states impacted, it may This may influence the willingness of Senate Republicans to work with Democrats on a cost-share delay framework.

President Trump Releases Executive Order on Regenerative Agriculture

The White House unveiled an Executive Order on June 25 titled “Advancing Regenerative Agriculture and Strengthening Farm Resilience.” The EO comes as the MAHA movement has continuously pushed for the development and increase in regenerative agricultural practices, and would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a research and evaluation framework to improve understanding of cumulative chemical exposures in the food supply using new scientific approaches. HHS also will launch a National Institutes of Health Grand Prize Challenge to accelerate innovative methods for evaluating, diagnosing and addressing cumulative chemical exposures and will direct the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to prioritize research into technologies that reduce reliance on chemical crop protection tools while improving human health.

Alongside the EO, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the agency’s Regenerative Feedstock Rule, which establishes the framework for feedstock production for the 45Z tax credit. More details can be found here.

Additional NWS Cases Detected

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed 27 total cases of the New World Screwworm (NWS) across Texas and New Mexico. The NWS has been detected in cattle, one dog, goats, and sheep. The USDA is continuing to quarantine affected animals and monitor the spread of infections, while also building additional sterile fly facilities in order to deploy more sterile flies to stop the spread.

Federal Judge Rules Against USDA Regarding State Food Restriction Waivers

A federal judge ruled against the Department of Agriculture, and in favor of the plaintiffs, in the lawsuit over state food restriction waivers (Aragon v. Rollins) in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The judge ruled that USDA had exceeded its legal authority when it approved the food restrictions and invalidated the pilots in the named states.

There are two relevant provisions under the Food and Nutrition Act that USDA could attempt to use to justify the approval of waivers – one that allows for pilots that can increase the efficiency of the program or improve delivery and one that allows for pilot projects aimed at improving dietary and health status. The objectives for the pilots fall under the latter category, but USDA did not comply with the more rigorous requirements for that part of the statute. The court also found that USDA should have published a notice in the Federal Register before implementation. It is unclear whether USDA will appeal the ruling, and so far, they have not issued any notification or guidance to the states named in the lawsuit.

July Shaping Up to be a Pivotal Month for U.S. Trade Policy

July is expected to be a busy month for trade policy in the U.S. between a series of comments due on Section 301 investigations by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to the USMCA Review first anniversary to the expiration of the Section 122 tariffs. In this issue memo, the Torrey Advisory Group outlines what is expected and what industry should be prepared for in the coming weeks.

Notable News

• Supreme Court Rules FIFRA Preempts Roundup Cancer Lawsuits - Ag Web
• White House Requests $11 Billion in Additional Farm Assistance - Ag Daily
• Migrants in US on temporary status should seek permanent residence or leave, Homeland Secretary says – Reuters
• Dozens of states could face new costs because of high error rates in SNAP food aid – ABC News
• How much should we be prepared to pay for our food? – BBC News

This Week’s Legislation

• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced H.R. 9456 to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to restrict the eligibility of aliens to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits to aliens admitted to the United States as lawful permanent residents.
• Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) introduced H.R. 9464 to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any U.S. Forest Service Research and Development facility.
• Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) introduced H.R. 9474 to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Local Foods for Healthy Schools Program.
• Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced S. 4896 to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish the childcare innovation nutrition pilot program.
• Senator David McCormick (R-PA) introduced S. 4904 to amend the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to modernize oversight by directing a study on risk-based oversight, defining risk to organic integrity and authorizing regulatory reforms.
• Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced S. 4906 to amend the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to establish a dairy market stabilization program. 
• Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced S. 4912 to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to clarify land eligible for enrollment in the conservation reserve program. 
• Reps. Shontel Brown (D-OH) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) introduced the “Organic Imports Verification Act” to require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit to Congress a report on residue testing for all organic imports.
• Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) introduced the “Cultivating Horticultural Innovation in Local Economies (CHILE) Act” to strengthen federal support for specialty crop growers facing economic losses and market disruptions.
• Senator Michael F. Bennet (D-CO) introduced S. 4862 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to consider certain acreage not planted due to a lack of irrigation water to be eligible for prevented planting payments. 
• Senator Michael F. Bennet (D-CO) introduced S. 4866 to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand investment in farmers’ markets and farmers’ market nutrition programs to strengthen communities and improve access to healthy food.
• Senator Michael F. Bennet (D-CO) reintroduced “The Small Farm Conservation Act” to modify USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to create a new subprogram dedicated to helping small farmers and ranchers.
• Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced the “SCALE Act of 2026” to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish State assistance for soil health and wildlife habitat.
• Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the “BINS Act of 2026” to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to make fertilizer storage facilities eligible for farm storage facility loans. 

Upcoming Hearings

Monday, June 29

• 4:00 PM: The House Rules Committee will held a meeting on H.R. 8800 - The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027; H.R. 8884 - Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act; and H.Res. 1383 - Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts.

Tuesday, June 30

• 10:00 AM: The House Appropriations Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the Office of Management and Budget. 

Wednesday, July 1

• 10:00 AM: The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing on “250 Years of American Legacy: Small Businesses and the American Dream.”
• 10:00 AM: The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on “Weathering the Solar Storm: Advancing America’s Space Weather Capabilities.”
• 10:15 AM: The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on “Direct Contracting: A Prescription for Lower Health Care Costs.”

Contact the Team

Feel free to contact Michael Torrey, Tara Smith, Cassandra Kuball, Barbara Patterson, Katie Naessens, Julie McClure, Nona McCoy, Danielle Nelson, Ashley Smith, Olivia Lucanie, Caroline Sowinski, Eden Lambert, Tracy Boyle, or Grace Walker with any questions or comments.

Food and agricultural organizations that need the right results in Washington, D.C. can trust Torrey Advisory Group to put its relationships, reputation, and expertise to work on your issue. Since 2005, the firm has successfully provided legislative and regulatory guidance, issues management, and association management services to a wide variety of clients. Learn more about us at torreydc.com.