Farm Bill advocacy heats up
Advocates are pushing for a Farm Bill reorientation that prioritizes affordability, supports small farmers, and strengthens protections for rural workers as Congress prepares negotiations — a national push organizers say should inform local demands. State-level organizing and Farm Bill campaign alignment were urged as primary levers for change. (progressive.org)
Nearly 600 national, state and local organizations delivered a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging a Farm Bill that invests in family farmers, rural communities, and nutrition programs. (sustainableagriculture.net) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson released the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on February 13, 2026, and sustainable-agriculture groups publicly criticized the measure for failing to provide needed investments when it was unveiled. (sustainableagriculture.net) Anthony Pahnke, vice president of Family Farm Defenders and an associate professor, published an op-ed calling explicitly for a Farm Bill reorientation toward affordability and stronger small-farm supports. (laprogressive.com) Vermont’s Migrant Justice testified before the Vermont House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry on February 20, 2026, and has led statewide labor actions and campaigns focused on dairy farmworker rights and housing protections. (legislature.vermont.gov) Rural Vermont reported it is prioritizing a Farm Security Fund, tracking PFAS rules, and lobbying during the 2026 legislative session to keep working farmers’ needs central to state policy debates. (ruralvermont.org) Advocates warned after Congress passed a one‑year Farm Bill extension and FY2026 agriculture funding that the package cut roughly $100 million from conservation technical assistance, and organizations urged state-level campaign alignment as leverage ahead of final Farm Bill negotiations. (sustainableagriculture.net)
