Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

(a) Short title.— This Act may be cited as the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026”.

(b) Table of contents.— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

In this Act:

(1) Department.— The term Department means the Department of Agriculture.

(2) Secretary.— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

Section 1602 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9092) is amended by striking “2023” each place it appears and inserting “2031”.

(a) Definitions.— Section 1501(e)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “or biennial” after “annual”; and

(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting “or pest” after “insect”.

(b) Economic viability.— Section 1501(e)(2)(A) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(2)(A)) is amended—

(1) by striking clauses (i) and (ii); and

(2) by striking “to provide assistance—” and inserting “to provide assistance under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers that planted trees for commercial purposes but lost the trees or the trees no longer produce an economically viable crop as a result of a natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary.”.

(c) Assistance.— Section 1501(e)(3) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)(3)) is amended in the matter before subparagraph (A) by striking “and (5)” and inserting “, (5), (6), and (7)”.

(d) Requirements with respect to assistance.— Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(6) Timing requirements.— An eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower shall agree, as a condition on receipt of assistance under this subsection, to carry out any replacement and rehabilitation activities for which such assistance is provided not later than—

(A) 2 years after the application for such assistance is approved; or

(B) if the period specified in subparagraph (A) is not adequate for tree survival, at such time as is necessary to ensure tree survival.

(7) Alternatives used in replanting.—

(A) In general.— An eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower receiving assistance under this subsection with respect to tree loss may use such assistance to replant using—

(i) an alternative variety from the variety used prior to the loss;

(ii) an alternative stand density from the stand density used prior to the loss; and

(iii) an alternative location than was used prior to the loss.

(B) Cost share limitations with respect to alternatives.— The assistance provided by the Secretary to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers—

(i) for losses described in subparagraph (A)(i), shall be an amount that is not greater than the amount the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower would receive if the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower planted the variety lost;

(ii) for losses described in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be an amount that is not greater than the amount the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower would receive if the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower planted the stand density lost; and

(iii) for losses described in subparagraph (A)(iii), shall be an amount that is not greater than the amount the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower would receive if the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower planted the location in which the loss occurred.”.

(e) Deadline for notice regarding application status.— Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9801(e)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(8) Deadline for notice regarding application status.— Not later than 120 days after receiving an application for assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall—

(A) approve or deny such application; and

(B) notify the applicant of such approval or denial.”.

(f) Initial payments under tree assistance program.— Section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(9) Initial payments.—

(A) In general.— An eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower may opt to receive an initial assistance payment with respect to losses described in paragraph (2) before incurring the costs described in paragraph (3) relating to such losses.

(B) Amount.— An initial assistance payment under subparagraph (A) shall be in an amount that is equal to the fair market value of the estimated costs described in paragraph (3) that the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower is likely to incur with respect to losses described in paragraph (2), as determined by the Secretary.

(C) Subsequent payment.—

(i) In general.— In the case of an eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower that opts to receive an initial payment under subparagraph (A) with respect to losses described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after providing such initial payment, provide a subsequent payment to the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower in an amount equal to—

(I) the payment amount the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower would have received with respect to such losses under paragraph (3) or pursuant to paragraph (5); minus

(II) the initial payment amount provided to such eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower under subparagraph (B) with respect to such losses.

(ii) Overpayment.— If an initial payment under subparagraph (B) with respect to losses described in paragraph (2) is greater than the amount an eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower would have received under paragraph (3) or pursuant to paragraph (5) for such losses, such eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower shall repay the Secretary the excess amount.

(D) Sunset.— The authority to make payments under this paragraph shall terminate on September 30, 2035.”.

(a) In general.— The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 is amended by inserting after section 196 (7 U.S.C. 7333) the following:

“196A. Specialty crop emergency assistance framework.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall establish a framework to provide direct assistance to producers of specialty crops the production of which was impacted by an adverse event (including an economic crisis or market disruption), as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with this section.

(b) Payment calculation.— In determining a payment calculation for purposes of direct assistance to a producer of specialty crops under subsection (a), the Secretary shall calculate payments based on—

(1) the producer’s sales of specialty crops for a calendar year that precedes the year in which the adverse event described in such subsection occurred or the average of such sales over a set of consecutive calendar years that precedes the year in which such adverse event occurred, as determined by the Secretary; multiplied by

(2) a payment factor the Secretary determines, subject to the availability of funds, to address losses of such specialty crops from such adverse event.

(c) Special rules.— Subject to subsection (d), in providing direct assistance pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall consider—

(1) the higher value of specialty crops;

(2) the greater input costs required to grow specialty crops; and

(3) diverse types of legal entities and structures used by specialty crop producers.

(d) Limitations.—

(1) Total amount.—

(A) In general.— Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the total amount of payments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (except a qualified pass-through entity) (as such terms are defined in section 1001(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a))) for any crop year under this section may not exceed the amount specified in subsection (b) of section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308), as adjusted pursuant to subsection (i) of such section 1001.

(B) Exception.— In the case of a person or legal entity with an average gross income (as calculated under section 1001D(b)(4)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)(4)(B))) for which greater than or equal to 75 percent of the average derives from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities—

(i) subparagraph (A) shall not apply; and

(ii) the total maximum amount of payments received, directly or indirectly, by such person or legal entity for any crop year under this section shall be set by the Secretary, except such amount may not be less than $900,000.

(2) Notification of interests; eligibility; denials.— Sections 1001A(a), 1001B, and 1001C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–1(a); 1308–2; 1308–3) shall apply to a producer of a specialty crop under this section in the same manner as such sections apply to a person or legal entity with respect to a covered commodity, except to the extent such sections relate to the application of subsections (b) through (d) of section 1001A.”.

(b) Payment limitation conforming amendment.— Section 1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)(E), by inserting “or 196A” after “section 196”; and

(2) in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(II), by inserting “or 196A” after “section 196”.

(a) In general.— Subtitle E of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“1502. Assistance in the form of block grants.—

(a) In general.— In the case additional funds made available after the date of the enactment of this section for covered losses, the Secretary may make assistance for such losses available in the form of block grants.

(b) Covered losses.— In this section, the term covered losses means losses—

(1) of revenue, quality, or production of crops, trees, bushes, vines, poultry or livestock as a consequence of a natural disaster (as determined by the Secretary); and

(2) for which assistance is not available pursuant to any other Federal law.”.

(b) Clerical amendment.— The table of contents for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1501 the following:

(a) Forward pricing.— Section 1502 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8772) is amended by striking subsection (e).

(b) Indemnity program.— Section 3 of Public Law 90–484 (7 U.S.C. 4553) is amended by striking “2023” and inserting “2031”.

(c) Promotion and research.— Section 113(e)(2) of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(e)(2)) is amended by striking “2023” and inserting “2031”.

Section 273 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1637b) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(C) for each manufacturer required to report under subparagraph (A) for any product, require that manufacturer to report production cost and product yield information, as determined by the Secretary, for all products processed in the same facility or facilities.”;

(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting “products and” after “those”;

(2) in subsection (c)(3)(B), by inserting “, subject to subsection (b)(1),” after “of information”;

(3) in subsection (d)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking “Electronic reporting” and inserting “Reporting”;

(B) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the heading, by striking “Electronic reporting” and inserting “Reporting”; and

(ii) by striking “this section” and inserting “subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1)”;

(C) in paragraph (2), by striking “this section” and inserting “subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1)”; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Dairy product processing costs.— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report containing the information obtained under subparagraph (C) of subsection (b)(1), subject to the conditions described in subsection (b)(2).”;

(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(5) by adding after subsection (d) the following:

“(e) Regulation.— Any actions taken by the Secretary under this section shall not be subject to review under Executive Order 12866 (58 Fed. Reg. 51735) or any successor order.”.

Paragraph (4) of section 301 of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4514) is amended by striking “Not later” and all that follows through “an annual report” and inserting “With respect to each calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a report (which shall be submitted not later than 18 months after the last day of such calendar year)”.

(a) Marketing assistance loans.— Section 1204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(j) Effect of lapse in appropriations.— The servicing of a marketing assistance loan under section 1201 by an officer or employee of the Department shall be deemed, for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.”.

(b) Loans under sugar program.— Section 156(d) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Effect of lapse in appropriations.— The servicing of a loan under this section by an officer or employee of the Department shall be deemed, for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.”.

Section 1614(a) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8789(a)) is amended—

(1) by striking “funds for producers” and inserting the following:

“(1) producers”; and

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) producers to construct or upgrade storage facilities for propane that is primarily used for agricultural production (as such term is defined in section 4279.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph)).”.

(a) In general.— Subtitle C of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–79) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“1302. Strengthening domestic food production supply chains.—

(a) In general.— With respect to any Federal policy that would impact the administration of the programs described in this subtitle or any rule, policy, or guidance issued pursuant to such programs, the preservation and strengthening of the domestic production described in subsection (b) shall be a priority objective of the President.

(b) Domestic production described.— The domestic production described in this subsection is the production of an agricultural commodity—

(1) described in this subtitle; and

(2) from which a food ingredient that serves an important function throughout the domestic food production supply chain is derived.”.

(b) Clerical amendment.— The table of contents for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1301 the following:

(a) Administration.— Section 1601(c) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9091(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking “this title, sections 11003 and 11017, title I of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and the amendments made by that title, and section 10109 of that Act” and inserting “a covered provision of law”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Covered provision of law defined.— In this subsection, the term covered provision of law means—

(A) this title and sections 11003 and 11017;

(B) title I of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and the amendments made by that title, and section 10109 of that Act; and

(C) title I of the Farm Food and National Security Act of 2026 and the amendments made by that title.”.

(b) Loan implementation.— Section 1614(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9097(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “subtitle B” the first place it appears and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “a covered provision of law.”;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) by striking “of subtitles B or C”; and

(B) by striking “under subtitles B or C” and inserting “under the repayment provisions”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Definitions.— In this subsection:

(A) Covered provision of law.— The term covered provision of law means—

(i) subtitle B or C or the amendments made by subtitle B or C;

(ii) the amendments made by subtitle B or C of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, except with respect to the assistance provided under sections 1207(c) and 1208; and

(iii) section 156 of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272).

(B) Repayment provisions.— The term repayment provisions means the repayment requirements under—

(i) subtitle B or C; or

(ii) section 156 of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272).”.

Section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c) is amended by striking “(other than tobacco)” each place such term appears.

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall conduct a study on the feasibility to provide storage facility loans to producers to construct or maintain facilities for on-farm fertilizer storage.

(b) Contents.— In conducting the study under this section, the Secretary shall include data, as of the date of enactment of this section, on—

(1) the market for on-farm fertilizer storage facilities, including—

(A) the number of farms in the United States equipped with on-farm fertilizer storage facilities; and

(B) the overall availability of, and producer demand for, on-farm fertilizer storage facilities;

(2) producer access to financing for the construction or maintenance of on-farm fertilizer storage facilities; and

(3) storage facility loan rates and terms provided by commercial lending institutions in comparison to storage facility loan rates and terms provided by the Secretary.

(c) Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the findings of the study under this section.

(a) In general.— As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, in addition to paper forms, make available on the website of the Department of Agriculture electronic forms that enable producers to enroll in a covered disaster assistance program online.

(b) Covered disaster assistance program defined.— In this section, the term “covered disaster assistance program” means—

(1) each program under section 1501 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081); and

(2) the emergency conservation program under title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.).

Section 12513 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 1632d) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), by striking “3” and inserting “4”; and

(2) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking “3” and inserting “4”.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall accept proof of death that does not rely predominately on subcutaneous hemorrhaging when determining livestock depredation losses by Mexican wolves under paragraph (1)(A) of section 1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)).