2026 Farm Bill Advances with Costa Priorities Supporting Central Valley Farmers and Working Families

WASHINGTON - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Specialty Crops Caucus, announced major victories for the Central Valley in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The legislation passed out of committee last night and now advances to the House floor for consideration. 

The comprehensive Farm Bill strengthens America’s food security, supports farmers and ranchers, protects nutrition programs, and invests in rural communities and agricultural research — all critical to the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. 

“While this Farm Bill delivers some critical support for producers, we cannot ignore the failures that brought us here: a misguided tariff strategy, cuts to hunger programs, and an ill-advised USDA reorganization. Farmers in the Central Valley are facing unprecedented hardships — rising costs, market uncertainty, and supply chain pressures — while families across our district struggle with higher grocery bills and need for nutrition assistance,”said Congressman Costa.“I’m proud to have secured provisions that provide our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen and women with the resources they need to produce food and help families access the food they rely on, but there is still work to be done to finalize a bipartisan farm bill that ensures our food system works for everyone. I’m disappointed that Republicans didn’t include any amendments to undo the damage from the ‘Big Ugly Bill’ they passed last year, but I will continue fighting to make sure American families can put food on their dinner tables.”

“The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance praises Rep. Jim Costa for his support of HR 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which closely aligns with the Alliance's priorities. We thank Congressman Costa for his years of leadership on behalf of specialty crop producers in California and across the United States,” said Jonathan Cordone, Executive Director of Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance. 

“On behalf of the Almond Alliance, I want to thank Congressman Costa for his vote to move the Farm Bill forward, a choice that supports the economic backbone of California’s Central Valley. By helping advance a bill that bolsters export opportunities, strengthens disaster and risk management tools for permanent crops, and invests in research, conservation, and on farm innovation, Congressman Costa is standing up for the farmworkers, growers, processors, and haulers whose livelihoods depend on a strong, competitive almond industry,” said Alexi Rodriguez, President & CEO, Almond Alliance.

“The House Farm Bill would expand SNAP dairy incentives to include additional nutritious dairy products and provide certainty to core federal dairy programs, ensuring low-income families have greater access to affordable, wholesome dairy foods while giving farmers and processors the certainty they need to continue delivering for America. IDFA is grateful to Representative Costa for working to pass this Farm Bill,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of International Dairy Foods Association. 

“AmericanHort commends and thanks Congressman Costa for voting for the Farm Bill and being a champion of specialty crops and horticulture. We appreciate his bipartisan leadership serving as a Senior Specialty Crop Caucus co-chair and look forward to Rep. Costa’s leadership to move this bill through the House," said Matt Mika, VP, Advocacy and Government Affairs.

“The bipartisan Farm Bill passed out of the House Ag Committee this week wouldstrengthen U.S. dairy exporters' hand when competing in international markets. We thank Rep. Costa for his hard work to ensure the bill delivers real results for our dairy producers and processors, including through his leadership to include protections for common cheese names like 'parmesan.' It is important that Congress builds on the momentum and moves the Farm Bill into law,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. 

“Farmers and ranchers have been without certainty of a new farm bill since it first expired in 2023, and have been grappling with low commodity prices, rising supply costs, inflation and uncertain international trade dynamics. California Farm Bureau thanks Rep. Jim Costa for his support of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Passing an updated farm bill is critical to managing risk on the farm, keeping rural communities thriving and feeding our nation and the world,” said Shannon Douglass, President of California Farm Bureau.  

“We thank Rep. Costa for his support of HR 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “The Farm Bill provides critical support to specialty crop growers in California and will help our rural communities to thrive.” 

“I want to thank Chairman Thompson, Chicken Caucus Co-Chair Costa, and the Agriculture Committee members on both sides of the aisle who voted to advance the 'Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,' which is vital to American agriculture. Chicken producers are especially grateful for the provisions that seek to increase funding for export promotion programs and those that pertain to negotiating animal disease regionalization agreements with our trading partners, which is critical in the wake of the ongoing avian influenza outbreak in the U.S.,” said David Elrod, Vice President of the National Chicken Council. “I also want to thank the committee members for their debate and bipartisan support for including hot rotisserie chicken in the SNAP program. Although the provision was ultimately not included in the bill, we appreciate the committee's commitment to address this commonsense issue in the future and we stand ready to work with them to advance it." 

“Congressman Jim Costa has long been a champion for California agriculture and the specialty crop industry. We appreciate his leadership in working to restore regular order to the Farm Bill process and ensure that the voices of specialty crop growers are fully represented. His continued advocacy and attention to the needs of California table grape growers, and the broader specialty crop community, are critical to maintaining the competitiveness of American agriculture and supporting the farm families who help feed the nation and the world,” said Ian LeMay, President, California Table Grape Commission. 

“Farmers for Free Trade thanks Representative Costa, a senior Co-Chair for the House Ag Trade Caucus for his strong support for our export promotion programs including MAP and FMD. Maintaining these in the House Farm Bill is a big win for U.S. ag. We need to boost exports to rebuild the farm economy,” said Bob Hemesath, President of Farmers for Free Trade. 

“Support for a strong, bipartisan farm bill is essential to ensuring dairy producers can weather challenging times. We’re encouraged by provisions that empower states to prioritize NRCS projects aimed at reducing methane emissions, helping dairy producers continue their leadership in environmental stewardship. Sustained funding to promote U.S. dairy products abroad is equally vital, as it strengthens our global presence while showcasing the impressive sustainability gains made across the U.S. dairy industry. We thank Rep. Costa for his thoughtful leadership to ensure that this important piece of legislation can move forward for dairy farmers and their cooperatives,” said Gregg Doud, President & CEO, National Milk Producers Federation. 

Costa Secures Top Legislative Priorities in 2026 Farm Bill 

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 includes Congressman Costa’s top priority legislation and key Democratic-led bills across conservation, trade, nutrition, research, forestry, and energy. 

Conservation – COWS Act (H.R. 5875) 

Costa secured inclusion of his Conserving Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act, which modernizes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to:

• Allow for manure management conservation practices modeled after California’s successful Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP);
• Create a new category of practices that increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gases;
• Provide an automatic 90 percent cost-share for precision agriculture technology adoption.  

Forestry – Headwaters Protection Act (H.R. 605)

Costa’s Headwaters Protection Act was also included, strengthening watershed partnerships between agricultural producers, local communities, and the U.S. Forest Service to protect critical water sources. 

Trade & Exports 

As Democratic lead on several trade bills, Costa secured provisions to help California specialty crop growers — who produce half of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables — remain competitive globally. 

• Expansion and strengthened funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program;
• Inclusion of his FRIDGE Act to enhance cold-chain infrastructure and protect U.S. agricultural exports in developing markets;
• Protections to defend the use of common food names in international markets;
• Improvements to specialty crop trade reporting to break down unfair foreign barriers. 

Dairy & Livestock 

The bill permanently reauthorizes key dairy safety net programs, extends dairy promotion and indemnity programs through 2031, improves mandatory dairy cost reporting, and includes Costa’s Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program to increase dairy consumption under SNAP. 

Nutrition & Food Security 
The legislation avoids furthering the damage made to nutrition programs by H.R. 1. It strengthens local food purchasing programs connecting farmers to communities, supports rural seniors through home-delivery pilots, and includes Buy America provisions prioritizing domestic food in schools. 
 

California’s 21st Congressional District has one of the highest SNAP participation rates in the state, underscoring the importance of protecting food assistance while supporting producers. 
 

Rural Development & Research 

Costa secured wins to: 

• Expand rural broadband through the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program;
• Support rural water and wastewater systems;
• Fund Hispanic-Serving Institution education grants;
• Reauthorize the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, including mechanization and automation research;
• Strengthen wildfire prevention, forest health, and biochar research;
• Support meat processing expansion and animal disease prevention. 

The bill also strengthens specialty crop insurance, adds sustainable aviation fuel to the advanced biofuel definition, increases Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loan guarantees, and advances bio-based procurement policies. 

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 now moves to the House floor for further consideration. Rep. Costa will continue to work to make further improvements to the Farm Bill.