Environment (Agriculture)

The Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2026 creates a new funding program to support junior and community colleges in expanding their agriculture and natural resources programs. The bill authorizes $20 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for competitive grants that colleges can use to improve workforce training, education, research, and outreach. Eligible institutions may use these funds to purchase equipment, hire faculty, develop apprenticeships, and offer courses in farm business management. The legislation also allows colleges to apply for a special designation as a center of excellence to demonstrate best practices and provide regional leadership.

This bill establishes a new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production within the Department of Agriculture to support farming methods like hydroponics and controlled-environment agriculture. It creates a competitive grant program that provides funding to nonprofits, local governments, Tribal organizations, and schools to help urban farmers navigate regulations, access land, and improve food availability in underserved areas. Additionally, the legislation updates federal data collection requirements to include modern farming technologies and allocates specific funding amounts to support these initiatives from 2026 through 2030.

Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2026 This bill expands the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance for farmer-to-farmer networks. USDA must use annual appropriations provided for Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation operations to implement this program. A farmer-to-farmer network means any affiliation or association of farmers that share information, technical assistance, or any other type of mutually beneficial support. Under the bill, USDA may enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to (1) provide assistance to farmer-to-farmer networks to build network capacity, connect farmers with mentors or group learning opportunities, and support goal setting; (2) increase technical assistance for farmers, ranchers, and forest owners who use different farming models, practices, and scales; (3) establish and steward the networks; and (4) establish reporting requirements for these activities. Those eligible for the program include nonprofit entities, farmer-to-farmer networks, tribal entities, local governments, institutions of higher education, and states. USDA must prioritize agreements with entities that seek to meet the specific needs of certain farmers, ranchers, and forest owners who are historically underserved or operating in high-poverty areas. The bill also provides for subawards to plan and conduct events, as well as to identify and develop innovative activities, in order to increase farmer access to farmer-to-farmer assistance.

This resolution expresses support for the United Nations designation of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It recognizes the economic, social, and ecological importance of rangelands and the ranchers, farmers, and land managers who steward them. The measure encourages federal agencies, universities, and organizations to promote education, research, and outreach related to rangeland management during this designated year.

This bill, known as the Farm Equipment Safety Act, would remove certain agricultural machinery from federal emission standards under the Clean Air Act. It directly affects farmers and manufacturers of nonroad engines and vehicles used for farming purposes. The key provision adds a specific exemption to Section 213 of the Clean Air Act, allowing agricultural equipment to operate without meeting the emission limits that apply to other nonroad vehicles. The legislation does not change existing rules for other types of engines or vehicles, nor does it alter the overall structure of the Clean Air Act.

This bill, titled the Land Grant Research Prioritization Act of 2026, amends existing federal agricultural law to establish specific research and extension grant priorities for land-grant universities. It directs funding toward four main areas: advanced mechanized harvesting technologies, particularly for specialty crops; artificial intelligence applications in agriculture to improve specialty crop production; methods for managing and eradicating invasive plant and animal species; and aquaculture techniques for valuable aquatic species. The legislation allows the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize grants in these areas when awarding funding to land-grant institutions for research and extension projects.

This bill, titled the Agricultural Management Assistance Act of 2026, amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand education and risk management support for agricultural producers and crop insurance providers. It requires the inclusion of language translation services in educational programs and adds specific conservation practices like soil health improvements, sustainable water sources, and agroforestry to the list of eligible activities. The legislation also increases funding limits, raising the five-year payment cap to $200,000 and authorizing $20 million annually to support these expanded assistance programs.

This bill creates a pilot program providing development loans to beginning farmers and ranchers for long-term capital investments that benefit their operations for more than one year, such as equipment, soil health improvements, or business setup. Loans are capped at $100,000 with interest rates of 0-3% and repayment terms of 3-10 years, requiring borrowers to complete training on farm management, bookkeeping, and risk planning. The program aims to address current limitations where beginning farmers face under-investment due to existing annual operating loans. The Secretary of Agriculture must evaluate the pilot and report biennially to Congress on its outcomes.

This bill creates a pilot program for development loans to help beginning farmers and ranchers make long-term investments. It defines "development expenditures" to cover items like equipment, soil health improvements, business systems, and market access - things that benefit the farm beyond a single year. Loans under this program can be up to $100,000 with repayment terms of 3-10 years, interest rates of 0-3%, and require annual interest payments. The program also mandates borrower training on farm management, bookkeeping, and risk management, with evaluations and biennial reports to Congress.

HR 3392, the STOP Screwworms Act, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build modular facilities for rearing sterile New World screwworm flies within 180 days of enactment. These facilities will disperse sterile flies into at-risk agricultural areas - identified based on migratory patterns and suitability for dispersal - to prevent infestations that threaten livestock. The bill authorizes $300 million in funding for construction, operation, and annual reporting to Congress on threat assessments and effectiveness. It directly affects livestock producers and agricultural regions vulnerable to screwworm fly migration, using sterile insect technique as a preventive measure.