The Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act of 2026 directs federal funding toward agricultural research and extension programs focused on natural climate solutions. This legislation specifically targets practices in farmlands, grasslands, wetlands, and forests that store carbon or lower greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires these initiatives to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, support biodiversity, and reduce water runoff. By amending an existing farm bill, the act aims to expand grant opportunities for land management strategies that address climate change.
The Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act of 2026 directs federal funding toward studying and promoting land management practices that help store carbon or lower greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural lands, grasslands, wetlands, and forests. This legislation specifically supports projects that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, enhance biodiversity, and reduce water runoff. By amending an existing agricultural law, the bill ensures that research grants prioritize these environmental benefits to improve climate resilience.
This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to expand education and risk management assistance for agricultural producers, crop insurance providers, and other stakeholders. It requires the USDA to offer language translation services and update training programs to include diverse conservation practices like soil health improvements, sustainable water management, and agroforestry systems. The legislation increases funding limits, allowing producers to receive up to $200,000 over five years for these activities, while also authorizing $20 million annually in new appropriations. Additionally, it clarifies that payments for these programs do not count toward existing federal fund limits, ensuring producers can access multiple sources of support.
S 144, the Farm to Fly Act of 2025, directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to integrate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into existing bioenergy programs. It defines SAF as clean jet fuel meeting strict environmental standards - requiring at least a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum jet fuel - and explicitly includes SAF in USDA manufacturing assistance programs for biorefineries. The bill mandates a new USDA collaboration initiative to coordinate across agencies, leverage farmers' resources, and advance SAF development through public-private partnerships. This policy change directly affects U.S. farmers (by creating new markets for feedstocks) and the aviation sector (by expanding clean fuel supply), while advancing the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge goals.
HR 1326, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, requires the Energy and Agriculture Secretaries to jointly conduct collaborative research focused on shared priorities like sustainable energy, agriculture, and climate resilience. It mandates a competitive grant process for federal agencies, universities, and nonprofits to fund projects in areas such as AI for farming/energy systems, biofuels, grid security, and rural technology development. The bill also requires a report to Congress within two years detailing research coordination, achievements, and future collaboration opportunities. This legislation directly affects federal agencies, research institutions, and agricultural/energy sectors through new funding mechanisms and joint projects, without altering existing regulations or creating new mandates for the public.
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✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds collaborative research on sustainable energy, biofuels, grid security, and rural tech via competitive grants, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure and climate resilience priorities.95% confidence
✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds collaborative research on sustainable energy, climate resilience, biofuels, and AI for farming/energy systems, directly advancing environmental protection and climate goals through federal grants.92% confidence
✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds AI for farming/energy systems, grid security, and rural tech development via competitive grants, directly advancing technology research.92% confidence
The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change how it buys food for programs like school meals and food banks. The bill directs USDA to prioritize purchasing foods that support beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged producers, and environmentally sustainable practices, while emphasizing worker well-being and climate-friendly food production. USDA would need to report annually on how much it spends on these priority food categories and track greenhouse gas emissions from its food purchases. The bill also creates a pilot program for "best value" procurement that considers more than just cost, and provides grants to help small and minority farmers meet USDA vendor requirements. These changes aim to make USDA's $20 billion+ annual food procurement more equitable and environmentally sustainable.
The REAP Modernization Act of 2025 updates the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to better support rural agricultural and small business renewable energy projects. It requires the program to actively promote greenhouse gas emission reductions through funded projects, expands eligibility to include producer cooperatives and nongovernmental organizations, and increases the climate benefit consideration from 25% to 50% in project evaluations. The bill also establishes a streamlined application process, mandates a study on dual-use energy systems (combining farming with renewable energy on the same land), and adjusts funding rules to prioritize underutilized renewable technologies. These changes directly affect rural farmers, cooperatives, and small businesses seeking grants for solar, wind, or other renewable energy installations on agricultural properties.
The ACE Agriculture Act reauthorizes and expands the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act's AGARDA program, directly affecting USDA agricultural research initiatives and the scientists managing them. It increases annual funding from $50 million to $100 million for fiscal years 2027-2032 and broadens research priorities to include water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, pest resilience, and export competitiveness. The bill removes "pilot" references throughout, clarifies reporting structures (requiring the AGARDA Director to report to the Chief Scientist), and allows flexible use of existing USDA personnel authorities. This creates a more permanent, well-funded framework for advancing agricultural technology research within the Department of Agriculture.
The COWS Act of 2025 creates a new program to help livestock and dairy farmers adopt manure management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as composting, pasture-based systems, and technologies avoiding wet storage. It provides financial incentives (up to 100% of costs for planning, equipment, and implementation) with at least 50% paid upfront, prioritizing small/mid-sized operations, beginning farmers, and socially disadvantaged producers. The bill requires the Secretary to develop evaluation criteria focused on maximizing carbon sequestration, emissions reductions, and environmental benefits like improved water quality, while offering technical assistance for implementation.
The Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025 establishes a new USDA initiative to coordinate and expand research on organic agriculture across multiple agencies, including the Agricultural Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The bill requires the initiative to review existing research, develop strategic plans, and submit reports every 5 years with recommendations to improve organic farming practices, climate resilience, and ecosystem services. It increases annual funding for organic research from $60 million to $100 million by 2030, with specific provisions for traditional ecological knowledge and research on transitioning to organic production. The bill directly affects USDA research agencies, organic farmers, and researchers conducting organic agriculture studies. It also mandates an economic impact analysis of organic farming's effects on rural communities and the environment.
