The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act with a vote of 87-9. The legislation provides $27.1 billion in discretionary funding to support rural communities, agricultural producers, food security, and nutrition programs.
Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, said: “This important bill supports our farmers and rural communities, the safety of our food supply, critical federal nutrition programs, and medical research and advancements. This bill also provides much needed investments in rural housing programs to help address severe affordable housing shortage felt in Maine and states across the country. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Senator John Hoeven, Chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee added: “Our farmers and ranchers provide the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world, and this legislation makes important investments to ensure they can continue this good work. As Chairman of Agriculture Appropriations, we made it a priority to support our nation’s producers with tools like better access to capital, marketing assistance and funding to prevent pest and disease like the avian flu and chronic wasting disease. At the same time, we invest in agriculture research, food safety and other programs to strengthen rural America.”
Key provisions include $3.6 billion for agricultural research programs such as those managed by the Agricultural Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The measure fully funds national facilities focused on biosecurity.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service receives $1.2 billion for efforts against diseases affecting livestock such as chronic wasting disease or avian influenza; resources are also provided for ranchers’ compliance with animal traceability requirements.
Agricultural Marketing Services is allocated $223 million for supporting U.S. agricultural products domestically and internationally while closing regulatory gaps around intoxicating hemp products.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is funded at $1.2 billion to maintain oversight over meat and poultry production nationwide—including additional resources for state inspection initiatives.
For farm lending needs through Farm Service Agency operations there is $1.6 billion designated—enabling up to $10.5 billion in farm loans—and a continued ban on county office closures.
Measures are included that require improved tracking systems for foreign-owned farmland along with maintaining oversight authority via participation on federal investment review committees.
Conservation services are backed by $895 million through technical assistance grants plus watershed protection funds; however funding decreases for urban agriculture initiatives compared with previous years.
Rural development receives $3.7 billion targeting affordable housing rental assistance for low-income families/seniors; lending authorities cover both single-family home ownership ($1 billion direct/$25 billion guaranteed) alongside water/waste infrastructure projects ($1.3 billion) as well as small business growth ($1.8 billion). There is an allocation of $8 billion in electric loan authority plus nearly $100 million aimed at broadband expansion in underserved areas; meanwhile some Biden administration rural partnership initiatives have been cut from this budget cycle while “Buy American” provisions remain intact.
Nutrition aid totals more than $8 billion through Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants Children (WIC) plus several hundred million dollars supporting seniors’ access to healthy foods via Commodity Supplemental Food Program allocations.
Internationally oriented aid includes more than one-and-a-half-billion dollars for Food for Peace Title II grants along with education-focused grants under McGovern-Dole International Food programing—and calls on agencies involved to report about potential transfer logistics between government entities handling these missions abroad.
Funding directed toward FDA operations totals $3.6 billion—with overall agency resources including user fees reaching about $7 billion—to boost capacity in food safety inspections as well as targeted medical priorities such as diabetes care or neurology drug development.
