Senate reopening bill also expands ag measures

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry announced that with the passage of measure to reopen the federal government it also includes provisions involving agriculture.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-AR, said the bill funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2026 and includes the extension of farm programs and authorities not covered in the One Big Beautiful Bill that were set to expire at the end of the year, in addition to an extension of federal grain inspection activities.

“Ending the government shutdown ensures critical USDA services resume so vulnerable families no longer experience disruptions to nutrition benefits, farmers can access the programs and personnel they rely on to keep their operations running efficiently and disaster assistance is delivered,” Boozman said. “We advanced long-overdue farm bill policy improvements in the One Big Beautiful Bill, including enhanced risk management tools farmers have been calling for, and we’re continuing work to reauthorize other key initiatives. Extending the farm bill and the U.S. Grain Standards Act gives us more time to finalize these programs essential to farmers, ranchers and rural America.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, a member of the Senate Agriiculure Committee, said the 60-40 vote on the continuing resolution will help Kansans.

 The appropriations bills also include several key provisions.

Agriculture

• Fully funds the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas, to support the protection of the U.S. agricultural economy and maintain our position as a global leader in animal health, biodefense, and biosecurity.
• $1 million to continue the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program and maintain funding for enforcement activities related to the Packers and Stockyards Act.
• Includes a $15 million increase for the State Meat and Poultry Inspection and Cooperative Interstate Shipment Programs, as requested by the administration.
• Provides additional resources to improve the tracking system of foreign-owned land and maintains the secretary of agriculture’s position on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to protect farmlands from being bought by adversaries.
• $1.7 billion for affordable housing rental assistance for low-income families and seniors in rural communities.
• $1 billion for single-family housing direct loans and $25 billion in for the guaranteed single-family housing loans.
• $1.4 billion to prioritize revitalization of aging water and wastewater infrastructure through grants and loans.
• $1.8 billion in grants and loans for rural business and industry programs to promote economic growth.
• International food assistance: $1.2 billion for Food for Peace Title II Grants and $240 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program to strengthen export markets and provide emergency food assistance.
• New World Screwworm report: Not later than 30 days after enactment of this act, the secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the New World screwworm domestic readiness and response initiative of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, with a particular focus on:

• (1) domestic readiness, including the construction of a domestic production facility in the event of a threat of a domestic outbreak; and exploring partnerships with states and industry with respect to that construction and other domestic preparedness efforts;
  • (2) sterile fly production technology and other eradication tools and technologies; and
  • (3) the benefits of and barriers, including timelines and costs, to enhanced domestic, as compared to international, sterile fly production.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the short-term continuing resolution will reopen and fund the entire federal government until Jan. 30. This legislation now heads to the House.

“This legislation also included annual federal funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Agriculture, allowing the continued operation of critical programs like SNAP and WIC,” Moran said. “The impacts of the government shutdown won’t be immediately resolved, but I will continue working to make certain our aviation system and those who keep it running are supplied with the resources they need. Congress must work diligently to pass the remaining appropriations bills before the end of January to prevent another useless and unnecessary shutdown.”

The bill also earmarks $4.2 million for Rattlesnake Creek Watershed in central Kansas to provide long-term, sustainable agricultural water management within the Rattlesnake Creek subbasin.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].