(September 16, 2026) – WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today advanced the Farm Bill to the full Senate for consideration, marking the most significant progress toward passage of a new Farm Bill since the last iteration expired in 2023.
For America’s sportsmen and women, passage of a comprehensive, five-year Farm Bill would provide important stability for voluntary conservation efforts on private lands. While several Conservation Title programs have received significant investments in recent years, others have continued operating through a series of one-year extensions since the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill.
The Committee’s bill closely aligns with the House’s lead in the inclusion of several priorities championed by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), including improvements to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and creation of the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP). These provisions build on recent investments in other critical conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).
“America’s sportsmen and women have a major stake in the conservation programs supported by the Farm Bill,” said Taylor Schmitz, CSF’s Senior Vice President and COO. “As conservationists, we understand that a strong Conservation Title represents a partnership between the conservation community and participating landowners. Overall, this partnership improves wildlife habitat, sustains healthy fish and wildlife populations, and maintains access and opportunity for sportsmen and women. We are encouraged by the progress made today and remain committed to advancing policies that sustain landowner participation and strengthen voluntary conservation efforts on private lands.”
With the Committee’s action, the legislation now moves to the full Senate for a vote.
As Congress continues its work toward a new Farm Bill, CSF remains actively engaged in the process, advocating for strong Conservation and Forestry Titles that supports private and public land conservation and the fish and wildlife resources valued by America’s sportsmen and women.