Senate Agriculture Committee Advances 2026 Farm Bill, Including Conservation Priorities

September 16, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026—otherwise known as the 2026 Farm Bill—by a vote of 12-11. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s top legislative priority is enactment of a bipartisan farm bill that provides certainty for agricultural producers and invests in conservation programs that benefit wildlife habitat, soil health, water quality, and rural communities.

This need is especially acute for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which has been a vital part of the farm safety net and the farm bill’s conservation title for more than 40 years. CRP has not received new investments or updates since 2018, even as farmers and ranchers face changing economic conditions and natural resource challenges.

“Today’s action by the Senate Agriculture Committee is an important step forward, but there is still a great deal of work ahead to enact a bipartisan farm bill before time runs out in this Congress,” said Andrew Schmidt, director of government affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “We commend Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, Majority Leader Thune, and other members of the committee for their work to advance improvements to CRP and other vital conservation programs. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever urge members of both parties to work together and deliver a farm bill that gives producers certainty while strengthening conservation and wildlife habitat across rural America.”

While partisan differences remain on other titles in the bill, the legislation reported out of committee incorporates many bipartisan provisions that would strengthen CRP. These include adjusting rental rates to better incentivize the enrollment of marginal and environmentally sensitive lands, restoring cost-share assistance for beneficial management activities, and updating payment limits for the first time since 1985. The bill also includes provisions to support the implementation of Working Lands for Wildlife initiatives, expand support for state-level conservation efforts, and establish new opportunities for forest conservation easements.

For Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, these investments are important not only for agricultural producers, but also for the wildlife and outdoor recreation economies that depend on healthy working lands. Well-designed conservation programs can provide farmers and ranchers with additional tools to improve soil and water resources while creating and maintaining habitat for pheasants, quail, and other wildlife.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will continue advocating for a bipartisan farm bill that strengthens CRP and other voluntary conservation programs, supports agricultural producers, and advances habitat conservation across the country. With limited legislative days left in the 119th Congress, lawmakers must act quickly to provide certainty for America’s working lands.

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever 

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 500,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 31 million acres.

Media Contact 
 Mikayla Peper 

715-294-0688 

MPeper@pheasantsforever.org