Business Leaders Call for a Farm Bill That Supports Farmers, Strengthens Supply Chains, and Rewards Regenerative Practices

The American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) released the following statement in response to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s draft of the 2026 Farm Bill.

The Senate draft reflects several important improvements over earlier proposals. It does not include language granting legal protections to pesticide manufacturers, nor provisions limiting states’ ability to set their own meat and poultry production standards. Both proposals would have weakened accountability, constrained state authority, and introduced new uncertainty for producers and food companies already navigating volatile input costs, evolving market requirements, and climate-related supply chain disruptions. Their exclusion reflects the importance of sustained engagement from businesses, farmers, and advocates.

At the same time, the proposal largely preserves the status quo at a moment when farmers, food businesses, and rural communities are facing growing economic pressures, volatile input costs, supply chain disruptions, and increasing weather-related risks. While the draft maintains conservation programs and includes investments intended to support agricultural producers, it falls short of what’s needed to accelerate regenerative agriculture, reduce dependence on costly external inputs, strengthen regional food economies, and build long-term resilience.

ASBN also recognizes an emerging opportunity in the draft: the inclusion of fisheries and seafood within the Farm Bill framework. Establishing the USDA Office of Seafood in statute and expanding the agency’s engagement with seafood systems could create new opportunities for Tribes, fishing-dependent communities, and small businesses while strengthening domestic production and markets. Farm Bill investments in wild-capture fisheries and seafood should backstop against harmful imports, reward sustainability and stewardship, promote economic and infrastructure resilience, and enhance equitable access to markets and marketing programs.

“Farmers, food producers, and businesses need more than the status quo—they need a pathway forward,” said Liza LaManna, ASBN Manager of Agriculture and Water Policy. “The next Farm Bill should help producers improve profitability, manage risk, and build resilience while protecting the natural resources that underpin our economy. It’s about investing in the future of American agriculture, not just maintaining existing programs.”

As the Farm Bill advances, ASBN will continue working with business leaders, farmers, and partners to advocate for policies that strengthen conservation, support resilient supply chains, expand economic opportunity, and accelerate the transition toward a more regenerative and equitable food system.

Businesses are encouraged to email their senators here regarding the final bill text.