House Farm Bill Appears to Have Broad Support, GOP Leaders Say

Politico’s Grace Yarrow and Meredith Lee Hill reported that “House Republican leaders are shifting into high gear to boost support for the farm bill ahead of next week’s planned vote on the package, according to a whip notice obtained by POLITICO on Monday.”

“Leadership is preparing for a vote on the bill the week of April 27, with an amendment deadline of April 22, as POLITICO first reported,” according to Yarrow and Lee Hill’s reporting. “The notice sent by Whip Tom Emmer’s floor director emphasizes that the bill is budget-neutral and prioritizes ‘responsible spending on agriculture,’ language meant to appeal to fiscal conservatives who typically oppose spending on the massive package that governs all major nutrition and agriculture programs.”

Agri-Pulse’s Oliver Ward and Lydia Johnson reported that “House Republican leadership and Ag Committee Chair Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa., have been testing support for the farm bill ahead of a floor vote, with early conversations suggesting the bill has broad appeal across the conference, even with fiscal conservatives.”

“Thompson met with Freedom Caucus members on Monday night, he told Agri-Pulse, noting that it was a ‘really positive discussion,'” Ward and Johnson reported. “He said he emphasized to the group, which is known for its fiscal conservatism, that it had advanced the committee with bipartisan support and that it was budget-neutral. While Thompson said some individual members may withhold their support, he said the majority of members would back the bill.”

Yarrow and Lee Hill reported that Thompson “said in an interview Monday that he doesn’t expect the vote on the farm bill to be delayed due to other legislative battles like the ongoing fight over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. ‘I have not had any indication’ of delays, Thompson said.”

Democrat Leaders Urging No Vote on Farm Bill

Politico’s Grace Yarrow and Rachel Shin reported that “House Agriculture Committee Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) are urging their Democratic colleagues to vote against the farm bill when it comes to the floor next week. In a letter to House Democrats, McGovern and Hayes argue that voting for the bill would be a political risk ahead of November’s midterm elections because the legislation cements cuts to federal nutrition assistance programs.”

“‘The stakes are far too high for us to cede ground on the issue of affordability,’ the lawmakers wrote in the letter, which was first obtained by POLITICO,” according to Yarrow and Shin’s reporting. “‘This is a defining issue for us, and this vote is a decisive moment that gives us a strategic opportunity to highlight how the GOP Farm Bill will raise costs while cutting benefits for families that are already struggling to pay for groceries.'”

NEW – Rep. Angie Craig, the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, is railing against the GOP-led farm bill as she’s running for Senate in Minnesota

Her staff director Brian Sowyrda sent an email to Dem staffers last Thursday whipping no on the bill – which 7 mostly…

— Meredith Lee Hill (@meredithllee) April 21, 2026

“McGovern, who is ranking member of the Rules Committee, and Hayes say the farm bill is an opportunity to mark a stark contrast from the GOP on affordability, an issue that has come to dominate both parties’ political messaging,” Yarrow and Shin reported. “The letter from House Ag Democrats comes on the heels of House GOP leadership’s preparation to whip votes in favor of the bill.”

More than 300 Farm Groups Urge Passage of the Farm Bill

Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “a coalition of 330 farm groups (last) Friday sent House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., a letter urging them to take up what’s known as Farm Bill 2.0 on the House floor.”

“The Farm Credit Council released the letter on Friday,” Clayton reported. “‘The bipartisan passage through committee is a significant milestone, and we urge House and Senate leadership to build on recent momentum and prioritize timely consideration and passage of a bipartisan, bicameral Farm Bill 2.0,’ the groups wrote. ‘While we recognize the competing demands on congressional time and resources, the timeliness of this legislation to the agricultural economy and rural America cannot be overstated.'”

“Farm Credit Council President & CEO Christy Seyfert said, ‘Farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses have been operating under farm bill policies written in 2018, and the landscape has changed significantly since that time,'” Clayton reported. “‘Simply put, agriculture and rural America cannot continue to manage the challenges of 2026 with the solutions from 2018. This letter reflects the strong interest of agricultural constituencies in all 50 states in completing the farm bill this year.'”