A Policy Update

We’re well into the dog days of summer, and Congress has officially left Washington, D.C. for August recess. While legislative activity may have ground to a halt, the Capitol is far from empty, and Farmlink is in the field working to support farmers and feed communities across the country. Here’s everything our team is tracking to support this mission.

Feed Families

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) became law just over a year ago, and its changes to our nutrition safety nets are unfolding daily. Participation in SNAP fell by more than four million nationwide in the last year due to increased work and other eligibility requirements. Arizona saw participation fall by 53%, and Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma saw 20%, 21%, and 16% declines, respectively. We’re expecting participation to continue to drop as eligibility restrictions tighten. 

SNAP is staring down another significant change. Under OBBBA, for the first time ever, if states’ benefit payment error rates are above a certain threshold, they will have to cover a portion of SNAP benefits, instead of the federal government picking up the entire tab. Payment errors are not fraud: they are over- or under-payments of SNAP benefits that are almost always corrected. Cost sharing will go into effect in the fall of 2027, and the portion that each state is on the hook for (and must find in their budgets) will be determined by 2025 and 2026 error rates. This short runway for states to improve their rates has even caused governors to advocate for a delay. A critical piece of legislation that was just introduced in the Senate may just grant their wish.

Support Farmers

The Farm Bill is where food & agriculture policy intersect, with programs and regulations related to nutrition programs, farm safety nets, and conservation. Farm Bills are passed every five years, and the last one was passed in… 2018. Congress is running late, but we’re seeing a flurry of action in 2026. The House passed its version in April, and the Senate is currently debating its version. The Senate’s Farm Bill would delay SNAP cost-sharing for one year, but faces a rocky road as Democrats are pushing for a two-year delay and Republicans are cautious about accepting any delay.

An updated Farm Bill would also be a breath of fresh air for farmers weathering a nightmarish agricultural economy, from tariffs, to inflation, to disrupted supply chains. As input costs rise, 70% of US farmers have reported being unable to afford all of the fertilizer they needed for 2026. 62 farms filed for bankruptcy in April alone, contributing to a 46% increase in bankruptcies from 2024. 

Congress has also been exploring non-Farm Bill avenues to get support to farmers quickly, with the White House requesting $11.1 billion in agricultural support. While this is a critical injection of aid, it’s important to note that farmers are generally more excited about activity that would reduce input prices, increase domestic appetite for their crops, and otherwise ensure that their livelihoods are stable without federal aid. The Farm Bill is the most important legislative avenue to accomplish this.

Fulfilling the White House’s request requires Congress to get through a lengthy to-do list, including funding the government for 2027. Right now, it’s looking like they will extend current funding levels through the end of 2026, allowing members to focus on the impending midterms, but the clock is officially ticking for Congress to meaningfully support the agricultural system. Meanwhile, Farmlink is out in the field, with state departments of agriculture and hunger-fighting charity partners. We’re ensuring that our team is positioned to meet the legislative and political movement, all while moving millions of pounds of produce every week.

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