Ag Policy Tracker

Each new administration, Congress, and Ohio General Assembly brings a flurry of change and action. To help our community keep up with the most relevant updates, we now have an ‘Ag Policy Tracker.’ This tool will be consistently updated to include state and federal legislation we are watching, including OEFFA-endorsed marker bills, as well as administrative updates and agency changes. You can sort by date and entity and use the search function to look for specific actions.

Entity	Date	Action
USDA	2026-04-07	Secretary Rollins announced the finalization of a rule that will change how the USDA implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), one of our country’s fundamental environmental laws that covers conservation programs, pest control, and grazing on public lands. The changes cap environmental assessments, curb opportunities for public comment, reduce the volume of NEPA regulations by 66%, and impose limits on the length of environmental reviews. There is an environmental group-led lawsuit currently challenging the USDA over this rule change.
USDA	2026-03-31	The USDA sent out a notice to stakeholders that they are pausing current processing of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) applications. This 20-year-old program has largely received bipartisan support to provide grants and loans in rural communities (including farmers) to install energy-efficient technologies. The USDA will be updating regulations for REAP awards to comply with an executive order targeting wind and solar energy subsidies.
USDA	2026-03-24	The USDA canceled $300 million in grants from the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, citing it “involved discriminatory preferences based on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” as well as “wasteful spending.” Roughly 50 projects across the country held five-year contracts to help underserved farmers access land, including the Agraria Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
USDA	2026-03-17	A proposed delay was put in place on the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule. Its effective date of July 1, 2026, may be postponed until December 31, 2027. The USDA will be accepting public comments until April 17, 2026. OEFFA and various national partners previously spoke out in favor of this rule to ensure farmers have fair systems and that there are guardrails for large poultry companies.
Congress	2026-03-12	Senators Welch and Collins led a bipartisan call urging USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce to release FY25-26 cost-share funding, which is typically available in July, but farmers have not yet received their 2025 reimbursements. The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program and its current reimbursement levels were authorized in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, from July 2025. Since the initial letter, more have been sent across Congress and are getting attention in the press.
USDA	2026-03-04	Secretary Rollins signed SNAP restriction waivers for four new states, including Ohio. Effective October 1, 2026, Ohio SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase “sugar-sweetened beverages,” defined as any drink with caloric sweeteners (sugar, corn syrup, etc.) as the primary ingredient.
General Assembly	2026-03-03	Ohio Representatives David Thomas and Sarah Fowler Arthur introduced HB 733, which would expressly include the production of maple syrup and maple products in laws relating to agriculture.
White House	2026-02-18	An Executive Order was signed, directing the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of elemental phosphorus, a key ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides. In response, Representatives Massie and Pingree introduced the bipartisan No Immunity for Glyphosate Act (H.R. 7601).
Congress	2026-02-13	Representative GT Thompson, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, released draft farm bill text, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, in advance of scheduled markup by the committee in early March. It was passed out of committee on March 5.
USDA	2026-02-13	Secretary Rollins announced that the USDA would provide $1 billion through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, covering specialty crops and sugar, which weren’t covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program.
Congress	2026-01-28	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Opportunities in Organic Act supports organic and transitioning organic producers by increasing cost-share payments for certification, improving technical assistance availability for organic practices, strengthening organic supply chains, and providing funds for organizations that support producers transitioning to organic (S. 3717) (H.R. 7318).
USDA	2025-12-31	All USDA agencies and staff were directed by a memorandum to abide by new standardizations for grant and cooperative agreements for USDA funding.
USDA	2025-12-30	Secretary Rollins announces 2026 research and development priorities for the USDA, which include promoting soil health.
USDA	2025-12-17	A USDA Report from the Office of the Inspector General showed that from January to June 2025, more than 20,300 employees left the USDA, accounting for about one-fifth of its staff.
Congress	2025-12-15	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The EFFECTIVE (Enabling Farmer, Food worker, Environmental and Climate Targets through Innovative, Values-aligned, and Equitable) Food Procurement Act sets targets for USDA procurement of sustainable, equitably procured goods, establishes pilot program to create value-aligned USDA purchasing process, and provides technical support and grants to improve marketing opportunities for small-scale and underserved producers (S. 3471) (H.R. 6076).
Congress	2025-12-10	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Domestic Organic Investment Act makes USDA’s Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program permanent, which supports funding to strengthen organic supply chains, invest in domestic organic businesses, and help farmers and businesses expand and compete in today’s markets (S. 3427) (H.R. 6593).
USDA	2025-12-08	The $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program was announced, allocating $11 billion of Commodity Credit Corporation funds to commodity crops and $1 billion to specialty crops, with no specific timeline on the latter. View our statement on this here.
USDA	2025-12-08	The USDA provided a summary of feedback regarding its reorganization plans (announced 7/7/2025), sharing that “the overwhelming majority of comments (82%) expressed negative sentiment.”
General Assembly	2025-11-18	Ohio Representatives David Thomas and Bob Peterson introduced HB 575, the CAUV Uniformity Act, which proposes changes to Ohio’s Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) Program for farmland property taxes.
General Assembly	2025-11-18	Ohio Senators Paula Hicks-Hudson and Kent Smith introduced SB 329, which would prohibit road surface application of brine from oil and gas wells, which has the potential to contaminate farmland, soil, and water.
Congress	2025-11-12	The longest government shutdown in history came to an end with a funding deal that includes a yearlong farm bill extension.
Congress	2025-11-06	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Fair Credit for Farmers Act strengthens borrower rights for farmers and ranchers who use loan services through the FSA by offering loan payment deferrals, waiving fees for certain borrowers, limiting over-collateralization, eliminating term limits, improving transparency through appeals, and more (S. 3126) (H.R. 6169).
Congress	2025-11-04	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act encourages healthy soil management in perennial and agroforestry systems, increases technical assistance for farmers using these systems, and improves NRCS programs, like the Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (H.R. 5902).
General Assembly	2025-10-22	Ohio Representatives Terrence Upchurch and Josh Williams introduced HB 543, which would create a food desert elimination grant program.
General Assembly	2025-10-22	Ohio Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson introduced SB 305, which would fund SNAP and similar programs during a lapse in federal funds. (See also HB 502)
General Assembly	2025-10-08	Ohio Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson introduced SB 288, which would create the Ohio Food and Agriculture Policy Council.
General Assembly	2025-10-07	Ohio Representative Latyna Humphrey introduced HB 502, which would fund SNAP and similar programs during a lapse in federal funds. (See also SB 305)
General Assmbly	2025-09-29	Ohio Representatives Kellie Deeter and Levi Dean introduced HB 406, which would regulate the sale of raw milk.
USDA	2025-09-20	The USDA terminates the Food Insecurity Survey, citing redundancy.
Congress	2025-09-15	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act directs FSA to develop a multi-year operating loan pilot for beginning farmers to finance start-up costs like building business infrastructure for crop records, acquiring small equipment, investing in practices to increase soil fertility, and more (S. 2797) (H.R. 5367).
Congress	2025-07-29	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act creates a program to have cooperative agreements between the USDA and eligible units of government (States, Tribes, territories) to purchase minimally or unprocessed local food from small, mid-sized, beginning, or veteran producers, to be distributed to organizations (H.R. 4782). Cosponsored by Ohio Rep. Max Miller
Congress	2025-07-24	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Biochar Research Network Act establishes a National Biochar Research Network to study biochar’s ability to bolster economic and agricultural benefits (S. 2450) (H.R. 4764).
Congress	2025-07-24	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields (O Dairy) Act invests in infrastructure, innovation, and improved data collection to support organic dairy farmers with greater resilience and long-term viability (S. 2442).
Congress	2025-07-17	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Strengthening Local Food Security Act creates a permanent grant program for state and tribal governments to procure local foods for distribution in schools and food access programs, prioritizing purchases from small, mid-sized, beginning, veteran, and underserved fishers, farmers, and ranchers (S. 2338).
USDA	2025-07-15	Secretary Rollins announced the termination of the Regional Food Business Centers program, which provided assistance to over 5,000 farms and businesses nationwide.
USDA	2025-07-10	The USDA will no longer use the “socially disadvantaged” designation, citing that “past discrimination has been sufficiently addressed and that further race- and sex- based remedies are no longer necessary.”
General Assembly	2025-07-09	Ohio Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson introduced SB 233, which would create the Ohio Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force.
USDA	2025-07-06	Secretary Rollins announced the reorganization of the USDA, including the closure of several offices, the relocation of more than 2,600 employees, and the continued leverage of voluntary resignation, separation, and early retirement programs. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will realign to be based in five new hub locations in North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Colorado, and Utah.
Congress	2025-07-04	President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. OEFFA believes that this is status-quo policy that does not serve our farmers and risks the farm bill coalition.
Governor	2025-07-01	Governor Mike DeWine signed HB 65, the Agriculture Appreciation Act, into law, officially designating the second full week of November as “Ohio Soil Health Week.” This was a legislative win for OEFFA and our Ohio Soil Health Initiative.
USDA	2025-06-30	The USDA announced the agency will pause accepting applications under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), regardless of funding source.
Congress	2025-06-24	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Organic Dairy Data Collection Act enhances data collection at the USDA to better understand the costs associated with producing organic milk (H.R. 4110).
USDA	2025-06-17	The USDA announced the cancellation of more than 145 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) focused awards totaling nearly $150 million.
Congress	2025-05-20	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act prohibits anti-competitive behavior by preventing checkoff programs from paying agriculture lobbyists and banning activities that involve a conflict of interest or deceptive practices (S. 1848) (H.R. 3516).
General Assmbly	2025-05-14	Ohio Senator Tim Schaffer introduced SB 201, which would revise the milk inspection fees and require large agricultural commodity handlers to execute a surety bond in case of failure.
General Assembly	2025-05-13	Ohio Representatives Justin Pizzulli and Monica Robb Blasdel introduced HB 272, which would prohibit the use of certain food dyes and additives, the intentional addition of PFAS in various products, and the release of substances into the atmosphere for certain purposes.
Congress	2025-04-29	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025 sets a net-zero goal for agriculture by 2040 by focusing on policy areas around research, soil health, farmland preservation and viability, pasture-based livestock, on-farm renewable energy, and food loss and waste (S. 1507) (H.R. 3077).
Congress	2025-04-29	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Strengthening Local Processing Act addresses critical livestock supply chain issues by promoting competitive agricultural markets, investing in economic development, supporting small meat and poultry processing plants, and promoting training programs that bolster community and food system resilience (S. 1509) (H.R. 3076)
USDA	2025-04-14	The USDA announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) Program, sharing that the agency was reforming it into the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative. OEFFA was a recipient of some of that PCSC funding, funneled through the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) program.
Congress	2025-04-11	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act makes strategic investments in organic agriculture research and creates and increases tools, funding, and services to meet the growing demand for organic products and keep organic dollars circulating in regional communities (S. 1385) (H.R. 5703).
Congress	2025-04-09	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Organic Imports Verification Act (OIVA) increases residue testing for organic feedstuffs to address concerns about fraudulent imports in the organic grain sector (S. 1398).
Congress	2025-04-01	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The New Producer Economic Security Act directs FSA to establish a pilot project to resource locally led, community-based projects that address challenges of land, capital, and market access for the next generation of farmers and ranchers (S. 1237) (H.R. 2536).
General Assembly	2025-03-31	Ohio Representatives Tristan Rader and Desiree Tims introduced HB 174, which would establish a program to refund SNAP recipients who have been victims of electronic theft or fraud.
Congress	2025-03-27	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act creates an on-ramp from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Protection (NAP) program, in addition to several improvements and discounts to expand NAP enrollment (S. 1271) (H.R. 2435).
Congress	2025-03-10	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Farm Ownership Improvement Act makes farm loans more accessible for producers by launching pilot program for pre-qualification or pre-approval for USDA Direct Farm Ownership Loans (S. 910).
USDA	2025-03-07	The USDA sent 60-day termination notices to nationwide administrators of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement.
White House	2025-02-26	Executive Order 14222 was issued, giving all federal agencies 30 days to review all existing contracts and grants —and subsequently modify or terminate them based on any misalignment with the Administration’s priorities.
General Assembly	2025-02-25	Ohio Representatives Jennifer Gross and Latyna Humphrey introduced HB 134, which authorizes the production and sale of certain homemade foods under a microenterprise home kitchen operation registration.
General Assembly	2025-02-25	Ohio Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson introduced SB 120, which would establish the Urban Farmer Youth Initiative Pilot Program and exempt temporary greenhouses from statutes governing the construction and condition of buildings and related rules adopted by the Board of Building Standards.
USDA	2025-02-20	The Secretary of Agriculture announced the release of $20 million (of $5.7 billion in total obligated funding) in frozen IRA-funded farmer contracts.
USDA	2025-02-14	The USDA issued a statement outlining actions to eliminate positions at the department, including the termination of thousands of employees across the National Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, and others under the USDA umbrella.
White House	2025-01-27	The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo establishing a widespread freeze on federal loan and grant spending for “foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI initiatives, gender-affirming services, and the green new deal.” The next day a lawsuit was filed by a collection of nonprofits, resulting in a temporary retraining order to stop the memo from going into effect.
Congress	2025-01-23	OEFFA-ENDORSED MARKER BILL: The Withstanding Extreme Agricultural Threats by Harvesting Economic Resilience (WEATHER) Act develops an index-based insurance policy that is more responsive to crop and income losses as a result of extreme weather (S. 231).
White House	2025-01-20	Executive Order 14154 was issued, immediately pausing the disbursement of funds appropriated through the IRA. Agencies were given 90 days to review and submit reports on all grants, loans, contracts, or other financial disbursements related to the “Green New Deal.”

OEFFA-Endorsed Marker Bills

The farm bill is an omnibus bill, meaning that it’s a massive piece of legislation that’s made up of smaller bills that cover a variety of related topics. Because of its scale, it’s easy for ideas to get lost. This is where marker bills come in.

Not intended to pass as standalone bills, marker bills are introduced to get the attention of lawmakers and amass collective support for an idea. They’re like the building blocks of larger bills. Oftentimes, the goal of a marker bill is inclusion in an omnibus bill, like the farm bill.

We continue to await a full farm bill after the 2018 Farm Bill was extended a third time in 2025, and we are following the new farm bill’s movement on our blog. With each new Congress, marker bills from previous years must be reintroduced. The above table includes OEFFA-endorsed marker bills that have been rewritten, reintroduced, or newly produced for the next farm bill. Stay tuned—we’ll continue to update the Ag Policy Tracker as more are introduced!

Entities that Influence Agricultural Policy

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): The USDA shapes agricultural policy through the implementation of the farm bill, regulation of food labeling and safety, administration of conservation programs, collection of research data, establishment and enforcement of regulations and standards, and oversight of financial, technical, and risk management assistance. All agencies (including the USDA) are part of the executive branch of government and function at the federal, state, and county levels.
• Congress: Members of the Senate and House of Representatives, known collectively as Congress, influence agricultural policy through the passage of the farm bill roughly every five years, the annual appropriations process, individual legislation, and USDA oversight. As the entity responsible for creating laws, Congress is considered the legislative branch. 
• White House: Each White House/president/administration can influence agricultural policy through executive actions, agency directives, administrative appointments, budgetary proposals that outline spending priorities for USDA programs, regulatory decisions, trade negotiations, and priority-setting that influences farm conservation, subsidies, and disaster relief. The White House is part of the executive branch. 
• Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA): The ODA shapes agricultural policy at the state level by regulating food safety, setting standards for livestock and environmental stewardship, managing farmland preservation, collaborating with local districts to enforce conservation rules and protect water quality, and awarding grants to strengthen the food supply chain and promote economic development.   
• General Assembly: The Ohio General Assembly influences farm policy primarily through legislation and state budget appropriations. It may also create regulatory bodies that manage agriculture, land use, and water quality. The General Assembly also oversees the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program and its tax incentives for qualified farmland. 
• Governor: The Ohio Governor may influence farm policy through their executive-led environmental initiatives (like H2Ohio), the signing of relevant legislation into law, and key cabinet appointments (especially the Director of Agriculture).
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA may influence agricultural policy through pesticide laws and the establishment and enforcement of environmental regulations that direct how farmers use inputs, manage waste, and emit greenhouse gases.
• Judicial Branch: The judicial branch primarily influences food and farm policy through its interpretation of laws and review of relevant USDA and EPA regulations and compliance. Courts also serve as a check on the power of the executive branch.