Fertilizer costs, fuel demand, export markets dominate farm bill debate in House, Senate  

By Blair Shipp, American Soybean Association

Indiana soybean growers are in the middle of planting season, making decisions every day on inputs, marketing and risk, while ASA and its farmer leaders are in Washington working on many of the same issues. From fertilizer costs to fuel demand and export markets, those conversations are shaping the environment growers will be operating in long after this year’s crop is in the ground. 

That work has taken on added urgency in recent weeks as Congress moves forward on a new farm bill. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, by a bipartisan vote of 224-200, marking a significant step toward a new five-year framework for agriculture policy. 

Reaching that point required several days of negotiations in the House Rules Committee, where lawmakers worked through disagreements on a range of issues before bringing the bill to the floor. Debate stretched into the early hours as amendments were considered, including proposals tied to biofuels, livestock production standards and pesticide policy. 

Some of those issues were ultimately addressed outside of the final package. Provisions related to year-round E15 access were removed from the farm bill and considered separately, though that effort was later pulled from the floor and remains under discussion. 

An amendment allowing state-based livestock production standards was also not included in the final rule governing floor debate. 

Language tied to the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act was also removed during the amendment process. The proposal would reaffirm the role of the Environmental Protection Agency in establishing consistent pesticide labeling standards. Its removal reflects a broader shift in how pesticide policy is being debated in Washington, with increased attention from outside groups and a more complex legislative environment for agriculture. 

Connecting farm bill to the farm 

Even with those changes, the House-passed bill includes several provisions that connect directly back to decisions being made on the farm. The legislation provides investments in conservation programs, expands access to credit and supports precision agriculture. 

It also reauthorizes the BioPreferred Program and the Biorefinery Assistance Program, and includes provisions aimed at addressing challenges stemming from state-level animal welfare regulations. Authority for Food for Peace programs would also shift to the USDA. 

The focus now turns to the Senate, where Agriculture Committee leadership has signaled interest in taking up the bill, with a potential markup as early as June. As that process begins, differences between the House and Senate approaches are expected to emerge, particularly around the scope of the farm safety net, conservation funding and regional priorities. 

Beyond the farm bill, many of the same concerns growers are managing this season continue to be part of the conversation in Washington. 

Fertilizer availability and affordability remain a top issue. ASA and its farmer leaders are continuing to press for policies that improve competition and transparency in fertilizer markets, strengthen domestic production and address supply chain challenges that have contributed to price volatility. Ensuring reliable access to key inputs at reasonable prices remains central to that work. 

Renewable fuel policy is moving 

Renewable fuel policy is also moving forward, with direct implications for soybean demand. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency released updated Renewable Volume Obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard, outlining proposed volumes for conventional biofuels, advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel. 

For soybean growers, the biomass-based diesel category carries particular importance, as soybean oil remains a primary feedstock for renewable diesel. 

The proposed volumes come as domestic renewable diesel capacity has expanded in recent years, strengthening the connection between federal fuel policy and soybean markets. The rulemaking process will include a public comment period before final volumes are set, and ASA is engaged with EPA as that process continues. 

Trade remains another key piece of the picture. USDA has announced additional funding for trade promotion programs, reinforcing the role exports play in supporting demand for U.S. soy. At the same time, early discussions tied to the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement are beginning to take shape, with agriculture groups focused on maintaining strong market access. 

Taken together, the activity in Washington reflects many of the same factors growers are weighing on their operations today. As planting continues and the season unfolds, the policy decisions taking shape now will continue to influence the markets and conditions soybean growers face in the months ahead.