Statement from NCFC President and CEO Duane Simpson on Release of Draft Farm Bill

Washington, D.C. (February 13, 2026) - The following is a statement from Duane Simpson, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), regarding the release of the House Agriculture Committee's draft Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026:

"The release of a draft farm bill is an important and welcome step forward for farmers, co-ops, and rural America. Finishing the farm bill process started in last year's reconciliation is overdue, and we appreciate Chairman Thompson's leadership in moving this process ahead.

"Farmer co-ops rely on strong risk management tools, effective conservation and trade programs, and policies that support investment and innovation across rural communities. This draft reflects meaningful progress in a number of areas that matter to our members and reauthorizes a number of critical programs left out the reconciliation process.

"As the House Agriculture Committee moves toward markup later this month, we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and hope to see amendments considered and approved on issues that are particularly important to farmer cooperatives.

"NCFC remains committed to supporting a strong, bipartisan farm bill that gives farmers and the cooperatives they own the certainty they need to plan, invest, and continue feeding and fueling the country."

About NCFC

Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America's farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which in turn consist of more than 1,600 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also includes state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.

America's farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing.

Learn more at https://www.ncfc.org.

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