ICYMI: In The Bakersfield Californian Op-Ed, Sen. Schiff Pushes for a Farm Bill that Serves California’s Farmers

Schiff: "Farming families don't care about politics around these challenges. They just want solutions."

Read the full op-ed here.

Washington, D.C. - In case you missed it, today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the first California Senator to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in over 30 years, published an op-ed with The Bakersfield Californian calling for a Farm Bill that serves California's farmers. This follows the recent passage of the Farm Bill in the House which now awaits action in the Senate.

"I can't imagine a more challenging time to be in the agriculture industry. And everywhere I have traveled, I have always asked the same thing: What can I do to help? And the next chance to support this amazing industry that puts food on our table is through Congress's next Farm Bill," wrote Senator Schiff.

In his op-ed, Senator Schiff highlights the need to enact federal policy that addresses the mounting challenges farmers are facing, including a bill that reflects the uniqueness of California's specialty crop farmers, restores and strengthens nutrition programs, supports research investments, provides farmers with increased opportunities to succeed in their businesses, protects Proposition 12, and returns to humane immigration policies for our farmworkers.

Background: Earlier this month, Senator Schiff outlined his priorities for the next Farm Bill and his plans to push for a bill that reflects economic opportunity, health, sustainability, national security, and prosperity.

Read the full op-ed here and below:

The Bakersfield Californian: Community Voices: It's time for a Farm Bill that serves California's farmers

By U.S. Senator Adam Schiff

A year and half ago, I was appointed as California's first senator on the Senate Agriculture Committee in more than three decades. And in the time since, I've had a chance to travel up and down the state, sit down with farmers and farmworkers, and hear what is affecting them and their outlooks for the coming harvests.

I can't imagine a more challenging time to be in the agriculture industry. And everywhere I have traveled, I have always asked the same thing: What can I do to help? And the next chance to support this amazing industry that puts food on our table is through Congress's next Farm Bill.

Armed with the generous input of farming communities in the country's most productive state - and in one of California's most overlooked industries - I'm ready to fight for a Farm Bill that addresses the needs of farmers and families in California and across the country.

It's been eight years since Congress passed a Farm Bill, and the challenges farmers are facing have only gotten worse.

Extreme weather events, high input costs and the nature of farming itself make entering and staying in agriculture hard enough. And the administration's trade, immigration and foreign policies have left farmers needing more relief than ever.

The war with Iran has interrupted export markets, increased fertilizer costs, and the president's tariffs have caused tremendous loss of market share and reciprocal boycotts. And farmers and consumers are paying the price with high business and grocery costs.

Farming families don't care about politics around these challenges. They just want solutions.

I requested a seat on the Agriculture Committee last year because California hasn't had this representation for a long time, despite being the largest agricultural state in the United States, leading the way in specialty crops, growing nearly half of the nation's vegetables and over three-quarters of the country's fruits and nuts.

The needs of specialty crops are very different than those of the big commodity crops of the Midwest and the South. Ensuring that federal policy reflects the uniqueness of these crops, and provides equitable assistance to those who grow them, is a top priority.

Following the recent passage of the Farm Bill in the House, it now awaits action in the Senate.

This month I visited the Carranza Family Farm where I discussed with local farmers my priorities for the 2026 Farm Bill. My proposals were formed based on ongoing feedback I've gathered during my visits to farms up and down the state. From almond fields in the far north, to broccoli, celery and strawberry growers in the Central Coast, to watermelon fields in the Central Valley and alfalfa farmers in the Imperial Valley. From Republicans and Democrats and everyone in between.

As I fight to secure these priorities in the next Farm Bill, I'll be looking for opportunities to improve federal programs so they serve not just some, but all farmers. We must ensure that the unique challenges of specialty crop production are addressed through robust and tailored science, research, promotion and pest and disease mitigation.

Last year, the reconciliation bill made devastating cuts to SNAP and CalFresh - taking food away from families to pay for further tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations. I'll be fighting to reverse these cuts, along with bolstering federal programs to provide healthy, local food to schools and food banks.

I will also fight against any attempts to nullify California's Proposition 12. And I'll push to increase economic opportunities so that more farms and food businesses have access to more regions and markets to sell their products. Marketing assistance programs and those that do vital research into crop destroying pests and disease are another key priority.

Rural America is disproportionately impacted by health care shortages, and economic challenges. To level the playing field for rural communities, we must increase federal funding for programs that advance rural healthcare, infrastructure and business opportunities.

I will also keep fighting to enact pathways to citizenship for our farmworkers, and safe working and living conditions for them and their families.

None of this will be easy, and we may not get all of it done this year or in the upcoming Farm Bill. But by focusing on these important issues, we will uplift the needs of California's food and farm sector, so that moving forward, federal agriculture legislation serves all Californians.

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