If you own or operate agricultural land in Washington state, the Farm Bill may seem like something that happens a long way from the farm in Washington, D.C. However, the decisions being made there can eventually have a very real impact on farms, ranches, orchards, and rural communities here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Farm Bill is comprehensive federal legislation that establishes policy for agriculture, conservation, nutrition, forestry, rural development, and a number of other programs. Traditionally, Congress takes up a new Farm Bill about every five years.

For farmers and landowners, some of the most important areas include crop insurance and risk management, commodity programs, agricultural credit, conservation programs, specialty crops, research, rural development, and programs for beginning farmers and ranchers.

Where Does the 2026 Farm Bill Stand?

As of late September, Congress is actively working on a new Farm Bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on April 30. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its version, the Agricultural Act of 2026, on September 16.

The two versions are not identical, so work still needs to be done before a final Farm Bill can become law. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman has indicated that negotiations with the House are expected to move forward this fall.

For agricultural producers and landowners, that makes right now a good time to start paying attention- not just to whether a Farm Bill passes, but to what ultimately ends up in it.

Why Does This Matter in Washington?

Washington agriculture is extremely diverse.

We have dryland wheat farms, cattle ranches, irrigated farms, orchards, vineyards, specialty crops, and timberland. The economics of operating each type of property are different, but federal agricultural policy can touch nearly all of them in one way or another.

Current 2026 Farm Bill proposals address subjects including crop insurance, agricultural credit, conservation, specialty crops, drought, research, and rural development. The Senate proposal, for example, includes changes intended to improve risk-management programs, expand assistance for specialty-crop producers, modernize conservation programs, and provide additional flexibility during drought. 

Those are not abstract issues when you own agricultural property.

Conservation Programs Can Affect the Land

One area I believe landowners should watch closely is conservation. Programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, commonly known as CRP, are particularly important in parts of Eastern Washington.

When evaluating agricultural property, CRP acreage is not simply ground that happens to be out of production. A buyer needs to understand the contract, annual payments, expiration date, conservation requirements, and what options may exist when the contract expires.

The same applies to other conservation programs. Participation can provide benefits to the landowner and the resource, but it can also create obligations that need to be understood when property changes hands. These programs can be shaped by the Farm Bill, so landowners currently enrolled in conservation programs or thinking about enrolling should keep an eye out for changes to these programs.

Risk Management Is Part of Land Ownership

Farming has always involved risk.

Weather, drought, commodity prices, input costs, and changing markets can dramatically affect an operation from one year to the next. Crop insurance and other risk-management programs cannot eliminate those risks, but they can play an important role in helping agricultural operations manage them.

That matters to landowners even when they are not personally farming the property. A financially healthy tenant, for example, is important to the long-term stability of an investment farm. Programs that affect the operator’s ability to manage risk can therefore have an indirect impact on the landowner as well.

Washington’s Specialty Crops Deserve Attention

Specialty crops are another area worth watching closely.

Washington is home to significant orchard, vineyard, and specialty-crop production. These operations have very different risks and capital requirements than many traditional commodity farms. Current Farm Bill proposals include provisions directed specifically toward specialty-crop producers, including risk-management and other agricultural programs.

For owners with orchards and other permanent plantings, these issues are especially important because the investment in the land goes far beyond the underlying acreage. Trees, irrigation systems, water, labor availability, infrastructure, production history, and market access all contribute to the economics of the property.

What Does the Farm Bill Mean for Land Values?

The Farm Bill does not determine what a farm or ranch is worth. Agricultural real estate is much more complicated than that. Soils, water rights, productivity, location, improvements, leases, commodity markets, interest rates, development pressure, and buyer demand can all influence value.

However, agricultural policy can affect the economics of operating the land. And over time, anything that materially affects agricultural income, expenses, or risk can become part of the bigger picture when buyers and sellers evaluate agricultural property.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming months, my articles will take a closer look at individual portions of the Farm Bill and, more importantly, what they could mean for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners here in Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

We’ll look at subjects including CRP and conservation programs, crop insurance, drought provisions, specialty crops, agricultural credit, and programs affecting the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

My goal isn’t to tell anyone what to think about the 2026 Farm Bill. It’s to take a complicated piece of legislation and look at it from a practical perspective: What does it mean for the people who farm, ranch, own, and invest in the land? If you have questions about the Farm Bill, please reach out to me at BlaineB@NationalLand.com or find your local Land Professional here!