Why It Matters

The House Agriculture Committee examined tools for increasing demand for domestic agricultural products in the United States and abroad in the hearing “Increasing Demand and Opportunities for Homegrown Products Here and Abroad” on Sept. 16. A Democratic opening statement challenged administration actions involving USAID, trade, nutrition assistance and farm costs, and the completed proceeding produced testimony and member questions, but no documented bill, markup, authorization or enactment.

The Big Picture

In an opening statement, Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) said the hearing would address agriculture programs, policies and tools for increasing demand for homegrown products domestically and internationally.

Thompson said the House passed a farm bill in April and that he expected the Senate to act on it. He also mentioned the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, year-round E-15 legislation, modernized commodity payments and the BioPreferred Program.

Agri-Pulse reported that members discussed domestic markets, exports, labor, processing capacity and new uses for farm commodities. The hearing featured specialty-crop producers, row-crop producers, bio-based-product producers, cattle producers and timber operators.

What They're Saying

Thompson opened the hearing by emphasizing long-term demand growth for American producers. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN.), ranking member, delivered a contrasting opening statement.

Craig said the administration had ended USAID and canceled programs that purchased food from local farmers for schools and communities. She said USAID had previously purchased approximately $2 billion worth of U.S.-grown agricultural products annually.

Craig also said the administration prioritized 300,000 metric tons of Argentine and Brazilian beef while U.S. ranchers rebuilt the domestic herd. She said small producers were selling calves for $300 to $400 less than a few months earlier, and that farm diesel prices were up to $6.31 per gallon. She also said 15,000 farms had been lost in the preceding year and Midwest farm bankruptcies had increased by 70% over the past year.

During the hearing, the International Fresh Produce Association advocated economic assistance for specialty-crop growers, workforce reform, stronger federal nutrition programs and expanded market access. It also supported Thompson’s Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act and called for continued investment in export programs.

Chad Franke, president of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, characterized the Senate farm bill as “more of the same,” according to Western Ag Network. The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) argued that past policy contributed to reliance on unreliable export markets and a loss of domestic processing capacity.

Political Stakes

The hearing put competing approaches to agricultural demand and farm support on the same record. Thompson highlighted House-passed measures and programs, while Craig focused on administration actions and reported economic pressures facing producers.

Agricultural groups have asked Congress to double funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program. The programs receive $200 million and $34.5 million annually, respectively, according to the cited program overview.

The USDA agricultural trade outlook for the second quarter of 2026 expressed renewed optimism after U.S.-China agricultural trade discussions. The outlook associated that optimism with expanded market access for American beef, while Mexico and Southeast Asia were described as helping offset weaker Chinese commitments in soy and other commodities.

The International Fresh Produce Association called for stable, predictable, rules-based trade relationships ahead of the USMCA review while the Plant Based Products Council said biobased products can strengthen critical supply chains.

Franke characterized the Senate farm bill as more of the same and an extension of bad farm and food policy, while RMFU argued that past policy contributed to reliance on unreliable export markets due to overproduction of core commodities and a loss of domestic processing capacity. Lawmakers and witnesses pointed to domestic markets, exports, labor, processing capacity and new uses for farm commodities as potential areas for growth.

The Bottom Line

The hearing focused on ways to strengthen demand for U.S. agricultural products, but no formal legislative action has been documented as resulting from the proceeding.

Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article