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Makes funding for the Geographically Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher (GDFR) program mandatory and specifies annual Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding levels for FY2026–FY2031 and thereafter. It removes the prior “subject to the availability of funds” language and generally prevents the Secretary of Agriculture from imposing payment limits for eligible geographically disadvantaged applicants when the CCC funding specified is sufficient to cover all approved applications.
Amends Section 1621 (7 U.S.C. 8792), subsection (b), by striking the words "Subject to the availability of funds under subsection (d), the Secretary" and inserting "The Secretary".
Revises subsection (c)(3) subparagraph (B) to state that the Secretary may not impose a limitation on the amount of payments received by a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher under this section for any fiscal year in which the amount made available for payments under this section is equal to or greater than the amount that may be provided in accordance with this section with respect to applications received by the Secretary for that fiscal year.
Mandates use of Commodity Credit Corporation funds to carry out this section in the amount of $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
Mandates use of Commodity Credit Corporation funds to carry out this section in the amount of $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
Mandates use of Commodity Credit Corporation funds to carry out this section in the amount of $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
Primary impacts:
Geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers: Direct beneficiaries. They gain greater certainty that program payments will be made up to their approved amounts when the statutory CCC funds are sufficient, and they face less risk that payments will be reduced or limited because funds were judged "not available." This should increase program uptake and reduce applicant uncertainty.
USDA (Secretary of Agriculture): Administrative responsibility remains, but the Department must apply the prohibition on payment limits when the statutory CCC funds cover approved requests. USDA will also plan for predictable annual CCC outlays under the new schedule.
Federal budget and CCC: The change creates mandatory CCC funding obligations for FY2026 onward at set levels. That increases predictable federal spending through the CCC; the precise budgetary effect depends on program demand and whether the CCC amounts are fully expended each year.
Rural and agricultural communities: May see improved access to program benefits supporting farm viability in geographically disadvantaged areas, potentially aiding local economies.
What is not affected:
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced May 14, 2025 by Mazie Hirono · Last progress May 14, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate