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Sen. Pete Ricketts told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. Senate is making plans for a vote on the House-approved five-year Farm Bill and year-round E15 bill. In a tough market for farmers, a renewed Farm Bill could provide more stability to farmers and ranchers.
“Our farmers and ranchers deserve the certainty of a five-year Farm Bill,” Ricketts said. “While we were able to get a lot of things done in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill we passed last year, we still got more work to do with regard to the Farm Bill.”
Biofuels are also on the table for the Senate. The House passed a standalone bill last Wednesday allowing 15% ethanol gasoline to be used year-round across the country. E15 supporters say expanding ethanol access could create more demand for corn and ease rising gas prices due to the war with Iran.
“This homegrown energy saves consumers money at the pump,” Ricketts said. “It helps farmers get better prices for their corn and soybeans, and it's good for our environment. Biofuels also contribute to American energy independence.”
Attach, detach, reattach?
Ricketts said he and Sen. Deb Fischer have been working to find the Senate votes the E15 bill needs and creating a timeline with Senate leadership. He said the Senate rarely takes up standalone bills, and they are looking to attach it to other legislation.
“The Farm Bill may be one of those vehicles we attached this E15 bill to,” Ricketts said.
The House opted to separate the E15 bill from the Farm Bill before sending it to the Senate due to backlash and cross-party infighting.
Rep. James McGovern of Massachusetts criticized Republicans for the decision, concerned that a standalone bill would allow the Senate to ignore it.
“You insisted you fought to get [E15] attached to the Farm Bill, and now we have a rule that will unattach it to the Farm Bill,” McGovern said during floor debate last Thursday. “I don’t understand why you-flip-flopped on this issue, but you can explain that to your farmers.”
The bill would also increase the national debt by $2.3 billion from 2026-2036, according to a Congressional Budget Office report. President Donald Trump told Iowans at a rally earlier this year that he would sign an E15 bill if it comes to his desk.
Ricketts said the deadline for the Senate to take up the Farm Bill is Sept. 30.
Market report
The U.S. House passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 on April 30. Some are concerned the bill won’t help farmers who are facing rising input costs and low commodity prices, such as National Farmers Union President Rob Larew.
“Farm bill policy must evolve to meet the realities of today’s economy, and while this bill provides some needed certainty, it does not fully address what is at stake,” Larew wrote in a statement.
Others say it will meet the moment.
“It’s a step up from what we had in 2018,” 2nd District Rep. Don Bacon told reporters after the bill’s passage. “It’s much improved from the status quo.”
While not perfect, Nebraska Farmer’s Union President John Hansen said any congressional movement on a Farm Bill is a good step.
“Nebraska family farmers and ranchers are currently facing one more year of the toughest financial challenges since the 1980s farm crisis,” Hansen told Nebraska Public Media News. “We need a Farm Bill that deals with the 2026 economic realities we are facing today. We were hoping for more substantial improvements.”
The One Big Beautiful Bill, now nicknamed the “Working Families Tax Cuts,” did include some provisions on farm aid, crop insurance, disaster assistance, conservation and research funding. Many parts of the Farm Bill are speciality or standalone provisions not covered by the Working Families Tax Cuts.
Many Democrats in the House opposed the Farm Bill on grounds that legislators did not attempt to reverse Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cuts and restrictions.
Trade policy in and out of the Farm Bill could also influence U.S. markets.
After the President’s visit to Beijing this month, China is expected to buy at least $17 billion in U.S. agriculture goods over the next three years. This is a positive, said Ricketts, but he noted that China has gone back on trade deals in the past.
“It will require strong leadership from this administration and future administrations to hold Communist China to its commitments for our ag communities, but we also shouldn't provide China with outsized leverage,” he said.
Ricketts introduced the MARKET Act this week, which would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative to annually assess markets for American-grown goods disrupted by trade disputes and "mitigate potential threats” from China.
“We need to continue to export Nebraska and American products around the globe to de-risk Nebraskans from Communist China's markets and unfair trade practices and open the door for more trading partners,” Ricketts said.