Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, has announced that the Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 agriculture funding bill. The legislation is intended to support farmers, ranchers, agriculture research, and rural communities.

“This legislation invests in our farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” said Hoeven. “We prioritized funding essential tools for our producers like better access to capital and provisions to help protect against pests and diseases like the avian flu and chronic wasting disease. We also make important investments in agriculture research to continue the good work of NDSU, Grand Farm and their partners. Ultimately, this legislation is about helping ensure the success of our farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses.”

The bill allocates nearly $2.5 million for the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University (NDSU), which brings total funding for this initiative since FY2024 to almost $6.5 million. Additionally, $5 million is provided for an AgTech Cooperative Agreement involving Grand Farm, NDSU, and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Of that amount, $2 million will go toward establishing an ARS work site at Grand Farm. Another $3 million is set aside for ongoing renovations at the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo.

Funding is also included to meet demand for direct and guaranteed operating and ownership loans through the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The bill continues a prohibition on closing FSA county offices.

Resources are allocated so ranchers can comply with new electronic identification tag requirements from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This measure follows efforts last year when Senator Hoeven secured an additional 3 million EID tags to prevent unfunded mandates on U.S. ranchers.

The legislation provides $500,000 aimed at blackbird depredation in the Northern Great Plains region. It empowers APHIS to defend livestock against diseases such as avian influenza and chronic wasting disease while supporting continued CWD research at ARS.

To improve cattle market transparency and competitiveness, $1 million will continue Senator Hoeven’s cattle contract library pilot program; funding also remains available for enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act by the Agricultural Marketing Service.