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Following the longest shutdown in the history of the United States federal government, a long-awaited and highly debated funding package, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, was signed into law on November 12, 2025.
The legislation provides a full year of agriculture and FDA funding for FY26 Appropriations, along with a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, in lieu of the long-overdue five-year farm bill. The bill makes significant funding adjustments for key agricultural agencies and programs, many at lower levels than Land Core’s prior recommendations to strengthen support for soil health.
Dear friends and colleagues,
Last week, the government finally ended a history-making 43-day shutdown, allowing USDA and other government agencies to resume providing critical services to American farmers and ranchers. While economically distressed farmers still face a rocky path to recovery, the funding package provides a full year of Agriculture and FDA funding, and a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, in lieu of the long-overdue five-year farm bill.
Dear friends and colleagues,
As we move deeper into fall, under the shadow of the government shutdown, the landscape of federal policy is shifting with substantial challenges for American producers. Now into its third week, funding for programs critical to soil health remains on hold.
Dear friends and colleagues,
Throughout the summer, Congress continued to introduce (and reintroduce) a variety of agricultural legislation with both direct and indirect implications for soil health. While tensions between political parties grew following the signing of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, 2025, bipartisan efforts to advance soil health-focused legislation remained ongoing.
Land Core previously identified four key policy recommendations in response to the Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment released on May 22, 2025. We noted that any public policy to address the chronic disease crisis and increasing nutrition insecurity should consider the soil from which food is grown.
Dear friends & colleagues, With a surprisingly busy summer behind us and harvest season well underway, the shifting weather serves as a natural reminder that we've entered the final quarter of 2025. Since our last newsletter, our team has been actively engaged in advancing soil health initiatives across the political spectrum. During August meetings on Capitol Hill, we attended a MAHA-inspired event on the Future of Farming at The Heritage Foundation, co-hosted with American Regeneration, underscoring the widespread political appeal of soil health and food systems that center human health.
Connect with us at one of these upcoming events!
Dear friends & colleagues,
Summer is a powerful reminder of the vitality and abundance that soil health brings to our landscapes and communities. During this time, the Land Core team has had the privilege of visiting partner farms that exemplify the transformative power of working with nature.
From the thriving, vertically-integrated systems of White Oak Pastures to the verdant fields of Matt Rales and Abigail Fuller’s new ranch in Ashland Oregon, our travels have taken us to the heart of soil health practices in action this month. These pioneering land stewards are more than just farmers, they are leading voices in a growing soil centered movement.
The connection between soil health and human health plays a pivotal, but often overlooked role in a wide variety of systemic health problems. A robust and growing body of evidence shows that biologically active, nutrient-rich soils yield more nutrient-dense foods, optimally supporting human health and development, while simultaneously building resilient food production systems. Any public policy to address the chronic disease crisis and increasing nutrition insecurity should consider the soil from which food is grown.
The reconciliation bill, which includes major changes to spending, taxation and the national deficit, also makes major adjustments to agriculture policy and programs, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating an additional $66 billion increase in farm program spending over 10 years.