Hunters and anglers depend on strong Conservation and Forestry Titles, and TRCP will closely evaluate the bill’s impacts on habitat and access as it moves forward.
For hunters and anglers, the Farm Bill is one of the most important pieces of conservation legislation that Congress considers – and it’s long overdue. The bill helps support voluntary conservation programs on private lands, which make up the majority of wildlife habitat in this country. The connection is direct: the cover a pheasant needs, the wetland that holds ducks, the grass buffers that keep streams cold for trout, and access opportunities on working lands all trace back to Farm Bill conservation programs. While funding for several key conservation programs have been increased through budget reconciliation, the actual programs hunters and anglers care about have not been updated since 2018, and lapses of authority or funding have compromised both habitat and access
Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-Penn.), took a major step toward getting the Farm Bill process back on track by introducing his “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.” This bill will be considered by the House Agriculture Committee beginning on February 23, and if passed, may finally get a full floor vote this spring.
“After too long, it’s great to see momentum toward updating these critical programs,” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “The Farm Bill directly supports wildlife habitat and the hunting and fishing opportunities that depend on healthy working lands. We’d like to thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and Ag Committee members and staff from both parties for their commitment to getting the Farm Bill process back on track.”
For a Farm Bill to pass in this Congress, it will have to be bipartisan. For it to deliver for fish and wildlife, it will need strong Conservation and Forestry Titles. In the coming days, the TRCP and our partners will dig into the bill, evaluate its probable impacts on habitat and access, and work to ensure decision makers fully understand what is at stake for hunters and anglers. Look for a more detailed analysis of the bill’s content and impacts after it is debated by the Committee.
To learn more about how Farm Bill conservation programs support habitat and access for hunters and anglers, visit Farm Bill Conservation Programs | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Founded in 2002, the TRCP is the largest coalition of conservation organizations in the country, uniting and amplifying the voices of sportsmen and women by convening hunting and fishing groups, conservation organizations, and outdoor businesses to a common purpose.
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