February 20, 2026: Farm Bill Developments, Farmer Assistance and Swine Productivity Strategies
House Ag Committee releases new farm bill text, USDA headlines and a new report projecting more soybean acres in 2026 are some of this week’s top agriculture stories.
Today’s show breaks down what the latest “Farm Bill 2.0” proposal could mean for producers and shares reaction from ag groups, including the National Pork Producers Council, which expressed appreciation for language addressing California’s Proposition 12. USDA updates include a new $1 billion one-time assistance program for specialty crop and sugar growers, news that the number of U.S. farms declined by 15,000 in 2025 and expanded disaster payments for producers impacted by catastrophic drought, flooding and wildfires in 2023 and 2024. Additional headlines this week include a report forecasting steady growth in the U.S. agricultural equipment market and a new partnership between NASCAR and POET to promote zero-carbon bioethanol. In market news, a new CoBank report projects soybean acreage will increase nearly six percent to 86 million acres in 2026.
In this week’s interview, we discuss how pork producers are working to improve efficiency while maintaining strong animal welfare standards as they evaluate barn updates and expansion plans. Hyatt Frobose, North America commercial director at Jyga Technologies, shares insights on helping producers navigate renovation decisions amid policy pressures such as Proposition 12, while maintaining operational flexibility.
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