Senate Farm Bill Failure Spotlights Broken System

LITTLE ROCK (August 6,2026) — Arkansas U.S. Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner released the following statement after the failure of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to advance the Farm Bill on August 6, 2026, on an 11–10 vote.

“American farmers and families deserved better than what happened today in the Ag Committee. To be fair, we've deserved better for a long time. Ever since the last Farm Bill expired in 2023, it’s been a patchwork of temporary extensions instead of a real reauthorization.

“Agriculture is Arkansas's largest industry, and it is collapsing. We are also the hungriest state. Today’s vote forced the choice between badly needed farm assistance and ensuring our most vulnerable have access to food. 

“It was perhaps the perfect illustration of how broken the system is. Not one hungry kid or farmer facing bankruptcy who has to live with the outcome had a say in creating this bill. 

“To be clear, this Farm Bill is insufficient. But it is something. Had I been on that committee today, I would have voted to advance it because ‘something’ matters when it comes to crop insurance, conservation funding, and safety net programs to keep a farm in business. And I would have continued to fight to restore funding for food assistance programs that serve children, seniors and people with disabilities. 

“Arkansans deserve a Senator who will fight for them and hold colleagues accountable to negotiate a real Farm Bill that builds a prosperous farm economy, keeps farm families financially whole, and puts fresh, healthy, affordable food on our tables and in our kids' school cafeterias.”