Released: March 27, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives from the United States Peanut Federation (USPF) traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to advocate for U.S. peanut industry priorities. During the trip, USPF representatives met with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, as well as senior agricultural staff and Administration officials, to engage in discussions on current economic conditions, trade markets, and nutrition opportunities.

H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or commonly referred to as “Farm Bill 2.0,” was recently approved by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. This legislation builds upon the traditional Farm Bill provisions included in last year’s final passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). USPF enjoyed meeting with the Members of Congress who were involved in securing key peanut priorities in these two legislative initiatives.

Additionally, USPF representatives shared updates on the state of the peanut farm economy, including current cost of production and estimated financial losses for the 2026 crop year. As the financial condition continues to be proven unsustainable for Southeast farms, USPF heard from Members of Congress on the potential for additional agricultural economic assistance payments this year. Although payments from the 2026 Farmer Bridge Assistance program have helped, there is still a significant gap to fill before and after the OBBBA safety net payments are disbursed this fall.

“Peanut producers are struggling during these challenging economic times and are in urgent need of support. We appreciate the conversations with leaders in Washington, D.C. who are willing to assist us in finding solutions for our farmers. We look forward to working with Congress and USDA to strengthen the U.S. peanut industry’s future,” said Taylor Arnold, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission.

“We appreciate our friends in Congress listening to the concerns of the U.S. peanut industry and working with us to find solutions to our current economic situation,” said Chris Chammoun, executive director of the American Peanut Shellers Association.

“We once again appreciate the opportunity to meet with our representatives, and for their continued focus on supporting one of America’s greatest assets- a secure and nutritious food supply. We also are grateful in their listening to current economic challenges and future actions in keeping the U.S. agricultural supply chain viable for decades to come,” said Jamie Brown, USPF chairman.

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The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. USPF serves as a unified voice in Washington, D.C. for all sectors of the peanut industry and advocates actively for strong agricultural policy. For additional information, contact Lorene Parker at (202) 543-7464 or by emailing lparker@reddingfirm.com.