Photo by Daniel Olson Brad Finstad talks to AMPI Representatives Isaac Gridbel, left, and Theresa Raak as his event at the Fendt Lodge with AGCO Manufacturing

JACKSON – With the Farm, Food and National Security Act (Farm Bill) of 2026 having passed through the House of Representatives by a 224-200 vote, US House District 1 Representative Brad Finstad went to the Fendt Lodge with AGCO Engineering in Jackson on Thursday to meet with local leaders and celebrate the passing.

According to the House Committee on Agriculture, the bill has secured $338 million in savings on crop insurance, $2.1 billion in the safety net for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, and $49.4 million into the Voluntary Conservation program. The committee has the annual value of Minnesota Ag exports at $8.4 billion, and of Minnesota livestock at $9.4 billion.

Finstad gave a statement on the Farm Bill, its accomplishments and agriculture in rural communities, before speaking with several local officials.

“First and foremost, it was an opportunity for us to celebrate,” he said. “The folks that were here have been very helpful in writing the Farm Bill. We did 21 listening sessions in every county in southern Minnesota to make sure I was hearing what agriculture and rural community members wanted in a farm bill.”

In fact, Finstad said several of the officials who attended the celebration had attended those meetings and contributed ideas to the legislation.

To deliver on a farm bill for the people of southern Minnesota that has passed with a 24-person majority, Finstad said it is three years overdue.

“I’m just really happy that the hard work paid off,” he said. “We in farm country, in rural America, we need more certainty and hope now than ever. We have volatility in our input sides. We have our markets that have been stale, and things like Farm Bill legislation creates more hope and certainty, and that allows us to do what we’re really good at in southern Minnesota.”

Finstad said he has heard a lot of excitement from constituents regarding this new farm bill.

“A lot of ‘it’s about time,'” he said. “A lot of, I would just say, optimism, because there was a really big question mark of ‘Are we ever going to get it done?’ ‘Has the dynamics of Congress changed so it’s harder and harder to do this?’ I think the signal to the countryside is that there is certainty and that there is still an understanding of farming and agriculture in rural America matters to our country.”

From here, the bill goes to the Senate, where Finstad said representatives such as himself will continue to work.

“Making sure we work with our senators to understand what we have sent them,” he said. “To understand the urgency of us getting this done. Then we’ll see if, when they get their bill done, if there’s differences, and then we negotiate those out. Lot of communication with the Senate in the next weeks to come.”

AGCO Marketing Manager Billie McClellan said it was great to hear the support for farmers that Finstad exuded.

“It’s much needed,” she said. “Obviously, from all the things that were said today, everybody feels the frustration of how long it takes to push a bill like that through, so much appreciated that he stayed behind it and kept pushing.”

McClellan said that Jackson being chosen for an event like this made her very happy when she received the call.

“That’s the purpose of our Fendt building here, is to bring farmers together,” she said. “Bring farmers together with their implement dealers, with manufacturing, with the design engineers, just to keep that farmer need, desires and wants in the forefront of everything we do.”

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act can be viewed and followed for updates at congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7567.