Summary:

• The markup of the recently released Farm Bill language has been postponed to March 3, 2026. 

• Federal Register notices to highlight this week include proposed rules from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding the Maximum Line Speed Rates for Chicken and Turkey Establishments and Maximum Line Speed Under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) also issued a notice about the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. 

• Check out our new General Policy Updates section! Updates will be posted for two consecutive Policy Briefs.  

• Find out about IFAI’s recent collaboration with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) on the Tribal Food Sovereignty Innovation Lab. This is an important resource at a time when more Tribal Nations are seeking pathways toward food independence.   

Outreach Calendar

General Policy Updates:

 Farm Bill Update

• The House Agriculture Committee released Farm Bill text on Feb. 13, 2026. The committee’s markup was originally scheduled to begin Feb. 23 but has been delayed until March 3 due to inclement weather.  

• The Farm Bill text includes some provisions impacting Tribes and Tribal producers. Highlights include –  

• Establishing a new 638 pilot demonstration project to enable Tribes to assume procurement of some foods in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a nutrition assistance program that serves low-income elders;  

• Directing the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to consider traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in future updates to conservation practice standards;  

• Making the Tribal Forest Management Demonstration project permanent, allowing Tribes to enter 638 agreements to administer certain forest management activities;  

• Establishing a new cooperative agreement program for States and Tribes to receive non-competitive funds to purchase local food and distribute to local communities. The program is similar to the popular Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) program, which was terminated last year;  

• Establishing a grant program for funding new, mobile, or innovative meat processing facilities in rural communities. Funds can also be used for cold storage; and  

• Allowing Tribes to retain revenue from timber sales under Good Neighbor Agreements, and to use funds for projects on Tribal lands, in addition to federal lands. 

• IFAI will publish more detailed analyses in the coming weeks. 

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings: 

There were no meetings relevant to Indian Country food or agriculture last week. 

Congressional Updates: 

There were no updates relevant to Indian Country food or agriculture last week. 

Looking Back:

 There were no hearings relevant to Indian Country food or agriculture last week. 

Looking Ahead:

There are no hearings relevant to Indian Country food or agriculture this week. 

Nominations:

Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC); Call for Nominations 

Description: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations for membership on the FRRCC, which provides policy, advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator. Advice and recommendations given by FRRCC members are of concern to farms, ranches, and rural communities. Further information about the FRRCC can be found HERE. 

Deadline: March 2, 2026. 

Nominations for the National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program 

Description: The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking nominations for individuals to represent subsistence users on the following Subsistence Resource Commissions (SRC): the Aniakchak National Monument SRC, the Cape Krusenstern National Monument SRC, the Denali National Park SRC, the Gates of the Arctic National Park SRC, the Kobuk Valley National Park SRC, the Lake Clark National Park SRC, and the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park SRC. The SRCs hold meetings to develop NPS subsistence program recommendations and advise on related regulatory proposals and resource management issues. For example, advise on the subsistence of hunting programs, determine seasons and harvest limits, deal with proposed development in and adjacent to the park, and other like activities. 

Deadline: Nominations must be postmarked by March 9, 2026.

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultive Committee 

Description: The purpose of this body is to ensure that the interests of U.S. stakeholders are considered in the development of positions and policy relative to U.S. participation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). 

Deadline: Nominations will be accepted at any time.

Regulatory/Rule Making Actions:

Title: Maximum Line Speed Rates for Young Chicken and Turkey Establishments Operating Under the New Poultry Inspection System 

• USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a proposed rule amending regulations related to line speed rates for chicken and turkey establishments.  

• Proposed amendments include allowing young chicken establishments to operate at line speeds up to 175 birds per minute (bpm); increasing the maximum line speed for turkey establishments from 55 bpm to 60 bpm; and clarifying FSIS’ role in directing operations at reduced line speed.  

• Comments must be received by April 20, 2026 

Read More HERE 

Title: Maximum Line Speed Under the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS) 

• USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a proposed rule allowing establishments under the NSIS to have more control in determining their own line speeds. 

• Under this proposed rule, FSIS also proposes that its inspectors may reduce the rate of establishment operations in the slaughter process if it is perceived that there is a loss of process control.  

• The removal of the requirement for annual attestation to FSIS is also being proposed.  

• Comments must be received by April 20, 2026 

Read More Here 

Title: Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program  

• USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has issued a final rule to provide $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to American farmers for temporary market disruptions and increased production costs. 

• The FBA Program will use a uniform formula to cover a portion of losses during the 2025 crop year.  

• Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations are among the list of producers that may be eligible to receive payments. 

• The final rule takes effect on Feb. 23, 2026 

Read More Here