Summary:

• Farm Bill: Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) is expected to introduce the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill on Tuesday, June 23. The Committee is expected to mark up the legislation in July. The House passed their version of the Farm Bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567) in April. Stay tuned for IFAI’s analysis of the Senate Farm Bill text! 

• Personnel Changes: Patrick Penn, USDA’s Deputy Undersecretary for Nutrition, is leaving his post to take over as Director of USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations. 

• USDA Reorganization: News details have been reported on USDA staff relocation timelines. According to the Federal News Network, staff at the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will have until July 8 to accept reassignment and must report to their new office in September. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) staff have until June 30 to accept reassignment, though a deadline for relocation has not yet been provided. USDA also announced plans to reorganize Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Rural Development to “improve operational efficiency” but has provided no additional information. IFAI will continue tracking impacts of reorganization on Indian Country. 

Upcoming Tribal Meetings:

Title of Event: FDPIR Tribal Leader Consultation Working Group.
About: This is the first consultation meeting of the Consultation Working Group for 2026, covering ongoing topics including program administration and policy updates, food package availability, procurement challenges, and funding levels. The meeting will be held in person with an option for virtual attendance. USDA’s consultation framing paper is available here. 

Date(s), Time, and Location:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST
NAFDPIR Annual Conference
Sheraton Niagara Falls
300 Third Street
Niagara Falls, NY, USA, 14303
Room TBD

All participants must register by June 22, 2026, HERE

Written comments must be submitted by July 23, 2026, to sm.fn.tribalaffairs@usda.gov

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Title of Event: FDPIR Produce Safety Training
About: This is a 2-day in-person training designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for FDPIR program operators and staff who are receiving, handling, and storing fresh produce. The training helps Tribes and State agencies properly assess and safely distribute fresh produce to program participants.

Date(s), Time, and Location:

• June 2026 (alongside the NAFDPIR Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, NY): REGISTER.

Congressional Updates: 

Looking Back:

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

Looking Ahead:

• Hearing: House Agriculture Committee- Wed. June 24 at 10:00 a.m. ET 

Topic: Farm Safety Net, Disaster, and Conservation Programs 

• Markup: House Natural Resource Committee- Wed. June 24 at 10:30 a.m. ET 

Topic: H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250” 

• Hearing: House Agriculture Committee– Thurs. June 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET 

Topic: Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest System 

• Hearing: Senate Appropriations Committee- Thurs. June 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET 

Topic: Full Committee Markup of Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Bill 

• Hearing: House Natural Resource Committee– Thurs. June 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET 

Topic: Mineral Resources 

Nominations:

APHIS seeks nominations for the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) General Conference Committee 

Description: The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) General Conference Committee is accepting nominations for members and alternates from three regions: South Atlantic, West North Central, and South Central. The Committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture on poultry health and plans the NPIP’s conference, which occurs every two years. Members are selected by a majority vote of NPIP delegates from each region.  

Deadline: Nominations must be received by June 30, 2026. 

Regulatory Updates:

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) 

• Agency implicated: Farm Service Agency 

• Type of action: Notice & Request for Comments 

• Summary: FSA is requesting comments to inform changes to their Emergency Conservation Program and Biomass Crop Assistance Program. The collected information is used to determine eligibility, document technical need, establish cost-share agreements, certify completion of approved conservation or biomass-related practices, and issue payments. Tribes and producers who have experienced natural disasters and major storm activity leading to catastrophic damage may be interested in submitting comments. This collection of information will help assess the extent of damage to individual and organizational agricultural producers, and budget allocations can be made accordingly. 

• Deadline: Comments may be submitted on or before August 14, 2026. 

 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Training, Notification and Recordkeeping  

• Department/agency implicated:  Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Management and Budget 

• Type of action: Notice – Information Collection Request 

• Summary: Agricultural employers and commercial pesticide handling establishments are responsible for providing required training, notifications and information to their employees to ensure worker and handler safety. This request for comment asks whether the current Worker Protection Standards (including the training, notification, and recordkeeping requirements) are adequate. This is an extension of a request that was originally published on November 18, 2025.   

• Deadline: Comments may be submitted on or before July 22, 2026.