Farm Bill - Call to Action

The 2026 Farm Bill is moving. Here's where things stand.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the Farm Bill in early May. The Senate has now followed suit: on June 23rd, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry released its draft of the 2026 Farm Bill — a major step toward getting a full bill to the floor.

Included in that draft is the International Agriculture Cultural Immersion & Exchange Program, language that supports international agricultural exchange and cross-cultural learning opportunities. The provision appears on page 213, section 3305, of Chairman Boozman's Discussion Draft, available at agriculture.senate.gov.

What happens next

With the draft released, attention turns to building support among Senators before a full Senate vote. Outreach will begin with members of the Senate Ag Committee and expand to the full Senate as the timeline progresses.

This page will track that progress, along with ways to get involved — including upcoming opportunities to contact your Senator and voice support for the program.

Preparing for what's next: USDA Grant Readiness

Farm Bill progress isn't the only place where IFYE is positioning itself for growth. In anticipation of a future USDA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), we're launching two related efforts to make sure IFYE is ready to compete for federal funding when the opportunity arrives.

Project Manager search

We're seeking a qualified IFYE alumnus/alumna or family member to serve as USDA Grant Readiness Team Project Manager — a part-time, paid position leading our preparation efforts, coordinating with the Readiness Team, and ensuring IFYE is positioned to submit a strong application once the NOFO is announced. A detailed position description is available on our website [here]. Interested candidates should submit a resume and three references by August 22. This opportunity is open first to IFYE alumni and family members and will only be opened to outside recruitment if no qualified candidates apply by the deadline. Please share this with anyone who might be a strong fit.

Readiness Team formation

Alongside the Project Manager search, we're forming the IFYE USDA Grant Readiness Team. Though the NOFO hasn't been published yet, now is the time to organize, assess our strengths, and prepare to respond quickly with a competitive proposal.

The Readiness Team will include five Work Groups and five Subcommittees, covering:

Program Design & Evaluation (Agricultural Education/International Exchange; Data Management & Research)
Fundraising and Development (Partnership Development)
Finance and Budgeting (Risk Management and Compliance)
Communication and Storytelling (Governmental Liaison)
Proposal Development for Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Click on the buttons below for more details regarding the USDA Readiness Team and how to get involved.

If you're unsure who your Representative or Senator is, visit Congress.gov to search for that information based on your address. Your search will display an address and phone number for your state representative and senators. In addition, please check the House Agricultural Committee and Senate Agricultural Committee membership listings to also send a letter to committee members from your state. We thank you in advance for your support and action, as it will be critical to gaining this financial assistance for IFYE.