U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and leader of the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and military construction funding, has secured investments for Arkansas in new federal legislation. The bill, signed into law by President Trump, provides full-year funding for several departments and agencies for Fiscal Year 2026, including the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and VA.
Key allocations in the legislation include $9,650,000 for the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center (DBNRCC) in Stuttgart to address storm damage repairs, facility improvements, and new equipment. The town of Etowah’s volunteer fire department will receive $413,000 to replace a fire truck.
“Delivering for Arkansas starts with supporting our agriculture industry and rural communities. I am proud this legislation includes significant investments I advocated that further Natural State-based ag research and education at the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in addition to important funding to bolster firefighting and prevention in Etowah. They represent a continued focus on ensuring our farmers can compete in the global market and the rural communities they live and work in maintain vital resources and services,” Boozman said.
The FY26 agriculture funding bill also addresses several priorities:
– Funding is provided to meet demand for Farm Service Agency’s direct and guaranteed operating and ownership loans.
– A prohibition on FSA county office closures continues.
– Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is empowered to protect livestock from diseases such as new world screwworm, avian influenza, and chronic wasting disease (CWD), while also supporting ongoing CWD research at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
– Funding levels are maintained for agricultural research through land-grant institutions with increased investment in the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
– The bill closes a loophole regarding intoxicating hemp products but preserves markets for non-intoxicating CBD and industrial hemp products.
– Adequate funding is provided for SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs.
The appropriations package authored by Boozman supports the Arkansas National Guard with $93 million allocated for Red River Army Depot projects. It also extends farm programs set to expire at year-end not covered under previous legislation as well as federal grain inspection activities.
More information about VA and military construction investments included in this bill can be found here.
