What the Midterms Could Mean for Agriculture and Trade
From the Farm Bill to tariffs, some of the most consequential policy decisions for the agriculture sector may still lie ahead. The 2026 midterm elections could help determine how these issues are addressed and whether Congress takes a more active role in shaping future policy.
In this episode of "Midterm Minute," Agriculture & Food Policy Team Co-Leader Peter Tabor explores the major agriculture and trade issues to watch after Election Day. Watch the full video for insights into the policy debates that could impact farmers, agribusinesses and other stakeholders across the industry.
Peter Tabor: The Trump Administration has been very aggressive in executing its trade and tariff strategy. And the question will be whether a new Congress seeks to exert any control over tariff and trade authority.
The 2026 midterms carry significant implications for both agriculture and trade. And I think the underlying theme here is the extent to which the legislative branch retakes some control of some issues that the executive branch has had significant influence on in the first half of President Trump's second term.
In the agriculture space, it's no surprise that the issue relates to Farm Bill reauthorization. So, we're looking to see whether the Farm Bill is reauthorized during the lame duck session of Congress – that is, after the midterms with the current makeup and Republicans controlling both the House and Senate – or whether this issue gets punted to the 120th Congress where obviously control of the House and Senate are in play. And we'll be watching that very closely.