Ex-Ag Leaders Launch 'Restore American Agriculture' Campaign

TL;DR: A bipartisan group of veteran agriculture leaders launched an online platform called "Restore American Agriculture" on August 20, 2026, pressuring Congress on the farm-income crisis. Former Renewable Fuels Association chief Bob Dinneen said Congress has "abdicated" its duties on trade, spending, and war powers as farmers lean on ad hoc aid rather than a five-year farm bill.

Key takeaway

Former ag leaders say Congress has "abdicated" its farm-bill responsibilities, forcing farmers to rely on ad hoc aid instead of a durable five-year bill.

What happened

A bipartisan coalition of former agriculture leaders launched an online platform called "Restore American Agriculture" to pressure Congress on the farm-income crisis, according to Agri-Pulse (August 20, 2026). The group says two prior letters to the House and Senate Agriculture committees went unanswered.

The founding participants are former National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Jon Doggett, former NCGA president Pam Johnson, former Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) chief Bob Dinneen, and former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) appointee Dawn R. Riley.

Dinneen accused Congress of having "abdicated" its duties on trade, spending, and war powers. He argued that farmers increasingly depend on ad hoc assistance rather than the certainty of a five-year farm bill. You can compare the current draft against prior law in our what's new vs. 2018 breakdown.

The group describes itself as bipartisan and frames the online platform as an escalation after the earlier letters drew no response. The campaign centers on the farm-income crisis and the slow pace of farm-bill reauthorization.

What it means

The launch signals frustration among former commodity-group and biofuels leaders over the stalled reauthorization of the farm bill. Their central complaint is that recurring ad hoc aid packages, rather than a stable multiyear law, now shape farm policy. Our timeline and status page tracks where H.R. 7567 and the Senate draft stand.

For the audiences the bill affects, the campaign raises several concrete themes:

• Row-crop farmers: The coalition ties its push to the farm-income crisis, a core concern for corn, soybean, and other row-crop producers facing tight margins.
• Biofuels stakeholders: Dinneen's involvement reflects longstanding renewable-fuels interest in trade and energy policy that intersects with farm-bill debates.
• Ag lenders and advocates: A durable five-year bill provides planning certainty that ad hoc programs do not, a point the group emphasizes.

The word "abdicated" is a deliberate framing choice aimed at Congress's pace and priorities. The coalition's letters reportedly went unanswered, which the group cites as justification for taking its case public. See our what's missing page for gaps critics have flagged in the current draft.

What's next

As of August 24, 2026, the coalition has launched its online platform and is expected to continue pressing the House and Senate Agriculture committees. The group has not, based on available reporting, announced specific legislative demands beyond urging action on the farm-income crisis.

Supporting coverage from Agri-Pulse notes that lobbyists tracking the bill see some provisions, such as E15, as more likely to advance, while items like bridge assistance and ag labor remain less certain. Readers can follow committee action and floor movement on our vote tracker.

Whether the campaign shifts the timeline is unclear. Advocacy platforms like this typically aim to build public and constituent pressure ahead of markup and floor votes. The near-term test will be whether committee leaders respond publicly to the coalition's demands.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Restore American Agriculture campaign?

Restore American Agriculture is an online platform launched around August 20, 2026, by a bipartisan group of former agriculture leaders. The campaign aims to pressure Congress to act on the farm-income crisis and to pass a five-year farm bill instead of relying on ad hoc assistance. The group says two earlier letters to the House and Senate Agriculture committees went unanswered.

Who is behind the Restore American Agriculture coalition?

The founding participants are former National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Jon Doggett, former NCGA president Pam Johnson, former Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) chief Bob Dinneen, and former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) appointee Dawn R. Riley. The group describes itself as bipartisan and launched the campaign to escalate pressure on Congress.

Why does the group say Congress has abdicated its farm-bill duties?

Former RFA chief Bob Dinneen said Congress has "abdicated" its responsibilities on trade, spending, and war powers. The coalition argues that farmers increasingly rely on ad hoc assistance rather than the certainty of a five-year farm bill. The group also points to two letters to the House and Senate Agriculture committees that it says went unanswered.

What is the farm-income crisis the campaign refers to?

The farm-income crisis refers to the financial strain facing farmers amid tight margins, which the coalition says is being addressed through temporary ad hoc aid rather than durable policy. The group argues a five-year farm bill would give farmers, lenders, and stakeholders more planning certainty than repeated one-off assistance packages.

Does this campaign change the farm bill timeline?

As of August 24, 2026, it is unclear whether the campaign will shift the farm bill timeline. Advocacy platforms like this typically aim to build public and constituent pressure ahead of committee markup and floor votes. The near-term test is whether House and Senate Agriculture committee leaders respond publicly to the coalition's demands.

Sources

• Agri-Pulse , Former ag leaders push for congressional action to address farmers' challenges, dated 2026-08-20.
• Agri-Pulse Open Mic , Randy Russell maps the farm bill's path, E15 likely, bridge assistance and ag labor less certain.