Hoeven, Boozman Hold NDSU Roundtable, Eye Lame-Duck Farm Bill

TL;DR: Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and John Boozman (R-AR) held an agriculture roundtable at North Dakota State University on October 6, 2026, expressing optimism that a farm bill can be completed after the November midterms. Hoeven cited $721 million in North Dakota ARC/PLC payments beginning this month, more than double what farmers would have received without OBBBA reference-price enhancements.

Key takeaway

Senate Ag leaders now point to a lame-duck session after the November 2026 midterms as the most likely window to finish the farm bill.

What happened

Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and John Boozman (R-AR) held an agriculture roundtable at North Dakota State University (NDSU) on October 6, 2026. Both senators expressed optimism that a farm bill can be completed after the November midterm elections, signaling a lame-duck strategy.

Hoeven highlighted that North Dakota farmers will receive an estimated $721 million this month in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments for the 2025 crop year. That figure is more than double what ND farmers would have received without the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enhancements to reference prices.

Boozman, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and continued October recess travel to North Dakota, said a farm bill would build on the safety net provisions, support new market opportunities, and authorize year-round E15 fuel sales. Farm group leaders at the roundtable credited the senators for getting real-world solutions into farm policy. This was the first in-person roundtable with both Senate Ag leadership and the Ag Appropriations chair since the farm bill expired.

Nationwide, $13.8 billion in ARC/PLC support is flowing under the OBBBA-enhanced safety net, which the House and Senate Agriculture Committees describe as the first meaningful safety-net investment since 2002.

What it means

The roundtable reframes the near-term calendar. With both senators pointing to after the midterms, the practical target for finishing the bill is a lame-duck session, not before Election Day. Readers can track that window on our Senate status page and timeline and status.

For North Dakota producers, the immediate signal is cash flow. The $721 million in ARC/PLC payments arrives this month and reflects OBBBA-enhanced reference prices.

• ARC/PLC payments: $721 million to ND farmers this month, more than double the pre-OBBBA amount.
• Nationwide: $13.8 billion in ARC/PLC support flowing under the enhanced safety net.
• Context: Described as the first meaningful safety-net investment since 2002.

These payments come from the OBBBA enhancements already in effect, separate from any provisions in the pending farm bill. For how the pending bill proposes to build on the current safety net, see our funding breakdown and what's new vs. 2018.

What's next

As of October 7, 2026, the most likely path is a lame-duck push after the November midterms, based on statements from both senators at the roundtable. No vote date has been scheduled, and specifics remain to be confirmed.

Boozman's continued recess travel is described as an effort to build readiness for that push. Items he flagged, building on the safety net, supporting new market opportunities, and authorizing year-round E15 fuel sales, indicate priorities a Senate draft is expected to carry. Readers tracking those priorities can follow our path to signing and full bill summary.

Whether the chambers reconcile the House-passed H.R. 7567 with a Senate draft during a lame-duck session will depend on the post-election calendar and leadership agreements. We will update as a schedule firms up.

Frequently asked questions

When is the farm bill expected to pass?

As of October 7, 2026, Sens. Hoeven and Boozman have expressed optimism that a farm bill can be completed after the November midterm elections, pointing to a lame-duck session. No specific vote date has been scheduled. The timing will depend on the post-election calendar and agreements between congressional leaders, so the window remains to be confirmed.

How much are North Dakota farmers receiving in ARC/PLC payments?

North Dakota farmers will receive an estimated $721 million this month in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage payments for the 2025 crop year, according to Sen. Hoeven. That total is more than double what they would have received without the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enhancements to reference prices.

What is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's effect on the farm safety net?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enhanced reference prices, which raised ARC and PLC payments. Nationwide, $13.8 billion in ARC/PLC support is flowing under the enhanced safety net. The House and Senate Agriculture Committees describe it as the first meaningful safety-net investment since 2002, with payments more than double previous amounts.

What did Sen. Boozman say the farm bill would include?

At the NDSU roundtable, Sen. Boozman said a farm bill would build on the current safety net provisions, support new market opportunities, and authorize year-round E15 fuel sales. He was continuing October recess travel to build readiness for a lame-duck push after the midterms. Full bill specifics remain to be confirmed.

What was significant about the NDSU roundtable?

The October 6, 2026, roundtable at North Dakota State University was the first in-person roundtable featuring both Senate Agriculture leadership and the Agriculture Appropriations chair since the farm bill expired. Sen. Boozman chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Sen. Hoeven serves on Senate Appropriations. Both expressed optimism for completing a farm bill after the November midterms.

Sources

• AgWeek , Hoeven and Boozman roundtable on farm bill, livestock, and trade, dated 2026-10-06.
• House Agriculture Committee , Thompson and Boozman highlight $13.8 billion in nationwide ARC/PLC support, dated 2026-10-06.