ACE Agriculture Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced
Summary
Transforms AGARDA into a permanent, broader USDA research authority focused on long‑term, high‑risk agricultural innovation, water conservation, greenhouse‑gas reduction, and climate resilience.
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- Farmers and rural communities could gain access to new water‑saving and climate‑resilient technologies that target drought, extreme weather, plant and animal pests, and infectious diseases.
- USDA science and program management will be more centralized. The Director will work closely with the Office of the Chief Scientist, must maintain a qualified AGARDA staff, and will use the 2022 strategic plan to guide activities.
- The program’s scope and funding grow. AGARDA’s mandate now explicitly includes greenhouse gas reduction and economic cost considerations, and the annual appropriation cap is raised to $100 million for FY2027–2031 while allowing use of unobligated funds for AGARDA purposes.
*Raises the program’s authorized funding cap to $100 million per year for FY2027–2031, up from $50 million, increasing the program’s potential federal outlays during that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More funding for farm research and startups
If enacted, the bill would convert AGARDA from a "pilot" into a permanent statutory program. It would broaden the program to prioritize long-term, high-risk technologies, water conservation, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, and resilience to drought, extreme weather, pests, and diseases. The bill would replace the old annual cap with an authorized $100 million per year for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. It would also let the Secretary use any unobligated USDA funds to carry out AGARDA when enacted, and add "economic cost" as an evaluation factor.
USDA scientific leadership and staffing
If enacted, the bill would require the AGARDA Director to work closely with the Office of the Chief Scientist and would bar other USDA program heads from reporting to the AGARDA Director. It would also require the Director to set up and keep a staff with the needed qualifications and to use existing USDA personnel authorities to hire and manage that staff. These are internal USDA management and staffing changes that aim to centralize scientific leadership.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov