What It Means for Texas Nursery & Landscape MembersThe House Agriculture Committee has released the 2026 Farm Bill, and for Texas green industry businesses, this is the strongest proposal we have seen in years. This bill aims to make meaningful structural improvements for nursery producers, which has a direct downstream impact on the entire green industry, from growers to landscape contractors to retail garden centers. In addition to strengthening risk management tools, the 2026 Farm Bill includes significant grant and research investments that directly support Texas specialty crop producers. Federal research dollars, block grants, and extension-supported programs funded through the Farm Bill help drive innovation, pest management solutions, workforce training, and consumer education. For many in our industry, these grants are the foundation for long-term competitiveness and market growth. It has been nearly a decade since Congress passed a full Farm Bill. Since then, our industry has operated under short-term extensions while facing historic freezes, hurricanes, prolonged drought, labor shortages, supply chain disruption, and rising input costs. Our industry needs stability, not temporary patches. This proposal delivers meaningful progress in the areas that matter most to the green industry:
Below are the provisions most relevant to Texas nursery and landscape businesses. Crop Insurance Improvements for Specialty CropsThe Most Important Long-Term Stability Tool
Why this matters for Texas: Specialty crop producers have historically had fewer crop insurance options than row crops. For nurseries and perennial growers, insurance gaps mean:
Improving specialty crop insurance tools strengthens: ✔ Risk management ✔ Access to credit ✔ Lender confidence ✔ Long-term investment in nursery operations For many members, crop insurance is not just a safety net, it is what allows the business to operate. 🌳 Tree Assistance Program (TAP) – Stronger & Faster ReliefCritical for Perennial Producers The bill significantly strengthens the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Key Improvements:
Why this matters for Texas nurseries:Texas producers routinely face:
Including pest losses and allowing upfront payments makes TAP far more usable in real-world disaster recovery — particularly after major freeze events like we’ve experienced in recent years. Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance FrameworkEnding the “Ad Hoc” Approach For the first time, USDA would be required to establish a standing framework for specialty crop disaster assistance. This framework:
Why this matters:Historically, specialty crops have depended on slow, uncertain, ad hoc disaster bills. This creates predictability when:
🌱 Conservation & Water ToolsSupporting Irrigation Efficiency & Long-Term Water Resilience Water remains one of the defining policy challenges in Texas. While the Farm Bill is federal, it provides tools that directly support water efficiency. Conservation Programs (EQIP & CSP)
Why this matters for TNLA members: Federal conservation dollars help:
As Texas continues to debate long-term water supply strategies, these federal tools complement state-level efforts and reduce costs for producers implementing conservation practices. 🔬Research, Grants & Innovation InvestmentsDriving Competitiveness & Market Growth The Farm Bill invests heavily in specialty crop research and grant programs that directly benefit Texas nursery producers. Key Programs: • Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) • Specialty Crop Block Grants • Extension-supported pest management and disease response • Mechanization and automation research funding • Market development and consumer education initiatives Why this matters:Farm Bill research dollars help: • Develop freeze-resistant and drought-tolerant varieties • Improve pest and disease response • Advance automation and labor-saving technologies • Fund university partnerships and extension outreach • Support marketing initiatives that promote specialty crops In Texas, these dollars often flow through universities, extension services, and industry partnerships — directly impacting nursery production practices and market demand. 🌿 Horticulture & Specialty Crop Programs Strengthening Producer Voice The Horticulture Title improves specialty crop programs and strengthens producer engagement.
Why this matters: Specialty Crop Block Grants in Texas often fund:
📌 Bottom Line for TNLA Members This Farm Bill draft represents:
✔ Stronger specialty crop insurance tools ✔ More effective disaster relief for nursery and perennial producers ✔ A permanent specialty crop emergency assistance framework ✔ Expanded irrigation and water efficiency tools ✔ Significant research and automation investments ✔ Robust specialty crop grant funding that supports innovation, extension, and market development ✔ Stronger specialty crop representation in federal programs Beyond risk management improvements, the grant and research dollars in this bill are critically important to Texas specialty crop producers. Programs like the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and Specialty Crop Block Grants fund university partnerships, pest and disease research, water-use efficiency studies, automation development, and market expansion efforts. In Texas, these dollars often flow through Texas A&M AgriLife, extension services, and industry collaborations — directly impacting nursery production practices, pest management strategies, workforce training, and consumer education initiatives that grow demand for specialty crops. For the green industry, this is one of the most specialty-crop-forward Farm Bill proposals in recent history. It recognizes that specialty crops require tailored risk management tools, long-term research investment, and dedicated grant programs to remain competitive. Passing a full Farm Bill this year is essential to provide the stability, innovation funding, and predictability that Texas nursery and landscape businesses depend on to grow, adapt, and compete in an increasingly challenging environment.
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This week, from Monday through Wednesday, TNLA was in Washington, D.C. as part of AmericanHort’s Impact Washington Fly-In. Texas brought one of the largest state delegations in the country to advocate and educate our U.S. Senators and Representatives. Nine TNLA members participated alongside more than 120 advocates from across the nation. These fly-ins are always fast and frantic, as we zigzag across Capitol Hill to meet with as many legislators and staff as possible. But they are also one of the most important ways we make sure the voice of the Texas green industry is heard in our nation’s capital. Key Issues We RaisedWorkforce & Labor (H-2A & H-2B) Our industry depends on seasonal and year-round workers to grow, install, and maintain landscapes. The H-2A and H-2B visa programs are vital, but both need reform. We called on Congress to expand access, streamline applications, and modernize wage calculations so that businesses can meet labor needs while keeping costs predictable. Without these improvements, growers and landscape businesses face growing shortages that threaten their ability to operate. Tariffs, Trade & Supply Chain Tariffs on key horticulture inputs are driving up costs across the board. Many of these products cannot be produced anywhere in the U.S.—leaving green industy businesses no alternatives. We urged Congress to support a transparent and functional exclusion process so businesses can reliably access the inputs they need without being burdened by unfair costs. Farm Bill The Farm Bill expires on October 1, 2025. While it’s a cornerstone for agriculture, too often specialty crops and horticulture are left out. Current programs lock our industry out of crop insurance and other protections. We pushed for a bipartisan Farm Bill that reflects the realities of horticulture, ensuring access to risk management tools and expanding support for nursery, greenhouse, and landscape operations. Why It MattersFrom labor shortages to supply chain costs to ensuring our growers have a safety net, these policies directly affect the health and competitiveness of Texas’ horticulture industry. Trips like this Fly-In show how TNLA is actively fighting for our members’ businesses—from Washington, D.C. to back home in Texas. Questions?Contact Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Curtis Smith by email [email protected] or call him at 512-579-3851 or Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Karan Mehta by email [email protected] or call him at 512-579-3874
Farm Bill Extended
Congress recently passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through March 14, 2024, which includes a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. The CR also provides $30.78 billion for disaster aid and economic assistance to farmers impacted by droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Key allocations include:
Looking ahead, agricultural leaders are emphasizing the critical need for a modernized Farm Bill in 2025 to provide long-term stability and improved risk management for rural America. This legislation will be pivotal for our industry as we navigate workforce and resource challenges. |
AuthorKim Cabrera, TNLA Marketing Manager Archives
March 2026
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