August 6, 2026
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry marked up the Agricultural Act of 2026.
While the fate of the Farm Bill is in question, the tireless bipartisan advocacy from agricultural, animal welfare, environmental, and public health groups, as well as countless farmers, volunteers, and Americans across the country, ensured efforts to add the Save Our Bacon Act (SOBA) poison pill to the bill failed.
SOBA would threaten hundreds of public health and disease prevention laws, undermine independent producers, and condemn animals to cruel, unnecessary suffering. Keeping this language out of the Farm Bill protects critical markets, respects voters’ concerns, and preserves commonsense standards that support farmers, communities, and animal welfare.
Following the markup, the Defeat EATS Coalition issued the following statement:
“The Save Our Bacon Act presents a serious threat to American agriculture. Its passage would further tilt the scales towards industrial agriculture, eliminate important markets for independent farmers, limit consumer access to products they demand, and override hundreds of animal protection and public health and safety laws. The Defeat EATS coalition applauds the continued exclusion of this dangerous poison pill from the Farm Bill. It is clear that a bipartisan Farm Bill cannot pass the Senate if it includes the Save Our Bacon Act.”
Media Contacts:
Seth Gladstone, Food & Water Watch, [email protected]
Joe Maxwell, Farm Action Fund, [email protected]