Congress expands farm research funding to biological pest control methods
H.R. 7665 — Friends in the Field Act · Filed by Hillary Scholten (D-MI) · Introduced Feb 24, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill adds biological pest control to the list of high-priority research areas eligible for federal grants under the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. It authorizes the Department of Agriculture to fund research, development, and educational programs on biological pest control methods to reduce crop damage and foodborne illness.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a straightforward amendment to existing law that expands the scope of federally-funded agricultural research to include biological pest control methods. It is a routine authorization measure with no hidden mechanisms or narrow beneficiaries.
What the text implies
- Funding authorization does not guarantee appropriations; actual research support depends on annual budget allocations to USDA research programs.
- Biological pest control methods vary widely in efficacy and applicability by crop and region; research may reveal limited practical utility for some agricultural systems.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
agricultural research institutions and universities; USDA research divisions; agricultural extension services