Voter Concerns About Agricultural Imports from China

A recent survey indicates that 87% of voters in key battleground states are quite worried about the potential need for the U.S. to import agricultural supplies from China. The upcoming 2026 Farm Bill is expected to tackle this significant issue.

The Protect America Initiative (PAI) conducted a poll across 24 competitive Congressional districts, revealing a high level of apprehension regarding U.S. dependence on China for agricultural inputs. A striking 87% of respondents expressed concern over the reliance on imports from China, particularly highlighting that over 70% of essential supplies like fertilizers and pesticides come from there.

Here are some key findings from the poll:

• More than half (51%) believe that limiting U.S.-made pesticide products wouldn’t enhance food safety, but rather transfer production to China, where regulations are less stringent.
• Half of the respondents feel that lawmakers and trial lawyers are creating national security concerns by attempting to block the Farm Bill, which is designed to protect local production.
• Sixty-three percent support legal protections for domestic agricultural input manufacturers through the Farm Bill in order to stabilize costs.
• Candidates backing the Farm Bill are likely to gain more favor, with 55% of voters in battleground states expected to support them.

This poll was released shortly after PAI launched an advertising campaign urging Congress to act on President Trump’s executive order to pass the 2026 Farm Bill. The push includes activating the Defense Production Act to secure food supply chains from China.

The House Agriculture Committee provided an overview of the 2026 Farm Bill:

The Agriculture, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 shares similarities with its 2024 counterpart but includes significant updates. This legislation, which spans all 12 titles of the Farm Bill, focuses on expanding investment in rural areas, enhancing science-based management practices, restoring regulatory certainty in interstate markets, and improving risk management tools for specialty crop growers. It also aims to lower energy costs in rural America and prioritize American products globally. Ultimately, the new farm bill intends to better equip producers and promote precision agriculture while strengthening conservation efforts across work areas.

The committee emphasized, “The Agriculture, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is a step forward for farmers, ranchers, and everyone else; when rural America thrives, we all thrive.”