Farm Bill 2025: Where Things Stand and What Farmers Should Watch

The farm bill — the foundational legislation governing U.S. agricultural policy — has been operating on extensions while Congress works toward a new five-year package. Here's where things stand.

The Current Situation

The 2018 Farm Bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended multiple times. Congress has been unable to reach agreement primarily over funding disputes between the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, particularly around SNAP (food assistance) spending and funding for conservation programs.

Key Sticking Points

The House version of the farm bill proposed redirecting $14 billion from conservation programs to commodity title support. The Senate Agriculture Committee rejected that trade-off. SNAP funding cuts have been a major flashpoint, with Democrats largely opposed to any reductions.

What It Means for Commodity Programs

ARC (Agriculture Risk Coverage) and PLC (Price Loss Coverage) remain in effect under the extension, with the 2018 reference prices still in place. Farmers who haven't made a program election should consult with their local FSA office — elections made under the 2018 bill carry through extensions.

Crop Insurance Is Not at Risk

Regardless of farm bill negotiations, crop insurance is widely supported by both parties and is not expected to see major changes. Premium subsidy levels and program structure are likely to remain intact.

Timeline

Most ag policy analysts expect a farm bill to be completed sometime in 2025, though that timeline has been predicted and missed before. An election-year dynamic often motivates compromise — or paralyzes it.

What Farmers Should Do

Don't assume a new farm bill will change your program elections significantly. Review your ARC vs. PLC decision annually. And stay connected to your state Farm Bureau and commodity organization for the most current updates as negotiations progress.