Farm Bill Expired: What Happens to U.S. Farmers Now?
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Article: Farm Bill Expires Again, Leaving U.S. Agriculture Facing New Policy Uncertainty
Friday, October 2, 2026
Congress allowed the 2018 Farm Bill extension to expire on September 30th without a replacement, creating new uncertainty for U.S. farm programs and 2027 planning.
By Marco Díaz Collins, a journalist specializing in U.S. current affairs, offering a broad perspective on news and trends.
Source: AgroLatam.com
The latest extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2026, after Congress failed to complete a new long-term agriculture package, leaving lawmakers negotiating key parts of the federal farm safety net.
The expiration is significant because the Farm Bill influences various USDA programs, including conservation, rural development, agricultural research, trade, nutrition, and more. However, crop insurance remains permanently authorized.
Despite Capitol Hill's progress this year, with both the House and Senate passing their respective Farm Bill acts, a unified package has eluded them. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) aims to continue negotiations during the October break, targeting a final bill after the midterm elections.
Program Continuity Amidst Expiration:
While the Farm Bill expiration introduces uncertainty, some programs continue operating under different authorities. For instance:
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Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): USDA can no longer approve new CRP contracts, but existing ones are unaffected. New enrollment is paused until congressional restoration of authority.
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Other Programs: The 2025 budget reconciliation law provided funding for 19 agricultural programs without a continuing budget baseline, ensuring some continuity.
In essence, the immediate impact varies by program, offering a nuanced view of operational uncertainty for farmers and lenders.