Why It Matters
Congress approved new farm policy Thursday after operating under a 2018 law extended three times. The measure affects agricultural subsidies and nutrition programs that reach millions of Americans, though major policy changes were handled separately in last year’s budget legislation.
Idaho farmers depend on federal farm programs for crop insurance, commodity support, and rural development funding. The bill authorizes these programs through fiscal 2031.
What Happened
The U.S. House voted 224-200 to approve a five-year farm bill Thursday. Most Democrats opposed the measure, though 14 voted in favor. Three Republicans voted against it.
House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania said rural America needed updated policy immediately. Lawmakers have extended the 2018 farm bill three times since then, in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman of Arkansas said a Senate version would be released in coming weeks.
By The Numbers
The Congressional Budget Office estimated an earlier version would add $162 million in mandatory spending over six years. The agency found the bill would not meaningfully affect discretionary federal spending over an 11-year window.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helped about one in eight Americans afford groceries in 2024. Last year’s budget legislation cut $187 billion from the program.
The bill authorizes $200 million for a new local food procurement program, primarily for food banks.
What’s In It
Republicans called this a streamlined farm bill because last year’s tax and spending law already restructured major USDA programs. The measure still includes policy updates.
The bill raises borrowing limits for individual farmers from USDA. It expands rural development programs funding substance abuse and mental health services.
It moves foreign food assistance programs under USDA from the disbanded U.S. Agency for International Development. Members removed a controversial provision Thursday morning that would have shielded pesticide makers from certain legal liability.
The bill does not include year-round authorization for E15 gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. Thompson said the committee would consider separate E15 legislation in mid-May.
Zoom Out
Farm bills typically last five years and set policy for agricultural subsidies, crop insurance, conservation programs, and nutrition assistance. The 2018 version expired years ago but remained in force through temporary extensions.
Western states including Idaho rely heavily on federal farm programs. The bill affects commodity support for wheat, barley, and potato growers across the region.
What’s Next
The Senate Agriculture Committee will release its farm bill text in coming weeks. Both chambers must pass identical versions before the measure reaches the president’s desk.
The House Agriculture Committee plans to take up year-round E15 legislation separately in mid-May.
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