Farm Bill

The farm bill is a critical tool for ensuring our nation’s food supply remains secure. Funding for this comprehensive package includes risk management tools for farmers, access to nutrition for low-income families, conservation programs, and investments in agricultural research.

Farming is a difficult business, yet critical to the well-being of our nation. It’s often stated that food security is national security. Few pieces of legislation are more significant than the farm bill when it comes to ensuring our food system is secure. Agriculture is strategically important to the survival of the United States. Our nation's economy, energy, environment and national security are dependent upon the viability of the agricultural industry. Agriculture must be treated as a strategic resource by our nation and reflected as such in local, state and national government policies.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reconciliation package, was enacted on July 4, 2025, and invested $66B in farm programs. Although the OBBBA included much-needed farm program investment, Congress still must pass a comprehensive farm bill to address numerous programs that are critical to the success of farmers and ranchers. The food and farm bill has been a bipartisan effort in the past, presenting an important opportunity for lawmakers to rise above partisanship and work together again to pass legislation that protects food security for all Americans and the future success of our farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Bill Matters for Everyone

Promoting Food Security: America’s public investment in agriculture through farm bill programs helps secure our domestic food supply and keep our country strong while consumers get the benefits of high-quality, affordable food. Farm programs within the bill provide important tools for farmers and ranchers growing the protein, fresh produce and grains American families rely on for a well-balanced diet.

Growing the Economy: We all depend on the success of American agriculture so it’s important for America’s farmers and ranchers to be supported by strong farm programs as they face down weather disasters, high supply costs and inflationary pressures. Managing risk is critical to keep food on our tables, especially as farmers face the toughest economic conditions in a generation. More than 160,000 farms have gone under since 2017, and farm bankruptcy continues to increase. No one buys insurance for the good times, and similarly, farm bill programs provide critical tools to help farmers and ranchers manage risk. Farm programs are written to provide a basic level of protection to help offset bad economic times and severe weather. The food and agriculture industry supports more than 24 million U.S. jobs (that’s more than 15% of U.S. employment). In 2024, the direct and indirect economic impact of the agriculture supply chain totaled $9.5 trillion, or one-third of the U.S. economy.

Enhancing Stewardship: The farm bill’s investment in ag research and conservation programs are critical to ensuring the productivity and sustainability in our farms and domestic food supply. These programs help boost farmers’ stewardship efforts as they restore soil health, conserve natural resources, and manage forests and wetlands. Many of the innovations that have driven agriculture forward began in research labs at America’s land-grant universities, but funding for these programs has declined in recent years. The U.S. has dropped from being the global leader in funding research and development in the last decade, and it’s time to bridge that gap before we also lose our place as the leading producer of sustainable food, fiber and renewable energy.

On the Ground 

Farmers and ranchers have a golden opportunity to stress the importance of farm policy with their state and federal lawmakers, as well as the public. Many people are unaware of the benefits of the farm bill, and few are better-positioned than farmers and ranchers to provide a firsthand account.