WASHINGTON — The House and Senate have passed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. What does this mean for the agriculture industry? While the legislation includes welcome measures to provide farmers with economic and disaster assistance, several farm organizations have weighed in on provisions missing from the final agreement. Their statements can be found below.
American Farm Bureau Federation
National Farmers Union
National Corn Growers Association
American Soybean Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Farmland Trust
United States Peanut Federation
Farm Bureau Applauds Congress for Full Passage of Continuing Resolution
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the full passage of the continuing resolution that includes economic and disaster aid for farmers and a farm bill extension.
“Farm Bureau thanks the House and the Senate for finding common ground and passing legislation that will keep the government open and help farmers who are struggling with natural disasters, high supply costs and out-of-reach interest rates. For many farmers, the disaster relief provided through the CR will be the difference between planting for another year or going out of business.
“It’s unfortunate that the final measure did not include authorization for year-round E-15 sales, which benefits farmers, leads to lower fuel prices, and helps America reach its sustainability goals. We will continue to push for this in 2025.
“The economic and disaster assistance in the CR is a temporary fix to long-term challenges facing America’s farmers. The farm bill extension also offers a short reprieve, and gives lawmakers some breathing room to pass a modernized farm bill that will provide risk management support. We urge them to build on the bipartisan efforts demonstrated during the CR to pass a new five-year farm bill that delivers certainty for rural America and ensures a stable food supply for the nation.”
Continuing Resolution Offers Relief, But Farmers Deserve Better from Congress
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew today issued this statement following the House passage of the continuing resolution, which extends the 2018 Farm Bill and provides supplemental economic and disaster assistance for family farmers and ranchers:
“After months of uncertainty, family farmers and ranchers across the country can finally take some solace in the passage of the end-of-year funding package. Congress has provided farmers with much-needed and long-overdue economic and disaster relief as they continue to grapple with mounting challenges from extreme weather, high input costs, and volatile markets. Farmers Union members fought hard for this relief.
“However, family farmers and ranchers deserve better. There was a clear bipartisan agreement that would have gone further in addressing the pressing issues confronting agriculture today. The previously negotiated agreement included several important agriculture and food security provisions, such as granting nationwide year-round sales of E15 blends of ethanol. Higher-level blends would increase market opportunities for farmers, reduce emissions, and strengthen domestic energy production. Instead, Congress allowed dysfunction to stand in the way.
“This is not just a failure of process—family farmers and ranchers should not have to navigate a system that treats their livelihoods like political collateral. Our leaders need to do better. The path forward must prioritize collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to addressing the real challenges faced by rural communities. The most effective way to demonstrate that is by delivering a comprehensive five-year farm bill at the start of 2025.”
Corn Growers Disappointed E15 Not Included in Year-End Votes; Appreciates Economic Assistance
Following votes from Congress on year-end legislation, National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. released the following statement:
“Corn growers are deeply disappointed that a permanent, year-round E15 solution was not included in the end-of-year legislation package. This no-cost provision would have provided a market-driven solution to farmers experiencing low corn prices. We call upon legislators to address this matter quickly in the start of the new Congress and fix this issue once and for all.
“NCGA is appreciative of House and Senate Agriculture leadership and other champions who worked hard to extend the farm bill and provide much needed economic and disaster assistance to farm country. This assistance will help growers reeling from natural disasters and multiple years of low crop prices paired with high input costs.”
Soy Growers Appreciate Congress Passing CR with Provisions Favorable to Ag
Congress passed shortly after the midnight deadline for a government shutdown a continuing resolution that includes provisions important to soy farmers, among them a farm bill extension and both disaster and economic assistance. Inflation, historically high input prices, falling commodity prices, and devastating storms have led to a lengthening rough patch for many U.S. farmers, including those who grow soy.
Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and soy farmer from Kentucky, said, “Congress has come through with a bipartisan solution that not only keeps our government open but keeps our farms going. While we of course had our hopes set on a new five-year farm bill in 2024, we are grateful for this one-year extension and will urge Congress to pass an improved farm bill in the new year. And, having economic and disaster aid in this critical piece—at a critical time for farm families—is also very appreciated, along with other provisions. We thank leadership for their ongoing and late-night efforts.”
Once signed by President Biden, the bill will keep government funding in place through March 14, 2025, and extend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 for one more year through September 30, 2025. Additionally, the package includes approximately $21 billion in disaster assistance and $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers who have faced recent challenges.
ASTA Reacts to Government Funding and Farm Bill Extension
Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association, issued the following statement after Congress sent a continuing resolution and farm bill extension to President Biden’s desk.
“On behalf of America’s seed producers, the American Seed Trade Association is pleased to see that our industry and America’s farmers will have certainty into the new year,” said LaVigne. “But the work is far from over. The legislation that was passed is simply a band-aid. American families and the seed producers and farmers that help put food on their tables need their representatives in Washington, D.C. to come together and pass a comprehensive five-year farm bill that supports critical agricultural and nutrition programs. These programs allow seed producers and farmers to expand their market access across the globe, conduct research that is fundamental to providing high-quality, professional seed to producers, support key commodity programs, and lend a hand to families in need.”
“ASTA is looking forward to fostering relationships, new and old, in the 119th Congress and with the incoming administration, to get a new farm bill through congressional approval and to the President’s desk.”
Congress’s Failure to Transfer IRA Funding into Farm Bill is Major Setback for Conservation
American Farmland Trust was pleased to see continued funding for the federal government and much-needed disaster relief and producer economic assistance included in the year-end package passed today by Congress. However, Congress’s failure to transfer the remaining Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation dollars into the Farm Bill as part of this legislation represents a critical missed opportunity to invest in the long-term viability of our nation’s farmers and ranchers.
Conservation programs are popular, oversubscribed, and key to helping producers remain profitable and build resilience to extreme weather. For instance, cover crops and reduced tillage can lead to higher yields and reduce the risk of loss to drought and flooding, which benefits both producers and taxpayers. Conservation programs also protect irreplaceable working farmland and ranchland and support reinvestment in farm businesses. This is essential at a time when our nation is losing 2,000 agricultural acres a day.
By transferring the IRA dollars to build Farm Bill conservation baseline, Congress could have ensured additional conservation funding to meet farmer and rancher demand. Instead, as a result of its inaction, thousands of farmers and ranchers will be denied the ability to enhance their profit margins, protect their soil and land, and improve water quality for all of us.
American Farmland Trust is grateful for the tireless efforts of Agriculture Committee leadership and other members of Congress to include the conservation funding in the year-end package. And we look forward to working with the new Congress to strengthen these programs and to ensure we seize the opportunity to transfer remaining IRA dollars into the Farm Bill for the sake of future generations.
USPF Thankful for Passage of Agricultural Economic and Disaster Assistance
Peanut Growers Will Receive Help in Early 2025
The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) applauds Congress for including agricultural economic assistance and disaster assistance in the final passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) appropriations legislation.
After much deliberation, on December 20, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 10545 by a vote of 366-34, which included a continuing resolution for FY25 appropriations funding, a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, $10 billion in agricultural economic assistance, and $21 billion in agricultural disaster assistance. The U.S. Senate passed H.R. 10545 overnight by a vote of 85-11, and President Biden signed the bill into law later December 21, 2024.
Due to the multi-year impact of increased costs of production, low commodity prices, and recent natural disasters, peanut growers are struggling, and many will have difficulty financing their crop for 2025. For many peanut producers, the inclusion of these agricultural assistance provisions in the final legislation will determine whether they continue farming in 2025. USPF leaders are grateful to the peanut state members of Congress and other congressional agricultural leaders who worked tirelessly to ensure these vital initiatives were secured in the final passage of the appropriations bill.
Moving into the new year, peanut producers can expect to receive an estimated economic assistance payment of $76.30 per acre no later than 90 days after the bill is enacted, according to peanut economist Dr. Stanley Fletcher.
Jamie Brown, USPF chairman, said, “We once again would like to extend our gratitude to all of our representatives who stayed steadfast in passing a resolution that would ensure our farmers can continue doing what they do so well- providing this country with the best possible food security in the world. We are thankful that they listened to so many who expressed the challenges that are being faced and have offered an opportunity to meet those challenges in the years to come.”
Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut Commission chairman, said, “After a few long, hard years for peanut farmers who were unsure if they would be able to continue farming in 2025, we are grateful to Congress for passing much-needed financial assistance. Thank you to the members of Congress who worked hard to ensure our farmers would receive relief. It’s a great day for families in rural America who work tirelessly to feed our nation.”
