The ag community is still operating on the 2018 Farm Bill, and farmers say the reference prices from that legislation are outdated.
One lawmaker wonders if the ag legislation should be shortened from its current five-year authorization.
“The reference price no longer reflects the cost of production for farmers, and I will tell you, I’m concerned that they’re moving so fast, that I truly think after this Farm Bill, we probably need to get to a three-year cycle, not a five-year on the Farm Bill because of the speed at which things are changing,” said Rep. Austin Scott.
House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson had a strong warning about the situation.
“There has never been a time where there has been such a bleak outlook over the next five years for the represented farms with every single major commodity deep in the red. Producers deciding what to plant this year aren’t thinking about what rotation is likely to make money, but rather what crops will cause them to lose the least.”
USDA’s latest farm income forecast shows that cash farm income is expected to rise 22 percent this year compared to last year. However, economists say that is only because of direct government payments.
House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson says the 2026 Farm Bill is bipartisan, with 82% of the bills incorporated into it receiving bipartisan support.
February 25, 2026 11:24 AM
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Ag leaders say President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is unlikely to spark major agriculture headlines, but ongoing tariff uncertainty and trade policy remain key concerns, as does the debate around glyphosate and the status of the next Farm Bill.
February 24, 2026 11:57 AM
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The debate now matters as much as the policy — market rules and regulatory clarity depend on whether Congress can finish the bill this year.
February 22, 2026 03:00 PM
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Farm Bureau Economist Faith Parum discusses the latest Farm Bill proposal and the path ahead for Congress and U.S. agriculture.
February 19, 2026 01:28 PM
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Lori Stevermer with the National Pork Producers Council reacts to the USDA’s speedline proposal, the new Farm Bill’s fix for California’s Prop-12, and other policy developments impacting the pork industry.
February 18, 2026 12:18 PM
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Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law reviews key highlights from the House Agriculture Committee’s latest farm bill proposal.
February 17, 2026 12:16 PM
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