NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Federal spending on the U.S. farm safety net remains a very small share of the overall budget, despite growing dollar totals, according to research from Dr. Carl Zulauf at Ohio State University and farmdoc economists at the University of Illinois.
The Congressional Budget Office projects farm safety net spending at $37.3 billion for fiscal year 2027, including commodity programs, disaster assistance, and crop insurance. While that may appear large, it represents just over one-half of one percent of total federal spending.
To put that into perspective, researchers compared it to the median U.S. household income. The equivalent share would amount to about $429 annually — less than what the average household spends on personal insurance.
Historically, federal budget constraints have shaped farm policy decisions, but the relatively small share of spending tied to agriculture may reduce political resistance to expanding programs. That dynamic may explain why recent farm safety net changes were included outside the traditional Farm Bill process.
The study suggests this shift could signal a new approach to farm policy, in which funding decisions are made within broader budget legislation rather than in standalone Farm Bills.
READ MORE: https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/04/trillionitus-and-the-us-farm-safety-net.html
And that discussion could soon shift to the Farm Bill, with House lawmakers eyeing a floor vote. House Republicans are targeting late April for a possible vote.
The timeline remains fluid as negotiations continue on other priorities, including immigration spending and budget issues. The bill has already cleared the House Agriculture Committee, but leaders acknowledge there is still division over some provisions. Meanwhile, Senate lawmakers say work could begin within weeks, with bipartisan support seen as key to passage.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA), is calling on Congress to act quickly, given the financial pressures facing farm country.
“You know, we had great success when it came out of committee. I mean, it was a 34-to-17 vote, so we had seven Democrats who supported the bill,” Thompson said. “It was budget-neutral, responsible spending, and bipartisan by design. When you look at everything that went into all the listening sessions all across the country, 43 states and one territory, you know, it really is practical policy. It’s not political games, and so, quite frankly, I think with what our farmers need right now, it’ll give them certainty. And so, I think there’s an urgency in Congress to get this done.”
Thompson says he is confident in the process and appreciates his colleagues in the Senate for working to build momentum.
“Chairman John Boozman is such a good friend and a great leader, and I’m really proud of his leadership with the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Thompson continued. “I know that getting the Farm Bill out of the House and sending it over to the Senate is critical. We want to help Chairman Boozman build up some momentum in the Senate, and this has to be a team effort between both chambers for it to be successful. And I think he’s waiting with anticipation for what we will pass and send his direction.”
Thompson describes the bill as completing what was started in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA), which he says addressed roughly 20 percent of legislation typically covered in a Farm Bill. He says he is pushing for a House vote before the end of the month to pass the remaining 80 percent of the legislation needed for critical farm policy updates.
