NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — With a partial federal shutdown still in effect, Congress has a short runway to protect agriculture before year-end.
According to the latest calendars, the House has 36 working days left in 2025, and the Senate has 39 days — time that must cover reopening the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and resolving the Farm Bill to prevent a New Year shock to markets and county services.
Lawmakers’ Top To-Do’s for Agriculture:
- Reopen the USDA: Pass the Ag–FDA spending bill (or a continuing resolution) so that FSA/NRCS field offices can process loans and program sign-ups; meat and poultry inspections remain fully supported; and WIC/SNAP avoids strain from stop-start funding.
- Farm Bill or extension by Jan. 1: Without action, policy reverts to Permanent Law (1938/1949 parity rules). That would trigger the “dairy cliff”—government purchases that drive milk prices sharply higher—and raise parity supports for crops like corn, wheat, and cotton until a new bill passes.
- Protect at-risk programs: Crop insurance will continue under permanent authority, and many IRA conservation dollars will remain available through 2031. However, rural development, trade promotion, research, specialty crops, and energy authorities are vulnerable without reauthorization.
On the ground, county USDA services are slow, program deadlines become murky, lenders face planning uncertainty, and markets could see policy-driven volatility if Congress fails to reach a deal by January.
The simplest near-term path is a funding patch to reopen agencies while Farm Bill negotiators hammer out either a full bill or a clean extension.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
If the House concurs and the President signs, USDA services and farm-bill programs resume at full speed with authorities extended for another year.
November 11, 2025 10:46 AM
·
Today is Veterans Day, a day to honor all of the brave men and women who have served this great nation in times of war and in peace, those who are still with us, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
November 10, 2025 03:32 PM
·
A smaller U.S. turkey flock and resurgent avian flu have tightened supplies, driving prices higher even as other key holiday foods show mixed trends.
November 10, 2025 03:05 PM
·
The allure of rural property — with its promise of space, freedom, and self-sufficiency — is undeniable, but local zoning regulations govern the reality.
November 10, 2025 01:55 PM
·
ARC/PLC, marketing loans, and crop insurance each matter at different points in the price cycle — and the new Farm Bill strengthens the balance among them.
November 10, 2025 01:38 PM
·
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.
November 10, 2025 11:46 AM
·
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.
November 10, 2025 10:48 AM
·
The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
November 10, 2025 10:35 AM
·
The Senate has cleared a path to reopen USDA, but full restoration of services depends on House approval and the President’s signature.
November 10, 2025 10:13 AM
·
