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.
Dalton Henry, with U.S. Wheat Associates, joined RFD-TV to provide insight on what the pending trade frameworks may mean for American wheat growers.
November 19, 2025 04:11 PM
·
Our friend Jake Charleston at Specialty Risk Insurance joins us for an industry update.
November 19, 2025 03:25 PM
·
Mary-Thomas Hart, with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, discusses the latest WOTUS developments and their implications for agriculture.
November 19, 2025 03:05 PM
·
A massive rail merger could significantly impact North American agriculture and trade flows.
November 19, 2025 12:46 PM
·
Urea and phosphate see the biggest price relief from tariff exemptions, but nitrogen markets remain tight, and spring demand will still dictate pricing momentum.
November 19, 2025 12:31 PM
·
Cattle and hog supplies continue to tighten while dairy output expands, creating a split outlook in which red-meat prices soften and milk values come under pressure from larger supplies.
November 18, 2025 03:02 PM
·
With feed supplies running tight, producers can tap into some creative options, according to University of Pennsylvania Veterinarian and Professor Dr. Joe Bender.
November 18, 2025 01:13 PM
·
Firm live cow prices and shifting dairy-side culling suggest cull cow values may stay stronger than usual this winter despite weaker cow beef cutout trends.
November 18, 2025 01:02 PM
·
Shawn Haney, Host of RealAg Radio on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147, joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report with the latest news from Canada impacting the ag sector.
November 18, 2025 12:47 PM
·
