“Skinny” Farm Bill Planned for Fall

A slimmed-down Farm Bill is back on the table in Washington, with lawmakers pushing for a deal by Fall 2025. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas weighs in with his outlook.

Ag lawmakers like House Agriculture Committee Chair Rep. GT Thompson (R-PA) are eyeing this fall as a soft deadline to produce a “Skinny” Farm Bill. A slimmed-down version of the bill is made possible because many typical Farm Bill provisions are included in President Donald Trump‘s “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

One ag group hopes politics don’t get in the way.

“It’s really the folks in the middle who are the ones who always deliver the Farm Bill,” said Kam Quarles with the National Potato Council. “It’s anybody’s guess as to where that bipartisanship is going to come from in a very contentious congress, but I think the leaders of the ag committees are going to give it their best shot here when we get back from the August recess.”

Earlier this month, House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson said the “Skinny Farm Bill” would require an additional $8 billion over the next decade, which is still lower than prior estimates. Several items to address include conservation programs, loan limits, and concerns such as overturning stringent state regulations on agricultural products, such as California’s controversial Proposition 12.

How the “Big, Beautiful Bill” and past Farm Bills overlap

The Big, Beautiful Bill represents a substantial federal investment in agriculture, encompassing a significant portion of what would typically be included in the Farm Bill. Many are now speculating over a potential timeline for a “skinny” version of that legislation.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) joined us Friday on the Market Day Report for an update. In an interview with RFD-TV’s own XX, Sen. Morran explained the overlaps between Trump’s reconciliation bill and the main provisions of past Farm Bills, shared his outlook on Congress’s ability to produce a scaled-back Farm Bill by fall, as well as the changes he secured in the rescissions package to ensure funding for food aid programs.

Related Stories
The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.
The National Milk Producers Federation will launch a new advocacy campaign to secure a final vote, urging House lawmakers to approve the bill as soon as they return from the Thanksgiving recess.
Tyson’s Nebraska plant closure and falling Cattle on Feed numbers send cattle markets tumbling. Analysts warn of tighter supplies, weak margins, and rising global competition.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller warns horse owners after EHV-1 cases linked to the Waco WPRA Finals. Horses linked to recent Waco events should be isolated and closely monitored, as early action is critical to stopping the spread of EHV-1.
Farmers with unpaid Hansen-Mueller grain should verify delivery records immediately and file indemnity claims quickly, as coverage rules differ sharply by state.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and outlines how shifting definitions across multiple administrations have created regulatory confusion for landowners.
Leslee Oden, president of the National Turkey Federation, and Jay Jandrain, CEO of Butterball, joined us in the studio on Monday to discuss the history, significance, and expectations surrounding this year’s presidential turkey pardon.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that the move will save farmers and ranchers $2.5 billion each year. The group warns that new methods for calculating the adverse-effect wage rate would result in lower pay for foreign workers.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.
Shaun Haney, Host of RealAg Radio on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147, joined us with his 2026 cattle market outlook and insights on beef prices.
Farmer Bridge Assistance payments provide immediate balance-sheet support heading into 2026, but remain a short-term bridge rather than a substitute for long-term market recovery.
The New Year is here, but in Oregon, some ranchers and livestock producers are still trying to recover from record wildfires back in 2024.
The U.S. Forest Service takes us on the same journey from a tree farm in Nevada across America to experience the magic of Christmas in the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-IA, details how the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) supports farmers, biofuels, and rural communities with tax breaks, crop insurance relief, and ag infrastructure.