“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
Alan Bjerga of the National Milk Producers Federation joined us to discuss the Dairy Margin Coverage program, recent improvements, and what producers need to know ahead of this week’s enrollment deadline.
Glyphosate and phosphorus are deemed critical to U.S. national defense, ensuring farmers’ access while signaling a shift toward regenerative agriculture. RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insight on the Trump Administration’s move and what it could mean for U.S. farmers moving forward.
The Ranger Road Fire in the Oklahoma Panhandle is now 65% contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres over the past week. Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance Agency discusses wildfire recovery, livestock insurance considerations, and the importance of preparedness for producers across the Southern Plains.
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.
Cotton jassid, a invasive pest, is raising concerns for Southeast cotton growers as experts work to understand its impact this season.
Expanded global trade access boosts long-term export demand potential for U.S. ag products.
Border closures tied to the threat of New World Screwworm continue to stall Mexican fed cattle imports, tightening U.S. feeder cattle supplies over time — triggering feedlot closures that hinder herd rebuilding efforts, threaten the beef supply chain, and shrink production while consumer prices stay elevated.
Brooks York of AgriSompo discusses projected prices and how farmers are adapting their crop insurance strategies as the price discovery period comes to a close.
For the broader agricultural industry, a railroad antitrust case in Kansas could lead to the dismantling of legacy regulatory shields, creating a more fluid, market-driven transportation grid that prioritizes moving crops efficiently over protecting historic rail monopolies.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The United Nations launched the Decade of Restoration Program to focus on protecting and rebuilding ecosystems around the globe.
RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender and the Tennessee Beef Council make an easy, nutritious beef recipe to add to your summer cookbook.
LSU AgCenter’s Heather Kirk-Ballard shares how summertime is a great time to prepare for and plan out any large landscape projects you have for the fall.