The National Farmers Union is pressing Congress to deliver a stronger Farm Bill, warning that U.S. agriculture faces a generational reckoning if federal farm policy goes unrevised.

"We are at risk of losing a generation of farmers," the organization said, framing its appeal around the economic pressures squeezing producers nationwide.

What does the Farm Bill cover?

The Farm Bill is the multi-year, omnibus law authorizing federal spending on the major pillars of U.S. agricultural policy. Its titles cover commodity support programs, federal crop insurance, conservation initiatives, agricultural research, rural development and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP historically accounts for the largest share of outlays. Congress renews the legislation on a roughly five-year cycle.

The most recent Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was originally set to expire after the 2023 crop year. Congress has passed short-term extensions, most recently carrying programs into fiscal year 2025, but has not yet enacted a new five-year reauthorization. Producers, lenders and USDA program administrators continue operating under the prior law's framework as lawmakers debate a replacement.

What is NFU asking for?

NFU, a family-farm and ranch advocacy organization founded in 1902, represents producers across multiple commodity sectors, from row crops to livestock and dairy.

The group has long pushed for a stronger safety net, including higher reference prices for commodity support payments, stronger crop insurance products, expanded conservation funding and initiatives aimed at beginning farmers.

The "losing a generation" framing ties the Farm Bill debate to the financial realities facing younger producers trying to enter a capital-intensive business where land, equipment and operating costs can run into the millions.

Why does timing matter?

Farm Bill negotiations in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have stalled. Lawmakers have not yet passed either a full reauthorization or a clean short-term extension beyond the current stopgap.

Producers weighing planting decisions and input purchases face continued uncertainty over what the safety net will look like for upcoming crop years. Input costs for fertilizer, fuel and seed have remained elevated relative to historical norms, tightening margins and increasing the value of federal risk-management programs. At the same time, commodity prices for major crops have moved lower from the 2022 peaks, squeezing revenue on both sides of the ledger.

What comes next?

Watch for movement on a House or Senate Agriculture Committee markup, for any short-term extension that would carry existing programs into another crop year, and for the release of Congressional Budget Office scoring on proposed Farm Bill frameworks. Bipartisan negotiations have yet to produce a deal that can clear both chambers, and producers are watching for action before planting commitments lock in for the next season.