2018 Farm Bill Expires As Congress Drafts New Farm, Food Legislation
USA Rice
WASHINGTON, DC -- The 2018 Farm Bill expired at midnight on September 30 as Congress continues its work to deliver a 2023 Farm Bill before the end of the calendar year. Much still remains uncertain on provisions that will be included in both the House and Senate versions of the omnibus legislation, which is slated to be the first trillion-dollar farm bill.
Lawmakers have publicly stated that an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill before September 30 was not needed, but that is a different story come the end of 2023.
Ensuring our food system remains thriving and sustainable
Even with expiration of the 2018 farm law, crop insurance, which is permanently authorized, and commodity program payments through the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Program and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) Program will continue. However, if a new farm bill is not passed or the current bill extended by the end of the calendar year, farm commodity programs will revert to 1938 and 1949 permanent law.
Four major conservation programs, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), were authorized through fiscal year 2031 with additional funding allocated for these programs, albeit tied specifically to climate-smart agriculture practices, through fiscal year 2026.
The Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program that USA Rice uses to help promote sales of U.S.-grown rice in foreign markets should continue functioning normally through the end of the calendar year but will require either inclusion in the Farm Bill reauthorization or an extension of current law to continue for 2024.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which makes up approximately 80 percent of farm bill funding, will continue as it is an annually appropriated entitlement program.
In the waning hours of September 30, President Joe Biden signed into law a continuing resolution to keep the Federal government funded through November 17. Congress continues its work towards full appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024 which began on October 1.