The outlook for passing a new bipartisan farm bill in 2025 is becoming increasingly uncertain, as lawmakers consider incorporating key agricultural provisions into a broader Republican-led legislative package instead.
According to Politico, Republican legislators are debating whether to shift Biden-era conservation programs—originally part of the 2022 climate law—into their sweeping party-line “megabill.” This move would divert unspent conservation dollars away from a standalone farm bill and fold them into legislation aligned with former President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda. In exchange, Republicans are expected to seek the removal of climate-related restrictions tied to those funds.
The decision underscores growing skepticism among GOP lawmakers about their chances of enacting a new farm bill through bipartisan negotiations this year. The potential pivot marks a reversal from earlier Republican resistance to including conservation program funding in the farm bill.
In addition to conservation measures, Republicans are weighing the inclusion of two major farm bill components—increased reference prices and updated crop insurance—within the broader megabill. These changes aim to address ongoing economic pressures faced by U.S. producers and the need for modernization of the farm safety net.
While House Agriculture Chair GT Thompson (R-Pa.) and Senate Ag Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) maintain a publicly optimistic tone, Democratic lawmakers remain doubtful. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), who sits on both the House Agriculture and Appropriations Committees, voiced concern over stalled forestry grants and staff reductions within the Forest Service—impacts linked to the freezing of Inflation Reduction Act funds.
Pingree described the Agriculture Committee as capable of bipartisan cooperation, praising Thompson’s leadership and outreach, but noted that combining the farm bill process with budget reconciliation has disrupted the legislative path. “All hell has broken loose,” she remarked.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) echoed similar concerns, noting that Republican lawmakers are quietly expressing discontent over suspended grants and rural staff losses but have largely avoided public opposition. She cited tariffs as the only area where Senate Republicans have begun to push back more visibly.
The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to begin markup next week on its portion of the megabill, which also includes tax cuts, border security funding, and energy policies. A major point of contention will be proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a move that has raised concerns among Republicans wary of reducing food aid in their districts.
As lawmakers juggle competing priorities, the farm bill’s path forward remains clouded by uncertainty—leaving farmers and stakeholders across the country watching closely for what comes next.
