Policy Updates and Issue News August 2025

Congress needs to pass a “skinny “farm bill

The President signed the Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4. It included several big-ticket farm bill items such as support for commodity programs, crop insurance, supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP), dairy, sugar, and biofuels. However, there are many more sections to a farm bill that have not been addressed since the last farm bill in 2018. Congress hopes to begin debating the so-called “skinny” farm bill sometime this fall.

So what is left to do in the “skinny” farm bill?

1. Conservation
   1. Reauthorize the Conservation Reserve Program
2. Rural Development
   1. Rural Broadband Programs
   2. ReConnect Loans and Grant Program
   3. Community Connect Grants
   4. Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants
   5. Community Facilities Program
   6. Rural Business Development Grants - These support small and emerging rural businesses through technical assistance and capital access
   7. Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
   8. Rural Renting Housing Loans & Self-Help Housing Grants
3. Credit
   1. Direct and Guaranteed Farm Ownership and Operating Loans
   2. Microloan Program
   3. Beginning Farmer and Rancher Down Payment Loan Program
   4. Emergency Loans
   5. Loan servicing & restructuring programs
4. Research, Extension and Related Matters
   1. Agriculture Food and Research Initiative
   2. Competitive research grants
   3. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
   4. Evans-Allen & 1890 Capacity Grants - These support HBCUs and minority serving institutions
   5. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Economic Research Service (ERS)
   6. Hatch Act and Smith-Lever Programs - These support land grant universities and extension programs
5. Forestry
   1. Healthy Forests Reserve Program- This encourages landowners to restore, enhance, and protect forests that provide habitat for endangered species and improve biodiversity
   2. Forest Legacy Program - This helps states and private landowners protect environmentally essential forests through conservation easements
   3. Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program - These assist local governments, tribes, and nonprofits in acquiring forests for public access, conservation, and education
   4. State and Volunteer Fire Assistance - This is funding and technical assistance for state-level forest management and wildfire preparedness
   5. Urban & Community Forestry Program - This supports the development and maintenance of tree cover in cities and towns; promotes green infrastructure and heat reduction
6. Energy
   1. Rural Energy Program for America Program (REAP) - These grants and loans help farmers and rural businesses invest in renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades
   2. Biorefinery Assistance Program - This supports the construction and development of facilities producing advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals
   3. Biomass Crops Assistance Program (BCAP) - This encourages farmers to grow and harvest biomass crops (switchgrass) for energy production
   4. Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels - This provides payments to producers of eligible advanced biofuels made from non-farm feedstocks
   5. Carbon sequestration and renewable fuel pilot programs
7. Horticulture/Specialty Crops/Organic
   1. Specialty Crop Block Grant - This is funding to states to support projects improving specialty crop competitiveness
   2. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program - This expands local/regional food systems, including farmers’ markets, food hubs, and farm-to-school efforts
   3. Organic Certification Cost-share program - This reimburses up to 75% of certification costs for organic producers and handlers
   4. National Organic Program - This is the USDA regulatory body overseeing organic production standards
   5. Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention - This funds early detection and prevention efforts to combat invasive pets and plant diseases.
8. Miscellaneous
   1. Outreach and Assistance for socially disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (2501 Program)
   2. Office of Urban Agriculture and innovative production
   3. Livestock indemnity and forage programs
   4. Disaster relief and animal health infrastructure

Reorganizing the U.S Department of Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced a major reorganization of USDA to refocus on its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry. She says reorganization will:

• Ensure the size of USDA’s workforce aligns with available financial resources and agricultural priorities
• Bring USDFA closer to its customers
• Eliminate management layers and bureaucracy
• Consolidate redundant support functions

The reorganization includes a phased plan to relocate much of its headquarters and National Capital Region USDA staff out of the Washington area to five hub locations around the country where the USDA already has a significant staff presence. These locations are Raleigh, NC, Kansas City, MO, Indianapolis, IN, Fort Collins, CO, and Salt Lake City, UT. In addition, USDA will vacate several building complexes around Washington and return the property to the General Services Administration. The USDA has been receiving feedback and comments from Congress and stakeholders during August.

Enforcing trade deals’ ag provisions a top priority

The USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative say that ensuring countries fulfill their commitments to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural commodities will be a top priority for the administration. Recent ag purchase commitments were included in trade deals with Japan and Indonesia.