Farm Bill expiration: What counties need to know

Key Takeaways

On September 30, 2025, the 2018 Farm Bill, officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), expired. While this does not mean an immediate halt to all programs authorized in the Farm Bill, the expiration begins a period of uncertainty for counties and rural residents who rely on resources authorized in the Farm Bill.  

Why the Farm Bill matters to counties

The Farm Bill is the nation’s most significant legislative package for rural America, shaping food security, agricultural stability, natural resource conservation and rural infrastructure investment. All Farm Bill programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which directly partners with county governments to deliver services provided by many Farm Bill programs. Nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are essential county-administered or county-supported services that ensure county residents have access to healthy food. Rural counties also rely on the Farm Bill to support farmers through crop insurance and commodity safety nets, to fund broadband and water infrastructure, and to sustain conservation and resilience efforts through Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. In many rural regions, Farm Bill programs represent a critical lifeline for both families and local governments.

Read more about how counties are impacted by the Farm Bill

Key dates in the expiration timeline

The first key deadline was September 30, 2025, when many Farm Bill authorizations lapsed. USDA can continue to operate most programs if Congress passes appropriations for these programs, but newer authorities or pilot programs authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill may lose their legal footing until reauthorized. Most programs have enough funding to continue operations until the end of the calendar year, although the status of individual accounts may differ.

If Congress fails to pass a new Farm Bill or an extension by January 1, 2026, the beginning of the new crop year, the country reverts to “permanent law,” a set of outdated farm policies from the 1930s and 1940s that go into effect in the event a full Farm Bill expiration. These laws require USDA to purchase certain commodities, particularly dairy products, at fixed rates far above market prices. This would lead to significant price increases for milk and other dairy products, placing cost burdens on consumers and on county institutions such as schools, correctional facilities and hospitals. Additional disruptions could follow for other commodities as the year progresses.

Programs set to continue

• The Federal Crop Insurance Program operates under permanent statutory authority and will continue without interruption, providing stability for farmers and ranchers who depend on it to manage risk.  
• Similarly, many conservation programs have been extended through the Inflation Reduction Act, with EQIP, CSP, ACEP and RCPP authorized and funded through 2031. Counties working with NRCS on watershed management, soil health and resilience projects can expect those partnerships to remain in place even if the Farm Bill lapses.
• Nutrition programs such as SNAP and TEFAP are also likely to continue operating as long as Congress appropriates funds. However, counties should be aware that any delay in appropriations could disrupt these safety-net programs, creating administrative and service challenges at the local level. Given the outsized importance of nutrition assistance for both urban and rural counties, even short interruptions could have serious consequences for county residents.

Programs at risk

• Farm safety-net programs, including commodity support programs such as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, are only authorized through the 2025 crop year. If Congress fails to reauthorize them, producers will face increasing uncertainty heading into the 2026 crop year.
• USDA Rural Development programs are also vulnerable. While many of these programs can continue to operate with appropriations, their underlying authorizations expire at the end of FY2025. Without reauthorization, counties may see disruptions in how broadband, water, wastewater and community facilities programs are prioritized or awarded.  
• Smaller “orphan” programs, such as Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), lack permanent baseline funding and may wind down unless renewed in new legislation.

Looking ahead

Farm Bill negotiations are ongoing but remain complex. Earlier this year, H.R. 1 reauthorized and extensively updated several programs in the commodity, conservation and nutrition titles. While these programs represent a majority of spending typically authorized in the Farm Bill, H.R.1 left other titles, including rural development, unauthorized. To address these remaining areas, Congressional leadership is negotiating the introduction of a “skinny Farm Bill” in the months ahead. If negotiations fail to deliver a skinny farm bill, lawmakers may instead opt for another extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.

NACo will continue to monitor Farm Bill negotiations and engage with USDA and Congress to ensure county priorities are heard. Counties are encouraged to share local examples and feedback with NACo to inform ongoing advocacy and help protect essential services in their communities.