5 Things Ag Retailers Should Know Now That the Farm Bill Has Expired

The future of federal agricultural policy remains uncertain as lawmakers work to address outstanding Farm Bill provisions and other legislative priorities. For agricultural retailers, the outcome could influence everything from farmer financing and biological product definitions to conservation policy and the broader business environment.

Daren Coppock, president and CEO of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), discussed the Farm Bill outlook and other industry priorities during a recent episode of CropLife Retail Week.

Here are five things agricultural retailers should know about the Farm Bill and what comes next.

1. The Farm Bill’s expiration leaves important policy questions unresolved

The Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, creating uncertainty around provisions that were not addressed in other legislation. However, Coppock noted that some of the law’s major spending provisions have already been handled through the One Big Beautiful Bill.

“The Farm Bill itself, the programs that had budgetary impacts of commodity program funding for the conservation programs, stuff like that was dealt with in the One Big Beautiful Bill earlier,” Coppock said. “And so that’s in place.”

The remaining work centers on policy provisions that affect other aspects of agricultural operations and the regulatory environment. These outstanding issues matter to retailers because they can influence the programs, rules and services that support their farmer customers.

Meanwhile, Congress faces competing legislative priorities, including government funding. A continuing resolution was keeping the government operating through Dec. 11 at the time of the interview, adding another deadline to lawmakers’ already crowded agenda.

2. Several provisions could directly affect agricultural retailers

Among the outstanding Farm Bill priorities are provisions that could have practical implications for retailers and their customers.

Coppock identified expanding Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits for farmers as one important goal. Access to credit can be critical for producers managing input costs, financing operations and navigating challenging economic conditions.

Another priority involves establishing a definition for biostimulants. Greater clarity in this area could help provide a more consistent policy framework for an evolving category of agricultural products.

Coppock also highlighted efforts to codify language concerning third-party service providers, an issue ARA has been working to advance.

“These are things like that that need to be resolved,” Coppock said, referring to the outstanding policy issues facing lawmakers.

For agricultural retailers, these provisions illustrate why the Farm Bill is about more than traditional commodity support. Its policy framework can also affect emerging technologies, business relationships and the services available throughout the agricultural supply chain.

3. The path forward depends on resolving the SNAP dispute

Despite efforts to move the legislation forward, Coppock identified disagreements over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a significant obstacle to passing a Farm Bill.

The Senate and House have taken different positions on potential changes to SNAP. According to Coppock, Senate lawmakers believe changes are necessary to secure enough votes, while House members have warned that altering their provisions could jeopardize the legislation.

“The key question, though, how you get from here to there is resolving the SNAP dispute that’s going on between Republicans and Democrats,” Coppock said.

He added that the two chambers must find common ground before a bill can advance.

“So those two positions have to come together somehow for us to get a bill done. And until they do, we won’t get one passed.”

The dispute underscores the difficulty of advancing agricultural legislation when broader political disagreements become intertwined with Farm Bill negotiations.

4. A new Farm Bill faces an uncertain timeline

Despite lawmakers’ efforts, Coppock said the chances of passing a new Farm Bill before the end of the year appeared limited at the time of the interview.

“I would handicap it as somewhat less than 50-50 at this point,” he said. “Just because there’s a lot of things that have to start, that have to align to get it done.”

The outcome of the November elections could also influence the legislation’s prospects. If control of either chamber changes, lawmakers may have different incentives for negotiating a bill during the lame-duck session or waiting until the new Congress convenes in January.

Still, Coppock emphasized that the uncertainty does not mean agricultural organizations have stopped pushing for action. He said the chairs and ranking members of both committees understand the seriousness of the situation and the need to get legislation passed.

For ARA members, the message is straightforward: Continued engagement with lawmakers remains important as negotiations unfold.

“The message is to members on both sides of the aisle on the ag committees, but also broader ones too,” Coppock said. “And that is just come on, folks, get the bill done, get together, figure out whatever it is you need to get a compromise and patch it together.”

He added, “We’ve got to get this thing passed. People are just operating with too much uncertainty.”

5. Other agricultural priorities could shape the legislative agenda

The Farm Bill is only one item on ARA’s policy agenda. Coppock also identified year-round E15 authorization and additional farm assistance as important priorities for the agricultural sector.

Year-round E15 sales have support in both chambers, he noted, but the challenge is getting the measure included in legislation that can pass. Farm groups are also advocating for additional assistance to help producers facing difficult economic conditions.

Beyond those issues, congressional action on appropriations, environmental regulations and trade policy could affect agricultural retailers and their customers.

These overlapping priorities make the coming months particularly important for the industry. The Farm Bill’s eventual outcome will depend not only on resolving specific agricultural policy questions but also on Congress’s ability to navigate competing interests and reach broader compromises.

For agricultural retailers, staying informed and communicating with policymakers can help ensure that the industry’s needs remain part of those discussions.

Watch the full conversation

The Farm Bill outlook was one of several topics discussed when ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock joined a recent episode of CropLife Retail Week. The conversation also covered year-round E15, farm assistance, diesel prices, the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, and ARA’s upcoming annual meeting.

Watch the full episode of CropLife Retail Week to hear Coppock’s insights on the policy issues affecting agricultural retailers and what to watch as Congress works through its remaining priorities.