From Broadband to the Breakfast Table: Big Bill’s Rural Impact

We’re wrapping up our four-part series on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act with a look at rural development and nutrition—two areas that directly affect quality of life across our Southeast ag communities. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Market Intel report, there are several notable provisions.

On the rural development side, the bill includes funding for broadband expansion, clean water systems, and infrastructure upgrades in underserved areas. There’s also support for community facilities—like healthcare clinics and schools—that help rural towns remain livable and viable.

And then there’s nutrition. A large part of the bill’s budget supports food assistance programs like SNAP. While that might seem far removed from the farm, the ag economy and nutrition policy are closely connected—these programs help move product and keep food dollars flowing through the system.

It’s a lot to unpack, and this was just a quick overview. For those wanting to see how all the dots connect, the American Farm Bureau Federation has the full breakdown at fb.org.

That wraps our series—four days, four topics, and more still to come as this legislation moves forward.