Big Beautiful Bill Becomes Law, Drawing Mixed Farm Group Reactions

The Big Beautiful Bill Act is now officially law, following President Trump’s signature on July 4. The sweeping legislation passed both the House and Senate and is drawing mixed reactions from key farm groups.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling it a major win. President Zippy Duvall praised lawmakers for modernizing farm safety net programs and making critical tax provisions permanent, saying the move “could be the difference between staying in business or shutting down the family farm.” With more than half of U.S. farmers currently losing money, he says increased reference prices and expanded tax tools offer stability for both the coming season and future generations.

But not everyone is celebrating. National Farmers Union President Rob Larew welcomed the bill’s investments in biofuels, conservation, and family farm viability, but said those gains come with harmful tradeoffs. He warned that cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will have ripple effects, saying, “Farm policy should unite us… This approach undermines the foundation of the farm bill.”

Both groups agree: more work is needed. They’re urging Congress to follow through with a comprehensive farm bill that addresses the full scope of challenges facing rural America.