Small Family Farms Dominate and Farm Bill Extension Expires
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**In 2024, about 86% of all farms were SMALL family farms, with gross cash farm income below $350,000, operating on 40% of U.S. agricultural land, producing 17% of total ag production value.
5% of farms were large-scale family farms, making over $1 million, on 33% of ag land, and 50% of total production value.
Family farms accounted for about 97% of farms, 91% of ag land, and 85% of production value.
**The latest extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expired September 30, leaving Congress without a new long-term agriculture policy.
The Farm Bill covers farm safety-net programs, conservation, crop insurance, food assistance, and other programs important to rural America.
The more immediate concern is programs whose funding or authority has expired.
Some farm programs, including commodity and dairy support measures, are set to expire December 31.
**Along those lines, new Conservation Reserve Program enrollment stopped following the expiration of the 2018 farm bill, leaving USDA WITHOUT authority to approve additional contracts.
DTN reports Congress’ latest continuing resolution funds the federal government through Dec. 11 but does not extend the farm bill.
As of Oct. 1, county offices can complete certain activities involving contracts approved before the deadline.
The lapse does not mean all farm bill programs immediately stop.
