The Farm Bill, Government Funding, and Political Gridlock

2024 was a year to remember in the political realm, not for the actions taken by Congress, but rather the cans kicked down the proverbial road. We at OFRF wanted to take a moment to review some of the happenings at the close of last year, and give a brief overview of what that means for the legislative and administrative agendas in 2025. 

What Happened in 2024?

Long story short, the last year of the 118th Congress was defined by lots of aspiration and almost no delivery. Here’s a quick rundown of the items we’ve been watching:

  • The 2018 Farm Bill was extended (for the second time) for a year, expiring in September 2025. This extension did not include crucial programs that do not receive mandatory levels of funding, like the Organic Certification Cost Share Program and the 1890 Land Grant University Scholarship program. 
  • FY25 Appropriations was delayed well into the fiscal year by passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government at FY24 levels into March of 2025. For reference, Congress usually starts working on the next fiscal year budget in February of the preceding year, potentially creating a log jam with all of the rest of the legislative actions needed this year. 
  • The federal debt limit was not raised or amended, which means that the United States Treasury will need to order all agencies to begin “extraordinary measures” almost immediately in the new administration.

What Needs to Happen in 2025?

Because of the lack of action in 2024, that has just added more work to the legislative calendar in 2025:

  • The Farm Bill is in desperate need of updating, and the Farm Bill process starts over from square one; meaning that marker bills and priorities need to be reintroduced and revisited, and new Members of Congress must be educated on the importance and impacts of the Farm Bill’s many policies on their States and Districts.
  • Both FY25 and FY26 Appropriations packages will need to be finished and passed to both avoid a government shutdown, and also make sure the programs and supports that our farmers and researchers need continue!
  • One of the biggest things taking up space on the legislative calendar so far this year has been Reconciliation, which is a detailed budget and legislative process that Congress can use to move money around that has not yet been obligated to a specific program or line item. As some might remember from the Democrat’s use of this early in the Biden Administration it is difficult and very procedurally demanding.
  • Another budget-related task is the debt limit, mentioned above. This is different from the need to pass a budget, or reconcile for different priorities; this is the authority of the United States Treasury to establish new debts to pay for ongoing obligations. To put simply, this is the debt limit on the nation’s credit cards, and we’re close to hitting it once again. 

What You Can Do

While this legislative gridlock is frustrating, there are ways to make your voice heard and advocate for the programs that matter most:

Call Your Representatives and Senators: Ask them what their stance is on organic agriculture and agricultural research. Let us know how those conversations go!

Highlight the Impacts: Share personal stories about how these programs benefit you, your community, or your operation. Legislators are more likely to act when they hear directly from their constituents.

Stay Engaged: Keep up with the latest developments and participate in advocacy opportunities as they arise. Sharing information with your network can amplify the message and drive greater action.

This continuing situation underscores the importance of public engagement and advocacy to ensure that the programs supporting organic farmers, agricultural research, and rural resilience remain funded and effective. As Congress resumes discussions in the coming months, OFRF will continue to push for robust investments in organic agriculture and support for critical orphan programs.

Your voice is vital. Together, we can ensure that the value of organic farming, research, and education is recognized and supported in Washington.

Stay engaged. Stay informed. Together, we can make a difference.

We’re here for it,

Gordon

OFRF Senior Policy & Programs Manager

gordon@ofrf.org