The American Farm Bureau Federation is pressing Congress to end the delay on a new farm bill, arguing that growers cannot plan seed, fertilizer and financing decisions without certainty on commodity programs and crop insurance.

The organization laid out its case in a recent statement aimed at House and Senate negotiators. Its core argument: the 2018 farm bill's framework no longer covers production costs. Reference prices for major program crops have stayed flat while input bills for fertilizer, fuel, seed and crop protection climbed sharply after 2020, leaving the farm-level safety net well below break-even for many operations.

"Our farmers and ranchers need a farm bill now," Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. "Every day Congress delays, farmers face mounting uncertainty."

The group is asking lawmakers to move a five-year bill rather than another short-term extension. Its priority list includes higher reference prices under the Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage programs, expanded crop insurance options, and continued funding for working-lands conservation and trade promotion accounts.

The push comes as farm income forecasts point to continued pressure. USDA's own projections show net farm income well below the record levels of 2022, with production expenses staying elevated even as grain prices soften. For row-crop producers, the gap between falling commodity prices and stubborn input costs has compressed operating margins across the Corn Belt and Plains.

Farm Bureau also flagged the risk of program lapses. Key authorities under the current law, including some disaster assistance and nutrition program operations, depend on timely reauthorization. A lapse or another stopgap, the group argued, would leave growers managing 2025 planting decisions without a clear picture of their support options.

The organization pointed to the long runway Congress has already used. The 2018 farm bill expired in September 2023, and lawmakers have since relied on temporary extensions to keep programs running while a full reauthorization remains unfinished.

Farm Bureau's leadership urged members to keep pressure on their representatives during the ongoing recess, when lawmakers are back in their districts and more accessible to constituent groups.

The group's statement did not attach a specific legislative timeline, but it made clear that the next planting season is the practical deadline. Growers finalizing input purchases and crop insurance coverage for the coming year need program parameters settled well before spring fieldwork begins.