When U.S. lawmakers passed a stopgap measure — the American Relief Act of 2025 — late last month to avoid a government shutdown, they also dealt a saving grace to the country’s farmers and other ag producers by extending the 2018 farm bill. 

Even though the extension gives Congress until Sept. 30 of this year to pass a new Farm Bill, there are still multiple programs whose funding is not included in that extension. 

The extension provides $10 billion in one-time economic payments for farmers and an additional $20 billion to help producers recover from natural disasters. Perhaps most importantly, farmers can get aid even if they don’t have access to federal crop insurance plans.

For farms whose agricultural operations are less than 75% of the average gross income, the payments will be capped at $125,000. The assistance is to be paid within 90 days.

While agricultural groups expressed appreciation for the financial assistance, many farmers still think the extension to an already 7-year-old bill falls short of what is needed at a time when powerful hurricanes recently thrashed the state, input costs are on the rise, and prices are sliding. 

As blueberry growers here in Florida, you’re already far too familiar with the rising costs and the acute needs the industry faces. Let’s hope that a new farm bill in September can address some of the more emergent needs of the nation’s growers.