What is the Farm Bill?

June 13, 2024

Breaking Down the Titles of the Farm Bill

In a simple explanation, the farm bill is a package of legislation that governs an assemblage of agriculture and food programs. However, there is nothing simple about the farm bill.

While the roots of the farm bill are planted deep in its farm support programs, the bill has expanded to address various issues in an ever-evolving world. From conservation initiatives and bioenergy to rural development and nutrition policy, the farm bill provides funding for programs that impact individuals of different regions and social demographics across the country.

 

 The current farm bill is made up of 12 titles:

 

Title I: Commodities — Provides support for major commodity crops, including wheat, corn, soybeans, peanuts, rice, dairy, and sugar. Reauthorizes marketing loan and disaster programs. Title I includes funding for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.

Title II: Conservation — Encourages environmental stewardship of farmland and refined land management through land retirement programs and/ or working lands programs. Addresses environmental and natural resource concerns[HB2] . Title II includes funding for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).

Title III: Trade — Supports the U.S. agricultural export programs as well as various international food assistance programs. Title III includes funding for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Access Development Programs (MAP).

Title IV: Nutrition — Provides nutrition assistance for low-income households through programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Title V: Credit — Provides lending opportunities that private commercial entities cannot offer, consisting of direct government loans for producers to buy land and operate farms and ranches.

Title VI: Rural Development — Provides funding to programs to build competitive advantages in rural communities. Supports rural housing, business, community facilities, and utility programs through grants, loans, and guarantees.

Title VII: Research, Extension, and Related Matters — Supports agriculture extension and research programs to develop academic knowledge and assist producers in becoming more productive. Title VII includes funding for programs such as the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.

Title VIII: Forestry — Provides authority for the U.S. Forest service and supports forestry management programs.

Title IX: Energy — Encourages the expansion of community and farm renewable energy systems through different programs, including various loan guarantees and grants.

Title X: Horticulture — Supports the production of specialty crops, certified organic foods, and certified local foods. Authorizes a regulatory framework for industrial hemp. Title X includes funding for the National Organic Program and Specialty Crop Block Grants.

Title XI: Crop Insurance — Enhances risk management through the permanently authorized Federal Crop Insurance Program. Helps protect producers from losses resulting from yield and price risks. Title XI includes funding for disaster assistance programs (also under Title I) as well as Emergency Farm Loans and Whole Farm Revenue Protection.

Title XII: Miscellaneous — Includes various programs and assistance for livestock and poultry production and provides support for beginning farmers and ranchers. Includes supports for agriculture and food defense, limited-resource producers, historically underserved producers, and other miscellaneous provisions.

 

Barring complications, the farm bill is typically renewed every five years, reauthorizing programs that would otherwise expire and extending funding for the bill’s permanent programs. The current farm bill is called the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and was enacted into law in December of 2018. This bill has been extended through September 30, 2024, and Congress is currently drafting and debating the next farm bill.

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.
By Tara Desmond July 3, 2025
Mid-Year Highlights: IL Corn Top 10 Read Stories
A map of the world with arrows pointing to trade countries
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.
Top Videos of 2025
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2025
Harvesting the Best: A Look at IL Corn’s Top 10 Videos of 2025
By Lindsay Croke June 30, 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.
The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen June 27, 2025
From Springfield to D.C., lawmakers are listening, and Illinois corn farmers are leading the conversations.
Show More