MONTGOMERY, Ala., June 13 — Agricultural provisions announced this week in the Senate’s version of President Donald Trump’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill” could help Alabama farmers struggling with low commodity prices and high production costs. 

“While no legislation is perfect, the Senate’s budget reconciliation package updates farm program reference prices, which have not changed in over a decade,” said Alabama Farmers Federation National Affairs Director Mitt Walker. “The 2018 Farm Bill expired almost two years ago, and farmers are facing the worst financial crisis since the 1980s. This bill could provide farmers a glimmer of hope as they struggle to hang on for another crop year.”

The House of Representatives passed the reconciliation package last month. Now, the Senate is pushing to pass its version before President Trump’s July 4 target date. The framework announced by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry mirrors the House version in updating reference prices. 

“Our farmers and ranchers are facing real challenges, which have been unaddressed for too long,” said Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark. “This legislation delivers the risk management tools and updated farm bill safety net they need to keep producing the safest, most abundant and affordable food, fuel and fiber in the world. It’s an investment in rural America and the future of agriculture.”

Walker outlined key provisions of the Senate bill:

• Raises reference price 10-20% per commodity. Language is the same as House. It also increases the reference price escalator from 85% to 88% of the five-year average market price.
• Includes a one-time voluntary allocation of 30 million new base acres.
• Increases Title 1 payment limitations from $125,000 to $155,000 and adjusts them annually for inflation.
• Modifies the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) to include a 100% payment rate for predation losses due to black vultures (a federally protected species which has been known to kill cows and baby calves) as well as a supplemental payment for losses of unborn livestock. LIP would also include a 75% payment rate for losses due to adverse weather. 
• Changes qualification for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). Farmers would be eligible for one monthly payment if the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates a D2 (severe drought) level for 4 or more weeks or two monthly payments if D2 for any seven out of eight weeks.
• Expands Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) eligibility to include catfish at a minimum payment rate of $600 per acre and honeybees when mortality exceeds 15%. For program year 2024, the mortality threshold was 24%.
• Establishes the Poultry Insurance Pilot Program for contract poultry growers experiencing losses due to extreme weather. 
• Funds the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program at $15 million per year for FY25 – FY31.

Both the House and Senate bills include provisions to address skyrocketing costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Boozman hailed the legislation as responsible government. 

“This bill takes a commonsense approach to reforming SNAP — cutting waste, increasing state accountability and helping recipients transition to self-sufficiency through work and training. It’s about being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while giving folks the tools to succeed,” he said.

Click here for more information about the Senate’s agriculture provisions.