2018 Farm Bill Signed Into Law

(WASHINGTON, DC) Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue celebrated his birthday Thursday as the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. Perdue, who turned 72, joined members of Congress and ag industry leaders at the White House as President Donald Trump signed the legislation. Beginning with the 2019 crop year, growers will be able to make a new election into the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. There is an “escalator provision” allowing for PLC Reference Prices to adjust if the five-year Olympic average price increases significantly. The definition of a “family farm” has been expanded within Actively Engaged in Farming regulations to include nieces, nephews, and first cousins, which allows for the continuation of lineal descent among farming operations. Crop insurance is protected and maintained, with modest enhancements to the program and the Conservation Reserve Program acres are expanded while Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding is increased.