U.S. Farm Bill Policies to Support America’s Heroes

The U.S. agriculture sector is a critical component of the U.S. economy, contributing 5.5% to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and employing 10.4% of U.S. workers (USDA-ERS, 2024). Since the 1930s, Congress has come together approximately every 5 years to pass a Farm Bill that provides authorization and funding for policies, programs, and services administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As one of the largest pieces of legislation authorized by Congress, the Farm Bill currently impacts roughly 3.4 million farmers, and the policies negotiated have a direct impact on farmers’ ability to access USDA loans, cost share, manage risk, and participate in conservation and training programs supported by USDA grants (USDA-NASS, 2019).