(WASHINGTON D.C.) — Late Friday night and early Saturday morning, the U.S House and Senate passed a continuing resolution, the American Relief Act of 2025, to keep the government open. The act also included economic aid for farmers, disaster aid and an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.
After a tumultuous week of back and forth on Capitol Hill, lawmakers were able to pass a CR to keep the government funded through March 14th, 2025. The bill also included about $100 billion in disaster relief for people impacted by natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, $10 billion dollars in economic assistance for farmers facing low commodity prices and high input costs, and a one year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. The previous one-year extension lapsed at the end of September as lawmakers have been unable to complete a new five-year Farm Bill.
Incoming Senate Ag Committee Chairman and current Ranking Member Senator John Boozman (R-AR) said in a statement that “economic assistance will provide critical relief to hardworking farm families struggling to maintain their family farm. Helping American producers endure the current farm crisis and preserve their operations is necessary for healthy rural communities that desperately need the certainty and predictability of a five-year farm bill. I’m pleased Congress worked together to deliver this aid to the men and women who feed and clothe us all.”
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) said in a statement that “The American Relief Act provides necessary assistance for American agriculture, and is a lifeline for the men and women who feed, clothe, and fuel our great nation. While the process was a long one, the result is a bill that puts America first, and serves as reminder that when the agriculture community is united, we can punch well above our weight. I was proud to support its passage, urge the Senate to quickly pass it, and call on the Department of Agriculture to act swiftly in the delivery of these critical resources.”
North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer commented on the passage of the American Relief Act of 2025 as well on Saturday. “Our farmers and ranchers have faced severe challenges this year from both market conditions as well as wildfires and other natural disasters. This assistance for our producers is vital to keep their operations going and ensure that Americans continue to have access to high quality, low cost food,” said Senator Hoeven “This assistance was necessary given the Democrats’ unwillingness to pass a farm bill that updated reference prices. We’ll continue our efforts to pass a strong farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net and keeps the farm in the farm bill.”
Senator Cramer, in a statement, said that “While the passage of the bill is obviously important to avoid a government shutdown and of course to pass some priorities for North Dakota, it had better be the last time we do it this way. This is not how you should run the legislative branch and our constituents deserve a lot better than this incompetence and this dysfunction that we’ve seen these last few days and hours. I look forward to new leadership in Congress when Republicans become the majority in the Senate and Donald Trump occupies the White House.”
Multiple agriculture groups have been sharing their reactions to the CR passage on Saturday. Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and soy farmer from Kentucky, said, “Congress has come through with a bipartisan solution that not only keeps our government open but keeps our farms going. While we of course had our hopes set on a new five-year farm bill in 2024, we are grateful for this one-year extension and will urge Congress to pass an improved farm bill in the new year. And, having economic and disaster aid in this critical piece—at a critical time for farm families—is also very appreciated, along with other provisions. We thank leadership for their ongoing and late-night efforts.”
Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) said in a statement that “NAWG applauds members of both the House of Representatives and Senate for coming together to provide much-needed economic assistance and disaster relief for farmers nationwide. While this legislation also includes a one-year farm bill extension and short-term relief, it is not a replacement for a long-term farm bill. As we enter the 119th Congress, NAWG urges lawmakers to work quickly to pass a farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net and provides long-term certainty for producers and rural America.”
The original CR announced by the House earlier in the week included legislation to allow the sale of E-15, gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, year round. However, that was left out of the final package that was passed late Friday night and early Saturday morning.
National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr, shared the organization’s disappointment that E-15 legislation was not included saying in a statement that “corn growers are deeply disappointed that a permanent, year-round E15 solution was not included in the end-of-year legislation package. This no-cost provision would have provided a market-driven solution to farmers experiencing low corn prices. We call upon legislators to address this matter quickly in the start of the new Congress and fix this issue once and for all.”
Hartman Jr. added that “NCGA is appreciative of House and Senate Agriculture leadership and other champions who worked hard to extend the farm bill and provide much needed economic and disaster assistance to farm country. This assistance will help growers reeling from natural disasters and multiple years of low crop prices paired with high input costs.”
ACE CEO Brian Jennings issued the following statement saying in part “while it’s disappointing the bipartisan E15 year-round provision was ultimately left on the cutting room floor, ACE is incredibly grateful to our champions in Congress who convinced leadership to include it in the original must-pass legislation to fund the government. We are encouraged by this progress and confident E15 year-round has cleared enough hurdles to be included in the first must-pass bill Congress takes up in 2025.”
Agricultural Retailers Association President & CEO Daren Coppock said in a statement that he applauded efforts by Congress to aid farmers in need, yet the work on Capitol Hill was not done. “ARA applauds efforts by Congress to pass a continuing resolution with economic assistance as well as a one-year extension to the farm bill to carry us into next year,” said Coppock. “However, the work on Capitol Hill is not finished. ARA and our members will continue to advocate for a 5-year farm bill that includes many of ARA’s priorities such as robust improvements to crop insurance, conservation programs and more. We need to secure a multi-year farm bill as early as possible in the next Congress to provide much-needed certainty for an ag industry reeling from economic hardships.”
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) said in a statement that “The bottom line is that Congress is finally doing the right thing for America’s farmers and rural Americans. I expect this ad hoc market loss assistance will make a difference for farmers in Mississippi and elsewhere who would otherwise not be able to plant again next year.” Senator Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Ag Committee, added that “this assistance should serve as a lifeline while, with some determination and focus, we can finally enact a new Farm Bill that includes updated safety net programs for our farmers. I look forward to working with incoming Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to ensure swift implementation of the disaster aid, because time is of the essence.”
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the CR as well saying in a statement that “While I am disappointed that a new Farm Bill did not pass during this Congress, a one-year extension of the current bill provides Iowa farmers with some added certainty at a time when the ag economy remains soft. We must now focus on enacting a modernized 5-year Farm Bill, and I am eager to work with the new Congress and the Trump Administration to get this priority accomplished early next year. Every title of the Farm Bill matters to Iowa. I will continue to advocate alongside the Iowa delegation for the needs of Iowa farmers, including risk management tools, trade promotion and market development, conservation resources, and support for our rural communities. Thank you to Senators Grassley and Ernst as well as Representatives Feenstra, Nunn, Hinson, and Miller-Meeks for your commitment to fighting for Iowa’s priorities in Washington.”