In news relating to dairy farmers in mid-May 2025:
- House Ag Committee cuts SNAP, enhances farm safety net
- USDA seeks feedback from producers about 2025 crops, stocks, inventories and values
- USDA opens CRP enrollment for 2025
House Ag Committee cuts SNAP, enhances farm safety net
On May 14, the House Agriculture Committee voted 29-25 to approve a reconciliation proposal to reduce its deficit by $296 billion over 10 years, primarily by overhauling the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The proposal forces states to cost share SNAP benefits, split administration fees and keep SNAP benefit increases tied to inflation.
With spending cuts above the committee’s instructed target, House Republicans included provisions to improve the farm safety net established in the 2018 Farm Bill.
The proposal includes increasing reference prices for covered commodities and increased funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
For dairy, the bill extends the Dairy Margin Coverage program through 2031 and funds mandatory USDA dairy processing plant cost surveys every two years, which will better inform future make allowance conversations.
“We commend Chairman GT Thompson and committee members for advancing important investments that will help support and create opportunities for dairy,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “We will work with lawmakers to advance these provisions through Congress, knowing that dairy is well served by what the House Agriculture Committee is approving.”
The measure was taken up by the House Budget Committee, which passed it on a 17-16 vote. The House is expected to take up the bill before leaving later this week for its Memorial Day break.
USDA seeks feedback from producers about 2025 crops, stocks, inventories and values
Over the next several weeks, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the June Agricultural Survey. The agency will contact nearly 92,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1.
“The June Agricultural Survey is one of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts,” said Joseph L. Parsons, USDA NASS administrator. “When producers respond to the survey, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2025 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers and others to inform a wide range of decisions.”
Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online, by phone or by mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks.
“NASS safeguards the privacy of respondents by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Parsons. “We recognize that this is a busy time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their participation.”
USDA opens CRP enrollment for 2025
The USDA announced several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP now through June 6.
For four decades, CRP has provided financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The American Relief Act, 2025, extended provisions for CRP through Sept. 30.
General CRP (sign-up 64)
Agricultural producers and landowners submit offers for General CRP through a competitive bid process. Offers are ranked and scored, by FSA, using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. The USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed. In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
Continuous CRP (sign-up 63)
Unlike General CRP, Continuous CRP offers are not subject to a competitive bid process. To ensure enrolled acres do not exceed the current statutory cap of 27 million acres, the FSA is accepting Continuous CRP offers on a first-come, first-served basis through June 6. However, should allotted CRP acreage remain available following the June 6 deadline, the FSA will accept continuous CRP offers from interested landowners through July 31 and may be subsequently considered for acceptance, in batches, if it’s determined that the offered acres support the USDA’s conservation priorities.
Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
Grassland and expiring CRP acres
The FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP sign-up in the near future.
Additionally, landowners with acres enrolled in CRP set to expire Sept. 30 can offer acres for reenrollment beginning today. A producer can offer to enroll new acres into CRP and also offer to reenroll any acres expiring Sept. 30.
For more information on CRP participant and land eligibility, approved conservation practices and detailed program fact sheets, visit FSA’s CRP webpage.
