The spending bill approved last week by Congress to end the government shutdown also includes a one-year extension of farm bill programs that expired Sept. 30. 

President Donald Trump signed the measure into law on Nov. 12, ending the government shutdown after 43 days. 

The continuing resolution, which funds the government through Jan. 30, includes full-year funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and also extends the U.S. Grain Standards Act through Jan. 30. 

The measure cleared the Senate on a 60-40 vote and passed the House 222-209.

“These actions, along with the improvements to farm programs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will provide much-needed certainty for farmers as we work with Congress to pass a modernized five-year farm bill,” said American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. 

“Farmers and ranchers rely on critical USDA services and disaster relief programs during these tough economic times, as do Americans who need access to food assistance programs and other services.” 

Several farm bill programs involving budgetary provisions were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enacted last summer, including improvements to commodity title programs, crop insurance, trade promotion and certain conservation program funding. 

However, policy-focused farm bill provisions that weren’t ex­tended by OBBBA, including the Conservation Reserve Program and some energy and other “orphan” programs, were awaiting renewal after expiring on Sept. 30.  

With funding restored, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency would immediately begin processing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments that had been delayed. 

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency also will begin processing new loan requests, according to an agency memo circulated last week.  


USDA funding

The continuing resolution provides the USDA with discretionary funding of $26.65 billion for the 2026 budget year, the same level of funding as 2025. It also includes language preventing the USDA from closing any FSA county offices.

The measure continues critical investments in agricultural research and animal and plant health programs, including a total of $2.95 billion for the Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to combat emerging diseases such as New World screwworm, chronic wasting disease and avian influenza.  

It also increases funding for meat and poultry inspections as well as improved tracking of foreign land ownership.

Additionally, the measure closes a loophole that resulted in a “proliferation of unregulated” hemp products being sold online and in gas stations across the country while preserving non-intoxicating CBD and industrial hemp products, according to a bill summary provided by the House Agriculture Committee.