What Farmers Should Know About the 2026 Farm Bill and Crop Insurance

  • July 6, 2026

The Farm Bill remains one of the most important pieces of legislation affecting agriculture. While the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) included several significant updates, many producers may wonder why Congress is still working toward a new Farm Bill.

In the latest FMH InsureCast episode, host Dave DeCapp talks with Tara Smith, Executive Vice President at Torrey Advisory Group and the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB), about Farm Bill negotiations, today's economic pressures, and what producers should be watching.

Why the Farm Bill Still Matters

Although OB3 included important agricultural provisions, Smith explained that it addressed only part of what is typically included in a Farm Bill. "OB3 contained 40 pages of agriculture text. A farm bill is typically over 500 pages."

Many policy priorities remain unfinished, including regulatory improvements, research initiatives, and updates that could not be addressed through the budget reconciliation process used to pass OB3.

Economic Pressures Continue to Drive the Conversation

According to Smith, many discussions in Washington are centered on the same challenges producers face every day. She said, "We're spending a lot of time in DC... on fertilizer pricing, crop markets, trading partners and tariffs."

Smith added much of the discussion "comes back to the general economic situation... focused on the heartland and on farmers right now." Those ongoing economic pressures are helping build momentum for additional agricultural policy updates.

What Could the Farm Bill Mean for Crop Insurance?

While OB3 included important crop insurance improvements, Smith said several priorities still require a traditional Farm Bill.

These include efforts to simplify regulatory processes, reduce unnecessary administrative burden for farmers, agents, and Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs), and direct research toward developing or improving crop insurance products for commodities that need additional support.

Smith noted that Farm Bills also provide Congress with an opportunity to identify emerging risks and encourage the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to invest in research and development for new or improved crop insurance products. Those efforts help ensure coverage continues to evolve alongside changing production practices and producer needs.

She also emphasized the importance of consistent program administration across the country. "We want to make sure that farmers in Washington State are treated the same as farmers in Illinois, as farmers in North Carolina."

According to Smith, maintaining consistency and reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity helps keep the federal crop insurance program efficient and dependable for producers, agents, and Approved Insurance Providers alike.

Producers Can Help Shape the Conversation

Smith encouraged producers to stay engaged by communicating with their elected officials. "They work for you. You have every right to send them a note, give the office a call, respectfully tell them your thoughts and your opinions on needing to get a Farm Bill across the finish line." As Farm Bill negotiations continue, understanding these issues can help producers have informed conversations with their crop insurance agent about how future policy changes may affect their operation.

Watch the full FMH InsureCast episode to hear Dave DeCapp and Tara Smith discuss Farm Bill negotiations, agricultural policy updates, and what producers and crop insurance agents should watch in the months ahead.