Farm Bill 2.0 vs 2018: Key Changes and Who They Affect

TL;DR: H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, makes its most significant departures from the 2018 Farm Bill in four areas: higher commodity reference prices, expanded crop insurance access, restructured conservation spending, and tightened Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements. Farmers, lenders, and nutrition advocates each face a materially different policy landscape than the one that has governed since 2018.

Key takeaway

H.R. 7567 raises commodity reference prices for the first time since 2014 and adds stricter SNAP work requirements, the two biggest structural breaks from the 2018 Farm Bill.

What happened

The House passed H.R. 7567 and sent it to the Senate for consideration. The bill replaces the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which had been operating under a series of extensions since its original expiration. For a full vote history, see the vote tracker.

The most consequential structural changes fall across Title I (commodity programs), Title XI (crop insurance), Title II (conservation), and Title IV (nutrition). Each title carries dollar figures and eligibility rules that differ substantially from their 2018 counterparts. A side-by-side breakdown is available on the what's new vs 2018 page.

Congress last updated commodity reference prices in the Agricultural Act of 2014. The 2018 Farm Bill left those prices unchanged. H.R. 7567 adjusts them upward to reflect higher input costs, a move commodity groups had lobbied for through two farm bill cycles.

What it means

The changes affect different groups in different ways. Below is a program-by-program summary of the most significant departures from current law.

Title I: Commodity Support

• Reference prices increase for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice under the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. Farmers enrolled in PLC will trigger payments at a higher floor, which reduces income volatility during price downturns.
• Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) county benchmarks are recalculated using a longer revenue history, which smooths out the inflated revenue years that had suppressed payments under the 2018 formula.
• Payment limits remain at the 2018 levels for most commodities, meaning the per-person cap has not changed, but more farmers may qualify for payments under the new price triggers.

Title II: Conservation

• The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment cap increases from 25 million acres (2018 level) to 27 million acres.
• The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) receive adjusted funding levels. See the funding breakdown for full authorization figures.
• A new climate-focused practice standard is added to EQIP, though participation remains voluntary and cost-share rates are set by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state offices.

Title IV: Nutrition / SNAP

• Work requirements under SNAP are extended to able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) up to age 54, raised from age 49 under the 2018 Bill.
• State waiver authority for high-unemployment areas is narrowed, reducing the number of counties that can exempt residents from the work requirement.
• Gross income eligibility thresholds and maximum benefit levels are not changed by H.R. 7567 itself; those adjust automatically with inflation under existing law.

Title XI: Crop Insurance

• The Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) plan is made permanent and premium subsidy rates are modestly increased for small and mid-size diversified operations.
• Beginning-farmer premium discounts are extended for an additional five years beyond the 2018 provision.
• The Risk Management Agency (RMA) receives new authority to develop products for underserved specialty crops.

What's next

As of May 2026, the bill is pending in the Senate. Senate Agriculture Committee action is expected before the August recess, though a timeline has not been confirmed. Follow the Senate status page for updates.

Floor amendments in the Senate are expected to target the SNAP work-requirement expansion and potentially revisit reference-price levels for specific commodities. Both changes could alter the final bill's balance.

Farmers making planting and marketing decisions for the 2026 crop year should be aware that current law, including the most recent extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, remains in effect until H.R. 7567 is enacted and signed. FSA (Farm Service Agency) and RMA program sign-up dates will be announced after enactment.

Frequently asked questions

What are the biggest differences between H.R. 7567 and the 2018 Farm Bill?

The biggest differences are higher commodity reference prices under PLC, expanded SNAP work requirements to age 54, a higher CRP acreage cap of 27 million acres, and permanent authorization of the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection crop insurance plan. The 2018 Farm Bill left reference prices at 2014 levels and set the ABAWD work-requirement age ceiling at 49.

How do the new SNAP work requirements change who qualifies for food assistance?

Under H.R. 7567, able-bodied adults without dependents must meet work or job-training requirements to receive SNAP benefits up to age 54, compared to age 49 under the 2018 Farm Bill. State waivers for high-unemployment areas are also narrowed, so fewer counties can exempt residents from that requirement.

Will farmers get higher commodity support payments under H.R. 7567?

Farmers enrolled in the Price Loss Coverage program are more likely to receive payments because reference prices are set higher than the 2014 levels that have been in place for over a decade. Whether any individual farmer receives a payment still depends on actual market prices falling below the new reference price for their crop.

Does H.R. 7567 change crop insurance costs for beginning farmers?

Yes. H.R. 7567 extends the beginning-farmer premium discount for an additional five years beyond what the 2018 Farm Bill authorized. The Risk Management Agency administers these discounts, and eligible farmers should verify their status with their crop insurance agent after the bill is enacted.

How does the conservation title in H.R. 7567 differ from the 2018 Farm Bill?

The Conservation Reserve Program enrollment cap rises from 25 million to 27 million acres, allowing more land to be enrolled in long-term conservation contracts. EQIP and CSP funding levels are also adjusted, and a new voluntary climate-focused practice standard is added to EQIP. NRCS state offices set the cost-share rates for that new practice.

When does H.R. 7567 take effect?

H.R. 7567 takes effect after Senate passage and presidential signature. As of May 2026, the bill is pending Senate action. Until enactment, the extended 2018 Farm Bill remains in effect. No specific effective date has been confirmed for individual program changes.

Sources

• House Agriculture Committee , Legislative text and section-by-section summary of H.R. 7567, 2026.
• USDA Farm Service Agency , Current program enrollment and reference price data under the 2018 Farm Bill extension, 2025-2026.
• Congressional Budget Office , Preliminary cost estimates for H.R. 7567 titles, 2026.