5 Things on Farm Bill Wish List

Jan 09, 2018

By Chris Kick

The biggest piece of legislation that affects farmers is the federal farm bill, written every five years. The bill covers crop and livestock agriculture, conservation, research, woodlands, and food and nutrition assistance. Here is a look at the top five things farmers want in the 2018 farm bill.

1. Crop insurance and crop protection. With the vulnerability that farmers continue to face, and the amount of money it takes to grow a crop, protection programs will continue to be key. This includes crop insurance, which is currently subsidized by the federal government at 62 percent, and commodity protection programs like the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. Farmers will need to defend all three options and the 62 percent subsidy, if they want those programs to survive.

2. CRP expansion. Conservation groups, as well as some farm groups, have called for an expansion of the historically low Conservation Reserve Program, which the last farm bill capped at 24 million acres. The current discussion is to expand acreage to 30-36 million acres, which would likely increase commodity prices, but also hurt agribusiness sales, because farmers would need to buy fewer inputs to plant fewer acres.

3. Dairy protection. Most dairy farmers have argued that the Dairy Margin Protection Program in the 2014 farm bill was ineffective and insufficient. They say that a new protection policy needs to be written, but one that appeals to small farms as well as larger dairies. The challenge is providing a protection program that works for everyone, given the wide differences in production costs that dairy farmers face, based on the size and scale of their operation, and management skills.

4. Food and nutrition assistance. The majority of modern farm bill money actually goes to food and nutrition assistance, with about 80 percent of the 2014 farm bill going to programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps). While Republicans often call for a reduction in SNAP spending, the spending has actually trended downward on its own in recent years, as the economy improves and more people return to work.

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Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.