H.R. 1 Updates Farm Policy Programs

Jul 23, 2025

By Mr. Robert Nathan Gregory

Changes to farm policy programs through an omnibus bill passed by Congress and signed into law July 4 will improve growers’ safety nets and increase row crop reference prices.

The tax and spending cut legislation H.R. 1 includes updates to the Price Loss Coverage, or PLC, and Agricultural Risk Coverage, or ARC, programs and increased reference prices for row crops, including those grown most frequently in Mississippi.

The updates represent the most significant changes to federal agricultural legislation since the 2018 Farm Bill, which had twice been extended since it initially expired in 2023.

“They basically put a Farm Bill update into this bill,” said Will Maples, an agricultural economist specializing in row crops with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “Historically, farm bills have been standalone legislation passed every four to six years. Incorporating major farm policy changes into a larger bill is a departure from that practice.”

Source : msstate.edu

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.