Updated payment programs bring some certainty to farmers

Big Beautiful Bill gave farmers several updates they were asking for, but they don’t want Congress to forget about the farm bill

Janelle Atyeo
Jul 22, 2025
Jul 22, 2025

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Farmers are still waiting on a new farm bill, but the reconciliation bill approved by Congress this month gave them much of what they were hoping for in updates to crop insurance and federal safety net programs.

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Bieber Red Angus (3).jpg — Craig Bieber looks over a pasture at Bieber Red Angus near Leola in northwestern South Dakota.
Submitted photo from Bieber Red Angus

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Granite Threshing Show (97).JPG — Corn tassels in a field north of Canton, S.D., July 19, 2025.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Reference price update — Reference prices for commodities were updated as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “That really enhances the safety net,” farm market analyst Kent Thiesse said.
Chart by Kent Thiesse

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SDSU Field Day (41).JPG — Soybeans start to flower in early July at the SDSU Southeast Research Farm near Beresford, S.D.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Raised in small town South Dakota, Janelle is enjoying her work as editor of Tri-State Neighbor and Midwest Messenger while raising kids, chickens and no till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net.