Approving the farm bill as soon as possible is key to certainty necessary for our impacts.

Other negotiations over crop subsidies, crop insurance and conservation programs will also occur. An expansion of the safety net for farmers of row crops and dairy producers is expected in the final bill. And there’s a good chance a final farm bill could be approved by Congress before the end of the summer.

The last five-year farm bill expired last September, so Congress approved a one-year extension. That has resulted in uncertainty and has made it difficult for farmers, conservationists and bankers to conduct long-term planning.