Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-
May 29, 2024
2024
Jim Monke
The farm bill provides an opportunity for Congress to address agricultural and food issues
Specialist in Agricultural
comprehensively about every five years. Over time, farm bills have tended to become more
Policy
complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less
certain. Beginning in 2008, farm bills have been subject to various developments that have
delayed enactment, such as insufficient votes to pass the House floor, presidential vetoes, and
extensions.
On May 23, 2024, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024,
by a vote of 33-21. The committee adopted 25 amendments during markup and rejected four amendments. Eighteen
amendments were offered and withdrawn. The 2018 farm bill (the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334) had
expired on September 30, 2023, and with the 2023 crop year (crops harvested in 2023). On November 19, 2023, Congress
enacted a one-year extension (P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102) of the 2018 farm bill. The extension continues authorizations
until September 30, 2024, and for the 2024 crop year.
In 2023, no markups or legislative action occurred to reauthorize the farm bill besides the extension. The 2018 farm bill took
eight months from introduction to passage and failed initially by vote in the House. By comparison, the 2014 farm bill took
more than 21 months from introduction to enactment, failed by vote in the House, and spanned the 112th and 113th
Congresses, including a one-year extension. The 2008 farm bill took more than a year to enact and was complicated by
revenue provisions from another committee of jurisdiction, temporary extensions, and vetoes.
Most farm bills have been introduced in the first session of a two-year Congress (the odd-numbered year). Three of the farm
bills that were introduced in the second session—the 1970, 1990, and 2018 farm bills—were enacted during a lame duck
Congress of the same year. The 2014 farm bill was the first farm bill to start in one Congress (2012), remain unfinished, and
require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
This report examines the major legislative milestones for the last 12 farm bills.
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Contents
Timelines for Enactment, Extension, and Vetoes ............................................................................ 1
Timeline Relative to Fiscal Years .............................................................................................. 2
Timeline Relative to Calendar Years ......................................................................................... 3
Timeline Relative to the Two-Year Congressional Term .......................................................... 4
House or Senate Action First ..................................................................................................... 4
Short-Term Extensions .............................................................................................................. 4
Presidential Vetoes .................................................................................................................... 4
Implications for Congress................................................................................................................ 5
Figures
Figure 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024 ...................................................... 2
Tables
Table 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024 ....................................................... 5
Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 10
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he farm bill provides an opportunity for Congress to address agricultural and food issues
comprehensively about every five years.1 Over time, farm bills have tended to become
T more complicated and politically sensitive. This has made the timeline for reauthorization
less certain. Recent farm bills have been subject to developments that have delayed enactment,
such as insufficient votes to pass the House floor, presidential vetoes, and extensions.
On May 23, 2024, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and
National Security Act of 2024, by a vote of 33-21, after it had been introduced on May 21, 2024.
Out of 59 amendments proposed, the committee adopted 25 amendments during markup, of
which 19 were in an en bloc amendment; six other amendments were adopted by voice vote, one
of which had a second-degree amendment adopted by a recorded vote.2 Four amendments failed
by recorded vote. Eighteen amendments were offered and withdrawn after some discussion; 12
amendments were not offered.3
In 2023, no committee markups were held. The 2018 farm bill (the Agriculture Improvement Act
of 2018, P.L. 115-334) had expired on September 30, 2023, and with the 2023 crop year (crops
harvested in 2023).4 On November 19, 2023, Congress enacted a one-year extension (P.L. 118-22,
Division B, §102) of the 2018 farm bill. The extension continues authorizations in the 2018 farm
bill that were in effect on September 30, 2023, until September 30, 2024, and for the 2024 crop
year.
This report examines the major legislative milestones for the last 12 farm bills over 58 years, a
period representing modern farm bills with growing complexity. Table 1 contains a history of
major legislative action on farm bills since 1965. Figure 1 shows the major dates on a timeline.
Timelines for Enactment, Extension, and Vetoes
The shortest farm bill debate in the past six decades was related to the 1973 farm bill, which was
enacted less than three months after being introduced. In contrast, the 2014 farm bill took more
than 21 months from introduction to enactment, spanning two Congresses.5 The House initially
rejected a farm bill in 2013 and then passed separate farm and nutrition assistance components—
the first time a chamber-passed farm bill did not include a nutrition title since 1973. The House
later procedurally recombined them for conference with the Senate.
During the last reauthorization in 2018, the legislative timeline began with markup in the House
Agriculture Committee in April 2018. An initial floor vote in May failed by 198-213, but
procedures allowed that vote to be reconsidered (H.Res. 905). The House passed its bill in a
second vote of 213-211 in June 2018. In the Senate, the Agriculture Committee reported its bill in
June 2018. The Senate passed its bill by a vote of 86-11 in June. Conference proceedings
officially began in September and concluded in December 2018.
Both the 2002 and 2008 farm bills had expired for about three months (from October through
December in 2007 and 2012) before extensions were enacted. In each case, like in 2023, the fiscal
1 See CRS In Focus IF12047, Farm Bill Primer: What Is the Farm Bill?.
2 U.S. House of Representatives Committee Repository, “H.R. 8467 (118th Congress), The Farm, Food, and National
Security Act of 2024,” at https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventId=117371.
3 Ryan Hanrahan, “House Ag Committee Advances Contentious Farm Bill,” farmdoc, May 24, 2024, at https://
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2024/05/house-ag-committee-advances-contentious-farm-bill.
4 See CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension in 2024.
5 These dates span only the official introduction of a bill marked up by committee until the President signed the bill.
They do not include background hearings before committee markup, which would extend the timeline.
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
year began under a continuing resolution for appropriations. The extensions of the 2002 farm bill
were for relatively short periods totaling about five months during final House-Senate
negotiations. The extensions of the 2008 farm bill, effective in 2013, and the 2018 farm bill,
effective in 2024, were for a full year. Different parts of a farm bill are authorized for different
periods of time. Fiscal years, calendar years, and crop years can be important to different
programs. Programs authorized by the 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334), as extended (P.L. 118-22,
Division B, §102), now generally expire either at the end of FY2024 (September 30, 2024) or
after the 2024 crop year, which varies among crops.6
Figure 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024
Source: Figure created by CRS using Congress.gov, http://www.congress.gov.
Timeline Relative to Fiscal Years
Enacting farm bills after the end of the final fiscal year for which programs have been authorized
has been a common occurrence. In the past 42 years covering the nine farm bills since 1976—
6 A primary exception to expiration in 2024 is the parts of the conservation title that were extended to 2031 in P.L. 117-
169, commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act. See the “Conservation Programs” heading in CRS Report
R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension in 2024.
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when the federal government began using a fiscal year that began on October 17—only the 1977
and 2002 farm bills were enacted before the September 30 expiration date for programs that
would have been affected by the fiscal year.8
The 1981, 1985, 1990, and 2018 farm bills were enacted within three months after the final fiscal
year for which programs were authorized ended. The 1996 farm bill was enacted in April 1996
following the September 30, 1995, expiration of some of the authorizations in the 1990 farm bill.9
The 2008 and 2014 farm bills were enacted well after their original September 30 expirations and
following the enactment of extensions.
Expiration at the end of a fiscal year (September 30) matters for programs with fiscal year
authorizations. These programs include certain nutrition, conservation, and trade programs;
various agricultural programs, excluding the Title I commodity programs; and many
authorizations for discretionary appropriations. The consequences of expiration of a farm bill are
discussed in other CRS reports.10
Timeline Relative to Calendar Years
Ten of the thirteen farm bills since 1965 were enacted before December 31 in the year of their
expirations. The exceptions were extensions enacted for 2008, 2013, and 2024 because action had
not been completed the previous year (see “Short-Term Extensions” below).11 The 2018 farm bill
was the first time since before 1965 that both chambers completed floor action before the end of
June.
Expiration at the end of a calendar year matters mostly for the dairy program, one of the farm
commodity programs in Title I of recent farm bills. The farm commodity programs are tied to
crop years—that is, the year in which a crop is harvested—and dairy is the first commodity that
would be affected by reverting to “permanent law,” since its crop year begins on January 1 after
the year of expiration.12
7 The federal fiscal year changed in 1976. A “transition quarter” was added to move the beginning of the fiscal year
from July 1 to October 1. See Office of Management and Budget, Historical Tables: Budget of the U.S. Government.
8 Before the 1973 farm bill, which was the first to incorporate reauthorization of the food stamp program that had a
fiscal year expiration, the focus of the farm bill was the farm commodity programs that operated by crop years.
9 While the 1996 farm bill was not pressured by the expiration of farm commodity programs in the 1990 farm bill—
since budget reconciliation in 1993 had extended them through the 1996 and 1997 crop years—some of the original
FY1995 expiration dates for food stamps, certain conservation programs, and various authorizations of appropriations
continued unchanged and had not been extended by the reconciliation act.
10 For example, see explanations in CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension in 2024.
11 The 1965 farm bill was extended for one year, but that extension occurred more than a year before expiration and
before the reauthorization process had begun in 1970. The 1996 and 2002 farm bills may appear to have been delayed
by being reintroduced (1996) or going through the new year into May (2002), but their predecessors did not require
extensions. The 1990 farm bill’s original expiration date of the end of the 1995 crop year had less of an effect on the
1996 farm bill’s timeline because budget reconciliation in 1993 had extended the farm commodity programs through at
least 1996 and, in some cases, the 1997 crops. The 2002 farm bill was enacted before the 1996 farm bill expired on
September 30, 2002, and before the 2002 crop year ended. In fact, the 2002 farm bill superseded the last year of the
1996 farm bill by beginning with the 2002 crop year.
12 Permanent law refers to non-expiring farm commodity programs that are generally from the 1938 and 1949 farm
bills. The temporary suspension of permanent law is included as a section in all recent farm bills. If the suspension of
permanent law were to expire at the end of a crop year, the permanent law provisions would take effect unless a new
farm bill, or an extension of the most recent bill, continues the suspension. For more details about permanent law and
its consequences, see the heading on permanent law in CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and
Extension in 2024.
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Timeline Relative to the Two-Year Congressional Term
Since 1965, 8 out of 12 enacted farm bills were introduced in the first session of a two-year
Congress (the odd-numbered year). The other four (1970, 1990, 2014, and 2018) were introduced
in the second session of a two-year Congress (the even-numbered year).13
Of the four farm bills introduced in a second session, three (the 1970, 1990, and 2018 farm bills)
were enacted during a lame duck Congress (after an election) in November and December of the
same year. The 2014 farm bill, which was introduced in 2012, was the first farm bill to start in
one Congress, remain unfinished, and require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
House or Senate Action First
There is no rule dictating which chamber initiates farm bill action. Since 1965, the Senate was
first to mark up farm bills in 1973, 1977, 1981, 2012, and 2013. The House was first to mark up
bills in 1965, 1970, 1985, 1990, 1995 (and 1996), 2001, 2007, 2018, and 2024.
Short-Term Extensions
Extensions of a prior farm bill while its successor is being written had been atypical but are now
common in three of the past four reauthorizations (extensions during 2008, 2013, and 2024). Only
the 2002, 2008, and 2018 farm bills have required extensions.
When the 2002 farm bill expired, portions of it were extended six times for less than a year total
beginning in December 2007 (Figure 1, Table 1).14 When the 2008 farm bill expired, the entire
farm bill was extended in January 2013 for all of FY2013 and the 2013 crop year.15 While the
2014 farm bill was expired from October 1 until the 2018 farm bill was enacted, the continuing
resolution for appropriations continued many operations, though some new program activity
ceased.16 Because no markups or floor action occurred during 2023 to reauthorize the farm bill,
Congress enacted a one-year extension in November 2023.
Presidential Vetoes
Presidential vetoes of farm bills are not common. Since 1965, only the 2008 farm bill has been
vetoed as stand-alone measure; it was vetoed twice. A 1995 farm bill was vetoed as part of a
larger budget reconciliation package.
President George W. Bush vetoed the 2008 farm bill (H.R. 2419). When Congress overrode the
veto to enact P.L. 110-234, it accidentally enrolled the law without Title III (the trade title).
Congress immediately reintroduced the same bill with the trade title (H.R. 6124). President Bush
vetoed this version as well, and Congress again overrode the veto to enact P.L. 110-246, a
complete 2008 farm bill that included the trade title. The overrides in 2008 were the only time
that a farm bill was enacted as a result of a veto override.
13 This counts 2012 as the introduction of what became the 2014 farm bill. Technically, the bill that became the 2014
farm bill (H.R. 2642) was introduced in 2013 (the first session of the 113th Cong.), but many consider it a
reintroduction of the bills started in 2012 (the second session of the 112th Cong.).
14 CRS Report RL34154, Possible Expiration (or Extension) of the 2002 Farm Bill.
15 CRS Report R42442, Expiration and Extension of the 2008 Farm Bill.
16 CRS Report R45341, Expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill.
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
President Clinton vetoed a 1995 budget reconciliation package that included the first version of
what became the 1996 farm bill, but the veto was not due to the farm bill itself but rather the
controversial nature of the reconciliation bill in which the farm bill was embedded.
Prior to 1965, the first veto of a farm bill was in 1956, when President Eisenhower vetoed H.R.
12 (84th Congress), the first version of the Agricultural Act of 1956.
Implications for Congress
Farm bill reauthorization has tended to become more complex and engender greater political
sensitivity. The process of enacting a new farm bill prior to the expiration of the existing law has
become more difficult. As stakeholders in the farm bill have become more diverse, more people
are affected by the legislative uncertainty around the farm bill process. This lack of certainty may
compound questions about the availability of future program benefits.
Table 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024
House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2024
5/23/2024
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Farm, Food, and
H.R. 8467
National Security
Vote of
Act of 2024
33-21
Would cover 2025-
2029 crops or until
9/30/2029
One-year extension
One-year extension until 9/30/2024 and for the 2024 crop year (dairy price support extended
11/16/2023
of the 2018 farm bill
until 12/31/2024). Provided $177 mil ion of mandatory funding for 19 of the programs without
P.L. 118-22,
Covers 2024 crop or
mandatory baseline with an offset.
Division B,
until 9/30/2024
§102
2018 farm bill
4/18/2018
5/18/2018
6/13/2018 6/28/2018 12/10/2018 12/12/2018 12/11/2018 12/20/2018
Agriculture
H.R. 2
H.R. 2
S. 3042
H.R. 2
H.Rept.
H.R. 2
H.R. 2
P.L. 115-334
Improvement Act of
Initial vote failed
Vote of
Vote of
Vote of
115-1072
Vote of
Vote of
2018
by 198-213
26-20
20-1
86-11
369-47
87-13
Covers 2019-2023
6/21/2018
5/3/2018
crops or until
Reconsidered
H.Rept.
9/30/2023
under
115-661
H.Res. 905
Passed by vote
of 213-211
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House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2014 farm bill
5/15/2013
6/20/2013
5/14/2013 6/10/2013 1/27/2014
1/29/2014
2/4/2014
2/7/2014
Agricultural Act of
H.R. 1947
H.R. 1947
S. 954 Vote
S. 954
H.Rept.
H.R. 2642
H.R. 2642
P.L. 113-79
2014
Vote of
Failed by vote
of 15-5
Vote of
113-333
Vote of
Vote of
(113th Congress)
36-10
195-234
9/4/2013
66-27
251-166
68-32
Covers 2014-2018
5/29/2013
7/11/2013
S.Rept. 113-
crops or until
H.Rept.
H.R. 2642
88
9/30/2018
113-92
Farm portion
vote of 216-208
9/19/2013
H.R. 3102
Nutrition part
vote of 217-210
9/28/2013
H.Res. 361
combined
House bil s
One-year extension
One-year extension until 9/30/2013 and for the 2013 crop year (dairy price support extended
1/2/2013
of the 2008 farm bill
until 12/31/2013, and the Milk Income Loss Contract program extended until 9/30/2013). Did
P.L. 112-240
Covers 2013 crop or
not provide funding for programs without mandatory baseline.
Title VII
until 9/30/2013
Agriculture Reform,
7/11/2012
—
4/26/2012 6/21/2012
—
—
—
—
Food, and Jobs Act
H.R. 6083
S. 3240
S. 3240
(112th Congress)
Vote of
Vote of
Vote of
35-11
16-5
64-35
9/13/2012
8/28/2012
H.Rept.
S.Rept. 112-
112-669
203
Early partial
Extended five conservation programs through FY2014 (Agricultural Management Assistance,
11/18/2011
extension of the
Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Farmland
P.L. 112-55
2008 farm bill
Protection Program, and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program).
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House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2008 farm bill
6/18/2008 6/18/2008
6/18/2008
Food, Conservation,
H.R. 6124
H.R. 6124
P.L. 110-246
and Energy Act of
Passed
Passed
2008
over veto
over veto
Covers 2008-2012
317-109
80-14
crops or until
9/30/2012
Re-passed
5/22/2008
6/5/2008
6/18/2008
as new bil H.R. 6124 H.R. 6124
Vetoed
with Title III
Vote of
Vote of
306-110
77-15
5/21/2008 5/22/2008
5/22/2008
H.R. 2419
H.R. 2419
P.L. 110-234
Passed
Passed
over veto
over veto
316-108
82-13
5/22/2007
7/27/2007
11/2/2007 12/14/2007 5/13/2008
5/14/2008 5/15/2008
5/21/2008
H.R. 2419
H.R. 2419
S. 2302
Amdt. to
H.Rept.
H.R. 2419
H.R. 2419
Vetoed
Introduced
Vote of
S.Rept. 110- H.R. 2419
110-627
Vote of
Vote of
Enrol ing
7/23/2007
231-191
220
Vote of
318-106
81-15
error omitted
H.Rept.
79-14
Title III
110-256
Short-term
Continued extension until 5/23/2008.
5/18/2008
extension of the
P.L. 110-231
2002 farm bill
Short-term
Continued extension until 5/16/2008.
5/2/2008
extension
P.L. 110-208
Short-term
Continued extension until 5/2/2008.
4/25/2008
extension
P.L. 110-205
Short-term
Continued extension until 4/25/2008.
4/18/2008
extension
P.L. 110-200
Short-term
Continued extension until 4/18/2008 and added extension of suspension of permanent law.
3/14/2008
extension
P.L. 110-196
Short-term
Extended parts of the 2002 farm bil until 3/15/2008 but did not extend the direct and counter-
12/26/2007
extension of the
cyclical farm commodity programs.
P.L. 110-161
2002 farm bill
Division A,
§751
Early partial
Extended the early-expiring Milk Income Loss Contract program for two years from 9/2005
2/8/2006
extension of the
through 8/2007 and two conservation programs (Environmental Quality Incentives Program and
P.L. 109-171
2002 farm bill during Conservation Security Program) until FY2010.
budget
reconciliation
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House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2002 farm bill
7/26/2001
10/5/2001
11/27/2001 2/13/2002
5/1/2002
5/2/2002
5/8/2002
5/13/2002
Farm Security and
H.R. 2646
H.R. 2646
S. 1731
Amdt. to
H.Rept.
H.R. 2646
H.R. 2646
P.L. 107-171
Rural Investment
8/2/2001
Vote of
12/7/2001 H.R. 2646
107-424
Vote of
Vote of 64-
Act
H.Rept.
291-120
S.Rept. 107-
Vote of
280-141
35
Covers 2002-2007
107-191
117
58-40
crops or until
9/30/2007
1996 farm bill
1/5/1996
2/29/1996
1/26/1996
2/7/1996
3/25/1996
3/29/1996 3/28/1996
4/4/1996
Federal Agriculture
H.R. 2854
H.R. 2854
S. 1541
S. 1541
H.Rept.
H.R. 2854 H.R. 2854
P.L. 104-127
Improvement and
introduced
Vote of
introduced
Vote of
104-494
Vote of
Vote of
Reform Act of 1996
Vote of
270-155
64-32
318-89
74-26
Covers 1996-2002
29-17
3/12/1996
crops or until
2/9/1996
Amdt. to
9/30/2002
H.R. 2854
H.Rept.
Voice vote
104-462
Balanced Budget
10/26/1995
10/26/1995
10/28/1995 10/28/1995 11/16/1995 11/20/1995 11/17/1995
12/6/1995
Act of 1995, Title I
H.R. 2491 H.R. 2491 Vote
S. 1357
Amdt. to
H.Rept.
H.R. 2491 H.R. 2491
Vetoed
(Agricultural
includes
of 227-203
includes
H.R. 2491
104-347
Vote of
Vote of
Reconciliation Act
H.R. 2195
Senate bil
Vote of
235-192
52-47
of 1995)
52-47
Freedom to Farm
8/4/1995
—
9/28/1995
—
—
—
—
—
Act
H.R. 2195
unnumber-
introduced
ed bil
9/20/1995
fails cmte.
Early partial
More than a year before expiration, extended the dairy program until 1996 and extended
8/10/1993
extension of the
programs for wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, peanuts, wool, and mohair until 1997 and honey
P.L. 103-66
1990 farm bill
until 1998.
1990 farm bill
2/5/1990
8/1/1990
7/6/1990
7/27/1990 10/22/1990 10/23/1990 10/25/1990 11/28/1990
Food, Agriculture,
H.R. 3950
H.R. 3950
S. 2830
S. 2830
H.Rept.
S. 2830
S. 2830
P.L. 101-624
Conservation, and
introduced
Vote of
S.Rept. 101-
Vote of
101-916
Vote of
Vote of
Trade Act of 1990
7/3/1990
327-91
357
70-21
318-102
60-36
Covers 1991-1995
H.Rept.
crops or until
101-569
9/30/1995
1985 farm bill
4/17/1985
10/8/1985
9/30/1985 11/23/1985 12/17/1985 12/18/1985 12/18/1985 12/23/1985
Food Security Act of H.R. 2100
H.R. 2100
S. 1714
H.R. 2100 H.Rept. 99- H.R. 2100
H.R. 2100
P.L. 99-198
1985
introduced
Vote of
S.Rept. 99-
Vote of
447
Vote of
Vote of
Covers 1986-1990
9/13/1985
282-141
145
61-28
325-96
55-38
crops or until
H.Rept. 99-
9/30/1990
271
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House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
1981 farm bill
5/18/1981
10/22/1981
4/7/1981
9/18/1981 12/9/1981 12/16/1981 12/10/1981 12/22/1981
Agriculture and
H.R. 3603
S. 884
S. 884
S. 884
H.Rept. 97-
S. 884
S. 884
P.L. 97-98
Food Act of 1981
introduced
Vote of
introduced
Vote of
377
Vote of
Vote of
Covers 1982-1985
5/19/1981
192-160
5/27/1981
49-32
12/10/1981
205-203
67-32
crops or until
H.Rept. 97-
S.Rept. 97-
S.Rept. 97-
9/30/1985
106
126
290
1977 farm bill
5/13/1977
7/28/1977
1/18/1977 5/24/1977
9/9/1977
9/16/1977
9/9/1977
9/29/1977
Food and
H.R. 7171 Amdt. to S. 275
S. 275
S. 275
S.Rept. 95-
S. 275
S. 275
P.L. 95-113
Agriculture Act of
introduced
Vote of
introduced
Vote of
418
Vote of
Vote of
1977
5/16/1977
294-114
5/16/1977
69-18
283-107
63-8
Covers 1978-1981
H.Rept. 95-
S.Rept. 95-
crops or until
348
180
9/30/1981
1973 farm bill
6/20/1973
7/19/1973
5/23/1973
6/8/1973
7/31/1973
8/3/1973
7/31/1973
8/10/1973
Agriculture and
H.R. 8860
Amdt. to S.
S. 1888
S. 1888
H.Rept. 93-
S. 1888
S. 1888
P.L. 93-86
Consumer
introduced
1888
introduced
Vote of
427
Vote of
Vote of
Protection Act
6/27/1973
Vote of
S.Rept. 93-
78-9
252-151
85-7
Covers 1974-1977
H.Rept. 93-
226-182
173
crops or until
337
6/30/1977
1970 farm bill
7/23/1970
8/5/1970
9/4/1970
9/15/1970 10/9/1970 10/13/1970 11/19/1970 11/30/1970
Agricultural Act of
H.R. 18546
H.R. 18546
Amdt. to
Amdt. to H.Rept. 91- H.R. 18546 H.R. 18546
P.L. 91-524
1970
H.Rept. 91-
Vote of
H.R. 18546 H.R. 18546
1594
Vote of
Vote of
Covers 1971-1973
1329
212-171
S.Rept. 91-
Vote of
191-145
48-35
crops
1154
65-7
Early extension of
More than a year before expiration, extended the farm bil for one-year until 12/31/1970.
10/11/1968
the 1965 farm bill
P.L. 90-559
1965 farm bill
7/20/1965
8/19/1965
9/7/1965
9/14/1965 10/6/1965
10/8/1965 10/12/1965
11/4/1965
Food and
H.R. 9811
H.R. 9811
Amdt. to
Amdt. to H.Rept. 89- H.R. 9811
H.R. 9811
P.L. 89-321
Agricultural Act
H.Rept. 89-
Vote of
H.R. 9811 H.R. 9811
1123
Vote of
Voice vote
Covers 1966-1969
631
221-172
S.Rept. 89-
Vote of
219-150
crops
687
72-22
Source: CRS.
Notes: Includes only major legislative actions. Excludes subsequent revisions, such as in budget reconciliation,
except for extensions as noted. Rows are sorted by date of the Public Law column.
Congressional Research Service
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
Author Information
Jim Monke
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
Congressional Research Service
R45210 · VERSION 20 · UPDATED
10
May 29, 2024
2024
Jim Monke
The farm bill provides an opportunity for Congress to address agricultural and food issues
Specialist in Agricultural
comprehensively about every five years. Over time, farm bills have tended to become more
Policy
complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less
certain. Beginning in 2008, farm bills have been subject to various developments that have
delayed enactment, such as insufficient votes to pass the House floor, presidential vetoes, and
extensions.
On May 23, 2024, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024,
by a vote of 33-21. The committee adopted 25 amendments during markup and rejected four amendments. Eighteen
amendments were offered and withdrawn. The 2018 farm bill (the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334) had
expired on September 30, 2023, and with the 2023 crop year (crops harvested in 2023). On November 19, 2023, Congress
enacted a one-year extension (P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102) of the 2018 farm bill. The extension continues authorizations
until September 30, 2024, and for the 2024 crop year.
In 2023, no markups or legislative action occurred to reauthorize the farm bill besides the extension. The 2018 farm bill took
eight months from introduction to passage and failed initially by vote in the House. By comparison, the 2014 farm bill took
more than 21 months from introduction to enactment, failed by vote in the House, and spanned the 112th and 113th
Congresses, including a one-year extension. The 2008 farm bill took more than a year to enact and was complicated by
revenue provisions from another committee of jurisdiction, temporary extensions, and vetoes.
Most farm bills have been introduced in the first session of a two-year Congress (the odd-numbered year). Three of the farm
bills that were introduced in the second session—the 1970, 1990, and 2018 farm bills—were enacted during a lame duck
Congress of the same year. The 2014 farm bill was the first farm bill to start in one Congress (2012), remain unfinished, and
require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
This report examines the major legislative milestones for the last 12 farm bills.
Congressional Research Service
link to page 4 link to page 5 link to page 6 link to page 7 link to page 7 link to page 7 link to page 7 link to page 8 link to page 5 link to page 8 link to page 13 Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
Contents
Timelines for Enactment, Extension, and Vetoes ............................................................................ 1
Timeline Relative to Fiscal Years .............................................................................................. 2
Timeline Relative to Calendar Years ......................................................................................... 3
Timeline Relative to the Two-Year Congressional Term .......................................................... 4
House or Senate Action First ..................................................................................................... 4
Short-Term Extensions .............................................................................................................. 4
Presidential Vetoes .................................................................................................................... 4
Implications for Congress................................................................................................................ 5
Figures
Figure 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024 ...................................................... 2
Tables
Table 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024 ....................................................... 5
Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 10
Congressional Research Service
link to page 8 link to page 5 Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
he farm bill provides an opportunity for Congress to address agricultural and food issues
comprehensively about every five years.1 Over time, farm bills have tended to become
T more complicated and politically sensitive. This has made the timeline for reauthorization
less certain. Recent farm bills have been subject to developments that have delayed enactment,
such as insufficient votes to pass the House floor, presidential vetoes, and extensions.
On May 23, 2024, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and
National Security Act of 2024, by a vote of 33-21, after it had been introduced on May 21, 2024.
Out of 59 amendments proposed, the committee adopted 25 amendments during markup, of
which 19 were in an en bloc amendment; six other amendments were adopted by voice vote, one
of which had a second-degree amendment adopted by a recorded vote.2 Four amendments failed
by recorded vote. Eighteen amendments were offered and withdrawn after some discussion; 12
amendments were not offered.3
In 2023, no committee markups were held. The 2018 farm bill (the Agriculture Improvement Act
of 2018, P.L. 115-334) had expired on September 30, 2023, and with the 2023 crop year (crops
harvested in 2023).4 On November 19, 2023, Congress enacted a one-year extension (P.L. 118-22,
Division B, §102) of the 2018 farm bill. The extension continues authorizations in the 2018 farm
bill that were in effect on September 30, 2023, until September 30, 2024, and for the 2024 crop
year.
This report examines the major legislative milestones for the last 12 farm bills over 58 years, a
period representing modern farm bills with growing complexity. Table 1 contains a history of
major legislative action on farm bills since 1965. Figure 1 shows the major dates on a timeline.
Timelines for Enactment, Extension, and Vetoes
The shortest farm bill debate in the past six decades was related to the 1973 farm bill, which was
enacted less than three months after being introduced. In contrast, the 2014 farm bill took more
than 21 months from introduction to enactment, spanning two Congresses.5 The House initially
rejected a farm bill in 2013 and then passed separate farm and nutrition assistance components—
the first time a chamber-passed farm bill did not include a nutrition title since 1973. The House
later procedurally recombined them for conference with the Senate.
During the last reauthorization in 2018, the legislative timeline began with markup in the House
Agriculture Committee in April 2018. An initial floor vote in May failed by 198-213, but
procedures allowed that vote to be reconsidered (H.Res. 905). The House passed its bill in a
second vote of 213-211 in June 2018. In the Senate, the Agriculture Committee reported its bill in
June 2018. The Senate passed its bill by a vote of 86-11 in June. Conference proceedings
officially began in September and concluded in December 2018.
Both the 2002 and 2008 farm bills had expired for about three months (from October through
December in 2007 and 2012) before extensions were enacted. In each case, like in 2023, the fiscal
1 See CRS In Focus IF12047, Farm Bill Primer: What Is the Farm Bill?.
2 U.S. House of Representatives Committee Repository, “H.R. 8467 (118th Congress), The Farm, Food, and National
Security Act of 2024,” at https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventId=117371.
3 Ryan Hanrahan, “House Ag Committee Advances Contentious Farm Bill,” farmdoc, May 24, 2024, at https://
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2024/05/house-ag-committee-advances-contentious-farm-bill.
4 See CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension in 2024.
5 These dates span only the official introduction of a bill marked up by committee until the President signed the bill.
They do not include background hearings before committee markup, which would extend the timeline.
Congressional Research Service
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
year began under a continuing resolution for appropriations. The extensions of the 2002 farm bill
were for relatively short periods totaling about five months during final House-Senate
negotiations. The extensions of the 2008 farm bill, effective in 2013, and the 2018 farm bill,
effective in 2024, were for a full year. Different parts of a farm bill are authorized for different
periods of time. Fiscal years, calendar years, and crop years can be important to different
programs. Programs authorized by the 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334), as extended (P.L. 118-22,
Division B, §102), now generally expire either at the end of FY2024 (September 30, 2024) or
after the 2024 crop year, which varies among crops.6
Figure 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024
Source: Figure created by CRS using Congress.gov, http://www.congress.gov.
Timeline Relative to Fiscal Years
Enacting farm bills after the end of the final fiscal year for which programs have been authorized
has been a common occurrence. In the past 42 years covering the nine farm bills since 1976—
6 A primary exception to expiration in 2024 is the parts of the conservation title that were extended to 2031 in P.L. 117-
169, commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act. See the “Conservation Programs” heading in CRS Report
R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension in 2024.
Congressional Research Service
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link to page 7 Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
when the federal government began using a fiscal year that began on October 17—only the 1977
and 2002 farm bills were enacted before the September 30 expiration date for programs that
would have been affected by the fiscal year.8
The 1981, 1985, 1990, and 2018 farm bills were enacted within three months after the final fiscal
year for which programs were authorized ended. The 1996 farm bill was enacted in April 1996
following the September 30, 1995, expiration of some of the authorizations in the 1990 farm bill.9
The 2008 and 2014 farm bills were enacted well after their original September 30 expirations and
following the enactment of extensions.
Expiration at the end of a fiscal year (September 30) matters for programs with fiscal year
authorizations. These programs include certain nutrition, conservation, and trade programs;
various agricultural programs, excluding the Title I commodity programs; and many
authorizations for discretionary appropriations. The consequences of expiration of a farm bill are
discussed in other CRS reports.10
Timeline Relative to Calendar Years
Ten of the thirteen farm bills since 1965 were enacted before December 31 in the year of their
expirations. The exceptions were extensions enacted for 2008, 2013, and 2024 because action had
not been completed the previous year (see “Short-Term Extensions” below).11 The 2018 farm bill
was the first time since before 1965 that both chambers completed floor action before the end of
June.
Expiration at the end of a calendar year matters mostly for the dairy program, one of the farm
commodity programs in Title I of recent farm bills. The farm commodity programs are tied to
crop years—that is, the year in which a crop is harvested—and dairy is the first commodity that
would be affected by reverting to “permanent law,” since its crop year begins on January 1 after
the year of expiration.12
7 The federal fiscal year changed in 1976. A “transition quarter” was added to move the beginning of the fiscal year
from July 1 to October 1. See Office of Management and Budget, Historical Tables: Budget of the U.S. Government.
8 Before the 1973 farm bill, which was the first to incorporate reauthorization of the food stamp program that had a
fiscal year expiration, the focus of the farm bill was the farm commodity programs that operated by crop years.
9 While the 1996 farm bill was not pressured by the expiration of farm commodity programs in the 1990 farm bill—
since budget reconciliation in 1993 had extended them through the 1996 and 1997 crop years—some of the original
FY1995 expiration dates for food stamps, certain conservation programs, and various authorizations of appropriations
continued unchanged and had not been extended by the reconciliation act.
10 For example, see explanations in CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension in 2024.
11 The 1965 farm bill was extended for one year, but that extension occurred more than a year before expiration and
before the reauthorization process had begun in 1970. The 1996 and 2002 farm bills may appear to have been delayed
by being reintroduced (1996) or going through the new year into May (2002), but their predecessors did not require
extensions. The 1990 farm bill’s original expiration date of the end of the 1995 crop year had less of an effect on the
1996 farm bill’s timeline because budget reconciliation in 1993 had extended the farm commodity programs through at
least 1996 and, in some cases, the 1997 crops. The 2002 farm bill was enacted before the 1996 farm bill expired on
September 30, 2002, and before the 2002 crop year ended. In fact, the 2002 farm bill superseded the last year of the
1996 farm bill by beginning with the 2002 crop year.
12 Permanent law refers to non-expiring farm commodity programs that are generally from the 1938 and 1949 farm
bills. The temporary suspension of permanent law is included as a section in all recent farm bills. If the suspension of
permanent law were to expire at the end of a crop year, the permanent law provisions would take effect unless a new
farm bill, or an extension of the most recent bill, continues the suspension. For more details about permanent law and
its consequences, see the heading on permanent law in CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and
Extension in 2024.
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Timeline Relative to the Two-Year Congressional Term
Since 1965, 8 out of 12 enacted farm bills were introduced in the first session of a two-year
Congress (the odd-numbered year). The other four (1970, 1990, 2014, and 2018) were introduced
in the second session of a two-year Congress (the even-numbered year).13
Of the four farm bills introduced in a second session, three (the 1970, 1990, and 2018 farm bills)
were enacted during a lame duck Congress (after an election) in November and December of the
same year. The 2014 farm bill, which was introduced in 2012, was the first farm bill to start in
one Congress, remain unfinished, and require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
House or Senate Action First
There is no rule dictating which chamber initiates farm bill action. Since 1965, the Senate was
first to mark up farm bills in 1973, 1977, 1981, 2012, and 2013. The House was first to mark up
bills in 1965, 1970, 1985, 1990, 1995 (and 1996), 2001, 2007, 2018, and 2024.
Short-Term Extensions
Extensions of a prior farm bill while its successor is being written had been atypical but are now
common in three of the past four reauthorizations (extensions during 2008, 2013, and 2024). Only
the 2002, 2008, and 2018 farm bills have required extensions.
When the 2002 farm bill expired, portions of it were extended six times for less than a year total
beginning in December 2007 (Figure 1, Table 1).14 When the 2008 farm bill expired, the entire
farm bill was extended in January 2013 for all of FY2013 and the 2013 crop year.15 While the
2014 farm bill was expired from October 1 until the 2018 farm bill was enacted, the continuing
resolution for appropriations continued many operations, though some new program activity
ceased.16 Because no markups or floor action occurred during 2023 to reauthorize the farm bill,
Congress enacted a one-year extension in November 2023.
Presidential Vetoes
Presidential vetoes of farm bills are not common. Since 1965, only the 2008 farm bill has been
vetoed as stand-alone measure; it was vetoed twice. A 1995 farm bill was vetoed as part of a
larger budget reconciliation package.
President George W. Bush vetoed the 2008 farm bill (H.R. 2419). When Congress overrode the
veto to enact P.L. 110-234, it accidentally enrolled the law without Title III (the trade title).
Congress immediately reintroduced the same bill with the trade title (H.R. 6124). President Bush
vetoed this version as well, and Congress again overrode the veto to enact P.L. 110-246, a
complete 2008 farm bill that included the trade title. The overrides in 2008 were the only time
that a farm bill was enacted as a result of a veto override.
13 This counts 2012 as the introduction of what became the 2014 farm bill. Technically, the bill that became the 2014
farm bill (H.R. 2642) was introduced in 2013 (the first session of the 113th Cong.), but many consider it a
reintroduction of the bills started in 2012 (the second session of the 112th Cong.).
14 CRS Report RL34154, Possible Expiration (or Extension) of the 2002 Farm Bill.
15 CRS Report R42442, Expiration and Extension of the 2008 Farm Bill.
16 CRS Report R45341, Expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill.
Congressional Research Service
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
President Clinton vetoed a 1995 budget reconciliation package that included the first version of
what became the 1996 farm bill, but the veto was not due to the farm bill itself but rather the
controversial nature of the reconciliation bill in which the farm bill was embedded.
Prior to 1965, the first veto of a farm bill was in 1956, when President Eisenhower vetoed H.R.
12 (84th Congress), the first version of the Agricultural Act of 1956.
Implications for Congress
Farm bill reauthorization has tended to become more complex and engender greater political
sensitivity. The process of enacting a new farm bill prior to the expiration of the existing law has
become more difficult. As stakeholders in the farm bill have become more diverse, more people
are affected by the legislative uncertainty around the farm bill process. This lack of certainty may
compound questions about the availability of future program benefits.
Table 1. Major Legislative Actions on Farm Bills, 1965-2024
House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2024
5/23/2024
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Farm, Food, and
H.R. 8467
National Security
Vote of
Act of 2024
33-21
Would cover 2025-
2029 crops or until
9/30/2029
One-year extension
One-year extension until 9/30/2024 and for the 2024 crop year (dairy price support extended
11/16/2023
of the 2018 farm bill
until 12/31/2024). Provided $177 mil ion of mandatory funding for 19 of the programs without
P.L. 118-22,
Covers 2024 crop or
mandatory baseline with an offset.
Division B,
until 9/30/2024
§102
2018 farm bill
4/18/2018
5/18/2018
6/13/2018 6/28/2018 12/10/2018 12/12/2018 12/11/2018 12/20/2018
Agriculture
H.R. 2
H.R. 2
S. 3042
H.R. 2
H.Rept.
H.R. 2
H.R. 2
P.L. 115-334
Improvement Act of
Initial vote failed
Vote of
Vote of
Vote of
115-1072
Vote of
Vote of
2018
by 198-213
26-20
20-1
86-11
369-47
87-13
Covers 2019-2023
6/21/2018
5/3/2018
crops or until
Reconsidered
H.Rept.
9/30/2023
under
115-661
H.Res. 905
Passed by vote
of 213-211
Congressional Research Service
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2014 farm bill
5/15/2013
6/20/2013
5/14/2013 6/10/2013 1/27/2014
1/29/2014
2/4/2014
2/7/2014
Agricultural Act of
H.R. 1947
H.R. 1947
S. 954 Vote
S. 954
H.Rept.
H.R. 2642
H.R. 2642
P.L. 113-79
2014
Vote of
Failed by vote
of 15-5
Vote of
113-333
Vote of
Vote of
(113th Congress)
36-10
195-234
9/4/2013
66-27
251-166
68-32
Covers 2014-2018
5/29/2013
7/11/2013
S.Rept. 113-
crops or until
H.Rept.
H.R. 2642
88
9/30/2018
113-92
Farm portion
vote of 216-208
9/19/2013
H.R. 3102
Nutrition part
vote of 217-210
9/28/2013
H.Res. 361
combined
House bil s
One-year extension
One-year extension until 9/30/2013 and for the 2013 crop year (dairy price support extended
1/2/2013
of the 2008 farm bill
until 12/31/2013, and the Milk Income Loss Contract program extended until 9/30/2013). Did
P.L. 112-240
Covers 2013 crop or
not provide funding for programs without mandatory baseline.
Title VII
until 9/30/2013
Agriculture Reform,
7/11/2012
—
4/26/2012 6/21/2012
—
—
—
—
Food, and Jobs Act
H.R. 6083
S. 3240
S. 3240
(112th Congress)
Vote of
Vote of
Vote of
35-11
16-5
64-35
9/13/2012
8/28/2012
H.Rept.
S.Rept. 112-
112-669
203
Early partial
Extended five conservation programs through FY2014 (Agricultural Management Assistance,
11/18/2011
extension of the
Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Farmland
P.L. 112-55
2008 farm bill
Protection Program, and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program).
Congressional Research Service
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2008 farm bill
6/18/2008 6/18/2008
6/18/2008
Food, Conservation,
H.R. 6124
H.R. 6124
P.L. 110-246
and Energy Act of
Passed
Passed
2008
over veto
over veto
Covers 2008-2012
317-109
80-14
crops or until
9/30/2012
Re-passed
5/22/2008
6/5/2008
6/18/2008
as new bil H.R. 6124 H.R. 6124
Vetoed
with Title III
Vote of
Vote of
306-110
77-15
5/21/2008 5/22/2008
5/22/2008
H.R. 2419
H.R. 2419
P.L. 110-234
Passed
Passed
over veto
over veto
316-108
82-13
5/22/2007
7/27/2007
11/2/2007 12/14/2007 5/13/2008
5/14/2008 5/15/2008
5/21/2008
H.R. 2419
H.R. 2419
S. 2302
Amdt. to
H.Rept.
H.R. 2419
H.R. 2419
Vetoed
Introduced
Vote of
S.Rept. 110- H.R. 2419
110-627
Vote of
Vote of
Enrol ing
7/23/2007
231-191
220
Vote of
318-106
81-15
error omitted
H.Rept.
79-14
Title III
110-256
Short-term
Continued extension until 5/23/2008.
5/18/2008
extension of the
P.L. 110-231
2002 farm bill
Short-term
Continued extension until 5/16/2008.
5/2/2008
extension
P.L. 110-208
Short-term
Continued extension until 5/2/2008.
4/25/2008
extension
P.L. 110-205
Short-term
Continued extension until 4/25/2008.
4/18/2008
extension
P.L. 110-200
Short-term
Continued extension until 4/18/2008 and added extension of suspension of permanent law.
3/14/2008
extension
P.L. 110-196
Short-term
Extended parts of the 2002 farm bil until 3/15/2008 but did not extend the direct and counter-
12/26/2007
extension of the
cyclical farm commodity programs.
P.L. 110-161
2002 farm bill
Division A,
§751
Early partial
Extended the early-expiring Milk Income Loss Contract program for two years from 9/2005
2/8/2006
extension of the
through 8/2007 and two conservation programs (Environmental Quality Incentives Program and
P.L. 109-171
2002 farm bill during Conservation Security Program) until FY2010.
budget
reconciliation
Congressional Research Service
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
2002 farm bill
7/26/2001
10/5/2001
11/27/2001 2/13/2002
5/1/2002
5/2/2002
5/8/2002
5/13/2002
Farm Security and
H.R. 2646
H.R. 2646
S. 1731
Amdt. to
H.Rept.
H.R. 2646
H.R. 2646
P.L. 107-171
Rural Investment
8/2/2001
Vote of
12/7/2001 H.R. 2646
107-424
Vote of
Vote of 64-
Act
H.Rept.
291-120
S.Rept. 107-
Vote of
280-141
35
Covers 2002-2007
107-191
117
58-40
crops or until
9/30/2007
1996 farm bill
1/5/1996
2/29/1996
1/26/1996
2/7/1996
3/25/1996
3/29/1996 3/28/1996
4/4/1996
Federal Agriculture
H.R. 2854
H.R. 2854
S. 1541
S. 1541
H.Rept.
H.R. 2854 H.R. 2854
P.L. 104-127
Improvement and
introduced
Vote of
introduced
Vote of
104-494
Vote of
Vote of
Reform Act of 1996
Vote of
270-155
64-32
318-89
74-26
Covers 1996-2002
29-17
3/12/1996
crops or until
2/9/1996
Amdt. to
9/30/2002
H.R. 2854
H.Rept.
Voice vote
104-462
Balanced Budget
10/26/1995
10/26/1995
10/28/1995 10/28/1995 11/16/1995 11/20/1995 11/17/1995
12/6/1995
Act of 1995, Title I
H.R. 2491 H.R. 2491 Vote
S. 1357
Amdt. to
H.Rept.
H.R. 2491 H.R. 2491
Vetoed
(Agricultural
includes
of 227-203
includes
H.R. 2491
104-347
Vote of
Vote of
Reconciliation Act
H.R. 2195
Senate bil
Vote of
235-192
52-47
of 1995)
52-47
Freedom to Farm
8/4/1995
—
9/28/1995
—
—
—
—
—
Act
H.R. 2195
unnumber-
introduced
ed bil
9/20/1995
fails cmte.
Early partial
More than a year before expiration, extended the dairy program until 1996 and extended
8/10/1993
extension of the
programs for wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, peanuts, wool, and mohair until 1997 and honey
P.L. 103-66
1990 farm bill
until 1998.
1990 farm bill
2/5/1990
8/1/1990
7/6/1990
7/27/1990 10/22/1990 10/23/1990 10/25/1990 11/28/1990
Food, Agriculture,
H.R. 3950
H.R. 3950
S. 2830
S. 2830
H.Rept.
S. 2830
S. 2830
P.L. 101-624
Conservation, and
introduced
Vote of
S.Rept. 101-
Vote of
101-916
Vote of
Vote of
Trade Act of 1990
7/3/1990
327-91
357
70-21
318-102
60-36
Covers 1991-1995
H.Rept.
crops or until
101-569
9/30/1995
1985 farm bill
4/17/1985
10/8/1985
9/30/1985 11/23/1985 12/17/1985 12/18/1985 12/18/1985 12/23/1985
Food Security Act of H.R. 2100
H.R. 2100
S. 1714
H.R. 2100 H.Rept. 99- H.R. 2100
H.R. 2100
P.L. 99-198
1985
introduced
Vote of
S.Rept. 99-
Vote of
447
Vote of
Vote of
Covers 1986-1990
9/13/1985
282-141
145
61-28
325-96
55-38
crops or until
H.Rept. 99-
9/30/1990
271
Congressional Research Service
8
Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
House
Senate
Conference Report Approval
Conf.
House
Senate
Cmte.
Passage
Cmte.
Passage
Report
Passage
Passage
Public Law
1981 farm bill
5/18/1981
10/22/1981
4/7/1981
9/18/1981 12/9/1981 12/16/1981 12/10/1981 12/22/1981
Agriculture and
H.R. 3603
S. 884
S. 884
S. 884
H.Rept. 97-
S. 884
S. 884
P.L. 97-98
Food Act of 1981
introduced
Vote of
introduced
Vote of
377
Vote of
Vote of
Covers 1982-1985
5/19/1981
192-160
5/27/1981
49-32
12/10/1981
205-203
67-32
crops or until
H.Rept. 97-
S.Rept. 97-
S.Rept. 97-
9/30/1985
106
126
290
1977 farm bill
5/13/1977
7/28/1977
1/18/1977 5/24/1977
9/9/1977
9/16/1977
9/9/1977
9/29/1977
Food and
H.R. 7171 Amdt. to S. 275
S. 275
S. 275
S.Rept. 95-
S. 275
S. 275
P.L. 95-113
Agriculture Act of
introduced
Vote of
introduced
Vote of
418
Vote of
Vote of
1977
5/16/1977
294-114
5/16/1977
69-18
283-107
63-8
Covers 1978-1981
H.Rept. 95-
S.Rept. 95-
crops or until
348
180
9/30/1981
1973 farm bill
6/20/1973
7/19/1973
5/23/1973
6/8/1973
7/31/1973
8/3/1973
7/31/1973
8/10/1973
Agriculture and
H.R. 8860
Amdt. to S.
S. 1888
S. 1888
H.Rept. 93-
S. 1888
S. 1888
P.L. 93-86
Consumer
introduced
1888
introduced
Vote of
427
Vote of
Vote of
Protection Act
6/27/1973
Vote of
S.Rept. 93-
78-9
252-151
85-7
Covers 1974-1977
H.Rept. 93-
226-182
173
crops or until
337
6/30/1977
1970 farm bill
7/23/1970
8/5/1970
9/4/1970
9/15/1970 10/9/1970 10/13/1970 11/19/1970 11/30/1970
Agricultural Act of
H.R. 18546
H.R. 18546
Amdt. to
Amdt. to H.Rept. 91- H.R. 18546 H.R. 18546
P.L. 91-524
1970
H.Rept. 91-
Vote of
H.R. 18546 H.R. 18546
1594
Vote of
Vote of
Covers 1971-1973
1329
212-171
S.Rept. 91-
Vote of
191-145
48-35
crops
1154
65-7
Early extension of
More than a year before expiration, extended the farm bil for one-year until 12/31/1970.
10/11/1968
the 1965 farm bill
P.L. 90-559
1965 farm bill
7/20/1965
8/19/1965
9/7/1965
9/14/1965 10/6/1965
10/8/1965 10/12/1965
11/4/1965
Food and
H.R. 9811
H.R. 9811
Amdt. to
Amdt. to H.Rept. 89- H.R. 9811
H.R. 9811
P.L. 89-321
Agricultural Act
H.Rept. 89-
Vote of
H.R. 9811 H.R. 9811
1123
Vote of
Voice vote
Covers 1966-1969
631
221-172
S.Rept. 89-
Vote of
219-150
crops
687
72-22
Source: CRS.
Notes: Includes only major legislative actions. Excludes subsequent revisions, such as in budget reconciliation,
except for extensions as noted. Rows are sorted by date of the Public Law column.
Congressional Research Service
9
Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2024
Author Information
Jim Monke
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
Disclaimer
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Congressional Research Service
R45210 · VERSION 20 · UPDATED
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