Agricultural Policy

U.S. agricultural policy determines how producers manage risk, access markets, and steward land through programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and related agencies (USDA overview).

Safety net, payments, and disaster support

Federal supports — from commodity programs and updated reference prices to crop insurance and disaster assistance — help farms absorb price swings and extreme weather (Farm Bill navigation, farm subsidies, crop insurance, disaster assistance).

Conservation and soil health

Programs like CRP, EQIP and CSP provide payments and technical help to improve soil, water and habitat; producers can pair those with regenerative and soil-health practices to earn incentives (Conservation Reserve Program, EQIP, CSP, regenerative agriculture, soil health).

Access to capital and transitions

Beginning farmers and established operations can find loans, microloans, grants and technical assistance to start, expand, or transition to organic and other systems (beginning farmer resources, farm loans guide, organic transition support).

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Dive Deeper Into Agricultural Policy

Crop Insurance

The Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) is a key part of the federal farm safety…

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Disaster Assistance

When severe weather, drought, flooding, or other disasters damage crops, livestock, or farm infrastructure, federal…

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All Articles on Agricultural Policy

Challenges and Opportunities for the USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a sprawling agency with a mission that ranges from feeding vulnerable families…

What the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Does

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a cabinet-level agency of the federal government responsible for developing and executing policies…