Illinois Soybean Association Pushed for New Farm Bill
The group sought long-term federal stability as farm production expenditures climbed significantly since 2018.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Agriculture
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The Illinois Soybean Association identified a new federal farm bill as a top priority in 2026, citing the need for policy certainty as the industry navigated rising costs. Congress had relied on one-year extensions of the 2018 legislation throughout 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Why it matters
Operators require consistent regulatory frameworks to manage budgeting and commodity price volatility, which have intensified as national crop production expenditures rose from $181.9 billion in 2018 to $235.3 billion by 2025. This push for a new bill aims to replace the recurring, short-term extensions that currently define federal agricultural policy.
Average total expenditure for a crop farm climbed to $284,017 in 2025 from $208,026 in 2018, alongside national crop production expenditures reaching $235.3 billion. Illinois remains a major contributor to industry output, maintaining an annual biodiesel production capacity of 192 million gallons.
The players
Illinois Soybean Association
A trade organization representing the interests of Illinois soybean farmers through policy advocacy and market development.
Tim Scates
A farmer with operations in White and Gallatin counties who navigates rising input costs and shifting federal policy.
United States Congress
The federal legislative body responsible for negotiating and passing the long-delayed comprehensive farm bill.
The details
Farmers face mounting pressure to balance higher operational costs with commodity prices that have seen only modest growth since 2018. To improve margins, producers are increasingly adopting advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, and utilizing irrigation to manage yield risks during the growing season. Additionally, the industry is aggressively promoting biodiesel production to expand renewable fuel markets and provide a more stable revenue floor.
Timeline
The previous federal farm bill was enacted into law in 2018.
Congress passed one-year extensions of the farm bill in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Tim Scates discussed current farm conditions during an interview on August 14, 2026.
Market Landscape
The current reliance on annual extensions marks a departure from the standard five-year cycle established by the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act. Operators are now working against a backdrop of prolonged legislative uncertainty that contrasts with the predictable long-term funding cycles historically provided by farm bills.
Owners should account for elevated production costs, which have increased by over 29% per farm since 2018, when projecting their capital requirements for the next season. With legislative action remaining stalled, review supply contracts and commodity hedging strategies to mitigate risks associated with potential federal policy shifts.
The takeaway
The sustained rise in per-farm expenditure highlights the need for greater operational efficiency as federal support remains locked in a cycle of short-term extensions. Operators should track their specific cost-per-bushel metrics closely and prepare contingency plans should future farm bill negotiations alter subsidy or renewable fuel incentives.
Further reading
Learn more about the policy challenges facing local producers in the Agriculture section.
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Do you believe federal agricultural policies are doing enough to help farmers manage rising production costs?
