A reopened government and looking ahead to what's next for irrigated agriculture

This past fall, producers and irrigation businesses were feeling the effects of the shutdown, which closed local U.S. Department of Agriculture offices, delayed program payments and stalled conservation contracts. That chapter is now closed, and the bill that reopened the government gives the USDA full funding through Sept. 30.

This increased certainty on funding allows the USDA to keep core programs running without another near-term shutdown fight. The Farm Service Agency can continue processing operating loans and loan guarantees, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service can keep writing and paying Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contracts that help finance pivots, drip systems and on-farm water management upgrades. It lets growers plan multiyear equipment investments and gives manufacturers, distributors and contractors a steadier basis for production and employment.

Last year also saw passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which addressed multiyear funding typically included in the Farm Bill, such as higher EQIP base funding through fiscal year 2031.

With these funding issues addressed in 2025, that leaves a central question for 2026: Is there room or political appetite for a “skinny Farm Bill” or Farm Bill 2.0? It would likely focus on narrower but still important areas such as research, conservation adjustments, drought and climate tools, rural development and water-efficiency provisions left out of OBBBA. In an election year with tight budgets, it is unclear how far lawmakers will go.

In an election year with tight budgets, it is unclear HOW FAR LAWMAKERS WILL GO.

Instead of a skinny Farm Bill, Congress or the USDA may turn in 2026 to targeted farm relief tied to trade disruptions. With trade disputes and global slowdowns affecting key export crops, there could be renewed interest in using the Commodity Credit Corporation or similar tools to cushion the blow. For irrigated producers, trade volatility directly affects decisions about when to replace pivots, whether to invest in variable-rate technology and how quickly to adopt advanced scheduling tools. The Irrigation Association’s Economy Issues webpage has highlighted how trade policy, supply chains, interest rates and input costs drive demand for irrigation equipment and services. Any future relief should recognize that efficient irrigation is part of how U.S. agriculture stays competitive when global markets wobble.

Regardless of what Congress does on a skinny Farm Bill, the irrigation industry will not be on the sidelines. In March, the IA will convene an Advocacy Summit and visit Capitol Hill and federal agencies in Washington, D.C., bringing growers, manufacturers, distributors and contractors into conversations with policymakers. Priorities will include stable, accessible conservation funding for irrigation upgrades and water-smart technologies; research, data and technical assistance to help match water to crop need; and trade and tax policies that reflect irrigation’s role in productivity and resilience. As these efforts unfold, the IA will keep you informed through our Economy Issues webpage and will carry your stories and priorities into the rooms where decisions about 2026 and beyond are made.

Andrew D. Morris is the associate director of regulatory and technical affairs for the Irrigation Association.