For Montana pulse growers, the Farm Bill is more than just federal legislation—it is the backbone of support programs that help manage risk, protect soil and water, and keep markets strong. Yet as of late August 2025, Congress has not passed a new, comprehensive Farm Bill. Instead, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill, remains in place thanks to a second extension passed in late 2024.
Much of what many growers consider the “Farm Bill” was actually addressed earlier this year in the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.” That package increased reference prices, expanded base acres by 30 million, improved crop insurance, and boosted funding for export programs like the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD). “Those were big wins for agriculture broadly,” said Paul Kanning, of Flaxville, Montana,pulse grower, MPCC committee member and chair for USA Pulses. “But for pulses, there’s still unfinished business left to be done.”
Capitol Hill is now calling what remains to be addressed “Farm Bill 2.0.” This second package will need to reauthorize the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), reset USDA loan limits, and restore funding for critical specialty crop initiatives, including the Pulse Crop Health Initiative (PCHI), Pulse Quality Network (PQN), and the School Pulse Crop Products Program(SPCPP). It will also determine the future of a wide range of USDA Rural Development programs that touch nearly every farming community in Montana.
The timing, however, is uncertain. Congress faces a September 30, 2025 deadline not only to finalize Farm Bill 2.0 but also to fund the federal government before the new fiscal year. If lawmakers fail, another continuing resolution or omnibus package may include only a temporary extension of these provisions. “I doubt 2.0 will pass before the end of September,” Kanning noted. “Congress still has to fund the government before Oct. 1, and my guess is we’ll see another stopgap bill. I’d love to be wrong, though.”
For pulse growers, the stakes remain high. Federal programs shape conservation practices, guide research priorities, and open doors to new trade opportunities abroad. Without reauthorization, gaps will persist in funding for research and rural development—programs that directly impact Montana’s competitive advantage in pulses.
The Bottom Line
Montana pulse producers need certainty to plan for the future. The extension of the 2018 Farm Bill buys time, but it does not replace the need for a robust, updated Farm Bill. With the September 2025 deadline looming, growers will be watching closely to see whether lawmakers deliver a comprehensive plan or resort to another short-term fix.
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