How Farm Subsidies Changed Under the 2018 Farm Bill

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — commonly called the 2018 Farm Bill — extended and modified the framework established in 2014. While it didn't restructure the safety net as dramatically as previous bills, it made meaningful changes that show up in USDA payment data from FY2019 onward.

Seed cotton added as a covered commodity

One of the most significant changes was adding seed cotton to the list of covered commodities eligible for ARC and PLC. Cotton had been excluded from the main commodity programs since the 2014 bill (due to WTO disputes), receiving support instead through a separate Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX). The 2018 bill brought cotton back into the ARC/PLC framework, generating substantial payments for cotton farmers in Texas, Georgia, and the Southeast when prices were weak.

Reference price escalator

The 2018 bill introduced an "effective reference price" that can increase modestly when Olympic average prices exceed the statutory reference price by more than 15%. This provides some inflation protection for farmers over a multi-year period.

Conservation program expansions

EQIP and CSP funding was increased, and the 2018 bill made it easier for organic producers and beginning farmers to access these programs. CRP acreage caps were also raised modestly.

Disaster program improvements

The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) was added to cover losses from a broader range of weather events. The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) remained in place with some adjustments to payment rates.

Looking at pre- vs. post-2018 data

If you're comparing payments across years in SubsidyLookup, keep in mind that program structure changed in FY2019. Use the year index to isolate specific fiscal years, and the program index to see which CFDA programs show the biggest changes between FY2018 and FY2019.