Oklahoma Farmers Brace for Uncertain Future as Farm Bill Splinters

Reconciliation bill provides some certainty, but leaves key issues unresolved

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Oklahoma cotton grower Charlcey Plummer had a record crop in 2025, but profited the least due to rising input costs. The federal Farm Bill, which has traditionally bundled together various agricultural programs, is now under strain as Congress struggles to renew it on schedule. Instead, major programs were enacted through the reconciliation bill H.R. 1, leaving the future Farm Bill narrower in scope and raising questions about the stability of agricultural policy.

Why it matters

The shift away from a comprehensive Farm Bill raises fundamental questions for producers, rural communities and lawmakers alike. It's unclear if this new approach will create a two-track system, with revenue and spending settled through budget legislation and everything else left to a 'skinny' Farm Bill. This could have significant implications for agriculture policy in states like Oklahoma, where producers depend on both predictability and flexibility to manage risk.

The details

H.R. 1 extended and expanded key programs like crop insurance, Price Loss Coverage, and disaster assistance, providing farmers like Plummer with more certainty. However, it left out other areas like conservation, research funding, and regulatory issues that must still be addressed through the regular Farm Bill process. This has created a mix of relief and uncertainty for Oklahoma producers, who face challenges like drought, extreme heat, and water scarcity.

  • In 2025, Plummer had the best cotton crop ever, but profited the least.
  • In June 2025, Rep. Frank Lucas noted previous attempts to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill had failed.
  • In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld California's Proposition 12, which established animal housing standards for pork, eggs and veal sold in the state.

The players

Charlcey Plummer

An Oklahoma cotton grower whose family operation has weathered trade disputes, drought, and rising input costs over the past decade.

Rep. Frank Lucas

A 19-term Republican representative from Cheyenne, Oklahoma, and a longtime member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson

The Republican chair of the House Agriculture Committee, who argued that H.R. 1 delivered long-sought updates to commodity programs and risk management tools.

Michael Kelsey

The executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, which highlighted the importance of disaster assistance and animal disease prevention funding included in H.R. 1 for livestock producers.

Oklahoma Policy Institute

A policy analysis organization that warned that shifting nutrition policy out of the Farm Bill weakens one of the few remaining bipartisan coalitions in Congress and places new fiscal pressure on states.

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What they’re saying

“In 2025, we grew the best cotton crop we've ever had, but then we profited the least amount we ever have.”

— Charlcey Plummer (henryettafree-lance.com)

“Fortunately, most of what typically gets passed in a Farm Bill was included in the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill, like updating the commodity support programs. This puts us in a much better position as we look towards passing what's left in a 'Skinny Farm Bill.'”

— Rep. Frank Lucas, R-OK, longtime member of the House Agriculture Committee (henryettafree-lance.com)

“There isn't a lot that we as a cattle industry will be working on in a smaller or 'skinny' Farm Bill. But that also reflects how much of the heavy lifting has already been done elsewhere.”

— Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (henryettafree-lance.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This shift away from a comprehensive Farm Bill highlights the growing uncertainty and fragmentation in agricultural policy, raising concerns about the long-term stability and predictability that producers in Oklahoma and across the country rely on to manage their operations.