Policy & Practice — Navigating Ag Economics (Online)

Policy & Practice — Navigating Ag Economics
Date: Wednesday - 6/3/2026
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:15 PM
Instructor: Roxanne Reed
Online-Zoom Webinar
No cost due to sponsor support

This session helps Western North Carolina farm owners understand how current economic and government policies influence farm profitability, risk planning, and future investment. With an emphasis on recent and unfolding federal and state agricultural policy changes, this workshop connects high-level policy developments to real, actionable farm planning.

What You’ll Learn:

• Key federal and NC agricultural policy changes impacting farm income and operations
• How crop insurance and risk-management programs have evolved
• The implications of disaster aid and support programs for farm resilience
• State-level grant opportunities and regulatory trends
• Strategies for adjusting business plans in response to economic policy shifts

Top 5 Relevant Economic/Government Policies Affecting NC Farms:

One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) – Reshapes federal ag support programs (including commodity and crop insurance funding) with implications for risk protection and farm revenue planning.
USDA Crop Insurance Expansion – Updated crop insurance access and streamlined rules for risk management beginning with the 2026 crop year.
Farmer Bridge Assistance Program & Funding Rates – Federal payments and support tied to market disruptions and commodity rate structures.
NC Agriculture Manufacturing & Processing Grants – State-level funding to increase value-added processing and profitability for NC producers.
Bipartisan Agritourism & Family Farm Support Legislation (Wyden-Budd) – Focuses on expanding loans, grants, and business development resources for family farms and agritourism.