Farmers Get New Rules Courtesy of One Big Beautiful Bill
Published Date: 6/2/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting June 2, 2026, new rules change how farm payments are limited and who can get them, thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These updates affect farmers and farming groups by making payment limits fairer, adding exceptions for income rules, and boosting some program payment caps. The changes also improve how the programs run, so farmers get clearer, smoother support.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Pass‑through Farms get Larger Payment Caps
Starting with program year 2026, S corporations, many LLCs, partnerships, and joint ventures are treated as “qualified pass‑through entities” so the program payment limit is multiplied by the number of non‑pass‑through owners. For example, a $125,000 program payment limit for a program would become $250,000 for an S corporation with two individual owners. The rule is effective June 2, 2026, and ownership for 2026 is determined as of September 15, 2026.
Salaries Count Toward Eligibility
For program year 2026 and later, members of qualified pass‑through entities (for example, LLCs or S corporations) may include compensated labor or management (such as salaries or guaranteed payments) when meeting the "actively engaged in farming" payment eligibility tests. This aligns treatment across entity types.
High‑AGI Producers: AGI Cap Waived for Certain Programs
Beginning with program year 2026, the $900,000 average AGI limitation is waived for certain program payments (ELAP, LFP, LIP, TAP, NAP, CRP received on/after October 1, 2024, and NRCS conservation programs received on/after October 1, 2024) if the participant certifies that 75 percent or more of their average gross income came from farming, ranching, or silviculture and provides verification signed by a CPA, attorney, or authorized enrolled agent. The rule is effective June 2, 2026.
Entity‑level AGI Certification Removed
Beginning with program year 2026, qualified pass‑through entities are not required to certify compliance with the $900,000 average adjusted gross income (AGI) limitation at the entity level; instead, individual members (through the fourth level of ownership) must provide the required certifications. The rule is effective June 2, 2026.
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