Timing of Expiration
There are two principal expiration dates for the farm bill as extended: the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2025) and the end of the crop year (December 31, 2025).
Expiration by Fiscal Year
Expiration of a farm bill on September 30 matters for programs with fiscal year authorizations. The effects may vary among the mandatory spending programs—including nutrition, conservation, and other agricultural programs—and may affect some programs' operations, as explained through this report. The fiscal year date also affects programs with authorizations of appropriations to receive discretionary funding but with fewer consequences.
Expiration by Crop Year
Farm commodity support programs are authorized on the basis of crop years. A crop year refers to the calendar year during which a crop is harvested.3 The 2018 farm bill, as extended, authorizes the farm commodity programs through the 2025 crop year. The first commodity harvested with a 2026 crop year is dairy, which coincides with the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2026.
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R47659