The Agriculture Department expects U.S. crop prices to decline in the near term but remain above 2007 levels over the next decade, according to its long-term projections report released Thursday.

The report projects lower farm prices in the short term than those used to calculate the cost of the new farm bill, which could mean higher costs for commodity programs and lower costs for crop insurance premium subsidies because crop insurance levels would decline with lower prices.

But USDA warned, “The projections in this report were prepared during October through December 2013, with the 2008 farm act assumed to be extended and remain in effect through the projection period. Therefore, the projections do not reflect the subsequently enacted Agricultural Act of 2014.

“As such, the scenario presented in this report is not a USDA forecast about the future. Instead, it is a conditional, long-run scenario about what would be expected to happen under a continuation of 2008 farm legislation and other specific assumptions.”

USDA will release a more detailed forecast next week at its annual Agricultural Outlook Forum.

USDA Agricultural Projections to 2023