Farm Bill Study Guide

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Its Farm Bill time again. More than just a piece of legislation, the Farm Bill affects everyone who eats, sells, buys or grows food. At its origin, it was designed to make sure that everyone had enough to eat, farmers earned a living and our soil and water stayed healthy. Learn more about what's in the bill and you will be surprised.

What is it?

The Farm Bill is an omnibus legislation (it deals with many subjects and programs) which Congress writes, debates and passes every 5 to 7 years. Once passed, the Farm Bill moves into appropriations (a process that determines how much money each program receives). This happens every year until a new Farm Bill is written.

What is the history of the Farm Bill?

The first Farm Bill, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 (each one has a name), was created to address rock bottom prices (corn prices actually hit $0), national hunger, soil erosion, lack of credit and unfair export practices. Since then, there have been 14 Farm Bills which have, in one way or another, addressed these issues. Unfortunately, many of these original programs, which were designed to ensure that there was healthy food for all and fair prices for farmers, have been stripped away or replaced with programs that benefit corporate interests.

What's in it?

The bill itself is organized by "Title." The 2002 Farm Bill, called the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, had 10 titles covering a variety of programs. New titles are added as new scopes of work become crucial to the food and farm economy. This was the case in 2002 when the new Energy Title was added to the bill.

One surprising fact about the Farm Bill is that Title number four, the Nutrition Programs, receives the highest level of funding at 48.4% of total Farm Bill spending. These programs include for food stamps, emergency food assistance, school lunches, Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC) and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Title number one is perhaps the most often mentioned and least understood: Commodity Programs. Subsidies to farms growing commodity program crops (corn, cotton, wheat, rice and soybeans are heavily favored) are paid through this program and it is the second highest funded title in the farm bill at approximately 33.2% of total Farm Bill spending. Some sustainable agriculture victories can be found in Title number three: Conservation Programs. Over the past 20 years, several conservation programs were developed under this title to reward farmers for sustainable farming practices that seek to protect the soil and water. These programs, however, are limited in scope and funding.

The other titles are: Trade Programs, Agricultural Credit and Lending, Rural Development, Research, Energy, Forestry and of course the Miscellaneous category that catches important details like Country of Origin Labeling (food labeling program) and bankruptcy protection. As you can see, with such a broad range of issues covered, from soil quality to job development in rural areas to nutrition programs in schools, Farm Bill programs reach far and wide.

How can I learn more?

Dan Imhoff has written a fantastic primer on the Farm Bill, its evolution, impacts and hopes for the future: "Food Fight: The Citizen's Guide to a Food and Farm Bill." Or, ask us. Farm Aid works closely with many organizations that are working towards food and farm policies that will create strong food systems and thriving farm communities.

What can I do?

The ball is already rolling hard and fast on the 2007 Farm Bill but it is never too late to call your Congressman or Representative and tell them that you want a farm bill that rewards farmers for taking care of the land, that puts fresh food in our schools and neighborhoods, helps young people get into farming and restores fairness in the marketplace. Let them know that you care about the Farm Bill - because it affects all of us, every single day.