What does the farm bill entail?
The Farm Bill: Ensuring the Future of Agriculture
The farm bill, a crucial piece of legislation that impacts the farming industry, is set to expire on September 30, 2023. As members of Congress in the House and Senate diligently work on their drafts for its renewal, the government strives to avoid a shutdown.
Every five years, a new farm bill is passed, each with its own unique title. The current farm bill, known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was signed into law in December 2018.
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Amidst the hustle and bustle of farm bill negotiations, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently admitted that the Senate will miss the deadline to complete its version of the bill, which is estimated to cost around $1 trillion. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) also acknowledged in June that the bill would not be ready by September, expressing hope for a December completion.
“It’s always extended, it’s very routine,” Stabenow reassured. “I’ve been through six farm bills, not one that’s gotten completely done by the deadline. There’s always some kind of extension.”
Unveiling the Impact of the Farm Bill
The farm bill holds immense significance for the farming industry, influencing how food is grown and the types of crops cultivated. It encompasses a wide range of programs that support farmers, including crop insurance, federal loan programs, community development initiatives, and sustainable farming practices.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the projected cost of the 2018 farm bill over a five-year period was $428 billion.
The Architects Behind the Farm Bill
The farm bill is meticulously crafted by members of Congress serving on the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Exploring the Structure of the 2018 Farm Bill
The 2018 farm bill is composed of 12 chapters, referred to as titles, each dedicated to a specific area. For instance, Title 4: Nutrition focuses on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. This program provides assistance to low-income families for purchasing food and groceries.
Programs Covered by the Farm Bill
In addition to SNAP, the farm bill encompasses various programs that offer support in the following areas:
- Prices and income support for farmers of widely produced non-perishable crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice
- Natural resource conservation efforts on working lands, as well as land retirement and easement
- Federal loans
- Community and rural business development
- Farm and food research, education, and extension for federal labs and state university-affiliated research groups
- Forest conservation
- Renewable energy systems
- Horticulture
- Crop insurance
For more information, click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.
What’s Not Included in the Farm Bill?
While the farm bill covers a wide range of policies, there are several areas that it does not address. These include farm and food workers’ rights and protections, public land grazing rights, Food and Drug Administration food safety regulations, renewable fuels standards, the Clean Water Act, and tax issues.
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