UPDATE: We Have a Farm Bill!
If you have not read my first piece on the 2018 Farm Bill, check it out here
THE WAIT IS OVER
On Monday, December 10th, the 800-page, 2018 Farm Bill was sent to president Trump for his signature. In the final tallies, votes in the House were 386-7, and in the Senate 87-13. Surprisingly, this is one of the first times we’ve been able to see a bill once so divided become nearly bipartisan. Yay democracy!
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Total Funding: $867 billion over the next 10 years
1. The previously drafted—and much stricter—SNAP work requirements were rejected
improvements have been made to program administration; funding for work-training programs have increased slightly and SNAP recipients receive additional support upon enrolling.
2. BILLIONS of dollars in subsidies to farmers and their family members
the federal government now has more wealth to supplement a farmer’s income and manage the cost and supply of commodities such as wheat, sugar, soybeans, milk and rice
3. Funding for “Stranded programs” have been made permanent:
$500 million for Farmland Conservation: farmland labeled “protected” may be sold to an incoming farmer at a lower price, benefitting both the next farming generation and the environment.
NEW: LAMP: Local Agriculture Marketing Program: provides funding for farmers’ market promotion, value-added producer grants and also resources to study and plan regional food systems
4. NEW: The Office of Urban Agriculture:
A new branch that assists urban farmers in accessing programs made available by the USDA
5. Hemp is now an agricultural commodity
hemp can now enter the commercial industry (potentially worth $20 billion by 2020), and the economic opportunity is boundless: think hemp clothes, hemp seeds, construction materials, and of course: more of your favorite CBD products.
6. The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network:
Reauthorized funds to provide mental health and stress assistance resources at community-based organizations for farmers to access.
THE DRAWBACKS
1. $800 million cut from farmland Conservation Stewardship Program:
Program has been merged into another branch of the Ag Department, resulting in reallocation of funds.
Nonetheless, farmers have lost some of the incentive from the federal government to implement conservation efforts on their properties.
2. The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network:
It is important to note that funding for this initiative is NOT MANDATORY. This means that implementation of proper outreach may be sluggish and yield little result.
FURTHER READING:
The Washington Post:
-Jeff Stein: Congress just passed an $867 billon Farm Bill. Here’s What’s in it.
-Caitlin Dewy: Congress is about to legalize Cannabis. Just not the kind that gets you high.
The Young Farmer’s Podcast (Farm Bill Episodes 1-7)
Ag Web, by Jennifer Shike: President Trump expected to sign Farm Bill next Week
About the Conservation Stewardship Program from the USDA