Farm Bill News from NSAC

Tweet

Note to Congress: Be Responsible, Don’t Let the Farm Bill Expire

This post answers the question of what happens if Congress simply lets the 2014 Bill expire on September 30 without having passed a new farm bill or a temporary extension. Not only will a handful of “tiny but mighty” programs that support local food, beginning farmers and organic research shut down, but also federal conservation, technical assistance, trade, specialty crops, nutrition, and food aid programs. 

What’s at Stake: Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers 

Vital programs for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers could screech to a halt unless Congress reauthorizes key programs in the 2018 Farm Bill. With the average age of an American farmer approaching 60 years and 100 million acres of farmland set to change hands over the next five years (during the course of the next farm bill), a potential nationwide shortage of farmers should be one of the primary problems Congress seeks to resolve in the upcoming farm bill. 

What’s at Stake: Local and Regional Food Programs 

Numerous USDA programs have supported the growth of the local and regional food sector by helping farmers, ranchers, and consumers connect. While demand for and sales of locally and regionally produced food has increased rapidly, much of the sector’s ability to reach its full potential will depend on what Congress does in the upcoming 2018 Bill, and whether programs that support local food will be allowed to shut down come September 30. 

COMMENT: Support for Local Food and Farm Bill Programs Builds in the House 

This week, 43 Members of Congress, led by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), stood up to defend value-added agriculture and local and regional food programs by sending a bipartisan letter to the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee leadership requesting the inclusion of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in the final 2018 Farm Bill.

 

Learn more about farm politics and agricultural policy at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/farm-policy-agricultural-politics/

Find additional farming resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/