The Farm Bill

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The Farm Bill

• David R. MacKenzie
• Executive Director
• NERA

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NASULGC Farm Bill Task Force

• Milo Shult, Chair
• SAES Reps (T. Payne and D. MacKenzie)
• Representation
• BOA, AHS, COPs, 1890s, 1994s
• CSREES
• Meetings and e-communications
• Stan Johnsons White Paper
• SAES input to the process
• Survey of opinions
• List of priorities
• Discussions with CSREES
• DRAFT language for Terry Nipp

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Definition of Farm Bill

• A phrase that refers to a multi-year,
  multi-commodity federal support law.
• It usually amends some and suspends many
  provisions of permanent law, reauthorizes,
  amends, or repeals provisions of preceding
  temporary agricultural acts, and puts forth new
  policy provisions for a limited time into the
  future.
• Beginning in 1973, farm bills have included
  titles on commodity programs, trade, rural
  development, farm credit, conservation,
  agricultural research, food and nutrition
  programs, marketing, etc.
• These are referred to as omnibus farm bills.

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History of the Farm Bill

• Federal Agricultural Research, Extension and
  Education Reform Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-185)
• Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of
  1996 (P.L. 104-127)
• Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
  1990 (P.L. 101-624)
• Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198)
• Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-98)
• Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113)
• Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973
  (P.L. 93-86)
• Agricultural Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-524)
• Food and Agricultural Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-321)
• Agricultural Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-540)
• Agricultural Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-690)
• Agricultural Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-439)
• Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (P.L. 75-430)

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Farm Bill Task Forces Approach

• Broadened view to all Farm Bill Titles
• Looking for new approaches
• Institutional diversity appreciated
• Functional differences respected
• Messages of 98 AREERA understood
• Advice of CSREES valued

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Federal Concepts

• Necessary, but not sufficient
• Legal authority
• Appropriation
• Budget (including caps)
• Undesirable, and not necessary
• Specific details
• Directives
• Limitations and prohibitions

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How FederalAuthorizations Work

• Laws
• Legislation
• Report language
• Regulations
• Rule-making
• Public Notices
• Programs
• Grants
• Institutes, etc

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Reality Check

• Being authorized for funding does not mean
  funding will be appropriated
• But, for funding to be appropriated requires
  that an authorization is available
• Report language is usually considered, but is not
  legally binding
• Sense of Congress has some validity, and is
  reflected in minutes, speeches and elsewhere

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Agricultures Farm Bill

• The authority for the Secretary of Agriculture
  (Not USDA) to act
• Quinquennially amended (e.g., 1977, 1981, 1985,
  1990, 1996/98 and 2002(?)
• Amendments emerge from both the House and Senate
  differences get reconciled in conference
  committee
• Divided into separate Titles

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Farm Bill Titles01 House Version

• I. Commodity Programs
• II. Conservation
• III. Trade
• IV. Nutrition Programs
• V. Credit
• VI. Rural Development
• VII. Research and Related Matters
• VIII. Forestry Initiatives
• IX. Miscellaneous Provisions

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Title I. Commodity ProgramsSubtitles

• A. Fixed Decoupled Payments and Counter-Cyclical
  Payments
• B. Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency
  Payments
• C. Other Commodities

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Title II. ConservationSubtitles

• A. Definitions
• B. Wetland Conservation Program
• C. Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve
  Program
• D. Conservation Reserve Program
• E. Wetlands Reserve Program
• F. Environmental Quality Incentives Program
• G. Funding and Administration
• H, I, and J. (other provisions)

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Title VII Research and Related MattersSubtitles

• A. Extensions
• B. Modifications
• C. Related Matters
• D. Repeal of Certain Activities Authorities,
  e.g.,
• Food Safety Office and Conference
• Genetic Resource Advisory Committee
• National Advisory Board on Agricultural Weather
• E. Agricultural Facility Protection

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The Big Exception

• Mandatory vs. Discretionary funding
• There is established in the Treasury of the
  United States an account known as the XXXXX
  XXXXXX XXXXXX to provide, as authorized under
  this subtitle, .

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New Major Programs

• National Genetic Resources Center
• International negotiations
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• International Undertaking
• Global Action Plan
• Funding for collections
• Rural Development
• Counter-Cyclical

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A New Initiative

• Counter-Cyclical payments would be made to
  farmers in those years of low commodity prices.
• In years of high prices a portion of the savings
  would be diverted to research and education
  activities, building on the IFAFS base.

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Additional Resources

• http//www.nationalaglawcenter.org/aglaw/farmbill.
  htm
• http//www.reeusda.gov/1700/legis/compindx.htm
• http//thomas.loc.gov/

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THE END