Droves of professionals tasked with lobbying for America’s farmers and their interests have been proclaiming “Get a Farm Bill!” for over a year now. Jim Birge with Sangamon County Farm Bureau touted these exact words months ago in an interview regarding what is of the utmost importance to farmers this fall. However one of the unique things about the Farm Bill is that it does not solely affect farmers, but people of all walks of life. It is an important bill that generally is enacted every 5 years. The last Farm Bill passed in 2018, with a one year extension being put in place last year. Current programs are set to expire at the end of 2024 if it is not extended or renewed in the current lame duck session of Congress. Expiration could have dire effects on a whole host of programs that the Farm Bill supports, which is why many leaders on both sides of the aisle intend to pass it before years end.
Contrary to its title, the “Farm Bill,” contains significant funding for 5 years for a number of things that are not directly related to farms. For instance, over 80% of the budget is utilized for nutrition programs, ranging from school lunches to SNAP and nutritional assistance for lower income families. Historically, it has been a bipartisan bill with congressmen from both sides of the aisle finding things which benefit their constituents. Farmers and landowners benefit from the other 20% of the funding with programs including support for commodities produced in the US, land conservation programs, agricultural trade, university research, and the crop and livestock insurance programs. Due to the wide breadth of the bill, groups with interests in conservation, agriculture, organic foods, human nutrition, and the greater food system step forward with opinions on what to change.
The Farm Bill that was scheduled to be passed in 2023 and has yet to be passed is one that will be a critical refresh to policies and formulas for pricing created in the 1930s. These formulas include those for commodity insurance programs like corn, soybeans, and wheat, as well as a complex pricing formula for dairy producers. Farm Bills since their inception have continued to advance and update these formulas, however untimely passage of the next Farm Bill could put some of these in jeopardy. Danny Munch, an Economist from the American Farm Bureau Federation, touts that farmers and rural communities need a farm bill to be passed in order to “provide farmers with stronger safety nets, modern tools for sustainability, and the support needed to navigate today’s volatile markets. It ensures that our nation’s farms remain resilient, productive, and ready to feed future generations.” He goes on to explain some of the proposed changes that passed the House Agriculture Committee on May 23, 2024 but then stalled. One change that would affect many residents of Central Illinois is the expansion of rural broadband and healthcare support, as well as funding for these items. Additionally, the Farm Bill as proposed provides further modernization of the rural development, credit, and conservation programs. With its sweeping effects nationwide, the Farm Bill brings our Country’s agricultural policy to life. It is incredibly important to the nutrition programs supporting many Americans, and a long term Farm Bill is key to ensuring stability in rural communities and certainty for our nation’s farmers who are supporting a global food system.
For Information on the 2018 Farm Bill and the provisions it provides, follow the link below:
For a general overview of farm bill spending and where funds are allocated: