TALKING POINTS: Farm Bill Update

TALKING POINTS: FARM BILL UPDATE

Conservation Security Program (CSP):

• CSP was first authorized in Farm Bill 2002.
• CSP provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who develop and maintain conservation systems that protect natural resources and address environmental concerns.
• CSP provides incentives to farmers who invest labor, management and capital aimed at preserving and restoring healthy, productive and non-eroding soils and clean air and water, as well as energy savings and wildlife habitat.
• CSP has routinely experienced budget cuts,
• The current draft of the Farm Bill strips over $3 billion in funding from the CSP and halts new enrollments in the program until 2012.

SUBSIDIES:

• The bill provides $1.8 billion for programs to support farmers of fruits and vegetables, as well as some specialty crops
• Corn, dairy, soybeans, wheat and other big crops will still get federal subsidies
• U.S. tobacco would qualify for a program that pays for promoting overseas sales of American commodities
• Although a cap was set on subsidies to farmers with incomes over 1 million, the direct subsidy limit was raised $20,000 to $60,000 per individual. Married couples can now claim this limit for two ($60,000 each) if they are both active in the farm.
  
• Special Government Accountability Office report found that subsidies were given under deceased farmers' names for several years (past the two year deadline) and very little oversight of subsidies was conducted by the USDA

School Snacks:

• $350 million allocated to expand an initiative promoting healthy snacks for school children
• More schools will get to participate in a program that provides free fruits and vegetables as snacks (addressing U.S. childhood obesity epidemic)

BIOFUELS:

• Research and programs for farm-based biofuels, including making methane out of cow manure, planting switchgrass and growing corn to make ethanol

FOOD SAFETY:

• Language to implement the Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) program, that was approved in 2002’s Farm Bill but never implemented
• Responsibility for inspections of food imports (meat) will return to the USDA (Post 9/11, Homeland Security was responsible for food inspection but was not performing).

Visit our web resources page for more information about the Farm Bill and to learn about what issues are being debated.