The farm bill is a large, multifaceted piece of legislation, renewed by Congress roughly every five years, that shapes federal food and agricultural policy.
The first version of the farm bill passed in 1933, during the Great Depression, and was mostly concerned with helping farmers stay in business when crop prices plummeted. But since then the bill has grown far more complex and comprehensive, with sections addressing everything from international trade in farm products to the nutritional quality of school lunches to the management of our national forests.
Congress passed a new version of the farm bill in December 2018. While far from perfect, the bill includes important wins on issues that UCS fought for, including SNAP funding. It will now be up to Congress to hold the USDA accountable for implementing these policies effectively.
Why the farm bill matters (to all of us)
From farm to fork, our food system should be something we are proud of, one that supports farmers, makes healthy food available for everyone, and protects the environment we all depend upon. The farm bill may sound like something only a policy wonk would care about. But with $956 billion in investments, it affects all parts of our food system and touches all of our lives, every day.
Who farmers are, what they grow, how they grow it, who can afford it—the farm bill shapes the answers to these questions and more, with huge implications for our health, our economy, social justice, and the environment.
Farm bill priorities
Each version of the farm bill presents both opportunities and threats for food system reform. Here are some of the issues we've focused on in our recent farm bill advocacy.
Local Food Investments Link Harvest to Health
Helping farmers connect with local markets
We've pushed for farm bill provisions that would expand markets for local farmers and make healthy food more affordable and accessible. New investments to connect farmers with consumers and with institutions like schools will help families across the nation—including seniors, veterans, and those in low-income communities—to put fresh, healthy food on their tables.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Defending SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sometimes called food stamps, is a perennial target in the farm bill process. The largest budget item in the farm bill, SNAP plays a critical part in the food system, serving as a safeguard that protects families from the consequences of poverty and hunger in hard times. There is overwhelming evidence that SNAP works. In 2014, the program lifted an estimated 4.7 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children. It’s a smart investment in the nation’s health and well-being.
SNAP dollars also help to stimulate the economy during periods of recession, in both rural and urban areas, with every five dollars in new SNAP benefits generating as much as nine dollars in economic activity. And following economic recovery, the number of people who use SNAP drops as people get back on their feet. Despite these benefits for participants and the nation, some in Congress have pushed changes to SNAP, such as stricter work requirements or mandatory drug testing, that would reduce the program’s effectiveness without providing any substantial benefit. We support making SNAP stronger by increasing benefits, continuing to support cost-effective nutrition education programs, and allowing a broader range of food retailers to participate in the program.
Counting on Agroecology
More funding for science
We support increasing public investment in agricultural research—especially for transformative agroecological research, which according to a 2015 UCS study constitutes a tiny percentage of USDA’s research budget. Such research is vital for making US agriculture more sustainable and resilient, and hundreds of scientists have signed a petition seeking more federal support for it.
The 2018 Farm Bill and Conservation Programs
Conservation tools for farmers
The farm bill includes several programs that encourage good stewardship of farmland by helping farmers adopt practices that reduce soil damage, fertilizer runoff, and other undesirable impacts. We've advocated for strengthening these programs.
Crop Insurance in the 2018 Farm Bill
A better safety net
In recent years, UCS has documented the importance of healthy soils for farmers and their communities, as well as the negative (and costly) environmental consequences of the federal crop insurance program. We support crop insurance reforms that maintain a safety net while increasing incentives for soil-building practices that boost farmers’ resilience and save taxpayers money in the long run.
Investing in Future Farmers and Stewards
Investing in new farmers
The future success of an equitable food and farm system depends entirely on the success of the next generation of farmers. A recent survey of young farmers showed they are more diverse and more likely to grow healthy foods and practice sustainable methods, but also more in debt, relative to all US farmers. That’s why UCS has advocated for critical programs that provide loans and technical assistance to new farmers and those from historically underserved and socially disadvantaged communities.
Will Congress Give Farmers the Farm Bill They Want?
Farmers are ready for change
You may be wondering what farmers think about the farm bill. So were we—so we commissioned a poll of farmers in seven states. The verdict was loud and clear: farmers are eager to move their operations in a healthier, more sustainable direction. And they want federal policy to make that transformation easier, not harder.
Related resources
Updated: Farming While Black
What is Climate Resilience?
Communicating Science
