Farm Bill Policy Process
History of the Farm Bill Actors Forming Farm Bill Conservation Programs Farm Bill Issues
Introduction
“It is now my honor to sign the bill.” This final statement by President Bush followed by a few strokes his pen brought the policy process for the 2002 Farm Bill to a close. Years in the making, it was finally concluded on May 13, 2002. The current farm bill is nowhere near the final stage of implementation, but it will be soon since the 2007 deadline for Congressional approval is quickly approaching (“President”).
Currently the 2007 Farm Bill is between stages of regulatory development. As the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee gear up for drafting the 2007 Farm Bill, they want to know what changes and additions need to be made. In order to do this they rely extensively on publication of proposals and public comment on those proposals. The publications they take most seriously are often produced by the USDA.
Explanations
At this time the USDA has produced five 2007 Farm Bill Theme Papers encompassing topics like; strengthening the foundation for future growth in U.S. agriculture, energy and agriculture, rural development, conservation and environment, and risk management (“USDA”). These papers are drafted mainly by teams of economists within the USDA, FSA, and NRCS whom have compiled nearly “4,000 comments received during 52 USDA Farm Bill Forums and via the Internet.” The comments come mainly from nongovernmental organizations including conservation-minded groups like Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, and agriculture-minded groups like American Farmland Trust and the Cattleman’s Association.
Representatives from these organizations attend the open forums planned by the USDA and make authorized comments on behalf of the organization they represent or submit official documents produced by the organization. The comments or documents typically state what amendments and additions their demographic group desires in the next farm bill, however when they are compiled into the theme papers produced by the USDA they are not written as recommendations to Congress. Rather they are written as a guide to direct the Congressional teams on what the people they represent are unsatisfied with and what their expectations include in the next farm bill (“Release”).
The conservation and environment theme paper discussed topics such as natural resource issues including distribution of funding for programs, current programs directed by the FSA and NRCS, and policy alternatives that may be able to address a wider range of environmental issues on land in agricultural production (“Conservation”). It was released on June 8, 2006 by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns who stated "’these analysis papers educate the public about how our programs operate and how they might be redesigned. The alternatives are not USDA policy proposals, rather an effort by some of the finest economists in the world to provide straightforward information.’” Even though these theme papers are largely based on public comments received during their forums, the USDA still expects the public to contribute more feedback regarding the theme papers themselves. They want to identify whether or not these documents failed to address current important issues or put too much emphasis on past issues that are now not as important to the public (“Release”).
Conclusions
When the final draft of the 2007 Farm Bill is signed, hopefully President Bush will once again have nothing but positive statements to make about it. Everyone involved in farming and ranching concerned with conservation will be able to breathe a sigh of relief if the President can assure that “this bill offers incentives for good conservation practices on working lands. For farmers and ranchers, for people who make a living on the land, every day is Earth Day. There's no better stewards of the land than people who rely on the productivity of the land. And we can work with our farmers and ranchers to help improve the environment (“President”).” Until that day comes, private individuals and organizations must continue to lobby for conservation sections and write to Congressional representatives emphasizing the importance of another feasible farm bill that is good for both the economy and conservation of the environment.
References
“Conservation and the Environment.” United States Department of Agriculture. June 2006. Accessed 11 Nov. 2006. <http://www.usda.gov/documents/FarmBill07consenvsum.pdf>.
“President Signs Farm Bill.” Office of the Press Secretary. 13 May 2002. Accessed 10 Nov. 2006. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020513-2.html>.
“Release No. 0201.06.” United States Department of Agriculture. 13 June 2006. Accessed 10 Nov. 2006. <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1UH/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1FB/.ce/7_2_5V2/.p/5_2_4VC/.d/0/_th/J_2_FB/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1UH?PC_7_2_5V2_navtype=RT&PC_7_2_5V2_navid=FARM_BILL_NEWSRT&PC_7_2_5V2_contentid=2006%2F06%2F0201.xml&PC_7_2_5V2_parentnav=FARM_BILL_FORUMS#7_2_5V2>.
“USDA
Analysis Papers.” United
States Department of Agriculture. 13 Sept. 2006.
Accessed 11 Nov. 2006. <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal?navid=FARM_BILL_ANALYSIS&parentnav=FARM_BILL_FORUMS&navtype=RT>.