The 2012 Farm Bill: Where Things Stand
There has been much talk lately over the future of the 2012 Farm Bill. The legislation, renewed every five years, shapes a staggering amount of policy: food stamps, food safety, research, economic development, environmental conservation and more. It is, essentially, a road map for all things food.
Activists were up in arms last month when it was announced that the 2012 bill would be decided by a 12-member supercommittee (as opposed to the usual system of recommendations, hearings, education, debate and legislation reform). The “Secret Farm Bill” ended with the recent dissolution of the supercommittee, but not before the members recommended $23 billion in cuts to farm programs. As New York Times columnist Mark Bittman notes, the suggested changes “may save some money, but [do] nothing to change the fact that the wrong people will get it.”
Word is that the House Agriculture Committee will begin working on the bill again in February. Now that the Farm Bill will go through the normal legislative process out in the open, we have a renewed opportunity to take a look at the issues, decide where we stand and get involved. If you’re still unsure of exactly what the bill entails (or you’d like to educate others), these easy-to-understand resources are here to help:
A Fair Farm Bill for America (PDF)
Interested in learning how the Farm Bill came to be? Check out this visually enticing 2007 report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. It gives the history of the bill, shows how policy shifts during the 1990s changed the playing field, and offers a concise breakdown of how the bill impacts energy, health, conservation, the environment, market concentration, labor, immigration and hunger.
Farm Bill 101 (PDF)
Oxfam does an excellent job outlining the basics of the Farm Bill, including a summary of each of the 10 bill titles. The report also explains how our focus on commodity subsidies impacts small farmers both at home and abroad.
Turning the Farm Bill into the Food Bill (Video)
Ken Cook, President and cofounder of the Environmental Working Group, shows us which programs and people are benefitting from the current Farm Bill. Powerful images like state-by-state subsidies and absentee owners maps are a helpful way to visualize the issues. This Tedx Talk from February 2011 also shows consumers how they can become advocates for better policy.
2011 Farm Subsidy Database
Want to know more about who is receiving funding under the Farm Bill? The Environmental Working Group will help you explore the issue further with a breakdown of the top commodity recipients.
FARM BILL of Health (Slide Show)
Learn more about the connection between commodity subsidies and public health with an easy-to-understand presentation. Winner of the recent Farm Bill Hackathon, these fun yet informative slides may be just what you need to explain the issues to others.
Understanding the Farm Bill: A Citizen’s Guide to a Better Food System (Facebook)
Want to surround yourself with the latest information from a community of Farm Bill advocates? “Like” Understanding the Farm Bill on Facebook for daily updates and debate right in your feed.
Take Action for a Better Farm Bill
Now that you have a better understanding of the Farm Bill, why not take the first step towards advocacy? Show your support for a fair Farm Bill by signing this petition by Food & Water Watch.
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