Time to Defeat the House Farm Bill (Again)! - June 21, 2018

This blog post is the fifth in our series on how we can build a better Farm Bill.

UPDATE: The House is expected to reconsider the House Farm Bill (H.R. 2) on or before June 22. The House’s Bill is bad for children and low income families; bad for farmers and rural communities; and harms rather than protects the environment in a number of ways.

This is the same awful bill, and it is should not be the version that goes to conference with the much better though not perfect, bipartisan version of the bill that just passed out of the Senate Ag Committee. (The Senate Bill is expected to go to the Senate floor as soon as June 25).

The House is pressed to get moving as it has a deadline of June 22 to reconsider the bill they earlier defeated. The Agriculture Committees on both sides are anxious to complete action before the July 4 recess in order to allow time for the House-Senate conference necessary to produce a final bill before Congress recesses in late summer.

However, passing a bad House bill is not the solution to the timing crisis.

Need A Quick Reminder of Why the House Bill is Bad for People, Farmers, Equity?
In a prior blogpost, we highlighted some of the worst elements of the entirely partisan House Farm Bill, HR 2, that was defeated as the members of the House fought over how to pass immigration legislation, a fight that still continues with more floor votes also scheduled this week.

In short, HR 2 would deprive more than 2 million low income Americans participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of food, thus contributing to large-scale poverty and hunger in communities across the U.S.

Among many other things that do harm rather than good, this Bill also slashes programs for conservation, and rural development; freezes or cuts equity programs for historically underserved and new entry farmers and ranchers; and includes riders that would gut federal rules to expand protection of clean water.

What can I do today? Join nationwide call-in to defeat House Farm Bill

TODAY, Rural Coalition calls on you to continue work with our sustainable agriculture allies, and the networks of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), Feeding America, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, + more to continue generating calls to your House members. Here is how:

Call in urge your representatives to “Vote No” on H.R. 2!

Call 1-888-398-8702 and enter your zip code to connect with your Representative. (This toll free number is sponsored by Feeding America.)

Urge your representative to “Vote No” on H.R. 2.

Briefly tell them why: “This is a bad bill for families as well as for family farmers. The farm bill should protect families, family farmers including historically underserved farmers, the environment and economic development for rural areas. This bill fails to do that.”

Check out FRAC’s recent action alert for talking points to on how protect and strengthen SNAP.

Tweet! Click here: House #FarmBill would increase hunger for millions of struggling people warns @fractweets: http://bit.ly/2qu62fs. @HouseFloor should Vote NO on H.R. 2!

What’s next? Time to Make a Better Farm Bill!
We’ll know more on Senate farm bill actions later this week. Stay tuned!

Senate Farm Bill Protects SNAP and Advances Historic Equity Program - June 12, 2018

QUICK UPDATE: Last week, the US Senate released its draft of the Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, with a number of important distinctions from the version defeated in the House last month. All Final amendments to the Bill are expected to be submitted by the end of today, and mark up will begin on Wednesday Watch the mark up proceeding here.

We will respond to this swift-moving process with actions alerts so please continue to follow notices on the member list, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

Did the Senate Create a Bi-Partisan Bill that Advances Equity?
Over the past several months, Rural Coalition, its members and allies have been working together and with the Senate Agriculture committee to ensure that the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill protects nutrition programs for the most vulnerable members of our society, and advances rather than reverses the hard-won, long-term gains for equity in agriculture, conservation, and credit programs.

RC’s press release coauthored today with National Family Farm Coalition commends Senators Roberts and Stabenow for “a farm bill package that, unlike its counterpart in the House of Representatives, takes a strong bipartisan stance on ensuring food access for all communities, by retaining funding and authority for the crucial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” The Bill also increases support for the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives program and related initiative to strengthen local food systems.

As the Senate Agriculture Committee proceeds to its mark-up and vote Wednesday to send its version of the 2018 Farm Bill to the Senate Floor.

We urge members of the committee to support and vote for the bill, which is the most viable option as a base bill for the 2018 Farm Bill. In addition to protecting and fully funding SNAP, this bill, if passed advances aspects of the legislative packages endorsed by Rural Coalition and more than 100 organizations in the recent Equity sign-on letter.

The current Senate Farm Bill makes several important equity improvements in these vital areas:

1) The historic Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program is placed in a shared section of the bill with the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program with permanent authorization and no expiration. The Senate bill provides mandatory (rather than discretionary) funding of $50 Million to be split equally between these two separately operated programs. It also improves these programs by providing authority for multi-year grants, and creating a new peer review requirement to improve the grant review process, and a requirement for annual public reports. The new Local Agricultural Market Program links several current programs, including the Rural Value Added program, providing permanent authority and funding. Organic agriculture programs also receive improved support.

2) The Senate bill is significant in that it also removes industrial hemp from the controlled substances list. It instead places industrial hemp under USDA to be regulated as a commodity, and allows both tribes and states to establish regulatory structures within their boundaries. Farmers who meet any requirements established at the tribal or state level would therefore no longer face legal penalties or lose USDA benefits if they engage in production of this new high-value crop. Research funding is expanded and a crop insurance program for industrial hemp is authorized.

In a tight budget climate, overall conservation funding is also protected and access to conservation programs for historically underserved producers is prioritized. However, funding cuts in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Easement Program are of concern.

We will continue to work to assure the 2018 farm bill reaches and supports everyone. We applaud Senator Roberts, Senator Stabenow and the full committee for drafting a 2018 farm bill that provides the strongest basis in the current climate to progress towards that goal, with notable progress on equity and access.

Up Next – Review of additional amendments for the Wednesday mark-up in the Senate Agriculture Committee and possible floor action as soon as Thursday.

See Good, Bad and Ugly Farm Bill Amendments – The Running List in Preparation for Wednesday MarkUp.

Act Now to Ensure a Full, Fair Farm Bill - June 6, 2018

UPDATE:

As explained in our prior posts, the US House of Representatives failed to pass their truly partisan and unequal Farm Bill–due to deep disagreements on pending immigration legislation. As the debates on agriculture and immigration continue in the House, the Senate Farm Bill may become the leading version for a 2018 Farm Bill.

The Senate Agriculture Committee may release their draft of the Farm Bill any day. It is expected to be a better bill on SNAP, conservation, and equity issues than the House version.

Each Farm Bill represents our nation’s important investment or disinvestment in the future of our agriculture and food system. This means the Senate Ag Committee must create a bipartisan Farm Bill that funds a full range of agriculture, conservation, and rural programs, as well as protects nutrition programs to assist those who need them most.

The Senate Agriculture Committee may meet to consider and approve their Farm Bill as soon as June 13th. The Farm Bill could therefore arrive on the Senate floor for a vote as soon as June 14th.

Now is the time to express what we hope and need to see in the next farm bill. We call on all those who care about equity to act now to ensure a full, fair farm bill.

HERE’S WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO SEE IN THE SENATE’S FARM BILL

As the Senate Agriculture Committee continues consideration of its 2018 Farm Bill, Rural Coalition has gathered signatures from more than 100 organizations on a letter urging Senators to write a Farm Bill that builds equity, and protects and grows support for the conservation, rural development and nutrition programs that are essential to our communities, including full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Support Equity and Access in the 2018 Farm Bill
RC and our allies seek a bill that supports and expands farm livelihoods as an economic base of communities, advances intergenerational land tenure continuity, and promotes familial and community wealth for our nation’s new entry, historically underserved, and veteran producers. Together, also we have worked with the Committee to ensure the inclusion of the critical subset of programs that support access for the most underserved segments of agriculture as well as our urban and rural communities and cooperatives.

See the RC and Allies Equity Letter where we specifically endorse the following legislative packages:

1) The Assist Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2018 (S.2839 — by Sen. Chris Van Hollen-Sen. Tina Smith and H.R.5824 by Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham), which extends and strengthens the historic Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program. It would allow organizations to receive multi-year grants in order to increase efficiency for both USDA and the end users, improve the grant review process through a new peer review requirement, and require annual public reports from USDA. The bill also strengthens systems to track progress in serving these constituencies by making publicly available reports on changes in farm program participation to the county level.

2) The Assist Farmers and Ranchers Operating on Heirs’ Property to Participate in USDA Programs Act of 2018 (by Sen. Doug Jones and Rep. Marcia Fudge), which provides statutory authority to allow producers farming on land that is held by undivided interests without administrative authority (heirs’ property, or property where owners passed away without leaving a will or assigning an executor) to secure access to USDA programs. This bill authorizes acceptance of alternate forms of documentation defining who may use the land, which would allow many more farm operators to qualify to participate in farm and conservation programs. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) would also be authorized to loan funds to qualified intermediaries to relend to families to resolve heirs’ property issues and clear title to farmland. Finally, the bill authorizes data collection and comprehensive analysis on trends in farmland ownership and operation, and transitions of farms and ranches to a new generation of owners and operators. These studies would improve our understanding of the impact of unresolved land tenure issues on the ability of producers to operate farms and pass on farms to new generations.

3) The Next Generation in Agriculture Act (S. 2762 by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and Sen. Susan Collins), which breaks down additional barriers faced by new entry operators and strengthens real support for the next generation of producers. The bill permanently reauthorizes and strengthens the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, including by eliminating the matching requirement; and adds new authority for coordinators at USDA to improve delivery and outreach to young and beginning farmers.
 

**TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE A FULL, FAIR FARM BILL**


Encourage your two Senators to support a Full, Fair 2018 Farm Bill. Here’s how:

• Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Senator’s office.

• When you connect with that office, ask them for the name and email of the person who handles the Farm Bill.

• Write them an email, saying you support a full, fair farm bill – and include this link: to our equity letter.


If you are unable to send an email, ask to speak to the Agriculture Legislative Assistant. Tell them you would like your Senator to cosponsor and support the following bills:

o S.2839 by Senators Van Hollen and Smith to assist our nation’s diverse and Veteran Producers;

o S. 2762 by Senator Heitkamp and Collins to help a new generation farm; and

o The Heirs Property Access Act by Senator Doug Jones, to help producers on family land with many heirs gain access to USDA programs.


Repeat the above with the second Senator from your state.

Stay in touch – the work is not over

• Go here to Sign up for our contact list.

• Follow us on Twitter, and Facebook.

• Go here: to support our Summer of Equity Campaign with a contribution

Thank you for being an advocate for Equity

We Can Do Better than the House’s Version of the 2018 Farm Bill - May 25, 2018

This is the second blog post of many to come in our series on how we can build a better Farm Bill.

Last week’s version of the House 2018 Farm Bill would:

 1) Legislate terrible SNAP cuts making more people ineligible for the program by counting family benefits such as heating assistance as income, and also adding onerous requirements that poor families can’t meet – such as copies of utility bills even for people with disabilities who may live in group facilities and lack such documentation. (We don’t like that, nor do our friends. Proponents say it won’t hurt children or families, but see what the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had to say Here);

2) “Block grant” SNAP monies to the States to impose work requirements for adult SNAP recipients without regard to the local labor market, the prior existence of job programs in those places, or the actual cost to states of creating a whole new job training bureaucracy. (Please click Here); for more.

4) Slash Conservation Program funding including for small-scale family, diverse and veteran farmers and ranchers who seek to use sustainable practices and innovations to better address the environmental impacts of agriculture and climate change;

5) Slash Rural Development Programs

6) Impose a “Poison Our Waters Provision,” which eliminates Clean Water Act safeguards to protect farmers, farmworkers and communities from pesticides sprayed directly into water supplies.

7) Expand the ways corporate agriculture can evade environmental protections for the water and land.

8) Freeze or cut programs that are helping promote equity, instead of finding new ways to promote equity.

 And much more…We can do better. Join us

See our first blog post on the Farm Bill Here

Keep Fighting to Build a Better Farm Bill - May 25, 2018

This is the first blog post of many in our series on how we can build a better Farm Bill.

Strangely, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass its shoe-in majority version of the 2018 Farm Bill. Why? Because, surprisingly, something worse is possible.

At the same time the highly flawed HR 2, Agriculture and Food Act of 2018, was approaching the House Floor, a group of moderate Republicans who want immigration reform joined with most Democrats on a bipartisan bill that gives Dreamers a chance. As this group got within a few signatures of the 218 needed for the House to vote (and pass) the Dreamer Bill, 30 conservative members of the Freedom Caucus (who wanted to pass anti-immigrant legislation instead) rebelled by voting against the Farm Bill. So the House Farm Bill failed on May 18 with a vote of 198-213.

In a last minute twist of Republican infighting, leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives are contemplating keeping the defeated “Harm Bill” in play by reintroducing it as an Agriculture, Nutrition and Immigration Bill.

Who’s for what?