Farm Bill & USDA

The U.S. Farm Bill is a critical piece of legislation that strongly influences agricultural and food policies in the United States. It encompasses a wide variety of provisions, including initiatives related to commodity programs, crop insurance, rural development, farm credit, agricultural research, conservation, and food assistance and nutrition programs. The bill is usually renewed every five years by the United States Congress, and addresses all programs under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The most recent re-authorization is the Agricultural Act of 2014, referred to here as the “2014 Farm Bill.” After much deliberation, the 2014 Farm Bill was signed into law two years late on February 7, 2014, and had a total outlay of $489 billion.

Because the Farm Bill covers such a broad range of topics, it is often the center of attention for many industry and public interest groups. Environmental organizations, international trade coalitions, food safety advocates, agriculture industry members, and hunger and nutrition alliances all have a stake in what the Farm Bill legislates—meaning that conversations about the Farm Bill can be contentious and controversial. On this page, you will find materials that cover all aspects of the bill, from a more in-depth description of the Farm Bill itself and how it is developed, to its economic and social impact.

80% of Farm Bill spending is allocated to Federal Food Assistance programs. “SNAP to Health” is particularly interested in the outcome of the Farm Bill because it contains provisions for the re-authorization of SNAP. As such, reforms made to SNAP must be included in the legislation. Areas of interest for reforms within SNAP may include:

  • Eligibility requirements
  • Calculation of benefits
  • SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs
  • Pilot programs and innovative projects that seek to improve nutrition in SNAP
  • “Stocking requirements,” which define a basic array of foods that SNAP-authorized stores must carry
  • SNAP-Ed, a nutrition education program for SNAP recipients
  • Retailer fraud prevention

Click on the links below to find out more about the Farm Bill:

Farm Bill Resources

Farm Bill News Coverage and Updates

Sources: 
Bolen, Ed, Dorothy Rosenbaum, and Stacy Dean. “Summary of the 2014 Farm Bill Nutrition Title: Includes Bipartisan Improvements to SNAP While Excluding Harsh House Provisions.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. N.p, 3 Feb. 2014.