Farm Bill Resources

(NOTE: This is an update of an earlier post)

As congressional hearings and discussions on and off Capitol Hill regarding that next (2012) Farm Bill continue, there is a growing conviction in Washington among a variety of interest groups, including members of the Congress, that the next Farm Bill could very likely be fundamentally different than its predecessors. As a resource for those following the Farm Bill debate and discussions, here are some resources available online (all in pdf file format; through the highlighted Internet links) that provide an overview of the current (2008) and past Farm Bills, as well as perspectives leading into 2012 Farm Bill discussions.

2008 Farm Bill

• Here is a December 2010 update of a 2008 Congressional Research Service overview of the current Farm Bill: "What Is the “Farm Bill"?"
• This 2008 Farm Bill Comprehensive Overview is provided by USDA's Economic Research Service
• Congressional Research Service Report: "Farm Commodity Programs in the 2008 Farm Bill"
• Congressional Research Service Report: "Conservation Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill"
• Congressional Research Service Report: "Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance in the 2008 Farm Bill"
• 2008 Farm Bill Fact Sheets from the House Agriculture Committee, arranged by Title:
  Title I - Commodity Programs
  Title II - Conservation
  Title III - Trade
  Title IV - Nutrition
  Title V - Credit
  Title VI - Rural Development
  Title VII - Research
  Title VIII - Forestry
  Title IX - Energy
  Title X - Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
  Title XI - Livestock
  Title XII - Crop Insurance
  Title XIII - Commodity Futures
  Title XIV - Miscellaneous

• Here is a concise explanation of the Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program by the USDA Farm Service Agency

 2012 Farm Bill

• Congressional Research Service Report, “Actual Farm Bill Spending and Cost Estimates” from October 7, 2010 (highlights the difficulties facing Congress as it ramps up to work on the 2012 Farm Bill, particularly as that bill relates to the tight Federal budget)
• Congressional Research Service Report:"Previewing the Next Farm Bill: Unfunded and Early-Expiring Provisions"
• Farm Foundation Forum's "Budget Implications for the Next Farm Bill" from a September 14, 2010 forum (provided by Farmpolicy.com Inc.) 
• Congressional Research Service Report Farm Safety Net Programs: Issues for the Next Farm Bill (September 10, 2010)