Page 88 - Winter2017

Legislative Updates

UPDATE ON THE FARM BILL
By Judith McGeary, Esq.

Despite legislators’ vows to get the Farm processing infrastructure.
Bill through the House in 2017, it’s clear at this Another bill also provides possible amend-
point that it’s not going to happen. The new ments for the Farm Bill: H.R. 3941/S. 1947, the
target for the Farm Bill to get to the House floor Local Food and Regional Market Supply Act,
is January or February of 2018. filed by senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and
The public comments and behind-the- Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jeff
scenes rumors indicate that the House Agricul- Fortenberry (R-NE), and Sean Maloney (D-
ture Committee is likely to go with a relatively NY). This narrower, but bipartisan bill, focuses
standard “business as usual” approach to the heavily on funding various grant programs
bill. There may be tweaks here and there, but any to support local foods and organics, such as
major changes would most likely only happen increasing annual mandatory funding for the
if required by budget cuts due to the tax bill. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion
However, the discussion is already heat- Program and an organic certification cost-share.
ing up among House members outside of the It does include one provision specifically for
Agriculture Committee. In November, Repre- livestock producers, authorizing Rural Devel-
sentative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon filed H.R. opment and Farm Service Agency programs to
4425, a one hundred fifty-six page Food and be used to assist farmers with maintaining and
Farm Act that is set out as an alternative Farm increasing the production, processing, distri-
Bill, a complete replacement for the current bution and marketing of value-added, niche or
approach. It’s not going to pass in its entirety, regionally marketed meat and dairy products.
but it’s providing an important focal point for There is an important and valuable debate
Judith McGeary discussions. to be had about government involvement in
is the Austin, Texas,
chapter leader, an Much of the discussion about Blumenauer’s agriculture, and there are myriad options—from
attorney and bill is focusing on its caps on subsidies, long a the current approach (which everyone except
small farmer, and the contentious issue, and the support for “specialty massive agribusinesses agree is counterpro-
executive director of crops” (the statutory jargon for fruits and veg- ductive), to a modified version that still relies
the Farm and Ranch
Freedom Alliance. etables). But some of the lesser noticed provi- on subsidies and grants but refocuses them on
She has a B.S. in sions would be of greater benefit for the types smaller and sustainable approaches, to the 1930s
biology from of farmers that produce the nutrient-dense foods approach of “price supports” that addressed
Stanford University that WAPF recommends. For example, H.R. the unique problems of agricultural highs and
and a J.D. from the
University of Texas 4425 would create a special set-aside within lows, to taking the federal government out of the
at Austin. She and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program picture completely. The latter two options aren’t
her husband (EQIP) for livestock producers who use pasture- even under discussion in Congress at this stage,
run a small based systems, and simultaneously block any however, so whatever their merits, they are not
grass-based farm
with sheep, cattle, EQIP funds for feedlots. It would also create a strong paths for activism at this moment.
horses, and poultry. new loan program to help farmers and ranchers There are also discrete reforms that could
For more install “conservation structures,” which would prove important. For example, in the previous
information, go to include improving permanent pastures. And it issue of Wise Traditions, I discussed the PRIME
farmandranch
freedom.org or would authorize USDA to use Rural Develop- Act, which would revoke the current federal
call (254) 697-2661. ment grants and loans for meat and poultry prohibition on the sale of meat processed at

88 Wise Traditions WINTER 2017