Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

Particularly relevant in my field of interest, Farm Bill 2012 is a hot topic in Congress, the environmental sphere, and the daily news. However, there should be even more dialogue around Farm Bill 2012 because it is a domestic policy that affects every single American, namely every American stomach.

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive bill that creates the legislative framework for agriculture policy. Including policy initiatives ranging from rural development to nutrition to trade and taxes, the Farm Bill remains in effect for five year periods and is currently approaching its expiration this September. Congressional members of agriculture committees and agricultural leaders are in the process of hearings to assess the success of the previous Farm Bill and make the necessary changes to be included in Farm Bill 2012. 

At one of the seminars this week, upon hearing I worked for an environmental think tank, an alumna of St. Ben’s interjected: You’re following the Farm Bill, aren’t you? It was less of a question and more of a command. I, thankfully, had been following news on Farm Bill 2012, otherwise known as the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, so I could honestly respond that I did have some idea about the recent hearings and the $23 billion budget cut, the bulk of which coming from eliminating direct payments to farmers. However, not all of my classmates had been following the Farm Bill - I was asked by numerous peers what on earth the “farm bill” was. I have found this lack of knowledge is not uncommon - often agricultural policy flies under the radar, it is often something taken for granted, not explored.

Farm Bill 2012 provides a service that should not be taken for granted. Four out of every five dollars in the Farm Bill goes to a popular program citizens do not usually associate with agriculture: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), popularly known as food stamps. The Farm Bill is generally a fairly bipartisan piece of legislation, but partisan politics begin and end with money. An amendment by Republican, Rand Paul, sought to cut $45 billion per year in SNAP spending. Democratic, and chair of the Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow, firmly opposed the amendment stating it was “outrageous and would go completely against the commitment we as a country have made to help those who truly need it.”

After talking to many former Hill staffers, I have learned that the House is where bills go to die. This is not good news for Farm Bill 2012, as the House has not even begun to draft its own farm bill. I understand how Hill staff, from interns to LDs, can become jaded with the legislative process, especially with something as basic and essential as food production. But, the beauty of being an environmental studies major is a mandatory optimistic outlook on the future. As the farm bill debate continues, I have confidence that a compromise can be found - not necessarily a compromise that supports conservation, organic agriculture, or sustainability as much as I would hope - but inevitably, a decision will be made and I will be able and ready to draft an op-ed on the outcome.