Monday, July 23, 2012

Bipartisan Blame: Delaying the Farm Bill During Drought


A 35-11 bipartisan vote on the House Agriculture Committees’ farm bill had a shimmer of optimism for a successful 2012 Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, conventionally referred to as the farm bill. However after two weeks of “kicking the proverbial can down the road,” talks continue about delaying a vote on the final bill until after the November election (Thanks to POLITICO for the spot-on description of Congress’ progress). There are many problems with this possibility. The primary qualm, the current farm bill expires September 30. Secondly, if extended past the election, neither President Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney have shown any interest in the progress of the farm bill and it is highly unlikely it would be on any form of a priority list. According to POLITICO, never has a House farm bill, once out of committee, been kept on the floor past its expiration. Forecasts are not pleasant for the farm bill.


Corn and soybean farmers in the Midwest are acutely aware of forecasts these days. According to NOAA, this summer’s drought in the Midwest is the worst in 50 years. The USDA updated the state of the corn and soybean crop last week noting that only 31 percent of the corn crop was in good shape and only 34 percent of soybeans remains in good condition. This drought is comparable to the drought in 1988, when crop losses resulted in $40 billion down the unusually dry drain. While Speaker Boehner worries about the need for more cuts in the farm bill, he should also place considerable focus on the amount of money that is lost due to crop failure, especially in a changing climate. Mother Nature does not care about the status of the farm bill, she will not wait for a final bill to be passed. Agriculture will continue to be affected by an ever-warming climate and therefore considerable attention needs to be paid to the success of the farm bill and guaranteeing stability for our nation’s farmers.  

The farm bill, as well as the Midwest drought, are of significance to my work because I am in the final stages of editing a report on climate change and the affects on agriculture. My supervisor wrote the majority of the piece, but I have done considerable work in editing, finding graphics, citing sources and adding in my own sections on the effects of climate change on women and the benefits of green manure. It is one of the three major reports that will have my name attached. I am ecstatic about the opportunity to publish work with a reputable institution at such a young age. My work on the state of fisheries and aquaculture and the state of the world’s grain crops (wheat, maize, and rice) will be included in Worldwatch’s annual publication, Vital Signs. Despite my excitement in publishing work, I try to make a conscious effort to keep the issues real; trying to avoid solely thinking about climate change and agriculture at an abstract level I type about from my 8th floor office. Going back home to Minnesota will make the crisis real as I’m sure it will be impossible to ignore the drought and the insight from my climatologist father. 

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