# Presentation: 588807

**2007 Farm Bill Proposals**
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
***“******We need farm policy that recognizes the tremendous potential of American agriculture. These proposals do just that. We listened to the people and now deliver our proposals for America’s farm bill.”***
- 		        - Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture

## Purpose of Farm Bill Legislation

**The farm bill authorizes USDA’s:**
**Commodity program support**
**Conservation and Forestry**
**Renewable Energy**
**Research **
**Trade **
**Food stamps and other nutrition assistance **
**Rural Development**
**The current farm bill expires with the 2007 crop year**

## USDA Budget

## 2002 Farm Bill

**The right policy for the times**
- Commodity prices were low
- Exports had declined for five straight years
- Debt to asset ratio was nearly 15 percent
**2002 payments provided support**
**First ever farm bill energy title**
**Expanded conservation programs and increased funding by 80%**

**Notes:**
The 2002 farm bill expires with the 2007 crop year.

## Times Have Changed

**Commodity prices are strong for most program crops**
**Exports have increased every year to a record $68.7 billion in 2006; expectations are $77 billion for 2007**
**Lowest debt-to-asset ratio in recorded history; approximately 11% in 2006**
**Renewable energy is now a significant contributor to rural and agricultural economies**

## Grassroots Foundation

***“******The next farm bill should further strengthen the farm economy and preserve this way of life for farmers and ranchers of the future.  Hearing your advice is an important step towards meeting these goals.”***** **
*– *President George W. Bush
**We listened:**
- 52 Farm Bill Forums in 48 states
- 4,000 comments received
- 41 summary papers compiled
- 5 analysis papers authored by USDA economists

## What We’ve Learned Since 2002...

*“**While the current farm program has served its purpose for the last several years, it is time to move on and craft a new, better farm bill.  To create such we need to look at the success and failures of the current farm bill with a goal of improving upon this bill.”*
- 					- Kenneth from TX

## What We’ve Learned Since 2002...

*“**We urge you... to carefully review how well the current farm act is working for U.S. agriculture and consider ways to maintain the current farm act's structure as we go forward to begin debate on the 2007 bill.”*
- 					- Larry from Missouri

## What We’ve Learned Since 2002...

*“**Farm bill policies are supposed to preserve the family farms, but they disproportionately channel money to big agribusiness.”*
*	**	**	**	**	**	**- *Kristina from Virginia
*“**The 1031 is just driving our land rents and land prices to where the average producer, even big producers, can’t compete.” *
*	**	**	**	**	**	**- *Len from Wisconsin

## What We’ve Learned Since 2002...

*“**Too often our farm policy focus is only on prices.  The focus, we feel, should be on revenue which takes into account both prices and yields... [The current farm bill] tends to overcompensate when it should not and under compensate when more assistance is needed...”*
- 				         - Ernie from Nebraska
*“**We didn’t raise anything because of drought.  The prices went up and we didn’t get any payment; we didn’t have anything to sell...”*
- 				  	- John from Kansas

## What We’ve Learned Since 2002...

*“**If we’re going to play in this free trade game and continue to support our farmers, then we need to trade proof our programs...”**	**	**	**	**	**- *Rusty from Georgia
*“**As the program exists right now, there are in fact no limits on commodity payments that can be received...”*
*	**	**	**	**	**- *Ellen from North Dakota

## What We’ve Learned Since 2002...

*“**Historically, the farm bill has benefited a small but crucial group of farmers.  However, by supporting expansion [of fruit and vegetable purchases]... we have the unique opportunity to use the 2007 farm bill to directly and positively impact the health of our children and begin to reverse a dangerous trend toward obesity.”*
*	**	**	**	**	**    **- *James from New York

## Principles of Reform and Fiscal Responsibility

**More Predictable**
- These proposals are market-oriented and provide support when revenue is low despite high prices
**More Equitable**
- These proposals distribute resources more equitably among producers and among commodities
**Better Able to Withstand Challenge**
- These proposals transition toward market-based programs and away from programs tied to price or production
**Wisely and effectively spend taxpayer dollars**
- These proposals consolidate and streamline USDA programs to increase effectiveness and focus on providing a strong safety net

## Title 1: 
Commodity Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Commodity Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title I:  Commodity 

**Revise Marketing Loan Rates:**
- Set loan rates based upon average market price of last five years (excluding high and low years)
- Cap loan rates at levels established by House-approved 2002 farm bill
- Change from daily posted county price to monthly
**Increase direct payments by $5.5 billion**
- More predictable payment creates a strong safety net
- Not tied to price or production
**Create revenue-based counter-cyclical program**
- Provide greater support in significant loss situations
- Targets support to be a true safety net

## Title I:  Commodity

**Tighten payment limits; eliminate the three-entity rule and lower the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) cap from $2.5 million to $200,000**
- AGI = gross income minus farm expenses and other deductions
- Targets support to be a true safety net
- Only 2.3% of Americans have AGI above $200,000
**Provide conservation enhanced payment option**
- Option to replace commodity support payments with enhanced direct payments for conservation commitments
- Proposed increased direct payment plus 10 percent
- Less market distortion and more environmental benefits

## Title I: Commodity

**Eliminate commodity program payments on land acquired through a 1031 tax exchange**
- Addresses artificially high land values
**Revise the Milk Income Loss Contract Program to make it consistent with other counter-cyclical programs**
- Continue price support program for milk
**Continue sugar program at no net cost to taxpayers**
- Balance supply and demand through domestic marketing allotments

## Title I: Commodity

**Allow planting flexibility of fruits, vegetables and wild rice on program crop base acres**
- Complies with WTO ruling
**Require base acreage retirement when all or a portion of cropland is sold for non-agriculture use**
**Expand conservation compliance**
- Eliminate USDA program payment eligibility on grasslands converted into crop production

## Title II:
Conservation Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Conservation Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title II:  Conservation

**Increase conservation funding by $7.8 billion**
**Consolidate existing cost-share programs into a newly designed Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)**
- Increase total funding by $4.2 billion
- Includes $1.7 billion for a Regional Water Program
**Streamline working lands easement programs into one Private Lands Protection Program**
- Increase funding by $900 million
- Eliminate redundancies

## Title II:  Conservation

**Increase Wetlands Reserve Program funding by $2.1 billion**
- Increase enrollment cap from 2.3 to 3.5 million acres
**Increase funding for the Conservation Security Program by $500 million**
- Provide incentives for increased conservation

## Title II:  Conservation

**Reauthorize the Conservation Reserve Program with added focus on the most environmentally sensitive lands**
- Give priority within whole field enrollments to lands utilized for biomass production
**Authorize Federal agencies to accelerate the development of private markets for the trading of ecosystem benefits associated with conservation**

## Title II:  Conservation

**Consolidate two emergency response programs into a new Emergency Landscape Restoration Program**
- Provide a one-stop source when emergency conservation assistance is needed
**Set aside 10 percent of all farm bill conservation program spending for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers**

## Title III:
Trade Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Trade Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title III:  Trade

**Increase funding by $68 million for specialty crop technical assistance grants **
- Increase allowable project award to $500,000
**Increase funding for the Market Access Program by $250 million**
- Target non-program commodities
**Establish a new grant program to address emerging sanitary and phytosanitary issues**

## Title III:  Trade

**Enhance U.S. presence within international standard setting bodies**
**Increase analytical support and other technical assistance to assist limited resource U.S. agriculture groups in trade disputes**
**Expand trade capacity, food safety and agriculture extension programs in fragile regions around the world**

## Title III:  Trade

**Reform the Commodity Credit Corporation’s export credit guarantee programs to better withstand challenge**
**Repeal the Global Marketing Strategy and Export Enhancement Program, which are redundant or inactive, allowing USDA to focus resources on priority issues**

## Title IV:
Nutrition Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Nutrition Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title IV:  Nutrition

**Simplify and modernize the Food Stamp Program, while maintaining its integrity**
- Improve access for the working poor and elderly
- Better reflect the needs of recipients and States
- Rename program “Food and Nutrition Program”
**Streamline other food assistance programs to improve administration and efficiency**
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program
- Food Distribution on Indian Reservations
- Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

## Title IV:  Nutrition

**Provide $2.75 billion in additional fruit and vegetable purchases for distribution in food assistance programs**
**Increase funding by $500 million to purchase fruits and vegetables for school meals**
**Provide $100 million for competitive grants to States to develop and test solutions to the rising problem of obesity in low-income areas**

## Title V:
Credit Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Credit Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title V: Credit

**Increase the limits for direct ownership loans and direct operating loans to a combined maximum of $500,000**
**Double the percentage of direct operating loans targeted to beginning and socially disadvantaged producers to 70%**
**Target 100% of direct farm ownership loans toward beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers**

## Title V: Credit

**Provide greater downpayment loan access and flexibility for beginning farmers and ranchers**
- Cut the loan interest rate in half
- Defer the first payment for one year
- Decrease the minimum contribution toward the property purchase price from ten to five percent
- Eliminate the $250,000 cap on the value of property that may be purchased

## Title VI:
Rural Development Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Rural Development Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title VI:  Rural Development

**Consolidate rural development programs to increase flexibility and efficiency**
**Provide $1.6 billion in loans to complete the rehabilitation of all 1,283 certified Rural Critical Access Hospitals**

## Title VI:  Rural Development

**Provide an additional $500 million to reduce the backlog of rural infrastructure projects**
- Water and waste disposal loans and grants
- Emergency water assistance grants
- Community Facilities loan and grant programs
- Distance learning  and telemedicine grants

## Title VII:
Research Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Research Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title VII:  Research

**Provide $1 billion for specialty crops research**
- Advance plant breeding genetics and genomics
**Provide $500 million to create the Agricultural Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research Initiative**
- Enhance the production and conversion of biomass to renewable fuels and related products
**Reorganize and revitalize USDA’s research, education and economics mission**
- Better coordinate internal USDA research with external university research funded by USDA

## Title VIII:
Forestry Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Forestry Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title VIII:  Forestry

**Initiate a new $150 million Wood to Energy Program**
- Accelerate development of new technologies to use low-value woody biomass to produce energy
**Create a grant program to develop innovative solutions to local forest management issues**

## Title IX:
Energy Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Energy Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title IX:  Energy

**Provide $500 million to create a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Research Program**
- Increase cost-effectiveness through cooperation between university and Federal scientists
**Provide $500 million for rural alternative energy and energy efficiency grants**
- Directly assists farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses** **

## Title IX:  Energy

**Provide $2.1 billion in loan guarantees to support cellulosic ethanol projects in rural areas**
**Provide $150 million for biomass research competitive grants, focusing on cellulosic ethanol**

## Title X:
Miscellaneous Programs

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Miscellaneous Programs**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Title X:  Miscellaneous

**Improve risk management tools for farmers by creating a supplemental insurance program**
**Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the crop insurance program**
**Revise dairy assessment requirements to create a more fair system**
**Increase funding for research, data collection and certification for organic agriculture**

## Areas of
Special Focus

All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

**Special Focus**
- All funding reflects 10-year totals unless otherwise noted

## Disaster Relief

**Revenue-based counter-cyclical program**
**Gap coverage in crop insurance**
**Link crop insurance participation to farm program participation**
**New emergency landscape restoration program**

## Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Producers

**Provide $250 million to increase direct payments by 20% for five years for beginning farmers and ranchers**
**Revise the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Downpayment Loan Program**
**Provide more flexibility and access to loans at a lower interest rate**
**Add socially disadvantaged producers as eligible applicants**
**Reserve 10 percent of conservation financial assistance for beginning and socially disadvantaged producers**

## Support for Specialty Crops

**Provide $2.75 billion in Section 32 funds to purchase fruits and vegetables for food assistance programs**
**Provide $500 million to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables in school meals**
**Provide a $250 million increase for the Market Access Program – targeted for non-program commodities**

## Support for Specialty Crops

**Provide $20 million to address international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues **
**Increase Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops**
**Make specialty crop waste eligible under energy programs**

## Summary 
Highlights

“These proposals represent a reform-minded and fiscally responsible approach to making farm policy more equitable, predictable and protected from challenge.”

				-Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture

**Highlights**
**“****These proposals represent a reform-minded and fiscally responsible approach to making farm policy more equitable, predictable and protected from challenge.”**
**	****	****	****	**-Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture

## Summary Highlights

**Demonstrate fiscal responsibility**
- Save approximately $10 billion dollars over 2002 farm bill spending (for the past five years)
- Uphold President Bush’s plan to eliminate the deficit within five years
**Support emerging priorities**
- Increase funding for renewable energy, conservation, research, rural development and trade
- Provide $5 billion more than would have been provided if the 2002 farm bill were extended

## Summary Highlights

**Tighten payment limits**
- End commodity program subsidies to producers whose Adjusted Gross Income is in the top 2.3% of Americans ($200,000 or higher)
- Eliminate the three entity rule, set limit at $360,000
**Ensure a strong safety net for producers**
- Close gaps that currently leave producers without a safety net in low yield situations
- Increase direct payments to provide a more predictable safety net that will withstand challenge

## Summary Highlights

**Increase conservation funding by $7.8 billion**
- Simplify and consolidate programs
- Create new Environmental Quality Incentives and Regional Water programs
**Provide $1.6 billion in new funding for renewable energy research, development and production**
- Target cellulosic ethanol production
- Support $2.1 billion in loan guarantees for cellulosic projects and $150 million in grants

## Summary Highlights

**Provide $1 billion in loans and $500 million in grants for rural communities**
- Rehabilitate all current rural critical access hospitals
- Decrease the backlog of rural infrastructure projects
- Consolidate and simplify rural development programs
**Dedicate nearly $400 million to trade efforts**
- Expand exports
- Fight trade barriers
- Expand involvement in world trade standards

## Summary Highlights

**Target nearly $5 billion in funding to support specialty crop producers**
- Purchase fruits and vegetables, fund research, fight trade barriers, expand markets
**Provide $250 million to increase direct payments for beginning farmers and ranchers**
- Reserve conservation funds to support beginners
- Provide more loan flexibility for downpayments and land purchases

## Summary Highlights

**Support socially disadvantaged farmers**
- Reserve portion of conservation assistance funds
- Increase access to downpayment and direct operating loans
**Simplify, modernize, and rename the Food Stamp Program**
- Improve access for the working poor
- Better reflect the needs of recipients and States
- Strengthen program integrity

## 2007 Farm Bill Proposals
U.S. Department of Agriculture

“We need farm policy that recognizes the tremendous potential of American agriculture. These proposals do just that. We listened to the people and now deliver our proposals for America’s farm bill.”
			         - Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture

- U.S. Department of Agriculture
***“******We need farm policy that recognizes the tremendous potential of American agriculture. These proposals do just that. We listened to the people and now deliver our proposals for America’s farm bill.”***
- 			         - Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture