Understanding farm policy and the Farm Bill

Do you think of complicated subsidies or cornfields in the Midwest when you think of farm policy? You'd be partially right, but the farm bill is much more than an agricultural aid package. You might be surprised to learn the farm bill influences you everyday. From the cost and availability of your food, to the tools available to your community to protect farm and ranch land.

The farm bill is a package of federal legislation enacted every five to seven years to set the general direction for America’s farm and food policy. Congress enacted the first farm bill in the wake of the Great Depression. To understand how far we've come with the 2008 Farm Bill, it's important to know what we were working with.

Farm Bill 2002-2007 Budget Breakdown

Source: USDA Budget Data

The 2002 Farm bill: Setting the stage for change

The 2002 Farm Bill was an enormous bill, passed during a moment of budget surpluses; it provided more money for everything.

The 2002 Farm Bill Authorized a Public Investment of $274 Billion Over Six Years

There were important new conservation programs such as the Conservation Security Program and overall more funding for programs to clean our air and water and protect our farmland and wildlife habitat.

However, the 2002 bill also continued out-dated government support programs creating heated disputes with U.S. trading partners and increasing calls for reform of U.S. farm policies. More on subsidies in past farm bills.

More on farm bill history »