June 13, 2018
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a meeting on the farm bill today (June 13). Here’s a look at what’s in the bill.
Title I – Commodities
Producers are required to make a new election to obtain Price Loss Coverage or Agriculture Risk Coverage County on a covered-commodity-by-covered-commodity basis, or Agriculture Risk Coverage Individual for the 2019 for 2023 crop years. If all producers on a farm fail to make a unanimous election, payments are prohibited for the 2019 crop year and Agriculture Risk Coverage County is selected for 2020 through 2023 crop years.
Transition assistance for producers of upland cotton is repealed.
Current law is extended for annual sugar estimates and flexible marketing allotments.
The Margin Protection Program for dairy is replaced with Dairy Risk Coverage. There are coverage discounts for dairy operations with a production history that is not greater than 2 million pounds and between 2 million and 10 million pounds.
Unweaned livestock that have not been vaccinated are allowed coverage under the Livestock Indemnity Program.
Title II – Conservation
The Conservation Reserve Program is extended through FY2023. The enrollment cap is raised to 25 million acres and enrollment requirements are modified.
The Farmable Wetland Program is extended through 2023.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program applies to 15% of continuous acres. Existing CREP agreements are not impacted, but can be modified.
The Conservation Stewardship Program is authorized through 2023. The acreage enrollment limit is 8.797 million acres through Sept. 30, 2027.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is extended through FY2023. At least 50% of the funds are to be used for practices related to livestock production, including grazing.
A soil health demonstration pilot project is authorized, with $15 million annually to carry out the pilot.
The Conservation Security Program is repealed.
Title III – Trade
Funding for food aid quality activities under the Food for Peace Act is authorized.
The Market Access Program, the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program, the E. (Kika) De La Garza Agricultural Fellowship Program and Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops are consolidated to create a new Priority Trade Promotion, Development and Assistance program.
The McGovern-Dole program is reauthorized.
Title IV- Nutrition
Consolidates the work requirements for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Title V- Credit
State agricultural mediation programs are reauthorized through 2023.
Title VI- Rural Development
Rural Business Development Grants are authorized at $65 million per year from 2019 through 2023.
Title VII – Research
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board is reauthorized.
A next generation agriculture technology challenge competition is established.
The Rangeland Research Program is repealed.
Title IX – Energy
The Rural Energy for America Program is authorized for $50 million per year 2019-2023.
Title X – Horticulture
The Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives are reauthorized through FY2023.
Specialty Crop Block Grants are reauthorized through FY2023.
Source: Senate Agriculture Committee
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