Farm bill opened for public comments

The House Agriculture Committee is inviting public comments on the 2023 farm bill, which is due to replace the current farm bill, passed in 2018 and due to expire on September 30.

The committee is hosting a portal for comments: 2023 Farm Bill Feedback | House Agriculture Committee.

For the Senate version, visit https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/farm-bill-input

The farm bill is organized by twelve sections or “Titles”:

• I. Commodity Programs
• II. Conservation
• III. Trade
• IV. Nutrition
• V. Credit
• VI. Rural Development
• VII. Research, Extension, and Related Matters
• VIII. Forestry
• IX. Energy
• X. Horticulture
• XI. Crop Insurance
• XII. Miscellaneous

Areas of particular interest to the produce industry include Title XI: Crop Insurance. Presently there is deliberation to extend some of its provisions to specialty crops. Farm bill looks at specialty crops – Produce Blue Book

Possibly the most important area to consider is Title IV: Nutrition, which deals with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; aka food stamps). Current government policy attempts to improve the nation’s consumption of fruits and vegetables, which at present is none too good. America’s heartland: fast-food nation – Produce Blue Book

Some measures afoot could increase consumption of fruits and vegetables among the poor. Perhaps the most notable is a provision to eliminate junk food from SNAP benefits announced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), which appears to have bipartisan support.

For the current Title IV, visit https://www.ers.usda.gov/agriculture-improvement-act-of-2018-highlights-and-implications/nutrition/.

For the current Title XI, visit https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-commodity-policy/title-xi-crop-insurance-program-provisions/