Farm Bill Update

The 2008 Farm Bill has finally passed (except the bill's trade title). After much confusion in Washington, the Farm Bill misunderstanding has been cleared up. The passing of the 2008 Farm Bill is good news for farmers' markets: it provides much needed resources and support for farmers' markets around the nation. Here are two articles explaining the connection of farmers' markets to the Farm Bill as well as a detailed explanation from the House Committee on Agriculture of the Farm Bill mishap.

Why We Need the Farm Bill

The Farm Bill that Congress has overwhelmingly supported over President Bush's veto has taken a beating from many pundits and editorial boards, ...yet there are good reasons ... to favor this bill, especially over the status quo.

The bill certainly should be better. It should include more reform on the commodity titles during this era of high prices for wheat, corn, and soybeans, and use savings from commodity reforms to provide additional support for nutrition, conservation, and healthy food, especially for America's 40 million poor. Reduction of the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program for overseas schoolchildren at a time of spiking world food prices was especially hurtful.

Read the entire story here.

Congress Overrides Presidential Farm Bill Veto

“Following veto override votes of 316-108 in the House and 82-13 in the Senate, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 has been enacted into law, with the exception of the bill’s trade title.

“The trade title was included in the conference report passed by Congress but was inadvertently left out of the official copy of the farm bill that the President vetoed. Today, the House also took action to correct the clerical error that resulted in the unintentional omission of the trade title from the enrolled farm bill and ensure that the entire farm bill is enacted into law swiftly. Most of the farm bill is now law and the Administration can begin implementing the new programs and policies immediately.

Read the entire story here.

As Food Costs Rise, Farmers' Market Become Even MORE Popular

It's on the news, in print from many national publications and on the radio- Food Costs are on the Rise. We are hearing more and more about our cost of food going up here in the US. But, we still pay the least amount for our food.

KMBC in Kansas City had this story the other day about the impact high food costs is having on Missouri's local farmers' markets.

More families are flocking to farmers markets to pick their own fruits and vegetables as the cost of food rises. Farmers are reporting a boom in sales all over the country.

"This year has been a very extremely good year for us because of the number of people who have found fresh vegetables because they're looking for a cheaper source of food out there in the marketplace," said Lynn Remsing, who owns Gneismer Farms.

The number of farmers markets has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. For the first time, the Farm Bill before Congress will allocate nearly $2 billion to help specialty crop growers where they sell their food.

Where do you see farmers’ markets, local and organic food trends ending-up? Post a comment.

Farm Bill News

While producers at farmers' markets may be anxious to see the release of the Farm Bill, food banks across the nation are probably even more apprehensive.

More and more Americans throughout the country have a rising need of assistance to supply food to their families. According to the president of the largest network of food banks in United States, America's Second Harvest, this need is even harder for food banks to meet today due to the lack of donations in recent years. Donations have reportedly fell by 75% in the last four years which has in turn caused the food banks to spend about $127 million to make up for the lost aid.

America's Second Harvest anticipates the passing of a Farm Bill with great emphasis on nutrition which is exactly what Ed Shafer, the United States Secretary of Agriculture, says they will get. Through the new "Stocks-for-Food" initiative, more than $100 million in extra raw commodity stocks will be switched out for food of both domestic and international origin all due to the USDA. This exchange is targeted to help provide food to more than 700,000 children throughout the world.

Until the Farm Bill finally passes, USDA is planning to fill the gap in food banks with $45 million compensation.

Farm Bill Extended Until April 18

Farm Bill talk is always an interesting discussion. I’ve received some phone calls and emails from Missouri farmers asking about “where we are on the Farm Bill and how it will affect them.” Well, it seems like the Farm Bill should be finalized by now, but unfortunately it’s not.

The Farm Bill was extended again from March 15 until April 18 for more discussion between the Bush Administration and leadership from the Agriculture, Finance, Budget, and Ways and Means Committees figure out how the Farm Bill is to be funded, which programs will receive funding, and which committees in Congress have jurisdiction.

Many farmers and consumers stand to benefit from new farm bill policies that advance local food systems, organics, the environment, nutrition assistance, specialty crops, and beginning and socially disadvantaged producers. These programs are worth hundreds of millions and, in some cases, billions of dollars each year. They represent small, distinct wins that would be squandered if the 2002 bill is extended or the new bill is vetoed.

I’ve been saying this for awhile now, but if you want support of a specific program it’s time to get on the phone and call your Senator and tell them (your needs as producers). Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

(PHOTO-Acting Secretary, Chuck Conner, speaks to and answers questions from the media at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in Kansas City, Missouri on 14 November . )