1. 2012 Farm Bill Forum
Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council with Congressman McGoverns Office
Thursday, June 9th 2011
Worcester Public Library

2. Agenda
Welcome & Introduction
Farm Bill Overview
Congressman McGoverns perspective
Discussion, Q & A
Wrap up & Next Steps

3. What is the Farm Bill?
Primary piece of agriculture and food policy legislation
Reauthorized by congress roughly every 5 years
According to the Congressional Research Service, the first Farm Bill was the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965
However, some historians say the first Farm Bill was adopted in 1933

4. 2008 Farm Bill Titles
Title I Commodities
Title II Conservation
Title III Trade
Title IV Nutrition Programs
Title V Credit
Title VI Rural Development
Title VII Research
Title VIII Forestry
Title IX Energy
Title X Horticulture & Organic Agriculture
Title XI Livestock
Title XII Crop Insurance
Title XIII Commodity Futures
Title XIV Miscellaneous
Title XV Trade & Taxes

5. Farm Bill Spending
The 2008 Farm Bill was projected to cost $284 Billion (over 5 years)
4 areas make up the bulk of the Farm Bills spending:
Nutrition Title SNAP, Nutrition Education (67%)
Commodity Support (15%)
Conservation (9%)
Crop Insurance (8%)

6. 2008 Farm Bill Spending

7. Key Congressional Committees
Authorizing Committees: write the Farm Bill
House Committee on Agriculture
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Appropriations Committees: determine how much funding should be allocated for specific programs during each fiscal year

8. Key Players
Agribusiness Lobby
Anti-Hunger Advocates
Nutrition/Public Health
Community Food Security
Conservation/ Environmental Groups
International Trade and Globalization
Renewable Energy
Government Agencies
Organic Groups
Sustainable Ag
You!!

9. 2012 Farm Bill
Timeline:
House and Senate Ag Committees both have new leadership and new members
2011 Education and Budget negotiations
2012 Farm Bill?
How will the federal budget deficit affect the Farm Bill?
Little money available for increased spending
All programs are on the table for budget cuts

10. Farm Bill in Massachusetts
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provided over $2,250,000 for snacks in 75 Massachusetts schools in 2010 (10 schools in Worcester this year!).
Community Food Project Grants (REC,Worcester)
USDAs Healthy Incentives Pilot Program (Hampden County)
SNAP & Farmers Market (Food Project, Boston)
SNAP Dollars - As of March 2011, there were 810,776 peoplemore than one in nine Massachusetts residents--and 445,998 households enrolled in SNAP, with $106,760,923 dollars of benefits given out in March 2011.

11. Farm Bill in MA (cont.)
Conservation programs protect agricultural land and support innovative projects:
Development of high tunnels to increase availability of fresh produce, especially in winter
Protect farmland for local food (Grow Food Northampton)
Support for new, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers (NuestrasRaices, Holyoke; New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell)

12. Whats Important to Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council?
Engaging diverse partners to foster a healthy and just food system
Healthy food access for all, especially low-income populations
Support for our farmers to thrive in the region

13. 1. Healthy Food Access
Support for community-based agriculture across the urban-rural spectrum
Support for Farm-to-School
Protect SNAP from cuts and changes to its entitlement status
SNAP redemption at Farmers Markets
Incentives for purchasing fruits and vegetables through federal nutrition programs

14. 2. Local and Regional Food Systems
Infrastructure and technical assistance for local and regional food systems
Farm-to-Institution programs
Community Food Projects
Farmers Market Promotion Program
Support for local ag - Specialty Crops, Dairy, Livestock

15. Stay connected, be informed!
Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council: Join our e-mail list!
Email Liz at hungerfree@worcesterfoodpolicy.org
Mass Food Policy Alliance
www.massfoodpolicyalliance.org
Community Food Security Coalition Farm Bill Alerts
www.foodsecurity.org
Food and Water Watch fact sheets
www.foodandwaterwatch.org