Farm Bill Programs

Program name and description

Title

What you can do

BEGINNING FARMERS: BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVEOPMENT PROGRAM (BFRDP): Mandates $75M funding over 5 years for competitive grants to community-based programs and others to support beginning farmers and ranchers; broad range of eligible topics. Great opportunity for N.E. groups working with beginning farmers. Back to top

Title VII

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BEGINNING FARMERS: INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS: Authorizes IDA pilot program in at least 15 states at $5M annual budget. Targets low-income beginning farmers; provides a matched savings account to build their entrepreneurial assets to start their farming operation. Up to $250,000 per project with 50% non-federal match. Important opportunity for N.E. farmers with steep start-up costs. Back to top

Title V

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BEGINNING FARMERS: CONTRACT LAND PROGRAM: Expands to nationwide authority for federal (FSA) guarantees on private land sales to assist transfer of farms from retiring to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Innovative tool for N.E. farm access and succession planning. Back to top

Title V

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BEGINNING FARMERS: LOAN PROGRAMS: Allows higher Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits and credit program funding Levels. Up to $300K for direct ownership and operating loans per farm. Higher loan limit makes program more applicable to high land value areas of N.E. Beginning Farmer Down Payment Loans Program reduces interest rate (1.5% minimum) and down payment requirements, defers first year payments, and increases the maximum allowable portion of farm sales price eligible for the down payment loan from $250,000 to $500,000; expands program to minority farmers. Helps entrants purchase land in higher value areas of N.E. Back to top

Title V

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FARMERS' MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM (FMPP): Mandates $33M over 5 years for competitive grants to support direct marketing, CSA, and on-farm sales (not limited to farmers' markets). Requires at least 10% of funds to be used for EBT systems. N.E. leads the nation in number of farmers' markets.

Title X

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VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MARKETING DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Mandates $15M over 4 years (additional $40M annually authorized) for grants to help farmers develop value-added businesses with an emphasis on local and regional food systems. Creates a 10% set-aside for beginning and socially disadvantaged producers. Creates a 10% set-aside for strategic marketing alliances between small to mid-sized farms and other supply chain partners. Back to top

Title VI

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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM: Sets aside 5% of funds appropriated at $50M/year for local food distribution and marketing enterprises serving markets in-state or within 400 miles; preference for underserved areas. Priority on locally grown food. Emphasizes local products and regional markets; could fund slaughterhouses, small food distributors, dairy processing, warehouses, mills, kitchen incubators, etc. including in "urban" areas. Back to top

Title VI

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INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF STATE-INSPECTED MEAT: Enables state-inspected facilities with 25 employees or fewer to be eligible to ship meat or poultry in interstate commerce, provided they meet all federal requirements and policies under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. State-inspected establishments that join this initiative will be inspected by a state inspector and be allowed to use the Federal stamp of inspection to products. Important gain for N.E. producers to sell across state lines. Back to top

Title XI

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RURAL MICRO-ENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Mandates $15M over 4 years to (and up to $40M a year in discretionary funding) to assist rural entrepreneurs establish new small businesses through Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) for marketing, management and other technical assistance . Provides for small, long-term loans for new and growing rural microenterprises. Back to top

Title VI

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LIVESTOCK PRODUCER PROTECTION AND CONTRACT FAIRNESS: Improves ability of producers to negotiate contracts and settle disputes; defines “undue pricing preference” to protect small and independent livestock producers from unjustified pricing practices that favor larger producers. Important for DelMarVa poultry producers. Back to top

Title XI

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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING (COOL): Requires retailers to label the country of origin of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. Retains the prohibition on the use of a mandatory National Animal Identification System to establish country of origin. Back to top

Title XI

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HEALTHY URBAN FOOD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. Mandates $3 million over 3 years for competitive grants to serve producers, small businesses, and non-profits to support the development of enterprises which distribute and market healthy and locally produced foods to undeserved urban, rural, and tribal communities. Priority on underserved communities (a.k.a food deserts). Use in N.E. for local/regional food distribution projects; corner stores, rural-urban linkages. Back to top

Title IV and Title X

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LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS: Encourages institutions such as schools that receive funds from child nutrition programs to purchase locally grown or raised unprocessed agricultural products. Allows use of geographic preference in procurement in all programs funded under National School Lunch Act, Child Nutrition Act, and Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Program. Back to top

Title IV

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COMMUNITY FOOD COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM: Mandates $5M/year funding for federal matching grants for community-based organizations to develop innovative solutions to address local hunger, nutrition, and food access issues, often by connecting low-income people with fresh foods direct from farmers and community. Very important and popular program for N.E. urban and other community groups; emphasizes rural-urban connections. Back to top

Title IV

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SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM: See Priority 8 below. Back to top

Title IV

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SNACK PROGRAM: See Priority 10 below. Back to top

Title IV

SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM: Provides $224 million over 5 years to states to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. N.E is a leader in specialty crops, a traditionally under-recognized sector in federal farm policy. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops and floriculture. Back to top

Title X

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PLANT PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER PREVENTION: Provides $157 million over 4 years to bolster plant disease prevention and management in the specialty crop sector. Establishes: a) Early Plant Pest Detection and Surveillance Improvement Program (administered through states); b) Threat Identification and Mitigation Program (administered through USDA); and c) technical assistance to specialty crop growers and organizations and governments working with these growers to develop and implement audit-based certification systems (administered through states). Proposed audit system could present challenges for small and mid-sized farms in N.E. Back to top

Title X

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SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE: Provides $230 million in mandatory funds for a new competitive grant program for research on topics such as mechanization, plant breeding, genetics, genomics, pests and diseases, and food safety. Important opportunity for N.E. specialty crop producers and researchers. Back to top

Title VII

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ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE ASSISTANCE: Provides $22 million in mandatory funding over the next five years to assist producers and handlers of agricultural products to become certified for organic production and processing and maintain certification by defraying the cost of certification. Increases the annual maximum payment from $500 to $750 per operation. See also the Agricultural Management Assistance Program for additional cost-share assistance. Back to top

Title X

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ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE: Provides $78 million in mandatory funds over 4 years for research on organic production and processing, including food, feed and fiber. Big benefit for the N.E. with its strong organic producer sector. Back to top

Title VII

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CROP INSURANCE FOR ORGANIC: Improves usefulness of insurance products for organic farmers by removing the 5% surcharge unless it is proven warranted. Offers an organic price election for the 2010 crop year for crops with sufficient data. Back to top

Title XII

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FARMWORKERS: Establishes a Farmworker Coordinator in the Office of Advocacy and Outreach to link to groups that represent low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers; coordinates with USDA and State and local governments to assure that farmworker needs are met during declared disasters and emergencies; assures that farmworkers have services and support to enter agriculture as producers. Back to top

Title XIV

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BEES and BEEKEEPERS: Creates a high-priority for research to address Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in honey bees and authorizes $10 million per year for research related to CCD and pollinator issues. Bee pollination is essential for many N.E. crops. Back to top

Title X

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NEW REGIONAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES: Establishes the Northern Border Regional Economic Development Commission and two other regional commissions to leverage public and private sector resources focused on basic business development and job skills services, infrastructure development and transportation improvements. Back to top

Title XIV

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

CROP INSURANCE: Researches and develops insurance products responding to growth in organic agriculture, energy crops, poultry, aquaculture; also whole farm revenue insurance, and needs of beginning farmers. Changes catastrophic (CAT) insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), administered through USDA Farm Service Agency. [SEE ALSO: Organic/Specialty Crops under Priority 2] Several important risk management products for N.E. producers. Back to top

XII

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DISASTER ASSISTANCE: Assists farmers who lose their crops, livestock, or trees or suffer from shallow losses such as floods or drought. Complements the existing crop insurance program by providing additional assistance based on loss of crop revenue for the whole farm operation. Back to top

XII

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RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND PARTNERSHIP GRANTS: Funds competitive grant project to inform farmers about broad risk management topics including crop insurance, crop and enterprise diversification, conservation planning, new and value-added markets, debt reduction and asset building strategies. Includes Non-Insurance Education, Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships, Commodity Partnerships, and Targeted States Education programs. Emphasizes projects for beginning, socially disadvantaged and immigrant farmers. Back to top

XII

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

LOCAL PREFERENCE: Allows local schools to establish a purchasing preference for locally produced dairy, as well as fruits, vegetables, and meats for school meals. Back to top

Title IV

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MILK INCOME LOSS CONTRACT PROGRAM (MILC): Extends MILC to 2012. MILC provides dairy farmers with direct payments when federal marketing order prices fall below a specified amount. The target price is modified to take into account changes in the cost of production. MILC is the major dairy support program for N.E. dairy producers. Back to top

Title I

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REVIEW OF FEDERAL MILK ORDER PRICE: TO ACCOMMODATE N.E COST OF PRODUCTION: Supports the price of cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk by government purchase of such products. The current milk price support of $9.90 per hundredweight is replaced with separate support prices for cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk. If the price for one of these dairy commodities is lower than the support price, then USDA will purchase the product at the support level. Back to top

Title I

To be confirmed

Dairy Forward Contracts: Reestablishes the Dairy Forward Pricing Program, which allows dairy farmers to voluntarily enter into forward contracts with milk handlers. (A forward contract is an agreement to sell a stated quantity of milk, for a stated period, at a stated price). Milk handlers will be prohibited from requiring participation in a forward price contract. Back to top

Title I

To be confirmed

Program name and description

Title

What you can do

BIO-REFINERIES: Provides $320 million in loan guarantees (and $150M discretionary) for bio-refineries producing advanced bio-fuels. Also authorizes grants up to 30 percent of project costs for demonstration-scale bio-refineries. Back to top

Title IX

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BIO-MASS CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Mandates $70M over 5 years for new program that assists farmers to produce bio-energy crops (including perennials). Encourages the production of feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol and provides for multi-year contracts for crop and forest producers to grow dedicated energy crops. Also provides for cost-share payments for the harvest, storage, and transport of biomass crops to user facilities at a rate to match the biomass sale price. Back to top

Title IX

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BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: Provides $120 million (and $140M discretionary) to coordinate research and activities that improve feedstock development and the efficiency of bio-fuel production. Back to top

Title IX

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BIO-ENERGY PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED BIO-FUELS: Provides $300 million (and $125M discretionary) for incentives to expand production of advanced bio-fuels made from agricultural and forestry crops and associated waste materials, including animal manure and livestock/food processing waste. Back to top

Title IX

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FOREST BIOMASS FOR ENERGY: Reauthorizes Rural Revitalization Technologies with $60M to address the use of forest biomass in energy production through research on the use of low-value forest biomass for energy. Back to top

Title VIII Title IX

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RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP): Provides mandatory $255M (plus $100M discretionary funding) for energy audits, cost share, renewable energy grants and loans. Renames "Section 9006" which provided grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency projects for farmers and rural small businesses. Back to top

Title IX

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COMMUNITY WOOD ENERGY PROGRAM: Authorizes $5 million a year to encourage the use of woody biomass as the primary fuel for heat or energy at publicly owned or operated facilities such as schools, town halls or libraries. Grants are available for planning community wood energy projects as well as for installing or upgrading community wood energy systems. Back to top

Title IX

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CSP): Formerly Conservation Security Program, CSP mandates over $12 billion over 10 years for farmers to improve conservation efforts. Improved and simplified into a nationwide system of incentives for adopting, improving, and maintaining practices to achieve environmental benefits. Payments based on the cost of practices, income foregone and environmental benefits of the practices. Eligible lands include private forests. N.E. farms can benefit from CSP which is based on practices, not size of farm or type of crop; anyone can apply. Removal of cap on forestland enrollment may allow N.E. farmers to enroll more land and get support for forest management activities. Back to top

Title II

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PAYMENT AND INCOME LIMITATIONS: Sets Adjusted Gross Income thresholds for participant eligibility in all USDA conservation programs; establishes annual payment limits for CRP, AMA, GRP (rental payments and restoration agreements), WHIP and WRP (restoration agreements) and five-year payment limit for CSP. Back to top

Title II

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM (WHIP): Provides $85 M/year for technical assistance and cost sharing to develop and improve wildlife habitat. Projects that address state, regional, or national conservation initiatives have priority. Enrollment is now restricted to agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. Back to top

Title II

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FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM (FPP): Mandates $743 million over 5 years to facilitate the purchase of permanent conservation easements on eligible farmland. Federal share of the purchase cannot exceed 50% of the fair market value of the easement, and eligible entities must contribute at least 25% of the purchase price. Allows eligible entities to use their own easement terms and conditions, provided that they are consistent with the purposes of the program, permit effective enforcement of the easements, and include a limit on impervious surfaces. Important tool in N.E. for keeping land available for production and reducing cost of land.  Back to top

Title II

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CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LANDS: Authorizes $60 million per year for technical and educational assistance for conservation and enhancement of private grazing lands, including sustainable grazing practices such as rotational grazing. Back to top

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ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP): Increases funding for the EQIP to $7.325 billion through FY 2012 for cost-share funds and technical expertise for planning and designing conservation practices including energy. Adds assistance for forest and fuels management and provides a new process for determining payment rates. Organic practices and conversions of organic production practices are now eligible. Lowers payment limits to $300,000 over 6-year period, with waiver for projects of environmental significance. Within EQIP, the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) mandates $280 million to support multi-producer cooperative projects developed by partners such as state or local governments or producer associations to address regional water quantity or water quality concerns. Back to top

Title II

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CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP): Continues to offer long-term rental payments for land in "conserving covers" (e.g., grasses); explicitly includes "addressing state and regional issues." Updates CRP to include cost-share payments for thinning for wildlife corridors on private forest land on CRP acres. CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CREP) is joint State-Federal program that targets significant state (or national) environmental problems. CREP allows continuous sign-up; enrollment cap may be waived. Back to top

Title II

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CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM TRANSITION OPTION FOR BEGINNING AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS: Offers incentive of two years of extra CRP rental payments to owners of CRP land that is returning to production who rent or sell to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers who use sustainable grazing practices, resource-conserving cropping systems, or who transition to organic. Back to top

Title II

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CONSERVATION LOAN and LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM: Provides loans or loan guarantees to assist producers to finance conservation projects that are part of an approved conservation plan. Includes priorities for beginning and socially disadvantages farm owners or tenants, and those converting to sustainable and organic farming. Back to top

Title V

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Beginning Farmer Conservation Set-Aside Program: Reserves (until a specific date in the fiscal year) 5% of EQIP funds and 5% of CSP acres to assist beginning farmers; reserves the same for socially disadvantaged farmers; also provides a 90% cost-share rate and 30% payment advances under EQIP for beginning farmers. Back to top

Title V

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COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PROGRAM: Provides matching funds to help county and local governments, and non-profit organizations purchase private forests threatened by conversion to non-forest use and are economically, culturally, and environmentally important to communities. Back to top

Title VIII

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HEALTHY FOREST RESERVE PROGRAM: Provides a mandatory $39 million over 10 years to help private forestland owners protect endangered species, improve biodiversity, and enhance carbon sequestration. The current 99 year easement option is replaced with a permanent easement option. Back to top

Title VIII

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REGIONAL EQUITY: Raises the minimum per-state amount for qualified regional equity states from $12 million to $15 million annually; requires the Secretary to consider demand in each state for each covered program (including EQIP, FPP and WHIP). Back to top

Title II

CONSERVATION TAX DEDUCTION: Extends federal conservation tax deduction for donation of conservation easements for calendar years 2008 and 2009. Back to top

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: see Priority 5 above. Back to top

Title II

NATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR PRIVATE FOREST CONSERVATION: Establishes national priorities for private forest conservation, including: conserving and maintaining working forest landscapes for multiple uses; protecting forests from threats to forest health; and enhancing public benefits from private forests. Back to top

Title VIII

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COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE: Uses working lands conservation funding through state and local partnerships to assist producers to address specific environmental challenges. Emphasizes state and local autonomy in deciding priorities and areas; 90% of funding determined at state level. Enables groups of producers, NGOs, universities, and state and local governments to address local and regional concerns. Back to top

Title II

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CHESAPEAKE BAY FUNDING: Provides $438 million to help farmers and ranchers meet stringent regulatory requirements and better contribute to Bay restoration. Back to top

Title II

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AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Mandates $15 million/year in funding for 16 states underserved by crop insurance programs, including ME, NH, VT, RI, MA, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD and WV. Funds are allocated 50% through NRCS for various conservation practices, 40% through Risk Management Agency for risk-reduction activities and 10% for assistance in organic certification through USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. Back to top

Title II

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS: Authorizes use of mandatory funding and multi-year contracts with third party providers to increase availability of technical assistance; establishes national certification process for third party providers and requires that payment rates be fair and reasonable. Back to top

Title IV

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COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE: see priority 6 above. Back to top

Program name and description

Title

What you can do

PURCHASE of FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES for DISTRIBUTION: Requires USDA Secretary to procure fruits, vegetables, and nuts for use in domestic nutrition assistance programs using Section 32 funds. Also provides minimum of $50 million annually for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for use in schools and service institutions participating in programs under National School Lunch Act (NSLA). Allows amounts to be spent under the DoD (Department of Defense) Fresh program. Opportunity for N.E. specialty crop producers. Back to top

Title IV

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EMERGENCY FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS: Authorizes competitive grants totaling $15 million/year through FY 2012 to expand capacity and infrastructure of food banks; supports procurement of locally produced food. Requires that 50% or more of grant funds be targeted to agencies that predominantly serve rural communities. Back to top

Title IV

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FARMERS' MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM: See priority 2 above. Also supports EBT systems. Back to top

Title X

SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM: Expands program to $20 million in mandatory new funding over 10 years to provide senior citizens with vouchers to buy fresh produce at markets and roadside stands. Expands use of EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards. Popular and effective program in N.E. Back to top

Title IV

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HEALTHY URBAN FOOD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTER: See priority 2 above. Back to top

Title IV and Title X

EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP): Sets mandatory funding for TEFAP commodity purchases at $190 million for FY 2008 and $250 million for FY 2009; indexes funding for food-price inflation for FY 2010-12. Back to top

Title IV

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SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP): Formerly FOOD STAMPS, reforms benefit rules to adequately cover food expenses and sustain participants by raising/indexing the minimum standard deduction, increasing the minimum benefit for food stamp recipients, indexing asset limits and excludes retirement and education accounts as assets, lifts dependent care cap (allowing participants to deduct the full cost of dependent care), excluding special combat pay as income. Ends the use of Food Stamp Coupons and requires the use of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). Back to top

Title IV

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COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM: Helps many low-income elderly individuals in need of additional assistance or who are reluctant to apply for food stamps. Back to top

Title IV

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HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITY GRANTS: Authorizes grants to food program service providers and local nonprofit organizations (such as emergency feeding organizations) to make up Federal share (up to 80%) of projects that assess community hunger problems and meet or develop new strategies to create hunger-free communities. Back to top

Title IV

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

FARMERS' MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM. See priority 2 above. Back to top

Title X

LOCAL FOOD ENTERPRISE LOAN PROGRAM. See Rural Business and Industry Loan Program in priority 2 above. Back to top

Title VI

INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF STATE-INSPECTED MEAT: See priority 2 above. Back to top

Title XI

RURAL MICRO-ENTERPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. See priority 2 above. Back to top

LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS: Directs USDA to encourage institutions such as schools that receive funds from child nutrition programs to purchase locally grown or raised unprocessed agricultural products. Allows use of geographic preference in procurement in all programs funded under NSLA, Child Nutrition Act, and DoD Fresh Program. Back to top

Title IV

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HEALTHY URBAN FOOD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTER: See priority 2 above. Back to top

Title IV and Title X

Program name and description

Title

What you can do

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM: Provides more than $500M million over 5 years to help schools provide fresh or dried fruits and vegetables to students; expands the program to all 50 states based on formulas. Provides $3million mandatory funding to determine whether children participating in program increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables or make other dietary changes. Back to top

Title IV

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WHOLE GRAIN PILOT PROJECTS: Establishes pilot project to purchase whole grains and whole-grain products for use in school meal programs. Authorizes $4 million from Section 32 funds to fund project. Pilot states have not been selected. Back to top

Title IV

HEALTHY URBAN FOOD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTER: See priority 2 above. Back to top

Title IV

NUTRITION MONITORING: Ensures continuation of data collection by Health and Human Services and USDA on diet, health, physical activity, and health knowledge. Back to top

Title IV

NUTRITION EDUCATION (FSNEP): Provides mandatory formula funding to states to implement nutrition education programs (under SNAP) directed at individuals who receive or are eligible for program benefits; requires non-federal match. Back to top

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NUTRITION EDUCATION, PROMOTION AND OUTREACH --POINT OF PURCHASE PILOT PROGRAM: Mandates $20M to carry out point of purchase pilot to encourage households to purchase fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods. Back to top

Title IV

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HEALTHY FOOD EDUCATION AND SCHOOL GARDENING PILOT PROGRAMS: Clarifies that nutrition education in NSLA "farm to cafeteria" pilot program should promote healthy food education. Authorizes gardening pilot programs at "high-poverty" schools in up to 5 States. Back to top

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FOOD DESERT STUDY: Calls for one-year USDA-led study with Health and Human Services, Small Business Administration, Institute of Medicine, and other to study the incidence of "food deserts" or areas with limited healthy and fresh food retail access and identify strategies which can reduce their incidence; $500,000 in discretionary funding. Back to top

Title VII

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Program name and description

Title

What you can do

RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION: New National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) replaces Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). Strengthens competitively awarded agricultural research funding and focuses on infrastructure needs of the land grant university system in order to deliver research results to the public. Back to top

Title VII

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RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION OFFICE: Creates a new central office to coordinate programs and activities across the various research agencies at USDA and focus the activities of the research agencies to enhance multi-agency collaboration and effectiveness and to streamline administration of agricultural research, extension, and education programs. Back to top

Title VII

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (SARE): Offers various competitive grant programs administered by region. Authorized in 1990 Farm Bill; requires annual appropriations. Very popular program for Northeast food system stakeholders. Back to top

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APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR RURAL AREAS (ATTRA): Makes ATTRA permanent with modifications focusing on reduced input costs, conserving energy resources, diversifying through new energy crops and generation facilities, and expanding agricultural commodity markets for producers using practices that enhance environment, natural resource base, and quality of life. Defines several specific characteristics of organization to provide assistance to farmers. Widely used resource, with regional offices. Back to top

Title VI

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AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE (AFRI): Authorizes up to $700 million per year in competitive grants for fundamental and applied research, extension, and education to address food and agricultural sciences. Takes the place of both the National Research Initiative (NRI) and the Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems (IFAFS). Good opportunity for substantial collaborative projects. Back to top

Title VII

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OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH: Creates new office coordinating small farm, socially disadvantaged farmer, farmworker, and beginning farmer and rancher policies and programs. Back to top

Title XIV

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OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE TO SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS: Increases mandatory funding to $75 million for outreach and technical assistance ("Section 2501"). Amends the program to better meet the needs of socially disadvantaged farmers through coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, and educational efforts authorized under USDA programs; creates Minority Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee at USDA. Back to top

Title XIV

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DEFINITION OF RURAL: Retains a standard definition of "rural" for areas that are eligible for USDA rural programs, excluding urbanized areas around cities of over 50,000. Some exceptions allowed. Requires USDA to produce a report in 2 years to clarify USDA's "rural" and "rural area" definitions, effects on USDA programs, and recommendations on how better to target funds for rural development. Back to top

Title VI

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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM: Authorizes $27 million for public and private US organizations to address sanitary, phytosanitary and other technical barriers that prohibit or threaten export. Back to top

Title III

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LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM STUDY: Although not part of the 2008 Farm Bill, USDA/ERS study will address issues the effects of local food systems on economic activity, nutrition, and environmental resources. Will consider reasons for government policies to support local food markets and reduce barriers to growth of that sector. Back to top