farm bill
Newsletter
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Lawmakers clash over environmental regulations in stalled farm bill
The U.S. farm bill's progress is hindered by disputes over environmental rules, especially climate-related measures, delaying crucial funds for agriculture and climate initiatives.
In short:
- The farm bill, essential for agricultural and nutrition policy, is stalled due to partisan disagreements on climate regulations and funding.
- Disputes center on the use of $18 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate-related agricultural programs, with Republicans and Democrats divided on its allocation.
- The bill, costing an estimated $1.5 trillion, also faces hurdles over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which accounts for 80% of its budget.
Key quote:
"It was not written to be used as a serious bill. It was written to be used as a campaign slogan."
— David Scott, ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture
Why this matters:
The farm bill affects food security, climate resilience, and the agricultural economy. Delays in its passage risk losing significant funds for climate-smart agriculture, impacting farmers and the fight against climate change.
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Op-ed: Farmers of color need climate action now. The farm bill is our best hope.
Farmers of color who are leading the charge for regenerative farming, as they have done for generations, need our support now more than ever.
As summer heats up, we all find ourselves wondering, how hot will this one be?
Several of the last summers have been the hottest summers on record. For farmers, who depend on clement weather for their livelihoods and to feed our communities, a sudden heatwave or an erratic downpour amplified by climate change can cause real harm to livelihoods. Often, it’s not easy to ‘bounce back’ or finance repairs to damaged farms.
Last summer, Ashanti, a farmer in upstate New York, experienced severe flooding from a nearby stream that immersed half of her growing field in water. She managed to salvage some of her crop by using a high tunnel (a plastic-covered structure that extends the growing season), but the flooding delayed her farmer’s market sales and food pantry deliveries, causing Ashanti to lose income needed for daily business expenses. While some towns are now implementing early response systems for extreme weather, none were in place to mitigate the damage to Ashanti’s farm.
For most farmers, climate change is not a future problem, but a daily challenge. This is especially true for Black farmers like Ashanti, as well as Indigenous and other farmers of color who are particularly vulnerable due to well documented discrimination by the USDA and by banking institutions. When climate disasters hit, these systemic challenges have prevented many such farmers from receiving loans to pay for repairs to damaged farms, or from owning land, as opposed to leasing it.
As advocates for farmers with the HEAL Food Alliance and Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, we’ve seen firsthand how farmers of color struggle to deal with climate challenges amid a systemic lack of resources and the impacts of structural racism. Our organizations have worked with dozens of farmers who steward their land, but lack access to the capital they need to adapt to climate change or to secure the long term land tenure stability that makes investment in climate adaptations more feasible. Community leaders have warned of this need for years, but opportunities for federal action have been limited – until now.
Amid growing opposition to clean energy and climate resilience investments, an unexpected avenue for climate justice has emerged – the Farm Bill, an over $400 billion legislative package that funds key federal programs and shapes our country’s food and agricultural policy. This year, Congress has the opportunity to make a historic investment in regenerative farming practices that would meaningfully reduce emissions that come from agriculture and provide real relief to farmers of color.
For example, in the so-called ‘Black Dirt’ region of Orange County, New York, known for its fertile black soil, Latine and Black farmers are pushing for meaningful investments in regenerative agricultural practices and climate resilience programs that protect the land and food security. Many of these farmers don’t own the land that they work - and if they do, they are recent land owners. Because they lack land security, spending their own capital on large scale infrastructure is a huge risk. So several dozen farmers of color from the area have asked for funding assistance with drainage for over a year without success. Funding to add more climate-resilient ditches to their farms would help them withstand flooding and also protect other nearby farms. But as both lessees and more recent owners of their farmland, they have less local political clout than landowning constituents and are more likely than long-standing landowners to face barriers to adopting new farming strategies. To support these farmers and others across the country who are burdened by climate change, the next Farm Bill could expand resources to support farming practices that protect and restore soil health. Healthy soils are more likely to bounce back from flooding and other adverse impacts of climate chaos. In addition to supporting local food economies, these practices can reduce emissions and other toxic pollutants, and revitalize ecosystems.
Amid growing opposition to clean energy and climate resilience investments, an unexpected avenue for climate justice has emerged – the Farm Bill.
Black, Indigenous, and other land stewards of color have long used regenerative farming methods rooted in traditional ecological knowledge. For example, the Diné people of the Navajo Nation have practiced alluvial farming, or planting crops in soil that has formed from sediment deposits, for hundreds of years. This maximizes the nutrients and water that crops receive - without depending on chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Indigenous and immigrant farmers of color have innovated new approaches like these that are rooted in cultural traditions of respect for the land, water, seeds, and life that sustain us. They’ve done so even while confronting seizure of their land, theft of their labor, harm from industrial agriculture, and contamination of their land and water.
These farmers know that investing in regenerative farming can ensure climate resilience and protect local economies. The Farm Bill is among our best chances to make this a reality. By establishing protections and meaningful supports for farmers who are most vulnerable to climate change, the Farm Bill can propel us toward our climate goals while allowing farmers of color to adapt to new uncertainties that climate change has created.
In May, the Senate released a long-delayed Farm Bill proposal while the House released their draft of text for the 2024 Bill. We were happy to see that the Senate proposal includes traditional ecological knowledge as a part of conservation and climate programs, and includes provisions for the protection of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds for conservation and climate spending. This is a step in the right direction for our nation's farmers, and for our environment.
Unfortunately, we see the exact opposite in the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill draft, which does little to address farmers’ concerns about climate change. In fact, the Bill moves us backwards. The House Bill removes climate-related safeguards in conservation programs stipulated by the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in 2022 and provided historic investments for fighting climate change. To be clear, the 2024 Farm Bill must be a climate bill. Removing support for climate-related programs and practices will not only further disadvantage farmers who are investing in regenerative agriculture and traditional ecological knowledge to build resilience in their operations, but wreak havoc on the nation’s food security.
As climate extremes worsen, the architects of this Farm Bill must change their strategy if they hope for the survival of farmers, communities, or our economies. Farmers of color who are leading the charge for regenerative farming, as they have done for generations, need our support now more than ever, and deserve a farm bill that puts climate front and center.
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Op-ed: New White House strategy backs food rescue efforts but more is needed to fight hunger and waste
Food waste statistics are moving in the wrong direction.
Inflated food prices and intense summer heat are top of mind for both consumers and producers of food around the country.
At the same time, the U.S. continues to struggle with massive amounts of food waste. Fortunately, by reducing that waste, we can help lower grocery bills and mitigate contributions to continued warming.
Food waste is a significant contributor to climate change: its breakdown accounts for 58% of landfill methane emissions. As food waste increases, emissionscontinue to climb, exacerbating climate change and increasingly inhospitable conditions for agricultural production.
Though it may be most visible to consumers, household waste is not the greatest contributor of discarded food. In fact, 38% of food (either domestic or imported) is wasted and nearly half of that waste is generated between harvest and point of sale. This statistic is especially shocking considering that 44 million people in the U.S. experiencefood insecurity. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) datareveal that 9 billion pounds of quality, nutritious food is thrown away each year.
To address this problem, the Biden-Harris administration released itsNational Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics on June 12, 2024.This strategy proposes actions that reflect four objectives: preventing food loss, preventing food waste, promoting recycling of organic waste, and supporting food waste management policy.
One action proposed is increasing funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture to encourage research opportunities and food waste data collection. Another promotes involvement of the Risk Management Agency with farmers, crop insurance agents, and food rescue organizations to minimize on-farm food loss. The strategy aims to make progress toward theU.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions Pledge, a joint goal between the USDA, the EPA, and partnering businesses that aims for a 50% reduction in national food loss and waste by 2030.
Despite these efforts, waste statistics are moving in the wrong direction. The most recent 2019 EPA data show a steady increase in waste production since the pledge was announced in 2015. Supply chain disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic likely slowed progress on food waste reduction, but this cannot be confirmed without updated data. More recent data are needed to provide an objective view of the nation’s current food waste production and a useful benchmark as the 2030 deadline approaches.
Moving the needle in the opposite direction will rely on changes to key policies—in addition to changes in practices by consumers and producers. The current 2024 farm bill reauthorization presents a timely opportunity to kindle progress.
The massive omnibus agricultural bill, most recently signed into law in 2018, provides afoundational framework for continued improvements in waste prevention and management. A 2022 collaborativereport by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, Natural Resources Defense Council, ReFED, and World Wildlife Fund proposed opportunities to improve food recovery in the next farm bill. Incorporating food donor protections is critical, considering that 50% of food manufacturers and 25% of wholesalers and retailers surveyed listed liability concerns as their main barrier to participating in food donation programs. Granting the USDA authority to interpret theBill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act can help reduce liability barriers and encourage organizations to donate. Providing protections for direct donations to individuals and non-profit organizations that charge a small fee can also extend the Emerson Act’s reach.
The current 2024 farm bill reauthorization presents a timely opportunity to kindle progress.
TheFood Loss and Waste Liaison position created in the 2018 farm bill is dedicated to coordinating and reporting on the research and management of food waste. ReFED and its collaborators recommend expanding this single position to an office. This would increase research attention, improve reporting capacity, and place an increased focus on food waste reduction strategies.
Existing farm bill programs already help support post-harvest food recovery infrastructure and provide logistical support for food waste distribution. But these grant-funded programs—such as the Regional Food System Partnerships Program and Value-Added Producer Grants Program (both part of the Local Agricultural Marketing Program [LAMP])—can be enhanced to have a broader impact. Making these changes through the 2024 farm bill would support the objectives outlined in the National Strategy with a win-win solution: reallocating food surplus to those in need.
Recent 2024 farm bill frameworks and drafts have been proposed by theSenate andHouse of Representatives agriculture committees, respectively. Disappointingly, neither draft included expansion of the Food Loss and Waste Liaison position to an office or updating the Emerson Act. But one victory for food waste reduction is proposed: increased funding for LAMP in both versions, reinforcing available resources for managing surplus.
Beyond policy, many businesses and organizations are already actively engaged in food rescue strategies, demonstrating the effectiveness of large-scale waste-management efforts. The USDA’sMilestones report highlights “2030 Champions,” corporations that are taking steps to reduce waste by 50% by 2030. Between 2016 and 2022, 45 businesses took this public pledge.
Nonprofit organizations also play important roles, with groups such asFarmlink andFood Rescue US helping to distribute food surplus from retailers and farmers to organizations supporting food-insecure populations. And theCareit app offers an online marketplace to connect restaurants, corporations, retailers, food distributors, and farmers with food pantries and other nonprofit groups that feed at-risk populations. Reallocating food surplus addresses hunger from a new angle, supporting public health and nutrition for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants and other at-risk groups.
TheNational Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics was published on the same day that USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack spoke at the 2024ReFED Summit, a diverse gathering of stakeholders that shared sustainable food rescue solutions. The level of attention presently placed on these topics representing stakeholders across the food supply chain as well as bipartisan Congressional leadership indicates both the gravity of the food waste issue and the substantial opportunity for positive change.
Food waste poses a daunting obstacle to overcome, but simple actions by the public can make a difference. Write to your legislators, contribute local food rescue organizations with your time or resources, and make efforts to reduce food waste in your home and workplace. Stay up to date on new policy changes and vote in favor of the leaders who share common goals. Support local producers and businesses who participate in the 2030 pledge. These actions, even at the individual level, can help minimize food waste, feed the hungry, and benefit the environment.
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House Agriculture Committee faces challenges in passing new farm bill
A new farm bill faces partisan hurdles as the House Agriculture Committee begins markup this week.
In short:
- The proposed bill includes increased conservation funding but removes climate change focus from programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act.
- The bill proposes changes to nutrition assistance, aiming to reduce costs and promote healthier diets, which Democrats argue will harm those in need.
- Senate Democrats have a competing framework that retains climate-focused funding, contrasting with the House version.
Key quote:
“We urge the committee to avoid nutrition program provisions that would harm the most vulnerable among us and to build upon popular climate-focused conservation tools that help farmers mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
— Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union
Why this matters:
The reallocation of funds away from climate-focused programs has sparked concern among environmentalists and scientists. These initiatives, initially designed to address climate resilience in agriculture, aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable farming practices in the face of a changing climate. By removing this focus, critics argue, the bill undermines efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, potentially leaving farmers less equipped to handle extreme weather patterns and long-term climate shifts.
Be sure to read Daniel Imhoff’s 2018 piece: It’s time for a climate resilient Farm Bill
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Rewriting the Farm Bill: A step toward climate-smart agriculture
The U.S. Farm Bill, a significant spending package, could impact greenhouse gas emissions by aiding farmers in storing soil carbon, a crucial yet uncertain method in combating climate change.
In short:
- The Farm Bill's potential to reduce emissions hinges on its ability to help farmers increase soil carbon storage, a method with varying scientific certainty.
- Current soil carbon measurement techniques are costly and complex, highlighting the need for more accessible and accurate methods.
- The bill could extend funding for soil carbon research, essential for validating and improving carbon sequestration practices in agriculture.
Key quote:
“This is going to be great for the next four years of funding. But then what happens after that?”
— Cristel Zoebisch, analyst at Carbon180.
Why this matters:
Understanding and enhancing soil carbon storage is vital for reducing agriculture's environmental impact. This article underscores the intersection of agriculture, science, and policy in addressing climate change, a major issue affecting health and the environment on a national scale.
Read: It is time for farmers and policy makers to jointly create a legislation that provides both for the survival of the planet and allows them to survive financially with ongoing taxpayer funding.
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Photo by Heidi Kaden on Unsplash
'Time to roll up our sleeves': Congress' long to-do list
Congress has just a few weeks to address a host of priorities with implications for energy, environmental and climate issues.
Threatened by climate change, food chain workers demand labor protections
The farm bill has long excluded farmworkers and other food chain workers. Now, workers and advocates are making a case for including their needs.
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