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Farm Bill Resources

The United States supports its agricultural sector through a variety of programs. The primary legal framework for agricultural policy is set through a legislative process that occurs approximately every 5 years. The current farm law (the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) remains in force through 2012, and congressional deliberations are proceeding on the next farm law.

ERS analysts examine the economic effects of current farm programs on producers, consumers, taxpayers, and rural communities, and evaluate potential effects of alternative policies and programs. ERS also provides a comparison of new and previous farm bills, provision by key provision.

2008 Farm Bill: Side-By-Side Comparison

In the 2008 Farm Bill Side-By-Side, ERS presents an overview of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and a side-by-side comparison of previous legislation and the 2008 Act. Included are a users' guide, an alphabetical list of key provisions, and search capabilities within the side by side.

ERS Policy-Related Research

The core research and data program of the Economic Research Service covers the breadth of USDA programs touched by the Farm Bill: farming, nutrition, conservation, and rural development. Below we highlight some recent research focusing on these issues.

Commodity Programs and Risk Management
Conservation
Nutrition
Rural Development
Some Key Supporting Data

Commodity Programs and Risk Management

Distribution of USDA program payments:

Changing Farm Structure and the Distribution of Farm Payments and Federal Crop Insurance, February 2012
Trends in U.S. Farmland Values and Ownership, February 2012

Risk protection overlap and complementary of U.S. farm programs:

Identifying Overlap in the Farm Safety Net, November 2011

Redesigning ACRE:

Alternatives to a State-Based ACRE Program: Expected Payments Under a National, Crop District, or County Base, September 2011

Limited base acre provision of the 2008 Farm Act:

An Analysis of the Limited Base Acre Provision of the 2008 Farm Act, October 2011

Planting Transferability Pilot Program (in 2008 Farm Act) and fruit and vegetable planting restrictions:

Fruit and Vegetable Planting Restrictions: Analyzing the Processing Cucumber Market, February 2011

Conservation

Rising commodity prices and the CRP:

The Influence of Rising Commodity Prices on the Conservation Reserve Program, February 2011

Interaction between commodity and conservation programs:

Options for improving conservation programs:

Baselines in Environmental Markets: Tradeoffs Between Cost and Additionality, February 2012
Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems: Implications for Conservation Policy, September 2011

Nutrition

SNAP participation and benefits:

Food Security Improved Following the 2009 ARRA Increase in SNAP Benefits, April 2011
Alleviating Poverty in the U.S.: The Critical Role of SNAP Benefits, April 2012

Rural Development

Economic impacts of regional approaches to rural development:

Impacts of Regional Approaches to Rural Development: Initial Evidence on the Delta Regional Authority, June 2011

Farming activities and rural development initiatives:

Farm Activities Associated With Rural Development Initiatives, May 2012
Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States, June 2011

Some Key Supporting Data

Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS): An annual survey of farm and ranch operators that provides a direct linkage between commodity production practices, farm financial performance, and the farm household.
Farm Program Atlas: Provides access to an array of public data on Federal farm programs that users can visually explore.
Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America: Provides county-level mapping for over 60 economic and demographic indicators.
Food Environment Atlas: Assembles county-level food environment indicators to provide a spatial overview of a community's ability to access healthy food.