This is an introductory presentation to the Farm Bill, put together with information from the Community Food Security Coalition and tailored for an audience in Worcester, MA.

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

2. Agenda Welcome & Introduction Farm Bill Overview Congressman McGovern’s 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 Bill’s 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) USDA’s Healthy Incentives Pilot Program (Hampden County) SNAP & Farmers’ Market (Food Project, Boston) SNAP Dollars - As of March 2011, there were 810,776 people—more 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. What’s 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