We have spent a lot of time these past few weeks lamenting the fact that a new Farm Bill was not passed, nor are we even close to having a new one. Work started almost two years ago, and thanks to political gridlock, nothing was accomplished. Farmers rely on legislation to make sure they have the certainty they need for their operations, not to mention the government programs that are funded based on the legislation.
Now, a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill has passed. Some legislators are pushing for a quick update, despite the one-year extension. Farmers and Ag groups do not seem to be holding their breath on that either. It is the same talk we have heard for two years with nothing to show for it.
In a nutshell, American farmers are somewhat supported for another year. However, this is nothing to get too excited about. The numbers, programs, and figures are based on numbers that were finalized over five years ago. Those numbers were based on info from before that. A lot has changed in that time.
The Farm Bill does not only affect agriculture policy in the United States. Eighty-seven percent of the legislation deals with food policy, including supporting those who are in need. For better or worse, that 87% offers a different kind of certainty. The certainty that you are going to eat.
Farmers have sometimes been contentious about just how much of the Farm Bill is dedicated to nutritional titles, but they also realize many depend on that funding to keep their families fed. Politics aside, nobody can afford to go hungry.
Yesterday, the White House urged Congress to act and make sure programs like the Women’s, Infants, and Children’s Program (WIC) funded. More than 6.7 million people depend on this program to help them take care of themselves and their children. Neera Tanden is the Director of the Domestic Policy Council. She talks about how important WIC is to the vulnerable citizens in our country.
Not having the full funding of the federal government can put a burden on the states to find ways to fund the program themselves.
USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small is adding her voice to the call to get the WIC program fully funded and soon.
If the funding isn’t secured more than one-third of those who depend on food assistance could find their assistance cut by state budgets.
