More in Farm Bill

May 22, 2012

Article

ARC Farm Program Net Returns

Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) is a revenue-based proposed Farm Bill program passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee. In this post, net returns for corn are examined using prices and ARC payments detailed in a May 9, 2012 post. At $4/bu. and below corn prices, ARC will make payments, aiding in cushioning revenue losses. However, ARC payments are not large enough is assure profits, as farmers who cash rent will face losses at prices below $4/bu....More
May 8, 2012

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Farm Bill Details and Analysis

Although the Senate Ag Committee’s farm bill draft is just that – a draft – it will certainly be the starting point for further negotiations in formulating the final bill. We gave the framework for the key new programs, but you can take a look at the full bill here (pdf)....More
Apr. 30, 2012

Article

Cutting Costs Takes Priority in Farm Bill Development

In the recent Senate Agriculture Committee action that resulted in the approval of a new farm bill proposal and referral to the full Senate for a floor vote, there were essentially no recorded comments about the cost of the five-year legislation. That is rather remarkable. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent, and no one talks about the entire cost of the legislation....More
Mar. 21, 2012

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Legislation Proposes Reform Payment Limits for Federal Farm Programs

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) have introduced legislation designed to tighten payment limits on federal farm commodity programs and close loopholes mega-farms use to evade limits, while ensuring small and mid-size family farmers have the kind of support farm programs were designed to deliver....More
Mar. 8, 2012

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Corn and Soybean Digest

Tom Vilsack: 2012 Farm Bill

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke at Commodity Classic in Nashville, TN, this month. Among the topics he discussed was a 2012 Farm Bill, along with how crop insurance fits into that bill....More
Mar. 2, 2012

Article

Commodity Organizations Set Crop Insurance as Top Farm Bill Priority

Four of the nation’s major farm organizations have released a statement saying that an affordable crop insurance program will be their No. 1 priority for the 2012 Farm Bill debate. The statement comes as the House and Senate Agriculture Committees announced a stepped up committee hearing schedule that may presage an effort to actually begin writing the next four- or five-year farm bill in April....More
Dec. 28, 2011

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Proposed Changes to Farm Policy

Throughout summer and fall 2011, changes to farm programs hinged on the highly anticipated outcome of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction. Commodity organizations and other advocacy groups worked to create a range of proposals for program modifications that would 1) generate contributions to deficit reduction, and 2) continue to provide a strong safety net for agriculture. While the many proposals varied, some general themes did emerge....More
Dec. 13, 2011

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New Farm Bill Stalled – For Now

In mid-November it appeared that we may be heading for a quick resolution toward adopting a new farm bill. U.S. Senate Ag Committee Chair, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. House Ag Committee Chair, Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK), drafted potential new farm bill language to be included in a proposed Congressional Super Committee agreement to reduce the Federal Budget deficit by $1.2 trillion. The Super Committee did not reach agreement, so there was never an opportunity to have the new Farm Bill proposal included in any final agreement....More
Dec. 1, 2011

Article

Corn and Soybean Digest

New Thinking Guides New Farm Bill

Changes in agricultural policy are often more evolutionary than revolutionary. The philosophical changes underlying the debate on the next farm bill are an important step in that evolution, says Carl Zulauf, a professor of ag economics at Ohio State University....More
Nov. 9, 2011

Article

Farm Bill Proposals Mark 'Evolutionary Change' in Safety Net

After analyzing 10 major proposals circulating for the 2012 Farm Bill as of the first week of October 2011, Carl Zulauf, an Ohio State University farm policy expert, says the proposals reflect a striking commonality in the philosophical changes underlying the debate over federal farm programs....More
Nov. 7, 2011

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Future Farm Bill Cuts Likely

Balancing the federal budget and making budget reductions has been receiving major attention in recent months. Major developments have included the debt ceiling /deficit reduction bill passed by Congress this past summer, and the current 12-member Congressional super committee that was named to develop an adjustment plan for the federal budget deficit....More
Oct. 28, 2011

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Farm Bill Proposals: Compare The Pluses, Minuses

In another four weeks when the Select Congressional Deficit Reduction Committee makes its report, there may not be any money left to provide a safety net in the farm bill. However, many farm organizations and other interested groups have submitted a bushel of candidates for a farm program. Since some of the plans were submitted, their sponsors have shifted to other concepts, so it is fair to say the structure of a farm safety net is a moving target....More
Oct. 20, 2011

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Commodity Groups Support Revenue-Based Farm Program 

The American Soybean Association (ASA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and National Farmers Union (NFU) have called on the Congressional Agriculture Committees to consider moving to a revenue-based farm program when they make further recommendations to the Joint Select Committee on Budget Reduction by Nov. 1....More
Oct. 12, 2011

Article

Corn and Soybean Digest

Obama Throws Farm Families Under The Bus

The old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” readily applies to U.S. agriculture – one of the few sectors in the U.S. economy that is currently doing well. Yet, agriculture is a primary target for extensive government funding cuts in President Obama’s “Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction,” which he made public last month....More
Sep. 29, 2011

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ASA 2012 Farm Bill Proposal: Risk Management for America’s Farmers

The American Soybean Association today released its proposal for the 2012 Farm Bill, Risk Management for America’s Farmers. "This proposal will help farmers manage the risks they face from adverse weather, crop disease and volatile commodity markets," says ASA President Alan Kemper, a soybean producer from Lafayette, IN....More
Sep. 12, 2011

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NCGA Unveils Proposal for 2012 Farm Bill

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today unveiled the Agriculture Disaster Assistance Program (ADAP), a commodity title proposal for the 2012 Farm Bill that will modify and replace the existing Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program and provide a more effective and responsive safety net for growers....More
May 27, 2011

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FY2012 House Agriculture Appropriations Bill Calls for Significant Cuts to Discretionary, Mandatory Ag Program Spending

On May 24, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed their fiscal year 2012 spending bill that would make significant cuts in both discretionary and mandatory agricultural program spending. The bill would reduce total discretionary agriculture funding by $2.6 billion (13.4% below FY11) ....More
May 27, 2011

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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Addresses Senate Ag Committee Regarding U.S. Agriculture and the Next Farm Bill

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Thursday, May 26 regarding the next farm bill. Here are his comments:...More
Apr. 25, 2011

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Significant Changes to the Farm Bill are Likely in 2012

“Changes in the 2012 Farm Bill appear both likely and may be significant, if not radical,” says Jon Scholl, president of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “Our country’s economic situation will be the most significant driver and agent of change in the 2012 Farm Bill.”...More
Feb. 1, 2011

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Designing the Next Farm Bill

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Jan. 4, 2011

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Top 10 of 2010: Which Stories Did Corn and Soybean Growers Read Most on csdigest.com?

From huge planters to huge yields, winter weather to the farm bill, there were many topics covered on www.csdigest.com in the past year. In case you missed anything, here’s a list of our 10 most popular articles from 2010. World’s Largest Planter: John Deere’s DB120...More
Dec. 28, 2010

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Looking Ahead to 2011

Next year, 2011, is setting up to be another interesting year in the agriculture industry, following a very excellent year in 2010 for most crop producers in the Upper Midwest, and continued tight profit margins in the livestock sector, especially late in the year. Following are some items that are likely to be on the forefront in the agriculture industry for 2011: Crop Production...More
Dec. 7, 2010

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Three Bs Impacting the 2012 Farm Bill

The impact of a yearlong discussion in Washington about the 2012 Farm Bill is now up in the air following the November elections, according to Purdue University Agricultural Economist Roman Keeney. When the new Republican House majority takes up the farm bill issue, farmers should expect lawmakers to focus on three major areas: Brazil, budget and baseline....More
Nov. 23, 2010

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How will Prices and Politics Affect 2012 Farm Bill Talks?

Commodity prices continue to soar as USDA further reduced corn, soybean and cotton production estimates while, at the same time, the Federal Reserve announced it plans to buy $600 billion of U.S. government bonds over the next eight months....More
Nov. 18, 2010

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Some Farm Bill Programs Are Destined to Expire in 2012

There are 37 programs in the 2008 Farm Bill that will be expiring in a couple years because there is no guaranteed funding after September 2012. Should they expire like worthless options at the Board of Trade or should there be an effort to fund them at any cost? That’s totally up to you – and the US taxpayer....More