The 2012 Farm Bill currently being debated by Congress is of extreme importance to farmers across the country, as the legislation sets the federal government's agricultural and food policies for the next five years. However, the nature of the legislative process means just about anything even tentatively related to the legislation is up for debate, causing quite a long process in getting the bill passed.
According to The New York Times, the Farm Bill has grown to an enormous size in recent weeks and carried more than 300 amendments. Some of those were directly related to farming, such as crop insurance payments, while others were substantially less relevant, like the question of sending foreign aid to Pakistan.
Late Monday, the Senate voted to excise the majority of these amendments, but a substantial amount still remain. The 300-plus amendments originally attached to the bill have now been whittled down to 73, and Congress will spend the week debating the merits of these measures as they attempt to reach an agreement.
Perhaps the most heated debate will be centered around food stamps. According to The Associated Press, money for food stamps accounts for nearly 80 percent of the total funding in the farm bill. Republicans want to see substantial cuts to the program, especially with regards to perceived "loopholes" that allow undeserving people to qualify for the assistance program.
Meanwhile, numerous amendments directly pertain to farmers. The bill is expected to eliminate most direct payments to farmers in favor of subsidizing crop insurance programs. The new crop insurance plan could make up 10 percent of the spending in the bill when all is said and done. Other issues on the table include the Market Access Program (MAP), pesticide allotments and allowing youth to work on farms, according to Western Farm Press.
Many farmers rely on the federal government for either insurance or direct income, especially in years with bad crops. Those who receive payments may want to re-invest that money by purchasing used agricultural equipment through the online auction site IronPlanet.
