Farm Bill History

Agricultural Adjustment Act - 1933

May 12, 1933

First Farm Bill. Farmers paid to reduce production by not planting a portion of their land in order to raise and stabalize crop prices. Introduced the first food stamp program in the country. Designed to help many American families still recovering from the great depression.

Agricultural Act of 1949

Oct 31, 1949

Allowed the US to donate surplus food crops to foreign countries. The surplus crops the government was purchasing to keep prices firm would no longer sit and rot. Created school lunch programs.

Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

Apr 4, 1996

Began eliminating milk price supports. Provided 300 million over 3 years for rural development and housing

2014 Farm Bill

Feb 7, 2014

Introduced the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). Provides benefits to producers who loose large numbers of livestock to natural disasters and weather. Also covers losses due attacks from federally reitroduced animals. Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)
Provides incentives for producers to cultivate and harvest crops that are used to produce heat, biofuels, and bioprocuts.