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As part of the first farm bill, this act was put in place by President Franklin Roosevelt on May 12, 1933. The act was designed to reduce the surplus of crops in order to increase prices for farmers. Farmers were paid by the government to destroy crops and simply not plant as many. By 1935, "Farm income was more than 50% higher than during the year of 1932." -
During the 60's crop surplus continued to be problematic. Lime and drainage resulted in better soil which increased yields. The Emergency Feed Grain Act tried to reduce excess corn and grain sorghum by paying farmers to turn production acreage into conservation areas. Payments could not be over 40% of what the crop planted on that land would've profited. The program was originally only designed for the year of 1961 but proving successful it continued for many years to come.
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was first included in the farm bill in 1973. The program originated in the middle 1960s as part of the "great society" act put in place by the Johnson administration. In 2014, it was estimated around 465 million Americans were receiving SNAP benefits. Today it is the largest component of our farm bill, with nutrition programs including 78% of mandatory spending. -
The 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act emphasized conservation. The Grassland Reserve Program was created to assist land owners in not only restoring, but conserving grasslands. Land owners that choose to participate in this program voluntarily limit future development and cropping uses of their property. They proceed with common grazing practices and operations helpful to the production of forage and seeding. -
The energy title was added in the 2002 farm bill. In 2005, the Energy Policy Act came about mandating a certain amount of biofuel be mixed with gasoline sold in the U.S.A. It also ensured loans for entities that develop and/or utilize innovative technologies in order to avoid the by-product of specific gasses. All farm bills since have continued to extend most renewable energy provisions in order to advance biofuels, as well as promote energy efficiency and carbon captures.
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The 2018 farm bill authorized the new Dairy Margin Coverage Program. This program offers protection to dairy farmers by providing catastrophic coverage and different levels of by-up coverage. Catastrophic coverage is allotted when the difference between the all milk price and average feed price plummets below a specific dollar amount chosen by the producers themselves.