I. The Environmental Working Group
It just released its farm subsidy database for 2015 and 2016.
The new information reflects the demands of the 2014 farm bill.
The findings:
- $32.2 billion is the total cost of federal crop insurance, disaster, and conservation programs.
- $14.5 billion of this went mainly to growers of corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice.
- $12 billion went to crop insurance subsidies.
- $3.7 billion went for conservation.
- $2 billion went to disaster assistance.
- Deline Farms Partnership was the #1 recipient with $4 million in commodity subsidies.
- The Navajo Agricultural Products Industry was #2 with $2.3 million.
The website is interactive. You can click on states and counties.
Tomkins County, New York, where Ithaca is, got $25 million in federal subsidies.
It’s fun. Check it out.
EWG also released it’s Double-Dipping report on how taxpayers are subsidizing farmers twice for crop losses.
II. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
It organized dozens of farm organizations to sign a letter calling for greater investment in agriculture through the farm bill education-and-research title.
It also released An Agenda for the 2018 Farm Bill. This focuses on investing in:
- Beginning farmers and ranchers
- Conservation
- Regional food economies
- Plant research
- Risk management
III. Representative Chellie Pingree (Dem-Maine) is also working on farm bill issues.
Her particular focus is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act:
- Expands access to farmland
- Ensures equitable access to financial capital and federal crop insurance
- Encourages commitment to conservation and stewardship
Many people are working on farm bill reform. It needs it.