{"id":33780,"date":"2023-05-08T01:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T01:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=33780"},"modified":"2023-05-09T17:01:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T17:01:14","slug":"these-four-challenges-will-shape-the-next-farm-bill-and-how-the-us-eats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/these-four-challenges-will-shape-the-next-farm-bill-and-how-the-us-eats\/","title":{"rendered":"These four challenges will shape the next farm bill \u2013 and how the US\u00a0eats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kathleen Merrigan<\/a>, Arizona State University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the 20th time since 1933, Congress is writing a multiyear farm bill that will shape what kind of food U.S. farmers grow, how they raise it and how it gets to consumers. These measures are large, complex and expensive: The next farm bill is projected to cost taxpayers US$1.5 trillion<\/a> over 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern farm bills address many things besides food, from rural broadband access to biofuels and even help for small towns to buy police cars. These measures bring out a dizzying range of interest groups with diverse agendas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umbrella organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation<\/a> and the National Farmers Union<\/a> typically focus on farm subsidies and crop insurance. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition<\/a> advocates for small farmers and ranchers. Industry-specific groups, such as cattlemen<\/a>, fruit and vegetable growers<\/a> and organic producers<\/a>, all have their own interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental<\/a> and conservation groups<\/a> seek to influence policies that affect land use and sustainable farming practices. Hunger and nutrition groups<\/a> target the bill\u2019s sections on food aid. Rural counties<\/a>, hunters and anglers<\/a>, bankers<\/a> and dozens of other organizations have their own wish lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a former Senate aide and senior official<\/a> at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I\u2019ve seen this intricate process from all sides. In my view, with the challenges in this round so complex and with critical 2024 elections looming, it could take Congress until 2025 to craft and enact a bill. Here are four key issues shaping the next farm bill, and through it, the future of the U.S. food system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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