Critic calls new farm bill hard on family farming

In session
November 2001

Critic calls new farm bill hard on family farming
At first glance the 10-year farm bill the House of Representatives passed at the beginning of October looks good, says Robert Gronski, a policy coordinator for the Iowa-based National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC). More spending and a greater emphasis on conservation programs are high on the agriculture organization's list of priorities.

"It's the type of money that supports large corporations though," Gronski says. "Smaller family farms are left on their own. This bill creates a treadmill to larger and larger farms."

The NCRLC, which advocates benefits for small- to medium-size farms, rural community structures, and conservation initiatives, is hoping the bill will undergo a major overhaul in the Senate before a final version is approved. The group supports several provisions of the House bill, including significant funding increases for both outreach and education programs and the Community Food Project, but it's also aiming some pointed criticism at other aspects of the legislation.

Gronski says the House version disproportionately benefits the country's largest farms. The bill keeps in place existing loopholes that allow the biggest operations to avoid limitations on subsidy payments, and it creates an additional limitation loophole for new payments. Over the next five years the bill would also phase out all U.S. Department of Agriculture direct loans, except those for beginning or minority farmers. Small farmers who can't get any other kind of loan often depend on this money.

"We're not trying to recreate the past, just support the most number of farms we can," Gronski says. "How can a farm of 1,000 or 5,000 acres compete against one of 50,000 acres?" He says even good-size generational farms are feeling anxiety right now. "Why is that important? Because the dignity of the person is being affected."

Gronski says House support for corporate farms has affected its plans for conservation as well. While the bill includes a 75-percent increase in funding for conservation programs, that money is aimed at cleaning up large confined animal feed operations. At the same time the bill gives counties the power to cut penalties for wetland conversion, effectively crippling the 1985 Swampbuster provision that has allowed farmers to preserve or restore almost a million acres of wetlands by taking them out of production. The House version also cuts technical assistance for environmental programs.

The NCRLC supports a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) that would establish a voluntary incentive program to encourage individual farmers either to set aside land or to improve conservation practices on land in production. The Conservation Security Act, a piece of legislation separate from the farm bill, would allow farmers and ranchers to obtain up to $50,000 a year for their efforts.

Gronski stresses that support for environmental practices shouldn't come at the expense of food programs, however. The farm bill covers initiatives like the food stamp program, which other Catholic groups, such as Catholic Charities USA, are calling on Congress to increase.

While the Senate is currently considering the farm bill, Gronski says no clear deadline exists for passing its version. "There's pressure to take the House version and pass it soon, but there are also people saying we can't rush this bill, that the current one doesn't run out until next year," he explains. With legislation related to the war on terrorism occupying the Senate for awhile, and anthrax fear keeping many staffers away from their offices, it could be some time before a Senate version is approved.

Gronski advises people to contact their Senators in the meantime and voice support for policies aimed at smaller farms and more diverse conservation practices. "The farm bill should be devoted to structures of agriculture that respect the farmer's culture: the farming community, the land, the water, and the farmer," he says.—Anne Graber

For more information:
NCRLC
NCRLC's farm bill resources
Center for Rural Affairs
Farm Bureau Outlines Farm Bill Priorities
USDA
"Do Food Stamps Need to Be Beefed Up?"—from Salt
"Dr. Frankenstein meets Mr. Potato Head"—from U.S. Catholic
"Cure for the Earth is a local call: an interview with Wendell Berry"—from U.S. Catholic

Back to page top